I made my film http://searchingforangelashelton.com/ by throwing a party, selling t-shirts, getting donations in trade for your name in the credit list, and having 13 investors who were friends and supporters who I gave 25% of the profits to. Then it was all audience driven. The movie became a message and a movement for healing and awareness, inspiring people to move past the victim roles and live joyful lives. Urged by the followers of the film, I took and sold the movie at places where the audience demanded it. The Air Force bought a copy for every Air Force base. It is now used in rape crisis centers and shelters across the states and in sex offender treatment programs. Who knew that was a market? I certainly didn’t when I began. The first DVD was just the movie with no extras and it was available because I got so many emails requesting it. The press that the movie got was all from word-of-mouth through the audience and supporters. It certainly taught me that the most important part of the film is not just that you love it, would sell your house, max your cards and live in your car for it, but if the audience would do the same. For this movie they would and have and still send money to make sure the next DVD gets out. I paid for the “official version” with closed captions (forgot about that!) and Spanish subtitles and director’s commentary all from pre-sells online, gifts and loans from those who wanted it out faster.

So far I’ve paid the investors back a third of their money through selling the DVD myself on the website and licensing it to TV. I didn’t sell it, I rented it. The audience demanded that I never sell the movie but keep it independent and a survivor like they are. Now the audience has requested and we’ve created an affiliate program so they can push the licensing agreements and make a portion of the proceeds for themselves.

But I also mortgaged my house, sold my car, maxed my cards, wrote for TV, took commercial gigs, and borrowed money to keep it all going in the beginning. Now it’s a machine that runs itself and slowly pays back the bills it collected.

Per the request of the audience, I started a line of other products that they also want to sell via affiliate marketing. We all have heard of the bogus affiliate programs on those “get rich quick” sites, now the audience for this movie are using that model to spread healing, awareness and joyful living. I couldn’t ask for more as a filmmaker actually. Now I listen to the people as well as my gut artist instinct.

Due to the huge love the audience has for this movie, I started another one under a very similar model but this time am not maxing the cards or selling the house and instead letting the audience spread the word about it further.

So filmmakers, do what you love and what the audience loves and you will prevail!

@AngelaShelton

I must say that this days I don’t have much time for reading Blogs on the net, but for some strange reason I found myself attracted to read your, and I’m extremely pleased that I did so, It was Simply put a “FANTASTIC” Read!!

I’m an independent Filmmaker, and have a very dear story to me in the works, but with the current economy lost my Business, and loosing my home as well, with little to no money in the bank, is not easy to continue and pursue your dreams, more so when your health continuously deteriorates giving you signs that your last chance on your Dream is really near.

I have had many offers on the story, but I’m not interested in selling, this as I say is very dear to me, and I must make this film at all costs!

I’m working on a Web site were I will present and showcase the film, as well as look in to any way of rising funds for it, as I will donate 50% of the net profits for a charity to Aid Abuse Children, Major Studios are out of the picture as they will never agree to it!

A short intro were you can read a short Theme and go to also watch a Video Synopsis i made, is here: http://ketchrossi.wordpress.com/

With your read I found today a new energy towards this dream, and refreshed my mind of new ideas of working my way towards funding of this project.

Thanks you for the great read Olga.

Ciao,

Ketch Rossi

This post was mentioned on Twitter by GoGoSlava: How to raise $5,000,000+ for film production without committing neither crime nor suicide? http://bit.ly/1AF5yb...

As you are taking a 10,000 ft. view point on this matter you can’t be blamed for your lack of knowledge as to how this business works and why the majority of your ideas in this blog would put you up against a brick wall. I do commend you on the idea of leveraging the script that really requires no money at all and just requires an option that is well written and provides the writer with a decent fee contingent on funding as well as an exit strategy if you turn out to be a flake and can’t raise the money.

hosting fundraising events and attaching corporate sponsors requires massive amounts of time, legal and relationships as well as a clear path for the corporation to back out as they are also trying to protect their brand from some little movie, and its potential wackiness.

borrowing money from your fans still requires you to pay the exhibitor and how are you going to do a “terms” deal with an exhibitor? They sell popcorn and soda…good luck with getting in their for nothing.

I will agree with the idea of preselling DVD’s to the fans in advance along with simple brandable, self promotion style stuff like t-shirts, and stickers. This is what a lot of people think is the future of film funding. We are launching our site at http://www.biracy.com in the coming weeks and invite you to preregister for the beta.

In the end most filmmakers if they are raising more than a million dollars will end up giving away a larger portion of their equity no one can put a valuation of greater than 20% on a business plan anyway (script), unless they bring management, production and distribution as well. Which in most cases they do not.

Fear and greed drive the film business and those who learn to deal with it and treat it like any other manufactured product industry deal will have a much longer and happier life working within it.