Financing Your Film Making
Every film maker will reach a crossroad when they must make a decision on whether they want a full-blown career as a film maker, or they prefer to make films as a hobby. This decision usually depends upon the film makers ability to fund or finance their own projects. Most film makers do not think about financing future projects, they usually have all of their attention on the work at hand. Any film maker needs to acquire a knowledge of what it means to be a professional film maker, and how film investment works.
There will be plenty of people who want to give you advice and take advantage of your ignorance on these matters. While there are many legitimate companies, there are also those that will try to rook you out of the money you have earmarked for your film making project. A legitimate organization will not promise you they can get you a list of potential investors. The interest in your project will determine whether it should be presented to investors, not good fortune at running across a group of investors by chance.
The legitimate consultants know that there is no money to be made in the few hundred dollars many producers can afford to pay for their services. Serious financial consultants don't even want a percentage of the funds earmarked for your project. While they will charge you fees for their services, their goal is to see that your project succeed and find distribution. You will want your consultant to think of accumulated interest on the money borrowed over the course of production, and other aspects of the financial end of the project.
The most difficult thing about this will be to convince a legitimate producer's financial consultant to become involved with your project. The investor is the key to this, you need to find someone who is willing to invest in a high-risk film making project. You will need to know the investing criteria from the point of view of the investor. Below are a few film investing basics.
- A film investor will usually put up about 50% of the total film cost. The film producer is responsible for the other 50%.
- 30% to 40% should be enough to get most films made, depending on whether you will be able to convince other end users to buy into the plan.
- The investor will want to keep the budgets for the film project as low as possible. Foreign sales should be enough to cover at least 50%.
- An investment of $5 million should allow an investor to buy into several films.
It can be quite difficult for the independent film maker to gain financing. Another idea on financing your film making project is the idea of grant awards. There are many out there who will give an award to film makers who are excited about, and believe in, their film project. You will find them by doing a search for film making grants. Make sure you become knowledgeable about each grant, as they all have different criteria for the grant giving process.
More Articles
The Best Way To Get Into Film Making
Finding A Location For Your Film
Audio And Its Importance To Film Making
Products And Downloads
Free Videos
More Articles And News
The Cannes Festival And Film Making
... During the 12 day span thousands of films are screened, careers are started, and disappointment shows itself. Stars the world over come to get their share of attention. Since the 1950's when Brigitte Bardot ran on the beach for the cameras in her teenie bikini, Cannes has blossomed to celebrate the worlds ...
... what happens on the set, but he will need to delegate responsibility to others until the film is done. Post production: The film is edited for time and best shots using film and a mixture of film and video. Distribution: The movie is released to theaters and duplicated according to need. Press kits, posters ...
... conservatory. Founded in 1967, they provide 6 areas of course study: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design, and Screenwriting. AFI is particularly devoted to traditional narrative film. California Institute for the Arts (Cal Arts), was created in 1961 by Disney in 1961, with ...
Lighting For Professional Film Making
... can be purchased at the local hardware store. There are lights found at the hardware store used in garage repair shops that are metal and that have a high reflectance. These come with clips at the end and can be clipped and moved wherever you might need them. These are great to use and you can use a number ...
Why Should I Go Into Film Making?
... of film revenues coming from foreign markets. This is the time for those interested in a career in film making or television. Many films are shot in the city of New York, bringing a great deal of revenue to the economy. This fantastic film industry boon will mean many more opportunities for employment ...
 MiamiHerald.com | John Woo awarded Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement TheCelebrityCafe.com The director of the Venice Film Festival, Marco Mueller, called Woo's films "a perfect union of the China tradition and avant-garde filmmaking. ... Woo awarded Golden Lion for lifetime achievement John Woo Gets Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Acheivement at Venice Film Fest |
Internet stars to host filmmaking, dance workshops Long Beach Press-Telegram People attending the workshops will be able to learn filmmaking, hip-hop music and dancing, acoustic music and comedy and improv. The workshops will be led ... |
'Centurion' Tests the Limits of Bad Filmmaking Georgetown University The Hoya I'm not going to sit here and give every subpar film one star out of five. But Centurion is truly a special case. Rarely have I seen a film fail on so many ... |
 New York Daily News | Robert Rodriguez's “Machete” is an over-the-top piece of Mexican myth-making Hollywoodnews.com ... and to our own desire for relevant mainstream film-making to ignore the fiery conscience at the heart of this over-the-top piece of Mexican myth-making. ... Will 'Machete' Ignite a Firestorm Over Its Immigration Stance? 'Machete' cuts deep with satire, sarcasm Review: A bloody 'Machete' |
Film Production Classes and Casting Agent Coming to SF Santa Fe College This sudden realization can give students the confidence to pursue their own filmmaking goals. The idea of film production on campus is not new. ... |
Redlands filmmaking team wins big Redlands Daily Facts A Redlands team from Work and Play Productions took home about everything but the popcorn concession with their film ... |
Brothers in filmmaking Ottawa Citizen And when it comes to filmmaking, that can work wonders, creatively. Speck concedes that the co-directing route may not be for everybody, but adds that the ... |
 Los Angeles Times | Jerry Lewis is still going the distance Los Angeles Times But then, Lewis' filmmaking know-how and funny guy skill-set were on conspicuous display as well. He cracked curmudgeonly jokes, barked orders on how to ... |
 Boston Globe | Out of Frame: Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 DCist.com It's a virtuoso piece of tense, anticipatory filmmaking, pins and needles sustained for a breathtakingly unbearable amount of time before Richet finally ... Film Review: Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1 Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 'Mesrine' Mocks the Judicial System In This Exclusive Clip |
 ABC News | Film Review: 'The American' an artful movie with grim star Memphis Commercial Appeal The precision of the shots, which suggests a methodical approach to filmmaking, mirrors the painstaking professionalism that defines the Clooney character. ... "The American" Review: Less is More in Clooney's Latest Film The American – Review The American Review |