Why is it so hard to get a movie financed/made?

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filmmakerguy

Member
Movies are getting financed and made all over the place. Some by people who have never even shot anything before and don't even have a director reel. What is the secret to getting a movie financed/made? Be it $100k, $500k, a million, $5 million, etc.

What do I have to do, I will do anything! Anything! Just give me a road map that works.

What kind of screenplay do I need that will hook bankable stars? Stars that once they attach, will get financers wanting to back the project? I'm desperate.
 
Yes, it's like everything else. You either have to have the right connections/contacts and/or be a very good bulls*%t/con-artist.

No matter how good you or your ideas are, if you haven't got the contacts to have them seen by the right people, you won't get it done.

That's why so many bad movies get done. It's rare that someone is both a talented filmmaker/story teller AND con-artist ;)
 
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It's a business, and most films don't make a notable profit. Why would someone want to invest in a business venture that had a very good chance of failure and a very poor chance of turning a profit on their investment?
 
A good process that works:

1. make a short video with friends for $2000 - make sure it gets visibility when it's released. Nothing complicated but interesting concept. Make sure you write down expenses and revenues.
2. find investors for a $15k short - same, make sure it gets visibility when released and also make sure it breaks even.
3. do another short for $30k
4. find investors for a $150k feature
5. etc.

For each step, you can use crowdfunding to complete funding. Make sure you have a facebook page and a good mailing-list with all your fans and biz partners.

Target rich individuals who exited recently (technology startups, real estate etc.) They always have $50k lying around, as long as you give them that little bit something they want (a small part, visibility, their name shown as "producer" in the credits)

It takes balls to go to a business networking event and pitch a movie - whereas everyone is pitching to get funding for their tech startup. Everyone will look at you weirdly, but there will be someone there interested.
 
Because nobody needs movies. Think about how reluctant people are to pay the real cost of food, for example... and if they don't get food, they will literally die. So where does that leave film?

Film is an art, and none of us is entitled to funding. It's really, really hard to raise money for art. That's where the term "starving artist" comes from.

There is no "secret formula." If all you really want is to make a film, any film, with funding, then the path is easy: start working for filmmakers who have it.

And be careful who you look up to. Do you really want to be one of those people who have never made a film and yet find themselves with $100k to burn? I wouldn't aspire to that.
 
The author suggests that the solution lies in somehow throttling the supply of feature films. Since each is a project alone, financed and produced by the wits and hard work of those producing it, the author's solution is hollow and elitist "... the answer lies in film institutes and filmmaking organizations collaborating to establish a network of talent labs/incubators where talent is developed in-house." How very democratic. Thanks but, no thanks. "In some ways film is priceless." Get a grip!

You know what's priceless? ..the eyes. Feature films shown in theaters are what everyone wants to make but that's not where the eyes are. They are on TVs watching long form series, streamed movies, docu-drama and reality TV. The author may get his way and we'll all abandon the hope of making a feature film so that the cognescenti can have their priceless art.

It is the height of arrogance to suggest that if only these dilettantes would just leave us alone with our precious art and stop polluting the "market" with their "cheap movies" on "cheap cameras" that we'd all be so much better off.

Making a feature film is the "gold standard" for now... but that's going to change and more eyes will be on other content. Your problem is in demand and it is slipping. Sorry.
 
Essentially the market changed with the advent of the internet and streaming, plus tons of free content.

You used to be able to get indie films financed. Why? Because of Demand. People wanted to watch something. Anything. Your choices? Broadcast TV, a couple of crappy cable channels, or a DVD. So there was great demand for DVDs. You could do a limited release, or just straight to video. Foreign markets would fund indie movies up front for the rights to Spain, Germany, France, etc. because they were known money makers, even crappy films.

Now? People watch cats in funny hats on youtube. Or, they go to channels like "letmewatchthis" which can't be stopped no matter how many times they are taken down, and watch movies for free. Or they download them from Pirate Bay or whatever is the cool pirate site these days.

This means without big name actors, without a deal for happy meals at McDonalds with your movie IP on the package, or toys and Tshirts sold at Walmart, without Theater sales, Blu Ray, DVD, HBO, and Neflix deals, you don't make any money.

So no one invests in indie projects these days, or at least not much.

There is still crowd sourcing, like Kickstarter. The key there is you must build a fanbase FIRST, and then do a kickstarter. When 10's of thousands of people are following you and waiting for what you do next, THEN you can do a successful kickstarter. Otherwise you'll be lucky to get 50 cents.
 
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