As some of you know, I’ve been working hard on an animated series that’s super close to my heart. While things are going well(so far), I know almost inevitably I'll need to start raising funds to produce the show's pilot. So, with that in mind, I started considering crowdfunding as an option, with my mind thinking about starting a campaign on Gofundme since it may be difficult to deliver any worthwhile perks right now.
So, with that said, if you’ve ever run or supported a crowdfunding campaign before, I’d love to hear your tips! What worked? What didn’t? How do you keep the energy going and get people excited about supporting your vision? How'd you manage to build an audience that stayed long-term? Also, when is too early to start a campaign on Gofundme(or is there a "too-early" point lol)
This is all new territory for me, so I’d really appreciate any advice or suggestions from this amazing community.
Thanks, you guys!
- Holly
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Hi, Holly Fouche. I've supported crowdfunding campaigns. One thing that got me to donate was a well-crafted logline. Sometimes the campaign pages didn't have loglines or anything that told me what the projects were about, so I didn't donate.
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Maurice Vaughan Thanks so much for the tip! I can definitely see how a strong logline would make a difference!
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It depends on how much uyou are trying to raise. What's your end goal?
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Stephen Folker Thanks for asking! For the show, the end goal is to raise enough to complete the teaser and take significant steps toward the series’ development. Since the teaser is the first big milestone, I’m still refining the exact numbers, but it’ll cover costs like animation, sound design, and promotion. What’s worked best in your experience—setting a smaller, realistic goal or aiming higher to cover more of the project?
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You're welcome, Holly Fouche. Eye-catching photos and a short, interesting video/interview can help draw people to your campaign.
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Maurice Vaughan Agreed! I’m currently working on a teaser for Rescue Team 7, but incorporating photos could be a great way to share the heart of the project and its journey. Do you have any tips on what makes a video especially engaging?
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Talk about your personal connection to Rescue Team 7 in the video, Holly Fouche. And match the video with the tone of your series. And I suggest giving a really short pitch in the video to let people know what the series is about. Some people might not read a logline.
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Holly Fouche, 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 & the Power of the Crowd. RB interviewed hundreds of filmmakers to break down how to effectively engage your audience, build community, and leverage the power of the crowd to get your project made.
It's packed with insights and real-world strategies that are invaluable for indie filmmakers. Highly recommend!
You can check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/Crowdsourcing-Filmmakers-American-Market-Presents...