Makes sense. What if the "why" was other filmmakers supporting their own because they know how hard it is to get a film to completion, and also how much more difficult it is now?
Of course, compared to other causes, its nothing in the grand scheme.
If that's why will motivate other filmmakers to hand over their cash, then that's the why. If it won't get them to hand over their money, then it's your wishful thinking and not their "why".
Why's can be status, duty, opportunity, value proposal, obligation, peer pressure, entertainment value, emotional pull, pity, frenzy.... the list goes on and on. It's usually a combination of multiples.
You have to know your audience to know what will move them to action. As much as we'd like it to be, it's not a one size fits all. I used to work with a company about a decade back. This kind of stuff was part of my duties. It was interesting work.
Well in my mind, it would be a Youtuber that already has a loyal following.
He then takes his following with him on a live stream or something, and asks them to raid the crowdfunding campaign.
Almost exactly how they do with subs and bits on Twitch.
There are a couple of filmmakers trying to make Twitch work for them.... But its just not working. They don't get many views or followers, because I think the process of making a film is just so complicated and dull for people.
Honestly, I'm just terrible at this whole business thing. I'm too niche and hardheaded to cater to audiences. So I'm trying to brainstorm and come up with ways that I can make an impact outside of helping myself all the time.
I took a quick look at Twitch and the phychology behind games and their audience donating to Twitch channels. It's interesting and has both its subtle and not so subtle parts. Almost like appealing to a gamblers mindset combined with some sort of toxic or predatory thing. It's really wierd.
The filmmaker/youtuber who has a following has potential, depending on their value to their audience. How they milk that potential depends on the ebbs and flows of that audience.
The issue most have is they look at how they'd like things to be rather than how things are. Take your filmmakers supporting their own theory. If filmmakers supported other filmmakers, you'd find every short on youtube would have views in the 6 or 7 figure range. Watching short films on youtube doesn't cost you a thing and it's still not happening. If they're not willing to watch films to show their support, I don't see expecting more than that being reality. It might work in some alternate reality. It's unlikely to happen in our reality without some sort of behaviour shift.
One last lesson. The percieved value of what you're offering has to exceed the price you're asking. This is for each individual person. Everyone values stuff differently. It's the reason friends and family are more inclined to donate to something you're crowdfunding. It could be the social pain of not donating is greater than the amont being asked, or knowing that they're helping achieve your goal creates a good feeling beyond the value of the donation. That doesn't happen with strangers. Strangers aren't usually motivated by those kinds of reasons.
