How do I get a short funded? (horror)

R

RaymondLeggs

How do I get funding for a short?

I don't have anything yet but I do have a horror comedy I might later expand into a feature that I am working on. since the other project is indeed too big to worry about now. Since I live in a new city. and I don't know how to drive I have set myself back. The freind I had in the city i used to live in has been on a few movie sets as crew. He was crew on a feature made by his freind PJ. Starks and a short called Bumsicle which was directed by Lee goldberg. Writer: (monk, the glades) producer, diagnosis murder.

Now I have a serious question about crowd-funding. Who uses it?

The movie is about a private investigator and a psuedo-zombified nerd who spend
every night hunting for monsters.... and hunting for bones.
 
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You are not going to get funding for a short.

You will have to pay for it yourself unless you have friends/family willing to give you money.

Unless you have a proven track record, don't do crowdfunding. Lots of different types of people and projects use and contribute to crowdfunding. Little to none of them will give any money to yet another film project by someone they never heard of and really don't care about.

If you are going to ask for money, (and really at this point you shouldn't be asking anyone for money, unless you have a rich aunt that hands out $100 bills for giggles) ask friends and family directly and avoid having to give the crowdfunding site a cut. At this point in your career only people you know are probably going to donate, so don't waste time or money using a crowdfunding site. Even then people you know probably will not give you money.

But do not despair, for they may give you something more valuable...

More important than money on a short film is getting people to donate their time. Getting a cast and crew that will work for free (or beer) can be worth a lot more than the 10 bucks you might be able to get some family member to give you.

Use the resources you have and don't write for things you cannot afford or do not have the skill/resources to do.

Use what money you have wisely, like feeding cast and crew.

For now you really shouldn't be looking to make your own film. In the near future yes, but not right now.

Your best bet is to go and volunteer on local projects and get experience and build friendships. Don't even mention you are thinking of doing a film while on set. I cannot stress this enough, do NOT mention your project or ideas. Just be there, be helpful, do a good job, learn, and make contacts. After helping on a few projects then you should ask for people to help you with your project.

People in that area (or most places really) are not going to help you unless they know you and like you. Even then they may not be willing to help unless the project looks solid and they think you know what you are doing. Working on other projects helps show you know what you are doing.

You also want to volunteer on projects so you know who is good and who you could work well with. Again, do NOT mention to people that you are wanting to make a film of your own. There have been issues in that area of people trying to steal crew or promote their own projects when they are supposed to be working on someone else's project. Don't be that guy.


So in short: Don't ask for money, go help others make some films, make real connections, build a solid reputation, and then start your project.
 
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RaymondLeggs said:
Now I have a serious question about crowd-funding. Who uses it?
Click to expand...

Informative reply from jmoschner.

OP - you did try searching first right?

The folks on IT are great - spend time trying to help but it takes time for them to reply so do value that. So always do a search prior to starting a new thread.

I found this in under 10 seconds:

My Crowdfunding Experience - 12+ pages
http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=39742&highlight=crowd

The above would have answered your query and more.
 
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RaymondLeggs said:
How do I get funding for a short?
Click to expand...

In the decades before “crowd funding” websites the makers of short
films funded them themselves. I know you all hate the “in my day”
stories but I’m gonna do one anyway...

What is your budget for this short film?
 
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I do have to say I know of some shorts that get crowd funded. I find it morally repugnant, but hey that's just me.

I guess, if Im honest, I more irritated by how much MONEY people ask for to make their shorts.
 
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jmoschner said:
You are not going to get funding for a short.

You will have to pay for it yourself unless you have friends/family willing to give you money.

Unless you have a proven track record, don't do crowdfunding. Lots of different types of people and projects use and contribute to crowdfunding. Little to none of them will give any money to yet another film project by someone they never heard of and really don't care about.

If you are going to ask for money, (and really at this point you shouldn't be asking anyone for money, unless you have a rich aunt that hands out $100 bills for giggles) ask friends and family directly and avoid having to give the crowdfunding site a cut. At this point in your career only people you know are probably going to donate, so don't waste time or money using a crowdfunding site. Even then people you know probably will not give you money.

