Need Advice on Raising money

Hannibleking

Hannibleking

New member
I have a problem, and im going to lay out the whole story so I can hopefully give you a good grasp on what my problem is and since im new here I'tll give you a little bit of background on my experience as well. I have been making movies since I was in the 6th grade with a black and white video camera. Well about two years ago (im 16 almost 17 now) one of my older friends got a DVX100a camera and we kinda shot movies on it together. One of which won the Plano Film festival award for best film (Plano is a suburb of Dallas) which for very new filmakers to win 1st out of I believe 50 films is definetly a major accomplishment, in my eyes at least . Well he just moved away because he is a senior and he just graduated(hes going to filmschool so Im happy for him) and he took the camera with him. Well I just finished a 40 page feature film length script and the camera I was going to make it on went bye bye... So obviously I want to get another DVX because I liked it so much... and that brings me to my problem. I need money to buy one and my parents definatly wont help me, and im an actor also(im trying not to sound egotistical here... I can act,write, direct, impale myself with a piece of re-bar and live, ect...) and I work after school and on weekends on plays so that rules out a part-time job. And here is the point where I have run out of ideas and need the experts... do you guys know any ways to make money/beg for money to save up to get a camera and wont be to arduous. I'm just thinking about Robert Rodrieguez and the Drug tests he did for El Mariachi and Kevin Smith and the credit card thing for Clerks. God I am still talking, ok this was a partially an introduction for me onto these boards(some might call it my freaking biography) and part question. So I apologize for the length you will find that I am usually clear and concise in my ramblings. But I digress... So back to the whole financing thing... yea so any ideas, theorys, or epiphanys would be great.

Peace
 
Everyone has their own ways. I sold my car and bought a cheaper one, took the remainder of the money, sold my old camera, and got the original, discontinued DVX100 used (with very low hours) for $1,680 from a member of this board. If it's just for your one film though, borrow some money and rent it for the shoot. Also, feature films tend to run at about 70 minutes (i.e. pages) or more.
 
Hannibleking said:
I have a problem, and im going to lay out the whole story so I can hopefully give you a good grasp on what my problem is and since im new here I'tll give you a little bit of background on my experience as well. I have been making movies since I was in the 6th grade with a black and white video camera. Well about two years ago (im 16 almost 17 now) one of my older friends got a DVX100a camera and we kinda shot movies on it together. One of which won the Plano Film festival award for best film (Plano is a suburb of Dallas) which for very new filmakers to win 1st out of I believe 50 films is definetly a major accomplishment, in my eyes at least . Well he just moved away because he is a senior and he just graduated(hes going to filmschool so Im happy for him) and he took the camera with him. Well I just finished a 40 page feature film length script and the camera I was going to make it on went bye bye... So obviously I want to get another DVX because I liked it so much... and that brings me to my problem. I need money to buy one and my parents definatly wont help me, and im an actor also(im trying not to sound egotistical here... I can act,write, direct, impale myself with a piece of re-bar and live, ect...) and I work after school and on weekends on plays so that rules out a part-time job. And here is the point where I have run out of ideas and need the experts... do you guys know any ways to make money/beg for money to save up to get a camera and wont be to arduous. I'm just thinking about Robert Rodrieguez and the Drug tests he did for El Mariachi and Kevin Smith and the credit card thing for Clerks. God I am still talking, ok this was a partially an introduction for me onto these boards(some might call it my freaking biography) and part question. So I apologize for the length you will find that I am usually clear and concise in my ramblings. But I digress... So back to the whole financing thing... yea so any ideas, theorys, or epiphanys would be great.

Peace
Click to expand...

I am in sort of the same situation. I am 14, and I cannot afford the DVX100a. I used it for a few days, and never wanted another camera more, unless of course we're talkink HVX. Anyway, I really want/need to buy a DVX. I have two trashy Sony Handycams I plan on selling to put towards it. So I would by graeful for any more good ideas.
 
you can try starting a website that has a paypal for donations and then pimp the script and story line to "donators". Make flyers and hand them out at the malls, have a free car wash but tell them to go to your site and make a donation. Myspace of course might get you a little but actually going out and talking to people would be better. Keep them up to date on how its going and when you start shooting let them know whats going on. Make them feel like they will be a part of something special. You can also go to your local merchants and beg like the Cohen bros did. They went to everyone and got a little bit from a lot of people to make thier first movie. Can't hurt to try and you will learn how to market yourself.
 
If you really have to make this film, sacrifice the time you would spend working on plays and get a job.

Or you can try finding someone else with a camera and become their new best friend.
 
Yo. You're going to need more than 40 pages for a full length feature. Most full length films run at about 90 pages (minutes) long.

As stated above, you don't need to buy the camera. I'm 19 and I just bought my first one. I worked at a job I never thought I would (nuclear plant). But it payed me about 1000/week for 7 weeks. So that's how I got the money for my camera.

If you're really serious about shooting this, get your ducks in a row. First thing is first, lengthen your script. Then, figure up your budget. Find some actors and crew. Then find people who are willing to invest in your movie. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks

Thanks

Thanks for all the advice:dankk2: , its really getting all the gears turning upstairs. But i did want to say something on the script length comment. First of all the script has not been converted to normal film script format (its almost written more like a book right now than a script) so once that happens it will probably boost the length of it because I did a read through with some of my fellow thespians and it came out to be 1 hour and 20 minutes and thats just lines of dialogue. Also no I am not planning on using it for just one film, I want to make many films but I just dont even have a camera to shoot this one film.
 
