Film Finance & How to Raise REAL Money for Your Indie Film with Franco Sama - Indie Film Hustle

[@jacobrobertdesio9265]

Skip to 5:00, he doesn't say anything important till the interview starts at 5 minutes

[@JamesBoss]

I’ve gone through the “finding investors” route twice and it boils down to time and a whole lot of rejection. Took me 2 years to get $200,000 for my first feature and I got rejected 9 out of 10 times. My second feature, I just lowered my budget to $30,000 and got the investment in months. Still got rejected quite a bit. So it’s really random and you have to be consistent. The person has to be in a good financial situation to even really consider. And dont take the rejections personally. There are so many factors to getting the investment. I think the bigger burden is the possibilty of failure. That’s hard earned money going down the drain. And as artists we arent so business savy. But we gotta do what we gotta do to survive in this industry.

[@DreamsComeTrueFilms]

Hi James, do you care to share how you found investors? I have been making films for 11 years and have never found an avenue to get investors on board. It took me 3 years to raise just $25K for my last film with dozens of fundraisers. I felt like I was working my life away. :/

[@JamesBoss]

@@DreamsComeTrueFilms I'm pretty sure we are all in on the same boat doing the same thing. It always felt random how I met these investors, but I would always ask people for referrals, and they would introduce me to someone who might be interested. Note: Never end a meeting without asking for a referral. And this was an on going process, although I collected enough budget to get the production going, we were still searching for investors until the end of production, I too felt like I was working my life away, and it seemed harder raising funds than making the film itself. But from the start one of my producers was a business major and had a little bit of connection which did help us get the ball rolling. It didn't make it easier, but at least it got us moving in the right direction.

[@mychalsimmons4177]

Out of ALL your guest I enjoyed him the most. It seem honest, transparent and totally realistic about his approach to the film world. I’m more than encouraged. Because I realize just that much more that you can get this done....... IF YOU HUSTLE!!!

[@chasedudley7403]

I’ve been listening to your show daily love it

[@fatherhood7608]

Man I love this podcast.

[@mychalsimmons4177]

I had to watch this more than once. 8x already

[@stevenbhiro]

Incredible episode Alex.

[@BrandedbyBJ]

Awesome podcast!!!!

[@StrongInspirations]

I truly enjoyed this interview. It helped me a lot. I just used what he said to pitch an investor and it worked

[@tonyyoung3985]

And I believe the Preston Sturges's film is "Sullivan's Travels."

[@scoutwithoutclout]

How does the film industry generate profits now that we've switched to streaming? (i.e., not as many DVD sales or theatre sales). I want to take his advice and speak in their terms, so maybe understanding their profit model for today is step 1.

[@screenwriterabdullahh.erak2778]

Thank you Franco & Alex: Like! Like! Like!

[@colesanchez73]

Crazy informative. Franco is a beast.

[@migol1984]

With all the rejections that happen, I wonder then how do plenty horrible films continue to be made?

[@DreamsComeTrueFilms]

Great question!!

[@Doughamp]

I am wondering the same. I saw Legion some years ago about Michael the Arcangel fighting in a southwestern diner. It was beyond bad. It gave me hope that my project could get made.

[@LightsCameraKonkle]

Great interview

[@mychalsimmons4177]

I gotta get the Ron Howard Master Class

[@kponly]

Great info. Thanks.

[@diegomiranda1952]

Great episode! Direct clear info. Thank you!!

[@technomentis]

Worth listening more than once. Solid advice.

[@tonyyoung3985]

I have an LLC under my production company. So is it more cost effective for me to just get a DBA in the name of the film? I'm applying for the state tax credit as well. And I actually do have a budget and schedule.

[@y2ksugar]

Thanx Alex 🎬🙏

[@IndieFilmHustle]

You are welcome.

[@charliemcgrain]

You kept stopping him on really important stuff, he needed to finish the packaging talent through and agent process and you went on the first time directors. Man! You interrupted way too much bro.

[@nathansimpson2363]

This was so great and super informative but I'm sort of annoyed at the way the interviewer keeps laughing, it makes it harder to concentrate on what Franco's saying.

[@vincejeffers9405]

How the project is structured, determines if a PPM is needed or not. Contact a lawyer to review your project before taking funds from "investors."

[@MegaMusicMuse]

This is an incredible podcast. Thank you Franco 🙏🏼

[@plataoplomofilm-official]

I would love to hear all of this with new take! During this COVID pandemic! Hopefully post COVID has another perspective but we’ll just have to wait and see. Overall great info! Thank you

[@bennyboo82]

Stop laughing at the lottery ticket mentality dude, you talk about it in all your videos, I get it now, at some point you’re just going to discourage filmmakers from trying

[@ChristopherWarring]

So, how do you get the $500,000 for your first or 2nd film?

[@michaelhalpern7049]

Thank you SOOOOO MUCH!😂😂😂

[@luckc.productions7842]

Sorry for my simple mind. What is AFM?

[@EmilyFoxasinEmilytheFox]

American Film Market

[@derekarrieta6243]

homie needs to turn off those email notifications 😂

[@ORANJE_DSK]

Many first time directors get their start with stars. You have to convince them that you can do it. If they don't want you is because they probably think you're stupid or doubt you'll pull it off. Don't smear your experiences on us.

[@mychalsimmons4177]

Oh No I don’t need money for film.... lol lol lol lol lol lol lol!!!!

[@stewartmackay539]

Great interview. Thanks for posting But dude, stop giggling. Very uncool

[@michaelrohrbaugh866]

There’s a few helpful things in here, but both people are so terribly patronizing. If you want to help filmmakers perhaps spend more time offering solutions and less time mocking them.

[@narayanojha6604]

First 5mins is waste, cut it