Grant to shoot a feature

I

IITT

New member
I am a college student at a school that gives students summer undergrad research grants. The school grants 3,000 dollars to students who convince the comittee to invest in their projects. After completing several short films, and Assistant directing a feature (yeah it's not directing but they don't know the difference ;) ) I want to use this grant to produce my own film.

I want to be able to convince them to invest MORE than 3,000. Prove that if they invest more than 3,000 I can, not only complete the film, but even return the money. I am aiming for 10,000 dollar grant (even if they give me nine, i'll have 1,000 saved up to top it off).

Now my question: Where and how can I find out what the market is interested in? I know that the market is saturated with horror films and that thriller/action films and comedy is the best way to go. I, on the other hand, am writting a feature length drama. What are the chances of this selling? It's a decent script but I can i figure out if this is somethign that could sell for 10,000?
 
First off, a grant is not an 'investment' -- it's a gift. Grants are not, to my knowledge, intended to be repaid with interest. And grants are usually given for not-for-profit projects, not often for things you plan to make money on.

Your school may be different. Who knows?

To answer your question, though -- I doubt the market is saturated with horror films. There are lots of horror films for a reason -- they sell, and they do well. Thriller/action is a harder sell, and comedy is harder still. If you want to do a comedy that has no 'name' actors in it, then it's pretty much going to have to be very 'adult' in nature and chock full of bathroom humor. Horror is still the best way to make a sale without 'name' actors.

A feature length drama without 'names' would also be a hard sell. If the topic appeals to a niche market, you might have a chance, but it's a long shot.

Good luck!
 
Yeah David, that was my impression as well...

I mean, it's not that it's impossible to make money off something you were given a grant for, it's just that it's not really expected to be returned. I believe at Chapman they have something like this, you may argue over terminology, but my friend Bryan in his last year directed what was to be his thesis film, and then over x-mas break essentially won a filmmaking grant from the faculty of some sort that funded another short film, so he got to work and was busy shooting that when most people were doing career placement stuff and whatnot. That gave him an extra short on his reel to send to festivals and whatnot. But in the case of shorts, of course, that money isn't expected to be returned. However, if he won a few short contests, yeah, you could make some cash back.
 
I see what you're saying Jonathan. But I think that's a different scenario from applying for a grant for a for-profit feature film project. But hey, if he can convince them to give him the money, good for him!
 
haha, true, I mean that doesn't sound like an easy sell but... I guess it's worth a shot.

It's not easy raising money for investments like this. Generally if you're going to invest in something like a film, you want to see a good track record for the principles and a real business sense that leads you to think there's some chance of making money.

There are basically four levels of investors, I mean there could be said to be more, but this is about what I understand:
1) Friends and family (initial funding for a startup venture, or a film in this case). This would be like a Blair Witch Project type of film, tiny funding.
2) Angel investors. Essentially Angel investors fill the gap between 1 and 3, in the several hundred thousand dollar range, and an Angel investor has to believe there is a chance of making a 10x return on investment or better, even 20-30x, within 5 years. Sometimes an Angel investor has other motives besides just cash, of course, but this is a good businessman trying to make money usually. Angel investors must be accredited, which is defined as $200,000 net income per year or higher, or $1 million net worth or higher. Extremely high risk, extremely high reward if these investments hit. This could be more like a feature film from an up-and-coming director who has had significant success in some field, perhaps commercials or music videos or shorts, etc.
3) Venture capitalists. This is the $1 to $2.5 million range of investment, and often managed by venture capitalist groups, usually not just individuals, so there are pools of venture capitalists that fund various startups, bio tech, inventions, Websites, etc. High risk, high reward investments. Probably investing in a film with solid principles attached, but still a high risk because the film is funded by an outside company looking to sell the final project to a high level distributor based on its outcome.
4) Bank funding or other major corporate funding. Usually operate on more sure-fire basis, modest returns, modest risks. Any studio picture is funded either by banks or by the studio itself, and has guaranteed distribution across their network and major stars or industry players attached. Not certain to make money by any means, but less of a risk.

Most of us are probably stuck with funding Option #1, and if we're lucky #2, haha. We all want to make films with #4 funding. ;)
 
Well, I know for sure that I will recieve a $3,000 grant just because the school wants to expand their film program and because they'll give the money to anyone who presents a good argument for being given the grant.

My big issue is that 3,000 is not enough to shoot a feature when I am not granted the equipment at the same time. So, to convince them to put more money down, i'm going to do this for profit... except I will "donate" money back to the school and continue to have access to some decent equipment.

If they decide not to put down the extra money, i'll be spending my own cash and so i'll need this feature to make money back.

I think i've figured this out for myself...

I will basically present the research comittee with three sets of scripts. The script i wrote which is a drama (with comedic elements), a horror that belongs to someone else, and a thriller/action historical/present day piece dealing with Edgar Allen Poe which i co-wrote. I will bascially explain that the drama is an "art" film which won't sell, and the other two would (especially the dgar allen poe piece). I'll say "which would to grant more money towards? I can't shoot a film with no equipment and 3,000. I need atleast a camera and a very good sound equipment and decent lights which could run up to 10,000.

And, after they make their decision, i'll finally move away from short films! And if it's a success, i'll be able to do it again next year... and then i'll graduate.
 
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