Film St. Louis

One of the many questions I typically get asked when doing Q&A’s at film screenings is “where did you get the money to make your film?”

This is a common question among filmmakers.  We are a creative lot who have a vision in our heads and need to express it.  We typically are not rich people looking for a place to put our money, nor are we typically business people.

However, in order to connect with the people with the money who ARE business people, we need to be able to talk to them in a way they will relate to.

Successful business owners get pitched business ideas all the time.  Your movie IS a business, so why not present it like a business?

Not only do you need to have a good product (your amazing script), but you need to have a good pitch as well.  And a pitch to a business person is going to be different than a pitch to a creative company.

Although a business owner may be excited about the script you have that is a thriller with a twist that will have a popular hot actress in it if you get the funding, what they really want to know is your business plan. You will need to be able to speak to them in the language of business and you will need to understand terms like Cashflow, capital gains, and ROI.

Because most people who invest in films are coming from other industries, especially in the midwest where I am making films, knowing how to talk in the language of traditional business will go a long way to help you communicate your proposition.

As producer Jason Brubaker says “Always remember that goal of the indie filmmaker and traditional business professional are the same – You are joining forces to produce, promote and distribute a product. The problem is, when it comes to creating a movie, most filmmakers focus only on the production.  But that is limiting.”

Keep this in mind: Never approach people who invest in movies, until you are ready to answer the tough questions.

Aside from creating an awesome product, how are you going to market, sell and distribute your movie?

If you can’t answer these questions, why is anyone going to take you seriously?

If you would like to find out how to meet investors and raise money, check out the film finance guide. http://www.FilmFinanceGuide.com