Financing / Crowdfunding : Begging or crowdfunding? by Casey Bowker

i am always suspicious when a filmmaker cannot raise any money from fam & friends. Thats a red flag in my bullshit detector.

Now, is it begging or crowdfunding? Only you can answer that. I mean successful filmmakers beg/cut deals for corporate funding; it is just not made public.

Dan MaxXx You make some good points there. We'd likely make some sacrifices on poster art, casting, a character, etc to get something made anyway.

Depends on the perspective, but considering the insane amount of crowdfunding success stories, calling it "begging" seems a bit ignorant at this point. I did a Kickstarter for my book, and I never felt like I was begging. I was offering the opportunity for people to join me and help me realize my dream. Think of it as a pitch meeting, but instead of talking to executives, you're trying to convince directly your audience, and build a relationship with it.

The reality is that crowdfunding is the SAME THING as asking f&f for money. For most of the successful CF campaigns, the majority of the money comes from people you already know. CF consultants stress how CRUCIAL it is to have a large warm network before you start the campaign. There may be a certain amount of money coming from strangers based on the strength of your profile page (on the CF platform), but it's still mostly begging f&f (so beg, and save the platform fees). And I'm with Dan MaxXx (as usual), if a filmmaker can't raise even a little money from those who are closest, there's some disconnect that needs to be rectified before anything else.

John Ellis You're right. If you can't ask them for helping you achieving your dream then how will you ever? You need a 'tribe'

I use crowdfunding as a public start to my indie film projects. It's a way to publicly show I have support, a following, and there's already seed money in the project. I don't see it as begging because people get a movie in the end-- I'm giving them something in return, I'm not just taking. Additionally, I'm a huge supporter of friend's projects, sharing them on social media and donating what I can when they are raising money. Knowing I'm supporting them makes it easier for me to ask for support in return.

Kay Tuxford that's amazing that you guys are supporting each other and raising each other up. Exactly how it should be!

I don't think you can do crowdfunding before you build a network of folks of who know you and believe in what you're doing. Sure you can get funds from family and friends, but how much is the real question. I've seen many crowdfunders blow through their original asks. That wasn't all done with family and friends. When Matthew A. Cherry asked for $75,000 for his Kickstarter for HAIR LOVE and raised close to $250,000 he had done a lot of upfront work and built a lot of belief and goodwill.

Martin Reese building a community BEFORE launch is so important to getting funded and even going over. Very good point on Hair Love. That campaign smashed expectations!

Actually the building of community is what RB Botto always talks about with CROWDSOURCING rather than CROWDFUNDING, Casey Bowker.

I think we are way past this dilemma in many industries. Crowdfunding is a well accepted method of raising money.

Totally agree with that Jack!

Crowdfunding is begging but it’s acceptable. Some people just can’t get their head round it. I find that thd older generation. I’m in my 50’s particularly see it thst way. My best friends have point blank refused to be involved as they see me as already successful- I have a nice house, car etc so why am I asking them for money? Ditto family. Also they don’t understand or want to understand crowdfunding.

So I no longer ask. I have built a film community and so I ask those or ask for help from them and they respond because they want me to succeed. I am a quite prolific filmmaker in a small wayand successful in making films and they see I am creating work for them as cast and crew.

Conversely young grads or young people WILL be supported by friends and family on crowdfunds as they see it as giving people a leg up and a start in the industry and view them differently.

@Jane Sanger you bring up some good points. I've found that with funding comics. People came out for the first issue I ever did because it was for the support, after that it was successful and I went to launch issue 2 they were like "oh you're still doing this, we already helped you?" it took finding the comic community and certainly a film community is the same, to raise funds for future projects.

@collette, couldn't agree more. It really is a small-minded and short-sighted mindset to think that way.

@Colette Well... I think it's less seeing it as "synonymous" and more like feeling shame around having to ask for that kind of help. I'm an only child raised by a single mother and I was raised to believe the worst thing you can do is ask for money. The absolute worst. If there is something you want, you find a way to come up with the money for it yourself. Some part of that is the shame surrounding debt. Some part of that is the fear of being manipulated when you are presumed to be in someone's debt. So, I think the perspective some may have around "feeling like it's begging" has less to do with their approach to the business side and more to do with their business plan not aligning with some core values.

I would agree, though, that such feelings of shame are likely coupled with "not being educated about the process of film fundraising". Absolutely. I remember the first time I was asked to raise a significant amount of money - it was for the Ambassador Program in middle school. I had the opportunity to attend a week-long trip in Australia to learn about their culture, and then return with a presentation about what I had learned. But it required that I put together a presentation to pitch investors to contribute to my trip. $2k in the '90s was a lot to ask, and I remember shutting it down because the shame I felt asking was greater than the enthusiasm I felt for the trip. I simply couldn't justify asking for it as if it were more important than anything else that required time and money, and I definitely didn't want to explain why we weren't paying for this ourselves.

All in all, it's a tricky thing to ask a creative to play lawyer and defend the choices they make, even the business decisions. That core belief has to be in place before the details of "how" are ever adhered to. Also, if you've read this far, thank you for reading! End rant ;-)

@kay Similar upbringing on my end, just add a sister in there instead. We most certainly never want to ask for anything from anyone, let alone for money. I've never personally felt like its begging when using crowdfunding because I feel like you're paying for something and getting something in return. Also, I'm asking for people to "support" me and have Kickstarter/IndieGoGo in between me and them. There's almost a layer of protection in that. Now, a GoFundMe which I understand is usually for more personal reasons than "GoFundMyMovie", that's one I don't think I could actually do. That platform feels too personal.

Thank you, @Colette, that's very kind of you. And thank you for being such a champion for fundraising - as I type, it is steeling my nerves!

Right on, @Casey - yeah, I could see that about KS/IGG. I think there may be an added aspect of inherent worth as well. I've had to learn how to defend that worth as a matter of delivery first, quality second. You've invested in the product, and the product is delivered. After that, we can debate whether or not it has met expectations.

It is begging, but rather than think of that negative word I think enabling is better. Many people do not know what a crowdfund is and I think I've said before my firends and family have a negative view of it, thinking I'm asking for funds when I surely can earn or get the money myself.

Then a girlfriend who will not contribute to the crowdfund will come round with a bunch of flowers if I ask her to lunch. I'd rather have a contribution to the crowdfund than money spent on flowers. Many people just don't get it. I usually say it's like gofund me, like giving to a cause, not to me. From this I can employ xxx actors, xxx crew and make a film you and others will want to watch.

It's not investment it's giving for a bigger cause. Perhaps one with a subject that excites, fascinates or you feel will entertain or inform.

I made a quick video because it annoyed me a lot last crowdfund when people said I don't know what a crowd fund is...or said I don't invest in films. It's not investment! It's not a lot of money. The perks can be fabulous. This video not polished just a quick info video. https://youtu.be/M0BqjPOEFKU

The truth is, whatever it might have been in the past, crowdfunding is now mainstream and a legitimate form of fundraising, recognized and legitimized by the Securities Exchange Commission no less (google Regulation CF and see the SEC website). The fact is, it's "begging" if you only use a platform to beg. If you use it as a way to raise production funds and give supporters what they bargain for, it's not only fine, but a growing and important source of finances. Truth is, it's work and you have to see it as work - your success will be related to your legitimate effort.

Yeah @shadow I couldn’t agree more. I also think you have a cool name.