How do you attract funders to your film campaign?

THE SUPERVIXENS

THE SUPERVIXENS

Hi everyone,

I have recently launched a campaign for my female superhero project here:indiegogo.com/thesupervixens

I have been working on this project for the last two years after deciding there was a dedicated niche audience for the film I wanted to make. So I built up a small subscriber base on youtube with R&D and audition footage. When I had my cast and about 1000 subscribers I felt the time was right to launch my campaign.

Now after lot's of intense activity on forums trying to promote this campaign. I am realizing people still do not want to contribute. Even with some pretty cool perks on offer. I understand it's a tough time financially at the moment and that many filmmakers face the same problems of raising their budget.

I've always felt we are becoming a society that expects stuff for free now. Between the vast amount of online content to torrent sites offering every TV show, movie, software and books for free. Now I feel my fears are true.

I would love to here some filmmaker success stories or ways to reach target audiences.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Alcohol.

Both for the client you're trying to squeeze money out of and for you because after your film is done, you'll have the same difficulty getting people to pony up to watch/buy your film.

Welcome to the film business.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I have heard some good tips come about the past few years. The best tip I can tell you is that getting the first big investment is huge. Let's say you need $100,000. If you can find an investor to put up the first $20-30,000, then usually you can gain the rest. I don't know if those exact numbers would work but I am to understand that once you can say that you have a solid investor on board it is easier to get others. But getting that first to commit can be difficult.

Now, as far as getting that first investor to commit is a whole different story. Again I haven't heard of a bunch of different things working but I have seen a few things bring success. Great investors want one thing: to make more money from the money they invest. Now we as filmmakers cannot guarantee that. So what do we do? Well, the next best thing to making money off an investment is not losing money off an investment. This is something that we can help with. There are states and cities that offer amazing incentives to filmmakers, and not just guys with big budgets, even little guys with small budgets. Again I don't know every single city but places like Detroit offer some great incentives. I believe they offer reimburstment of up to 50% on invested money if the film is shot entirely in that city. Again I am not an accountant and don't know all the details but I know that the government gives bonuses because they want to bring that city some of the movie industry business. So if you get an invest putting in $50,000 you've already protected $25,000 of that money. That is a great point to give an investor right out of the gate. They might only be used to a 10% return on a failed investment. And who's to say your movie would fail? The problem is there is no way to guarantee your investors money back, so protecting it is the next best thing.

This also benefits you because you might only need to pay back about $30,000 instead of a full $55,000. Make sense?

Before you get all excited about what I am saying here, be sure to do your research. Look at the different cities and different investments. Go out and get an lawyer that will specialize in this legal stuff. It will be worth your money in the long run.

Again I am not an expert but this was the best example that I have heard of being successful. SonnyBoo hasn't gotten some investors maybe he has some good tips.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The market is too saturated and investors aren't investing ... in films... as much.

Only concentrating on the internet for finding investors is not going to cut it in most instances. You have to step back from the computer and do the leg work as well. There still is nothing better than face-to-face networking.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I feel that making a trailer or producing your entire project independently is the best way to attract investors. The final product may not be up to par with a budgeted film, however investors will take the resources you had into consideration. My films company www.supergiantfilms.com is all about networking with other artists wiling to contribute for free.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top