But do not despair, for they may give you something more valuable...

More important than money on a short film is getting people to donate their time. Getting a cast and crew that will work for free (or beer) can be worth a lot more than the 10 bucks you might be able to get some family member to give you.

Use the resources you have and don't write for things you cannot afford or do not have the skill/resources to do.

Use what money you have wisely, like feeding cast and crew.

For now you really shouldn't be looking to make your own film. In the near future yes, but not right now.

Your best bet is to go and volunteer on local projects and get experience and build friendships. Don't even mention you are thinking of doing a film while on set. I cannot stress this enough, do NOT mention your project or ideas. Just be there, be helpful, do a good job, learn, and make contacts. After helping on a few projects then you should ask for people to help you with your project.

People in that area (or most places really) are not going to help you unless they know you and like you. Even then they may not be willing to help unless the project looks solid and they think you know what you are doing. Working on other projects helps show you know what you are doing.

You also want to volunteer on projects so you know who is good and who you could work well with. Again, do NOT mention to people that you are wanting to make a film of your own. There have been issues in that area of people trying to steal crew or promote their own projects when they are supposed to be working on someone else's project. Don't be that guy.


So in short: Don't ask for money, go help others make some films, make real connections, build a solid reputation, and then start your project.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a great idea. Meet cool people involved in what I want to do and then go from there! that will improve my social skills too!

I don't want to be that guy either! The guy that talks to people to beg for money. Maybe I could write short stories and get paid for it, and save the money in a big strongbox.. (cant let the gubment know)
 
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RaymondLeggs said:
How do I get funding for a short?
Click to expand...

There's many ways.

I don't have anything yet but I do have a horror comedy I might later expand into a feature that I am working on. since the other project is indeed too big to worry about now. Since I live in a new city. and I don't know how to drive I have set myself back. The freind I had in the city i used to live in has been on a few movie sets as crew. He was crew on a feature made by his freind PJ. Starks and a short called Bumsicle which was directed by Lee goldberg. Writer: (monk, the glades) producer, diagnosis murder.

Now I have a serious question about crowd-funding. Who uses it?

The movie is about a private investigator and a psuedo-zombified nerd who spend
every night hunting for monsters.... and hunting for bones.
Click to expand...

Did you not read the other threads you started?

You're a beginner. It's not good to jump into the deep end before practicing in the shallow end. YOU'LL DROWN.

Make short films. Get some experience. But I need funding! No you don't, shoot with the gear you have, family and/or friends, and edit.

Write.
Shoot.
Edit.
Get feedback.

The greats didn't start with huge, expensive projects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InHgkJhvT_A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1T93rJ9p-s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WhKt_CkXD0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDt-EoryNRE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrElxcfDlFw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6MUbRZSg80
 
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The best way to get funding for shorts is to write stories you can afford to pay for outta pocket wth zero hope (or interest) on ever receiving any financial compensation or gain from it.

Pretty much just spend consumable cash, like movie/sporting event tickets cash equivalent or vacation money. You know, discretionary money that you're not going to miss much.

You spend $10-$40 for movie tickets and munchies and whadayagot to show for it afterwards? Memories.
You spend $40-$200 for baseball/football/basketball/hockey tickets, gas and munchies and whadayagot to show for it afterwards? Memories. Maybe a T-shirt or dust catcher memorabilia?
You spend $500-$2,000 for a vacation and whadayagot to show for it afterwards? Memories. Maybe a T-shirt, dust catcher memorabilia, a sun burn, and/or pictures? Maybe even a tattoo or VD!

Now... whadayagot to show for making a short afterwards? Memories. Something maybe a few dozen people are ever gonna watch? Maybe a hundred or three or five?
So... exactly how much money did you think would be reasonable for people to donate to your or anyone else's vacation or sports season? Because, frankly, giving money for a pig in poke is kinduva helluva thing to ask for.



In other words - No. There is no "arts council" funded by philanthropists that are under some self-imposed mandate to dole out significant sums of money to "artists" with ideas.

