2. Agenda for Today
I. Introductions
II. About GENESIS
III. Overview of how films are typically financed
IV. Overview of fundraising methods
V. Crowdfunding tips
VI. Next steps
3. My Interest
in Promoting Indie Film
B. S. in Marketing at UF, 2000
11 years experience in fundraising
Direct mail, e-solicitations, giving web sites, events,
phonathon, peer-to-peer fundraising
1 year in health care consulting
Strategic planning, employee management, project
management
B. A. in Communication at UWF, August 2013
Extensive research on the independent film industry
Industry structure and trends, marketing strategy,
distribution strategy, fan group formation.
5. About GENESIS
Production company and fiscal sponsor
Production Budget
Prints & Advertising (P&A) budget
Target release date
Gifts versus investments
Past fundraising efforts
Future fundraising plans
Donor base
Communications (e-mail, newsletter, social media, etc.)
Past feature-length film productions
6. How Films are Financed
1. In-house studio production
2. Studio Production, Finance & Distribution (PFD)
Deal
3. Negative Pick-up Deal
4. Single, active investor
5. Investor (Equity) Financing
6. Self-financing / Fundraising
7. Fundraising Methods
1. Grant writing
2. Corporate solicitations
3. Public broadcasting funds
4. Personal solicitation
One-on-one, events, peer-to-peer, challenges, etc.
My experience with RED SEPTEMBER; the funding
proposal
5. Crowdfunding
10. Budget
No costs to get started on Indiegogo
Funds for a virtual assistant are helpful
Indiegogo charges 4% if you reach our goal and 0% if
you do not
Firstgiving.com charges 4% of every donation
processed through a nonprofit organization (EIN
number required for set-up)
Fees are deducted from donations before they are sent
to the nonprofit organization
11. “Hacking Kickstarter” Article
I. Minimum Effective Dose (MED)
Focus on the top three things that will bring the most
results and eliminate any extras
II. Outsource and automate
Virtual assistant (VA)
Odesk.com is more affordable than Zirtual
III. Prep and pick up
Do 90% of the work in advance of your launch date.
12. How Much? How Long?
Crowdfunding is ONE piece of the funding pie
Success stories often relate to a personal network built
over many years or via wealthy friends
People respond to goals
and deadlines
Determine your timeline
Consider multiple campaigns
Set a realistic goal
13. Key = Driving Traffic
Drive a large number of the right people to your
campaign page
How?
1. Bit.ly tracking
Give your virtual assistant a list of projects like yours and
have him / her list the referral sources for each one
Focus your attention on those types of media
14. How to Drive Traffic (Cont’d)
2. Work with your VA to create a media list based on
Relevance
Readership (traffic)
Relationships (do you know anyone related?)
Reach (will they send it out?)
3. Identify bloggers who will promote your campaign
Google images
Compete.com
Identify mutual friends on Facebook
15. How to Drive Traffic (Cont’d)
4. Prioritize and arrange introductions for the top 10
bloggers
5. Build genuine, mutually-beneficial relationships
with those 10
6. Get coverage
Make it VERY easy for them to write a story that their
readers will LOVE
Ask if they can publicize the story on day one of your
campaign
Can they feature it in their newsletter? On Facebook?
Put a picture on Pinterest?
16. Use Humor
Humor drives traffic
Post new media to
keep the page fresh
(pics, clips, posters,
etc.)
Provide frequent
updates
(every 3 or 4 days)
17. Activate your Network
Create an Advisory Committee
Expands your personal network
Ensures high quality campaign page
Create ownership
Ask for advice
Offer sneak peaks that no one else gets
Throw a launch party
Day 1 is Critical
Secure commitments from advisory committee members,
colleagues, friends and family to make a gift and share the
page ON DAY ONE.
18. Other Key Tips
Consider perks carefully
Use a landing page to encourage sharing
19. Ralph & Reality Television? Hmmm…..
OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP UNSCRIPTED REALITY SERIES
The History channel (AETN) is seeking new ideas/characters that could
be turned into an unscripted reality series and could lead to a $10,000 fee.
We are looking for fascinating American characters that live and/or work
in interesting environments that may not be familiar to our
audience. The main characters should be male (History is a male-
skewing network) and could be buddies, part of a multi-generational
family, competitors, and/or people who work together. It’s critical that
their personalities and everyday lives are strong enough to engage a
television audience week after week.
Models for success include: Duck Dynasty (A+E), Ax Men (History),
Pawn Stars (History), Swamp People (History).
Deadline is June 30, 2013.