How do i find the money for my movie?

How do I find the money for my movie?  I know my script inside out. I have an idea of the cast I would like. I have a plan where I want to shoot and how much it will cost – but where do I find the finance?

How do I find the money for my movie?  For short films or first time, low budget features try the following ways:

CROWDFUNDING

• There are online platforms where people with similar interests gather and support one another. 
• You have to be prepared to pitch your project i.e. ‘sell’ it to the online collective. 
• However, this is a good thing – it prepares you for the reality of having an ‘audience’ (you will get instant feedback on your idea). 
• KICKSTARTER, INDIEGOGO and SEEDANDSPARK are all sites where filmmakers can raise funds. 
• Be prepared to back up the fund raise with promises: anything from copies of your script to set visits and premiere tickets (assuming there is one!). 
• It can be a lot of work to maintain promises made to multiple investors. 

GRANTS 

• Globally there are bodies dedicated to the film / tv / entertainment industries with funding available to help filmmakers get their projects off the ground. 
• Get ready for long application forms with pages of information to complete – they are over subscribed with requests. There will be a slow process to get access to that money. 
• Here’s a list of grants from FilmDailyTV.

‘ANGEL’ INVESTORS 

• There are individuals who have made money themselves in a variety of industries who support up and comers with seed funding. 
• They may not be film industry investors – but have a passion for entertainment. 
• Investors will expect some sort of business plan to back up your request for investment.
• Again, you have to prepare your pitch documentation and have answers to why your movie should get finance (& how you may return that investment).  

FRIENDS & FAMILY 

• If you are starting out in the industry and have a project with a small budget, talk to people you know – colleagues, friends, family – who may want to back your idea & support your launch into the business. 
• Again, it is important to have as professional a plan as possible re your intention to return this investment
• i.e. what’s the movie; who’s it for; how will it be marketed; where do you intend to find distribution.  

TAX BREAKS 

• Wherever you live it’s likely that somewhere close by there is a rebate / tax break of some sort for the movie you are making. 
• Check out local rebates – is the one in your state as good as the next state over? 
• If not, think of moving your shoot to a different location. 
• However, before doing that work out the costs of the move – can you find local crew local or do you have to take people with you & fund accommodation / travel? 
• If so, talk to local culture / tourism departments too – maybe they will provide some resources in return for your advertising their location.  

How do I find money for my movie?

Pitch Documents

• With all of the above, it is important to prepare as detailed a set of pitch documents as you can e.g. logline, synopsis, summary; cast/ crew; budget & finance plan; marketing /distribution plan. 
• All of this informs the investors that you are thinking creatively and as a business opportunity. 
• If you make back your investors’s money, the chances are they will invest again.