Chamber005
Carbonite Member
Yeah, and I'm not completely crushing the idea, it just might be more than I'm looking to do right now for someone else's project. The whole notion of the 500 dollar mark was to ensure that I didn't have a stake that I really cared about losing in the movie (nor would anyone else, thus potentially increasing the amount of people who might raise their hand). The 500 bucks was just so that I would have SOME stake in what it is I'm promoting.
I am personally doing a webseries on a zero budget specifically because I want to work with NO money before I start to use ANY money. First because that's how I want to learn how to do things creatively and second because it would be a horrible investment to put ANY money into a webseries being directed and produced by someone who just started doing it 5 months ago, even if that someone is me. I'm not looking to learn how to invest in film, I'm interested in learning how to market and promote (and wouldn't mind raising money for if the legalities were legit) a film.
I already know how to invest (and, btw, the structure you mentioned probably wouldn't be something I would do. If I were going to invest in a property that would most likely fail, e.g. an indie film, I'd probably take back my original investment after the first profits and then a preferred return of closer to 100% before an even split commenced on whatever profits remained). What I am excited to do and am looking to do (hopefully with others involved) is promote and market a film. Again, raising money is fine so long as the company in question knows how to greenlight me (legally) to go get it for them. I would never, ever, never use a large amount of my own funds or any of my business associate's funds to invest in someone else's project other than my own. That wouldn't make any sense to my own creative endevours.
When/if I want to invest real money in someone else's film I'll probably do it after I've already done it with my own productions, as that would make the most investment sense since there would be no splits, etc. beyond myself and my associates who would then want to reinvest in me and my productions.
What I'm putting on the table (and anyone else can join me) isn't about the money, it's about having me (and possibly others) on their team who will work for the film, that's it. Not saying I'd be great at it, just saying I'd be willing to do it because it would be a good learning experience.
People who want private equity to invest in their films should go out and meet people in private equity who are not interested in making films of their own. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people right now sitting on huge fortunes with nothing to do with their money but invest it. It's up to the individual to go out and meet those people. *I* don't need to meet those people, I began doing that ten years ago when I was a writer considering someday self-publishing. I knew that someday THESE were the kinds of business associates I would need, not, say, other writers. So the only sort of help I'd be in regards to investing in someone else's film would be if I had an opening to deal beyond the people who I already associate myself with -- but the legalities seem pretty stiff, IMO.
But 60-70% of all this filmmaking stuff, to me, seems to be about business, making connections and networking as the law prohibits any real grass roots kind of campaigning. Just like a filmmaker needs to have a budget, script, company, atty, etc. in place prior to seeking out private equity (which they would then have a thorough business proposal to present to), just as much time should be spent getting to know money and the people who have it -- SOLEY for the purpose of getting to know money and the people who have it. If you walk into a clubhouse with anything on your mind to SELL, you will be banned for life, no doubt about it. You have to ENGAGE in business, EXIST in the money the way high end financial people exist in money. Go on cruises with them, brunches; get to know their kids and their family. THAT is business, THAT is how you get to exist in and understand high finance. They know it's business just as well as you do. You're the creative, wacky person who they keep around for laughs and great insights, and you keep them around because you want to LEARN from them and EXIST with them in their space.
Only after years of existing this way, THEN you can mention the little short films you've been doing on the side, and then you wait for them, your now BUSINESS ASSOCIATE to ask YOU to give you their money. Unfortunately instead of making money and being around money most people spend their twenties milling around some university and then taking the first crappy job they're offered instead of forgetting all that and leaping straight into the game. The rat race is real, and while I think 1st-10th deserve a mention, placing 11th and beyond can most of the time mean a life of frustration and bitterness.
And heck, the best thing about hanging around and getting to know high finance? You might just get rich yourself! LOL I certainly don't consider myself "rich" by any stretch because I still have to work a couple hours a day, but then, I only have to work a couple hours a day. With enough continued focus on my business priorities I see no reason why I can't be "rich" in the next 10 years.
Remember, Personal Associates, Business Associates, Artistic Associates. Keep them separate. I also have a few cats who are probably more important to me than most of the aforementioned people.
But I'll check Nate out, see what's what. But if he's looking for people here to invest in him or to donate to his picture I'm not sure why he hasn't asked them yet. I would have asked if I were him. Heck! LOL I HAVE BEEN asking people to be a part of something and the thing I'm talking about doesn't even necessarily EXIST yet! How can I sit here and tell people "Come on, let's all take 500 bucks and invest in some random movie just for the experience!" and yet most of the guys here can't get up the same nerve to ask people to donate TO THEIR OWN PICTURES? lol
Boggles my mind.
Do you know that if prior to starting this thread a single filmmaker who I actually appreciated on this forum would have sent me a message and asked for a donation of 200 or 300 dollars to their short film or feature or asked me to help them market their film in my city, I absolutely would have taken them up on the offer. I have literally had to come here and ASK filmmakers to allow me to help them, "and oh btw I'm trying to get others to chip in and help your film as well". Isn't that just sick? Maybe it's just me, but I think it's just horrible! lol
Anyway, hopefully eventually some other people will come along and will want to share some good times with me. The only thing that's got me bummed right now about all this film business stuff is that I don't have any people to share in the experience with of marketing and promoting, fundraising, whatever on a film or short that I'm passionate about. I think it'll be a blast, but not as much if I'm on it alone.
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