How to Get Funding for Film Projects
To be a successful filmmaker, you will need more than just talent and luck; you will also need a significant amount of money. That is because filmmaking is a business, and before you can start making money from a film project, a lot of money has to be injected into that business. The question becomes, where do filmmakers get funding for film projects? The truth is that securing funds is usually easier said than done; especially if you aren’t in a position to self-fund your film project. And, because a lot of money is usually required, most aspiring filmmakers simply cannot afford to fund their projects without outside assistance. However, there are other options available to obtain film production funding.
1. Grants
In order to get funding for film projects, you can apply for film grants. There are generous organizations that are willing to offer grants to filmmakers. And, these organizations have assisted a lot of filmmakers over the years to achieve their cinematic goals. The good thing about grants is that there is a wide range of them; from feature films and shorts to documentaries and webisodes. As such, you are likely to get funding for just about any film project you have in mind.
It is important to note however, that it is not easy to obtain a film grant. The application process can be quite time consuming and competitive, and there is no guarantee that you will succeed. To help increase your chances of getting film production funding, you can look for directories for niche grants tailor-made to your film project and, if possible, you can also speak to those who have managed to obtain film grants and ask them how they managed to win their grants.
2. Crowdfunding
Instead of applying for a film grant, you can try crowdfunding. Basically, film crowdfunding involves funding a film project through monetary contributions from willing individuals. These days, crowdfunding campaigns are mainly carried out via the internet, and they normally require a large number of people in order for them to be a success. The individuals who make contributions towards the making of film projects usually receive compensation of some sort. It can be a t-shirt celebrating the film or a copy of a DVD of the finished film. Compensation for assisting to crowdfund a film varies based on factors such as the size of the project and the amount donated.
3. Investors
If you are just starting out in the filmmaking business, you can also seek out investors to assist you. However, you should not expect to find big time investors to fund your project. Big time investors are usually more interested in investing in bigger projects. So, focus on small investors; people in your extended network. This means that you can turn to family and friends, or even acquaintances for assistance. There might be people who believe in your dream and are willing to finance that dream. However, just because you are dealing with family does not mean you should take a casual approach when pitching your ambitions and goals for your film project. Make sure that you approach them with the highest level of professionalism, just like you would do with any other investor.
Although getting funding for film projects is not easy, you can get the finances that you require from the options discussed above. The key thing to remember is that, in this day and age, there is no need to shelve your brilliant film idea simply because you don’t have funding. If you keep looking for funding sources, eventually you will be able to secure the financing that you require.