I understand on where you're coming from on wanting to shoot a lot of films. But it really boils down to you having the money. Everyone could make awesome movies, but we don't all have the money.

If you can't kick up the cash to get the camera, maybe you can use some dough from the investors to buy your camera and then shoot. OR, you could just rent for this film and then submit it to some festivals/contest and hope to win some money and buy your camera then (assuming you don't have to pay back any investors).

Your best bet is shooting something with a very little budget with some friends and making it as good as you can. Then you can submit it to different contests and hope to make some money back on it.

keep it real.
 
OK and once again this is hannible king my accounts just messed up right now. But I thought I'd just follow up with what has transpired. By the way what I've decided to do is use the little camera(its ok but its not dvx) I have now and document this whole thing and I'll put it on a dvd or something. But I bought a domain name with a partner in crime(/film-making) and we're working on a website but until then this will be our website and we have a paypal donations button up and im not asking for money from you guys (but it would be nice though). I'll just document this whole process and if it works a future film-maker not unlike myself will have a resource on how to raise money for a film.
 
Try to get a part time job, and save, and save! Sell old stuff you don't need on ebay, ect.
 
Im 18 years old and live in Trophy Club, a suburb outside Dallas. (West of Plano) I sold my old GS-400 camera and WORKED MY BUTT OFF as a waiter and got enough money to buy a DVX100a and some nice accesories. Now i've done some freelance stuff to help pay off the camera. I know you said you dont have time to get a job but if you want to purchase a $2000 camera w/o actually having a job, its going to take alot of time/effort. Im not saying it cant be done but im sure it'll be challenging. Anyway, I love making films and am always trying to think of new ideas for movies. PM me and we'll see if we cant work something out, i'd like to help you if your in the Dallas area.
 
you need to change that website so it doesn't sound like some kids who are begging for money. make it sound like you are serious and donating to you wouldn't be a waste. right now i can't imagine anyone who would read your site and be moved enough to click the donate button. be sincere, don't put in jedi mind trick jokes. and don't use a free blog with no graphics. you gotta spend money to make money.
 
First off maybe think of a less expensive camera. No one wants to start at the bottom but honestly starting at the bottom helps weed out those that aren't serious and you learn a heck of a lot about making due when you have next to nothing.
If you're truly talented, even a $200 handi cam can't hide it and true passion is never held up for financial reasons.

And don't rule out a part-time job replacing your spare time working on plays, life isn't always about what you want to do it's often about what you have to do. (whoa, I sound like my dad......)

You can always make a few bucks by donating to a blood bank. My friends used to do it for beer money when I was growing up and it worked just fine for them.......


DDP
 
ddp said:
You can always make a few bucks by donating to a blood bank. My friends used to do it for beer money when I was growing up and it worked just fine for them.......


DDP
Click to expand...

wait, you get money for DONATING blood? i thought people just got orange juice and cookies.

anyway, hannibl what camera did you use for the test clip? looks more than adequate to me.
 
Just wanted to say, I already have 800$ saved up from selling stuff on ebay, money from my last job, and I got a hundred dollars for house sitting for 2 weeks so my scrounging abilities have worked so far. Besides my play will be over in a few weeks. So I will try to get a job then, but I am just trying to make do for now. Also I've been making movies with a panasonic PV-GS2 so this will be a 4 year waiting upgrade.

Oh, and im sorry about the blog thing I didnt even read it and now I feel like an idiot because I know my friend writes ,regardless of the context, like hes on myspace but I didnt even think to check it. I'll get it fixed as soon as I'm done giving him verbal abuse.

Thanks as always for you words of wisdom.:)
 
dc12at0n- Back in the early 80's and in Seattle they used to pay. Can't remember how much but it back then beer was cheap and it was desperate times for my friends.
I think you could only give once every couple of weeks at the same place so obviously they had more then one place lined up to donate to.

Good chance that if you had a surgery in Seattle in the 80's and woke up feeling a buzz you inadvertantly met my old band mates.....:beer:

DDP
 
For the test clip I used a panasonic PV-GS2 but the city footage is sadly my friends xl1s footage because im in memphis right now, and I asked him whenever he could find the time could he shoot a panning shot of Dallas for me. Before you ask I cannot use his camera because he is always using it for something and there is the fact I live in memphis and he lives in Dallas so that makes logistics kind of tough.
 
Hannibleking said:
I have a problem, and im going to lay out the whole story so I can hopefully give you a good grasp on what my problem is and since im new here I'tll give you a little bit of background on my experience as well.
Click to expand...

Your dilema is all too familar -

I found myself in the same situation, i took a different route - most people that are willing to pony up some money they want to take part in some part of the money (ie changing scripts, adding scene, two cents, etc.) i dediced that I rather wait and save up and by my own equipment so I can do it my way, it's taken me 3 long years, but it was worth it, i had plenty of time to learn and think about my project, now i'm a month away from completing shooting - just remember only sacrifice what you can afford --

good luck
krp
 
And I wish you the sincerest best of luck Kryptics.

And now to the original post. My advice is get serious and stop tryng the easy route.
 
I was lucky on how I got my equipment. It was last year and I was 19 years of age when I started my job. I CLEARED $4500 every three weeks and the only payments I had were on my car. I managed to save $14,000 within 3 months of actual working. I consider myself very lucky.

Anyways, have a yard/garage sale or something. Get a job too.
 
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