Getting Your Film Project Funded

There a lot of Independent/Ameture filmmakers trying to break into the film industry. They think that they need a lot of money to push out a good film or they need a studio to back them. This is untrue... The money is out there you just need to know how to get it. Want to know the secret to getting your film funded? You must be like an Entrepreneur... You will need business skills to survive in the film industry. I have a few steps you can follow to get your film funded.

1. "Write a Business Plan or Investment Memorandum." Yes write a business plan or learn how to write a investment memorandum. These are the keys to getting funded by private investors (Angels)... But there are rules to giving out your investment memorandums... YOU CAN'T: Just give out the investment memorandum all crazy like you can't just walk up to people and say "I was wondering if you would like to invest in my film" NO! Do not do this! If you do you will get in a shit load of trouble. You will have to IPO if it's get back to the SEC. The best way to approach an investor is in normal everyday talk. It should go like this: You: Hi, My name is John Doe. Investor: Nice to meet you John Doe my name is Blink Blank blinky. You: So what do you do? Investor: Well I'm a doctor. You: That's cool. Investor: Yeah it's fun... What do you do? You: I'm an Independent filmmaker. Investor: Really? Have you worked on anything I seen? You: Only little a indie things... I just required a great screenplay that I'm trying to get funding for now. Investor: What's the movie about? You have just made a way to hand your investment memorandum to a potential investor.
   
2. "Network! Network!" Another key to getting your film funded is networking. Getting invited to galas and little get togethers by friends or your doctors, lawyers, bosses, etc... Will help you meet potential investors. Who are potential investors? They are doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, etc...
   
3. "Bait and Trap" This is another key skill into getting funded. Like in step one is the ability to make the potential investors interested into your project.
4. "Know your industry!" This is the most important step of them all. Know what your talking about... Know the numbers, how much things cost, keep updated on the industry, know box office numbers, know the budgets of films... Know everything, but don't come off as a "Smart Ass".
5. "Stay away from Venture capitalist!" I love venture capitalist, but they are not right for film project. Trust me on this one... Venture Capitalist + Film Projects = BIG HEADACHE!
6. "Stay away from Assholes!" You don't want assholes to invest in your project. I don't care how much money they are offering and the deal might sound good, but don't. I had a guy wanted to invest $5 million into one of my film projects a few months ago. He wanted 85% of net profit and a shit load of stuff and he was giving me the run around for a few weeks until he show his true colors and I let him go. Assholes want too much and want the movie to be the next blockbuster. When they should know a independent film has a 89% chance of making nothing and they could lose all there investment.
7. "Let them know the Risk" Let your investors know the Risk of investing into a film project that there is a high risk that the film will make nothing back and they will lose all the investment. Let them know this up front.
8. "Get a lawyer" Get an entertainment lawyer... Why do I need a lawyer? You will need one both parties should have a lawyer while writing up the limited partnership agreement.
9. "Know the Law" Know the Law enough said...
10. "Hire Knowledgeable People" You might not have all the skills to run a production or you might not have the contacts to get the people you need. Hire people with the skill and contact you need you can most likely get the contact information from IMDB.com you will have to pay for a membership for that feature.

You might be thinking why should I trust him? Within a few months I got an asshole investor for $5Million (That I let go because of his assholelyness) and now I'm working with some investors on some films with budgets of $20million each. They are applying for a $500Million loan from The Lights, Cameras, Illinois! Program. If you can get up the investors with the collateral you can all so apply for the loan. The Loan Committee meets every first and third monday.

More helpful links:

Movieplan.net - Investment Memorandum Template (Very helpful if you don't know what you're doing)

Indietalks.com - Independent film, filmmakers, filmmaking. Resources for video and film makers. Movie news, reviews, and information. Indie film forum. (I got bashed at first when I was starting out on my own because I didn't know anything.)

Copyright.gov - US Copyright Office is an office of public record for copyright registration and deposit of copyright... (You will need this to copyright your stuff.)