Financing / Crowdfunding : Looking for funding ideas by Cynthia Soroka

Do you have a budget/estimate yet? The strategies usually change as the budget level increases so it depends on how much you're trying to raise and what kind of movie you're making!

I just remembered this blog, Cynthia Soroka: www.stage32.com/blog/influencers-vs-investors-the-future-of-film-funding-3614

And here are other Financing blogs: www.stage32.com/blog/tags/financing-85

150 million dollars for a Fantasy Film.

So, small anecdote that may help to contextualize my answer for you, Cynthia Soroka. Did you know that The Wachowski Brothers (now sisters) did a (less than) $6mil film before they were greenlit for The Matrix, a $63mil film? The Matrix was pitched as their first film, but it was both unique AND expensive, a deadly combination when you also have first-time directors. Too many risks all at the same time. SO, the same studio said - IF you have something for 1/10 the price to show us your style and your ability to deliver, we'll consider greenlighting your bigger film. Check out BOUND: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115736/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_16_wr

Even today, BOUND holds up, and you can see so many of their signature techniques - high contrast set dressing, color-saturated lighting, gritty stories told from unlikely heroes about escaping an underground/hidden world.

I say this to say - the question isn't how to raise $150mil but rather what do YOU have to show in order to qualify your work being worth $150mil. Now, if you don't have a track record, then create one at a smaller price point. $5-7mil will likely still be your cap, but it would make for a good case study to say "I can be trusted with your money to deliver". Barring the initial advice of "do 95% of the work so the yes is easy", the other half of the advice is - at that high a price, studios are the only ones who can help. Banks are prepared to do financing up to $15mil, but again, they need a track record.

To add to Maurice's recommendation, I've learned a lot about how to prepare to approach investors from Aimee Schoof's webinar How to Attract Film Investors: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/The-Key-to-Attracting-Film-Investors

Also, you'll want to investigate what to include in a Prospectus, a PRO FORMA, and an Operating Agreement before agreeing to take anyone's money.

I hope that helps!

$150M budget is just ridiculous

No it isn't. The budget for similar films of this genre and type is the same. Game of Thrones on HBO was over 200M budget and that was a TV Series. A film that is of the same type that has been made before is minimal 150M.

What Kay and Tim said. + You can't just assume your budget is the same as what another "similar" production was. It's not that cut and dry. MANY factors go into a proper budget, and without a proper budget you cannot raise funds.

Also, GoT was greenlit given it's established fanbase from the books, not to mention the first season was ~55 million, or between 4-6 mil per episode (given set construction, it's of course front-loaded). But you're still talking way out of kilter without a major studio backing it. If you show up with rights to Kingkiller Chronicles, sure, but Lionsgate already has it. Think more the budget for great classic fantasy films like Dragonslayer, Krull, or Dragonheart. But even then, very few ever broke even, even with their modern-day cult followings.

Is there a reason why you want to try to discourage me? If I can dream it why not. If I get a % of that then ok.

Laurie I am just talking about ideas at this time. Thanks. Have someone working on the budget.

Dreams are wonderful, but there's a level of pragmatism as well. Nobody here said not to go after your dream of.a fantasy film. By all means, go for it; your original post was asking how to fundraise, and since how to go about that varies a bit based on your goal, when you said $150m, that's where people tried to set realistic expectations.

Cynthia Soroka I agree with Bill, and don't ever feel discouraged! But realistically, budgets of that magnitude are pretty exclusively coming from within the studios and based on pre-existing, highly popular IP (books, comics/graphic novels, video games, sequel/prequels, etc) because they have that built-in audience and wide appeal. You can still make a great fantasy film on an independent level but I would definitely suggest starting out with your budget at more of a $10MM range. It's a MUCH easier pitch to financiers and still gives you the room to offer name talent and not skimp on VFX/production design.

If you are just at the development stage, I would look for development funds/investors. Raising a small portion to get concept deck and budget -- offering them a higher return upon full funding, so they don't have to wait until completion. First money in is the hardest, so you have to incentivize them to be first out at a higher rate of return.

Thanks everyone.

I highly recommend learning from Michelle Alexandria - she's a wealth of knowledge and have an upcoming Stage 32 webinar on how to get the first money into your film. Here's a link so you can check it out: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/How-To-Get-The-First-Money-Into-Your-Fe...

Cynthia Soroka Hi Cynthia, my two cents worth would be to develop a network of people who can help progress the project. Who do you think your audience is for it? Are you a first time feature director or producer? If so, it’s unlikely that someone will invest $150m in a first-timer.

You're welcome, Cynthia Soroka. Hope you find the funding!

If funding on a micro-level, crowdfunding works the best. If you are going for 6 - 7 figure budget, you are in a new playground and will need a solid business plan, distribution strategy and investors. Not sure what type of budget you are going after, but starting smaller then working your way up (with each project) is a realistic / attainable way to go. Either way, best wishes!

Thanks.

Powerball is now up to $306 million. Slim chances, but hey...

There are always filmmaking grants out there too for filmmakers that you may qualify for, based on specific things. I know Film Independent, Studio Binder, Filmmakers Without Borders all have pages where they curate lists of grants or specific programs you can apply for to help get your movie off the ground!

Unpaid endorsement: Seed & Spark has been a success for us!

Thanks all!

Hi Cynthia, There are lots of different options depending on your goals, type of project, and whether you want to give up equity in your project. There is both equity and charitable-based crowdfunding, also private equity raises, grants, tax-deductible donations, tax credit incentives, debt options like loans, etc.

Lots of great ideas here. @Karen "Kay" Ross I agree with you. Virtually nobody gets a check for 50+ million to make their first movie, no matter how good the script is. There might be someone who did it, but it's highly unlikely. Yes, make a $5,000,000 movie first, and show the world (and the studios) what you can do. Then perhaps your 2nd movie gets a big (or bigger) budget. Best of luck.