Archive for April, 2011

The Art and Science of Independent Film Financing

April 7th, 2011

In my opinion there is an art and science to handling independent film financing. The art is being able to find money to manufacture a movie as well as the science will be able to use that money wisely.

It’s really a tragicomedy of sorts when a filmmaker can secure money for making their movie only to burn through it before they might finish their movie. Running out of money sometimes happens during filming or post production.

The ability of film financing can be hard for a lot of filmmakers since they are considering their potential movie coming from a creative perspective. Making movies is a business. Filmmakers must package their movie with investors as the primary goal. Unless you’re totally self-funding a show you’re going to have to apply standard business principals to draw in other people’s money (OPM).

Movie investors by nature are risk takers because it is not like putting money in a blue chip stock. They are choosing a screenplay, director, cast, and film crew. What motivates movie investors to get hard earned cash into financing a film vary. Most frequent motivations I’ve experienced is he or she intend to make an income, they only flat out need to be involved with the making of a film, or they feel in you as being a filmmaker (that is the best in my view). Or seventy one!

Before beginning approaching investors start a few things first. Get yourself a website or blog up about your upcoming movie. Post just what the movie is about, that is involved, and exactly how movie investors can contact you. This doesn’t have to be flashy. Basics are fantastic. Your favorite shows poster, full synopsis of what are the movie is all about and some other information you choose individuals to learn about your movie.

Prepare a venture capitalist pitch package and save it on PDF to email out. I like to include a mock movie poster (always smart to have artwork), a killer tagline (snappy slogan accustomed to hype a motion picture), a shorter concise synopsis (summary of the plot), and any letters of attachment from key cast and crew. When we get serious it is possible to send them a full version of the screenplay, rough budget and what compensation you’re offering (potential revenue stuff).

The science of independent film financing is the place to budget money as soon as you understand it. It is just a lot harder then it might sound. Sadly, many indie movies go unfinished since the filmmaker runs out of money. Sure, there are times a “Force Majeure” (superior force) comes into play stopping a motion picture from ever getting finished. Most of the time it just comes down to poor budgeting. A movie budget i believe is as essential as the screenplay.

Film financing is much more detailed next, i can share in this short post. I suggest you join MovieBizCoach.com (it’s FREE) to hear how industry professionals handle film financing. Furthermore recommend reading The primary Movie Is The Toughest: A Filmmaker’s Story Of The way Ended cover to pay (shameless plug for my own book). Choosing amazed that budgeting begins when you type one word of this screenplay. Budget first, screenplay second. This is indie filmmaker Sid Kali typing FADE OUT.