IanBJohnson
Active member
Money. It's what we all want, it's what we all need for our films. But how do we get it?
I'm planning for a documentary. The subject is a small village in Tanzania, and surprise surprise, getting there costs a whole lot. I'm a student in the film program at MSU Bozeman, so it's slim pickin's for me financially. So my question is this... where does the money come from? Here are some ideas I've come across.
1: A mass-mailing to friends and family (especially the rich ones) describing the project, its humanitarian motivations, and asking for $20 from each person. I know a family that does this for their daughter's volunteer trips and it works quite well.
2: A website with a mission statement and description, asking for donations via paypal. Not sure how much this will yield, depends on how many people I can refer to the URL, i suppose.
3: School grants. Has anyone tried this? I know that the film department here is strapped for cash, so it may not work. But I can't imagine they'd simply turn a cold shoulder to one of their students producing a documentary abroad. Maybe try a "study abroad" angle, and go for help on travel costs?
4: Local businesses. Cohen style. I could hit up all the banks, coffee shops, and hotels in town. Has anyone any experience doing this?
5: Formal funding from independant production companies. This seems the least plausible, but maybe there are some small-time organizations that could pitch in a few hundred bucks.
6: Selling my soul.
Post what's worked for you in the past, and what you're going to try in the future. I need money, you need money, Uncle Bob needs money. Share your ideas.
I'm planning for a documentary. The subject is a small village in Tanzania, and surprise surprise, getting there costs a whole lot. I'm a student in the film program at MSU Bozeman, so it's slim pickin's for me financially. So my question is this... where does the money come from? Here are some ideas I've come across.
1: A mass-mailing to friends and family (especially the rich ones) describing the project, its humanitarian motivations, and asking for $20 from each person. I know a family that does this for their daughter's volunteer trips and it works quite well.
2: A website with a mission statement and description, asking for donations via paypal. Not sure how much this will yield, depends on how many people I can refer to the URL, i suppose.
3: School grants. Has anyone tried this? I know that the film department here is strapped for cash, so it may not work. But I can't imagine they'd simply turn a cold shoulder to one of their students producing a documentary abroad. Maybe try a "study abroad" angle, and go for help on travel costs?
4: Local businesses. Cohen style. I could hit up all the banks, coffee shops, and hotels in town. Has anyone any experience doing this?
5: Formal funding from independant production companies. This seems the least plausible, but maybe there are some small-time organizations that could pitch in a few hundred bucks.
6: Selling my soul.
Post what's worked for you in the past, and what you're going to try in the future. I need money, you need money, Uncle Bob needs money. Share your ideas.