A year or so ago we had some poor soul here that actually went to his local Small Business Association office and got into a minor snit with the loan officer about funding his film biz.
The poster was incredulous and outraged the officer wouldn't "just give him" the money.
From what was described it was a farce of a debacle.
Just crazy, really.
 
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uh..
In other words - No. There is no "arts council" funded by philanthropists that are under some self-imposed mandate to dole out significant sums of money to "artists" with ideas.
Click to expand...

This is EXACTLY what kickstarter is supposed to be. Im getting tired of it being used for shorts that should be funded by business investing in there own future, just like every other start up is supposed to do. If your doing it for LOVE of the art, then I will GIVE you some money, but if your doing it as a spring board to a feature or as a calling card for your business, then pay for your own #%#$%ing business cards!
 
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ChimpPhobiaFilms said:
Did you not read the other threads you started?

You're a beginner. It's not good to jump into the deep end before practicing in the shallow end. YOU'LL DROWN.

Make short films. Get some experience. But I need funding! No you don't, shoot with the gear you have, family and/or friends, and edit.

Write.
Shoot.
Edit.
Get feedback.
Click to expand...

+ 1

Great links from ChimpPhobiaFilms.

I don't think the OP has any film gear - camera, audio or lighting. Correct OP?

Based on his previous posts, I'd say OP is a student or teen (fav movies include Golden Compass, Armageddon, Harry Potter). So money etc could be tight. It would also explain their thread topics that have jumped all over the place, and the dislike of using the Search facility. OP needs to stop starting new threads, use Search, read his own threads carefully and think before starting another thread.
 
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RaymondLeggs said:
All I have is an Aiptek Mini lower than Standard def camcorder immediately available and a tripod in storage in another city. I had a VHSC camera but it broke. :sad:
Click to expand...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItD7KveY0-M
Cellphone.
15 FPS.
176 X 144 rez.

Quitchurewhinin' and start your shootin'.



Christmas is... what? four months away?
Got a birthday coming soon?

$60: http://www.google.com/shopping/prod...7&sa=X&ei=MEIMUsv2J8mq0QWx44CoCQ&ved=0CDAQrRI
Specs: http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/vivitar-dvr-508/4507-6500_7-35446447.html

And if your folks wanna go crayzee! $199: http://www.adorama.com/VVDVR840XHDB.html?gclid=CNzIyvW5_rgCFUSi4AodPiAAPg
or $149: http://www.target.com/p/samsung-f90...-optical-zoom/-/A-14518429#prodSlot=large_1_2
or $145: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...V100_B_HC_V100_High_Definition_Camcorder.html
or $185: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/879243-REG/Bell_Howell_DV2300HDZ_Full_HD_1080p.html ← Has 37mm filter threads for attachment step up rings for UV filter + circular folarizing filter + wide angle lens.


Hey, here's somethin' I MADE using all images from internet image searches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtc2kbv3EVI

Don't even NEEEEED a video camera.
 
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RaymondLeggs said:
How do I get funding for a short?
Click to expand...

3 real options:

Option 1: Look inside your wallet. Pull out the cash and check your credit card balance. Add those two numbers together. There you have your funded short budget. Congratulations.

Option 2: Look inside the wallets of your relatives. Find out what they won't miss and ask them for the test of the money they will miss. After you go through all your relatives, add up the money gained. There's your budget for your funded short. Congratulations.

Option 3: Learn how crowd funding really works. If you haven't built up an audience, go to Options 1 and/or 2. If you have a built up audience, leverage the good will that you've build up, approach your biggest supporters and look inside their wallets... and... well you know.
 
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What do you need money for? Do you have a budget?

Some ways in not particular order

1. Get a job
2. Find friends
3. Work on other people sets and ask for favour later on
4. Competitions,funds,grants etc.
5. Make films without money
6. Write awesome screenplay
7. Edit public domain films/footage
 
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The best way to get funding for shorts is to write stories you can afford to pay for outta pocket wth zero hope (or interest) on ever receiving any financial compensation or gain from it.


baoliun said:
What do you need money for? Do you have a budget?

6. Write awesome screenplay [that you can afford to finance & produce yourself!]
Click to expand...
+1
 
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