4. TROUGH OF SORROW
From Paul Graham’s ‘Trough of Sorrow’ to Infinity and Beyond
5. SELF FUNDING
• DIY Ethos
• Digital “mindset” - Be open, Accept random info, Be
supportive
• Keep it lean/reduce scope - prototype and release
• Consider “open-source” approach
• Show your work at Meetups (NY Video, Big Screen/Little
Screen, StoryCode, other Transmedia Meetups)
• Involve actors / others as Exec. Producers
• Repurpose client work / technology
6. CROWD SOURCED
• Free Money - Really?
• Hype vs. Return
• Indie Go-Go (4% if goal is met, 9% if it isn’t)
vs. Kickstarter (All or nothing - 5%)
• Tips:
• Build a Team
• Brainstorm the Campaign as a Rollout with Different Phases
• Make a GREAT Trailer
• Reach out to Appropriate Partners to Help Promote for your
Campaign / Befriend the Tastemakers
• Reach Out Often, Regularly, and Best at the Beginning of the Week
• www.sherichandler.com/tag/crowdfunding
7. INVESTORS / VCs
• Less about Story more about value proposition
• Hone your elevator pitch
• The “Investor Deck”
• Business model is vital - experiments are hard to fund
this way
• Attractive option if you are developing a new technology
in your project that can be used for other stories
• Example: “18 Days in Egypt” and GroupStre.am
8. MARKETS
• Speed dating for creators and funders
• Set realistic expectations
• Pay to play?
• Bring headphones if you plan to play a trailer
• Bring candies or something to set you apart
• Examples:
• Power to the Pixel - Pixel Market
• BANFF Co-Production and Co-Venture Business
Market
9. CONFERENCES
• Great networking opportunities
• Focus on getting contacts and meetings
• StoryWorld - SF in 2011, LA in 2012
• Ad: Tech - Fall NY / Spring SF
• Digital Hollywood - Fall NY / Spring LA
• Participate in Hackathons - TechCrunch / StoryCode
10. GRANTS / LABS
• Few and far between here in the US - highly competitive
• Consider co-production with Canadian (Canadian Media
Fund / Bell Media Fund - more info) or European
partners
• Tribeca New Media Fund - (Non-Fiction / Social Issues)
• Sundance New Frontiers - (Lab and Festival)
• Creative Capital (grants for “adventurous” artists) -
creativecapital.org
11. BRANDED ENTERTAINMENT
• Work with a brand to sponsor your project
• Time consuming to find and close a sponsor
• Target Agencies Embracing Cross-Platform Storytelling
• Digitas (The Third Act)
• Ogilvy Entertainment
• Branded Entertainment “Agents”
• Brand Cinema (http://www.brandcinema.com/)
• The Opportunity Management Company
• Traditional Talent Agencies (UTA, CAA)
