From all facets of a traditional raise to soft money to crowdfunding strategies, this is the place to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice regarding raising funds for a project.
Good morning, team!
While I primarily dwell in the Cinematography lounge and creative trenches, the financing side of production has always been a weak point for me.
My partner and I run a small indie studio here in North Carolina. We’re currently working with a local producer, but we’re still baffled...
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"Stage 32 is launching a Global Screenwriting Contest Hub, bringing together dozens of writing competitions from around the world into one place including Oscar and BAFTA-qualifying contests.
The move comes with screenwriting website Coverfly set to shut down in a few weeks’ time, and Stage 32 has hi...
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Bravo! @RB @Amanda @Stage32!
Exciting news!
BBC Studios just released its annual report, and the financial highlights are impressive: record revenue of £2.2B and profits of £228M, largely fueled by global partnerships and strategic content investments. One standout detail? Disney continues to be a key partner, especially in the worldwide roll...
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Good news for BBC. "- Budgets matter more than ever—creativity must match sustainability" - this statement is absolutely true as ever before. With film and tv budgets under renewed scrutiny amidst bel...
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Amid a historic production slump in California, independent films are increasingly being tapped to receive tax credits to shoot in the state.
Amid a historic production slump in California, independent films are increasingly being tapped to receive tax credits to shoot in the state.
This shift led to...
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In this private Stage 32 five-session lab, you'll discover everything you need to find, pitch, and secure quality investments from someone who has raised over $15 million in financing for her own projects.
Your educator, Sara Elizabeth Timmins, was on the producing team of the Emmy-nominated docuser...
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I need help, I need to raise capital for a pilot episode that I will be shooting end of August.
How does one get finances in short space of time for a small project. I need to raise R250 000. South African Rands, its about 14 000 dollars I THINK.
ANY guidance help will be amazing.
Ashley Renee Smith LIFESAVER , thank you sooooo much
Great advice from Ashley Renee Smith. Have you tried going into group or tried looking for opportunities on LinkedIn?
Raising funds is always the hardest part. I’m assuming you’re locked into next month because of actor or location availability, scheduled time off work or a variety of other reasons. Something to cons...
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Tony Armer I have set up meetings with stakeholders for this coming week. I do have a non profit as well, so I have send letters out to the the Big corporate as well. I have send out letters, from far...
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I'm on LinkedIn now, and I'm an investigation journalist, hahahah looking and sending out letters.
This lab isn't just about learning; it's about doing. You'll be actively working on your project, applying lessons in real-time, and walking away with a vetted financial investor prospectus. With limited spots available, this lab promises individual attention, hands-on learning, and a dedicated comm...
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Yes :-) Have a lovely week.
Has the meeting started?
I have the "waiting for the host to start the meeting" message
Hi Michael, there's no class today. Check your inboxes for Emma's email thread where we're to book one-on-one Zoom sessions with her, in place of today's class.
Ok copy, thank you Dele!
Barnella Says Beware!
Cluckin' serious business here!
Be on the lookout for so-called “producers” who send vague collaboration offers in their very first message—often using generic email addresses (like Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo) and no personal details.
Real professionals rarely rush to collaborate...
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One of the biggest challenges you’ll face as a filmmaker is finding investors and raising real financing for your project. You may have an award-winning script, a strong team, and a clear vision — but without funding, none of it can happen. While the industry seems saturated with projects getting gr...
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You can learn more and sign up here! https://www.stage32.com/education/products/equity-investment-in-film-how......
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A space for discussing the title topic.
Maurice Vaughan - "a 3-6 sentence synopsis." .... This I can do! Thanks!
I begin with the assumption that I'm making art, not entertainment. The idea that art must be reduced to an industrial churn of...
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You're welcome, James Martin.
You're also an artist, not an entertainer, Maurice Vaughan. And there is no shame in that. In fact, our dignity as human beings is in our being artists, not entertainers. Filmmaking is an art, not ent...
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James Martin, If you're looking for solid advice on crowdsourcing and crowdfunding for indie films, you should definitely check out Stage 32 CEO RB's book: Crowdsourcing For Filmmakers: Indie Film & t...
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Thank you Ashley Renee Smith !
I've always been a big fan of Winston Baker Finance Forums at major markets and festivals. Great opportunity to learn from the pros in film and tv finance at these events. If you get the opportunity, highly recommended.
For the past couple weeks, Stage 32 has been sharing exclusive recordings of our 2025 Cannes expert panels on the Stage 32 blog, so you can tap into the insights, strategies, and connections that were shared live on the Croisette—no passport required.
In today’s blog, Stage 32’s founder and CEO, Ric...
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I'm really proud of this panel that we did at Cannes and this blog is an excellent video of this conversation recapping the state of financing today.
this is amazing
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Lindsay Thompson For a deep dive into film financing by a professional film financier, check out this just one of many incredible resources available here @stage32 on the subject of film finance. http...
Expand commentLindsay Thompson For a deep dive into film financing by a professional film financier, check out this just one of many incredible resources available here @stage32 on the subject of film finance. https://www.stage32.com/education/products/6-part-advanced-film-finance-...
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Thank you Jack Binder !
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There are a lot of ways to try and find money for your project, but none of them are easy, and all of them require strategy, patience, and hustle.
Crowdfunding can work, but it’s basically a full-tim...
Expand commentThere are a lot of ways to try and find money for your project, but none of them are easy, and all of them require strategy, patience, and hustle.
Crowdfunding can work, but it’s basically a full-time job. You’re mostly tapping into friends and family, and it often doesn’t scale beyond that without serious marketing and community-building.
Grants are amazing, but they’re highly competitive and depend heavily on your subject matter, your background, and whether your project aligns with the funder’s mission.
Private investment is what most people think of, but people invest for different reasons:
Sometimes it’s a passion project, they love the story or the theme.
Sometimes it’s personal, their spouse or kid wants to act or produce, so you cast them and they bring money.
If it’s a straight business investment, the first and only question is: “How do I get my money back?”
And that’s the thing, if you take someone’s money, your #1 priority is returning it.
If you don’t, they won’t just avoid your next project, they’ll avoid film investments entirely. And that hurts all of us.
That’s why incentives and pre-sales have become so important, but let’s be real, pre-sales depend on cast, and attaching cast depends on relationships, credits, and trust.
There are no easy answers here. The truth is:
The budget of your film is not what you want it to be, it’s what someone is willing to give you.
I’ve heard countless filmmakers say “My budget is $1 million,” but when you ask why, it’s just what they think it should take.
Reality check?
If someone gives you $50K, that’s your budget. Make it work. Make it amazing.
Start small.
Make a $10K film that proves you can do it.
Use that to make a $100K film.
Build a track record. Prove yourself.
I’ve been in the industry over 20 years. I’ve had films distributed theatrically and internationally. It’s still hard to find money.
But it’s not impossible.
Be smart. Be strategic. Be relentless.
And most of all, make the best damn film you can with whatever you’ve got.
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This is gold Tony Armer! Thank you for taking the time to provide such a stellar answer. This is incredibly helpful! I appreciate your time.
Those budgets are not realistic for feature films and shorts have no return.