MO NEY , M ONEY , M ONEY
ing a fifteen-page dramatic narrative that you want to win Best Short at some top-tier film festival or win an Academy Award, you would be wise to seek to raise enough of a budget to at least consider shooting on film or have the capability to output your digital work to film. Be smart. Be prepared, regardless of what format you choose to shoot on. WHERE DO I BEGIN THE SHAKEDOWN?
Should you organize a car wash? Yes. Should you call your exboyfriends, ex-girlfriends, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents to contribute $10–$1,000 to your production? Yes. Many smart filmmakers I know, like the unstoppable Erin Greenwell (Big Dreams in Little Hope, Commitment Ceremony, Overnight Book) signed up at www.justgive.org. They offer a wonderful service where people can donate to your project and receive a tax deductible receipt, provided that you are a registered not-forprofit, with 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. Go online and do some research. GET THE WORD OUT THAT YOU NEED MONEY
I know filmmakers who sent a general request to their entire e-mail list. In order to do this you’ll need to find a fiscal sponsor whose not-for-profit status would qualify your project. There are some great ones like IFP and Women Make Movies (both in New York City)—go online and do some research. The request was simple: Please contribute to my short film. They posted a synopsis of the script, who was producing, who they’d cast (with photos!) and what their intention was (e.g., “I want to capture the universal terror we all feel leaving a voicemail message”). They created their own financing community and they held strong to the Big Belief.
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