My name is Julia Messick, I am a senior at Pratt Institute studying Film. I am asking for guidance on crowdfunding my senior thesis film, Funnel Cake. Pratt suggests that we have $3,000 set aside to fund our thesis project, so I am crowdfunding for the first time using Kickstarter: http://kck.st/3Og9XYo.
Some more information about the film: Funnel Cake is a whimsical tragedy about a misfit little girl who finds temporary solace with the help of an emerald ring.
Janie is a 9-year-old girl whose big imagination and glittery style cause her to be a misfit amongst her family and community. Between the overwhelm of her social anxiety, her struggle in appeasing her parents, and her teasing older brothers, Janie yearns to escape from it all. One day, her wish is granted when she receives a magical ring from a vendor at a flea market. With the ring on her finger, Janie becomes the only person in the world. At first, she revels in her newfound freedom. Janie enjoys uninterrupted tea parties and indulges in all the junk food she wants. However, she soon realizes that being alone is not as fulfilling as she thought. Amidst all the fun, she loses track of time and forgets to take off the ring. Now, Janie must find a way to reverse the magic and be reunited with her family. Through her journey, she discovers the true value of human connection and the importance of family.
The Kickstarter has 30 days to go, with 7% funded. With every donation there are levels of rewards, such as your name in the film credit, copy of the storyboard and poster, or a funnel cake logo hat. Please check out my Kickstarter page for my developing senior thesis film, Funnel Cake, and support with a donation if possible. Even if you cannot support right now, please guide me to other platforms to share my kickstarter page, or share advice on how you have successfully crowdfunded a short film.
Thank you in advance for all of your help,
Julia Messick
2 people like this
Hi Julia Messick - great to meet you here in the community and wishing you huge luck with your project.I recommend checking out this Stage 32 webinar on crowdfunding. Here's a link so you can check it out: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/Crowdfunding-Your-Indie-Film-or-Creativ...
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Thank you Derek Reid, you are too kind. I truly appreciate the support.
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Here are three posts about crowdfunding campaigns, Julia Messick:
www.stage32.com/lounge/fundraising/Learning-In-Real-Time-Tips-Ive-discov...
www.stage32.com/lounge/fundraising/Reflecting-On-A-Moderately-Successful...
www.stage32.com/lounge/fundraising/GoFundMe-or-Kickstarter
3 people like this
Hello:
The name itself draws in the tasty imagination that your writing gifts. Congratulations on the successful writing and the crowdfunding efforts.
You help to make Stage32, society, and everyone that you know a blooming joy and wondrous memory.
Grateful for your roads.
God Bless,
John German
5 people like this
Most crowdfunding contributions come from friends and family, not other filmmakers. I'd reach out to your parents, immediate family, friend / co-worker network, and whoever is in the cast / crew and ask them to help finance it. You have a small amount to raise, so it should be easy in that network to achieve. Best wishes to you! :)
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Good luck with your film. Ask everyone of your cast and crew to ask their friends and family. Divide your total by the number and ask them to help find x amount. Perhaps that might be $200 each. At your stage parents are the most likely to help. Also crowdsource……..perhaps there’s a location or costumes you can beg for free to bring your budget down.
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Thank you so much for your advice and kindness, John German.
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My take on crowdfunding. I have a project Sinners Buffet. I have looked into various Crowdfunding platform that uses Equity Base. They want you to have USA base Limited Liability Company. There are some crowdfunding that are donation base but difficult to raise large amount of money which most film project requires. The platform that provide equity requires you get family and friends to invest in your film through their platform and they take commission from the money I raise. Wait.. Am I saying, "I bring in crowd funding" investors to their platform and they take commission for me raising money? YES. In my example: I need to raise $2.5M equity base. I have neighbor put in $20k, and $30K for total $50K. My first round I am looking to raise $120K so I can put a crew together to help with storyboard, art directions and shooting script. Platform will not allow my project to become visible to their Investors that's on their crowdfunding until I reach 50K. Now that I have reach 50K mark and Sinners buffet still not visible because there are some legal paper work needs to be done that is require by SEC (Security Exchange Commissioner). Platform happy to help fill out the FORM C. I don't know if there are additional fees. I still have to do marketing to bring in additional investors. After I reach the Campaign Goal, they still charge me %7 (seven percentage). That's $8400.00 USD. Now all the investors I brought in remain part of their database. Now there are other platform they will ask for $10,000 USD up front. This example uses Reg CR which allow you to raise $5M per year. You can run your ads within guidelines to the public after you do your legal work.
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Janie's story sounds very interesting. What an exciting premise!