Hey everyone my name is Corey Lehman I'm the executive director of Cinema scope animations we are a brand new company set the launch early next year and our current project needs funding. I plan to start a crowdfund campaign October 1st what are some things that I should prepare for with this campaign? Here are some things that I already have and some questions I have about crowdfunding: I already have my first promo video that covers what cinemascope animations is and what our goals are and our mission statement. I'm working on a longer form video that will tell the story of the song and the company (we are working on a animated music video). Today I'm brainstorming with my team about creative giveaways for the campaign we're thinking stickers and posters and top-tier levels will include their name or likeness being drawn into a picture frame in the background. We are also brainstorming places that we can share this link to the crowdfund campaign I'm stuck with this one because I'm not sure where I can really share and self-promote so to speak my company because so many places are anti-self promotion and anti-spam I'm not spamming but I feel like a crowdfund campaign may be misunderstood as spam.
So my main question is where can I safely and effectively share my crowdfunding campaign?
What type of giveaway should I provide for donations?
If you got this far in this article thank you so much for reading look forward to seeing cinemascope animations on the credits of lots of new stuff in the coming years
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Hi Corey, this is a great question. We have some really great webinars that go right to the heart of your questions that would be helpful from some of the industry's most successful experts: https://www.stage32.com/education?search=crowdfunding
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Hi Corey Lehman - I suggest having some larger donors who can add to your campaign immediately on Day One. There's a lot of excitement that can be generated that first 24 hours. You can even schedule friends to donate every hour, so the optics look strong.
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I raised my 2nd animated short film budget via Kickstarter and certainly learned a lot along the way. A few pointers:
* Choose the platform. Kickstarter is all or nothing but carries more 'prestige'? I guess?, Indiegogo you can still receive a percentage of the funds even if you don't hit the goal. There are other crowdfunding sites, especially for films, so be sure to explore your options and choose what works for you.
* For rewards, be super prepared to handle the extra load. Physical rewards are a beast on their own. Highly recommend you get someone else to handle the rewards logistics so you can focus on production. For me, I chose all digital rewards as I was handling the kickstarter, so it would be easier on me down the line.
* Promotion takes time so be prepared to start talking about your funding or production desires a full year before anything. Explore places online where you can talk about your project without seeming like spam. Filmmaking forums, animation discord servers etc. Also build your own audience so that when you talk about your fundraising, you have people who already know you and are willing to fund it.
* I echo Shellie Schmals 's sentiment - get your good friends and big donors to donate in the 1st 24 hours. That generates hype that helps with the momentum of the fundraiser.
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Hey everyone! Here is a draft of my rewards for the campaign what do you think? >$20 - Digital stickers
$20 - Cinemascope Animations character stickers
$30 - Stickers and poster
$50 - Stickers, poster, and Zoom chat with the director
$100 - All previous rewards plus a digital copy of the song “Information War”
$250 - Executive Producer Credits
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Hi Corey Lehman - you may want to space the rewards out more - make it a bigger leap:
>$20
$25 - Cinemascope Animations character stickers
$75 - Stickers and poster
$200 - Stickers, poster, and Zoom chat with the director
$350 - All previous rewards plus a digital copy of the song “Information War”
$500 - Executive Producer Credits
To me, having the prices too close together makes it easy to go for the lower rate.
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Thank you for your suggestion Shellie! I'll make those changes asap!
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Hey Shelia I made most of the changes you suggested! I love the zoom chat perk! Would love to hear more ideas!
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in your levels, did you calculate the cost you have (like stickers, and posters) before planting the level? I would also recommend to space out the rewards.
On most crowdfunding experiences I've had. MOst people who donated were my friends, so they really don't care on the 'rewards' much, but for strangers or people who doesn't know you, remember to always think 'what's would I (the stranger), get out of helping you" (besides to help you make a project)...
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I did calculate the costs. The first tier of $25 gets you a sticker and signed poster. I had 200 stickers printed for under $70 and the posters are print on demand. I net about $15 from the lowest tier. So my overhead for rewards is as low as possible. Shipping is a bit unpredictable though
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Hey Corey. I'm going to pimp my book here. A successful crowdFUNDING campaign can't happen without crowdsSOURCING. I was hired to write Crowdsourcing for Filmmakers: Indie Film and the Power of the Crowd by Focal Press for this reason. Most people simply get it backwards and end up failing.
The book explains in detail how to use the power of the crowd to successfully crowdfund with many case studies.
You can check it out here. https://amzn.to/3D25lAF