Because of so many new technologies altering the way movie reviews and filmmaking are done, the financial environment of independent cinema in Hollywood is changing. It used to be private placement memorandums, and 900+ film financing distribution and production partners investing in Indie Films. Today it could be any willing investor.
This influences several areas: 1) There are now online schools where aspiring filmmakers can train and work with a mentor. 2) Traditional fundraising methods to secure film distribution are becoming outdated, while new funding opportunities for independent filmmakers are emerging.
Big productions are favored by international financiers. To fund blockbuster film projects in the past, New Zealand subsidies and German tax shelters have been used by many large studios. But what of the independent filmmaker? Where does funding come from for these projects?
The digital revolution is changing both the distribution of films and how they’re made. Independent filmmakers no longer need a large distributor because faster broadband now allows people to watch movies from their computer screens. Some films are simply available for anyone to purchase from the film’s website online. “The Fall of America and the Western World” is one such film.
In the future these changes will expand all of the opportunities for independent filmmakers who are hoping to receive funds for their film projects.
Current trends include companies online that are helping filmmakers finance their films by matching them with investors and/or distributors. Filmmakers from small towns can make use of these kinds of services.
It also helps when an independent filmmaker has good movie reviews from film critics for past film projects. These movie reviews lend credibility to filmmakers when they are seeking investors.
When it comes to online websites for filmmakers and investors, the way it typically works is that the filmmaker submits a description of their project or film for consideration. There are many investors registered on the website who can then access the list of projects at their own pace, and review those projects that are in need of funding. Because they can contact the filmmaker directly, the middlemen of old are no more.
Independent filmmakers are also assisted by some non-profit organizations to locate financing and distribution for their projects. They offer fiscal sponsorship to filmmakers, but don’t fund them. Sponsorship allows filmmakers to receive funding from sources that limit their funding to nonprofits.
Independent producers can also post website ads and information abour their projects on other websites that link them to investors.
