hi all,
outside of high school tv class projects, i have made 1 short film on a less-than-micro budget (under $100). this was doable, because i had access to a free camera and sound equipment, through my college. i am now out of school and no longer have access to those things. i would really like to make another film, a little longer and more professional, but have some basic questions. any help/input/guidance you can lend is much appreciated.

-where do you find funding for short films? i don't have $3000 to throw into it myself, and ive seen some that have budgets of over $10,000. i have a hard time believing that money came straight out of the director/producers pocket

-are there ways for the short to make money to pay back investors,(assuming i can find them), or are these "investors" actually more like "donators"? this same question applies if i were to use credit cards/take out bank loans. would i have to basically pay it back myself, or can the short bring in money to pay off those cards/loans?

just to be clear, i am not expecting or looking to make a profit. just trying to figure out a way to pay off or at least offset the working costs of the film.

thanks in advance,
...kp

I'm having the same problem!

3 years ago i was in your position. I bought a vintage VHS camera off ebay for 40$ and the VHs tapes only cost 1$ each.

unfortunately, the best way I found is getting a job and paying for it. If you find another way, let me know

Yeah, I'm afraid work is probably your best option. Get yourself a job, put money away every week, do every odd job you can, scrounge and save and most importantly be patient. It will all be worth it when you've got your camera.

I worked for months and months and months before I got my first camera, and it was all the more sweeter because I'd earned it.

As for investors, if you can find people willing to give you money great, but you are legally obliged (at least in Australia) to make sure they know very few films make any money back, and so they probably won't see a dime in return. If they acknowledge this and still give you some cash then you're laughing.

Good luck.

We don't know. That's why we spend our days posting here until we give up and do wedding videos. Heart shaped transitions are underrated.

I find wedding videos and event videos a great way to make extra money to feed the habit, at least your not working at mcdonalds. You at least get the dignity of working for yourself and using your cameras and learning more about them, and if you d it right, by doing weddings and other commercial things with your camera, you can make more money then working for someone and have a little more time. It is very stressful tho and you have to be determined and organized

I'm in the same position and what I would suggest is to post your equipment and crew calls on craigslist. You'd be surprised how many people are willing to work with other budding filmmakers to accomplish a short film. Good Luck!

-Yosef Solomon

If you have an idea for a film I suggest writing a really good script. Put a lot of work into script and then put just as much work into writing a good treatment for the film. The more concise and detailed your treatment is, the easier it is to gain interest in your film.

Once you have these things you can then start to find interest in your film. Look up organizations that give grants to film, like the national endowment for the arts. What is your film about? Are there special groups of people that would be interested in your film? Contact them and see if they would like to invest.

Get your script and treatment to as many people as possible. Its kind of like the guy that asks all the girls out. He's bound to get a yes eventually. If you have a good idea and your script is good you'll eventually get interest.

Also if you have friends or relatives or connections that will def give you some money, get their investment first. This way when you're pitching your film you'll be able to show them that someone has already invested. People are more likely to contribute to a film if someone already has.

Alot of this applies to producing a film and may not directly relate to your project. But that doesn't mean it can't help your raise at least raise some to get the film done.

What are you guys even spending money on?

Cheapstuffs:

- Dolly? Wheelchair, car, or silenced skateboardwheels.

- Effects? Adobe Premiere Elements 4.0 for 70 buxx at max.

- Crew? Willing students or friends, preferably both, who'll do it for free.

- Talent? Friends, drama clubs, or friends in drama clubs.


Exploit your friends. If there is no money involved, what've they got to lose? Or gain?

Also, theres the six degrees of seperation. A friend of a cousin of a friend might be a frivolous millionare film advocate. or something...

A great site to find money for your films is IndieGoGo.com. The site is a platform for filmmakers to connect with film lovers.

The idea is that little contributions from a lot of people can get your movie funded. The site is also a good way to get people to watch and support your films too.

Check it out: www.indiegogo.com

Another potential idea is to offer friends and family the opportunity to buy "shares" of your film for predertimined amounts -- say $50 or $100. Tell them when you are "rich and famous" you'll pay them back...

If you do find steady work and manage to craft a strict budget for yourself, you can justify buying a camera with a credit card (pick one with the lowest interest you can find, typically through your bank) as long as you use your budgeted savings to pay off more than the minimum balance due each month.

Pay the most that you can afford -- remember that the minimum payment won't bite into the principal cost and you won't be paying the down actual debt.

If you are disciplined in this approach, you can have the instant gratification of buying the camera you want now instead of later.

Good luck!

Remeber the underwear gnomes in South Park:

"Step one, we steal all the underwear in the world. Step two,.... Step three, collect the profits!"

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Just be prepared with a good script if there happens to be a miracle. There's no shame in being a starving artist. I mean look how well it worked out for Van Gogh!