Slide presentation to accompany a talk given at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival's Doc Shop in February 2012. Feedback welcome! I'm a powerpoint beginner.

1. Documentary Funding
Big Sky Film Festival
Reva Goldberg
reva@cinereach.org
@RevaGoldberg
Cinereach.org

2. My Goal:
To empower you with the truth…
…so you can hope for the best
AND plan for the worst.

3. Ugly Truth #1
• Inexperienced filmmakers can expect low
funder confidence in early project stages.
• Prepare to go it alone through development and
production.
• As you near completion, the field evens out.

4. Filmmaker Experience
& Funder Confidence
Project Phases
Development Established
Early Production Emerging
Late Production Unknown
Early Post
Late Post
Distribution/Outreach
0 20 40 60 80
Funder Confidence

5. Ugly Truth #2
Grants for film are not:
• Statistically likely
• Large (in many cases)
Grant seeking is:
• Mastered through practice
• Competitive
• Slow
• Only one piece of the fundraising „pie‟

6. Ugly Truth #3
Most people making independent docs don‟t
fully support themselves that way unless
they:
• Are independently wealthy.
• Have a track record, relationships with
specific funders and broadcasters.
• Hustle like CRAZY

7. Essential Existential Questions
• Is this film the one?
• Unique (access)? Compelling?
• Right time for it and for me?
• True passion?
• Am I the one to tell it? Why?
• Commitment to film life cycle?
• Willing to ask and keep asking?
• Willing to make personal sacrifices?

8. And…..GO!

9. Preparing to Fundraise
• How much do I need, when?
• Am I ready for grants, donations?
• What kind of funds should I seek?

10. How Much $?
Scope, Scale, Timeline
• Is the story contained or open-ended?
• Near me?
• Can I do it myself?
• Happening now?
• Sprint vs. marathon?
• Licensing? Footage? Music?
• Legal concerns?
• Feature or Short?

11. How Much $ ?(contin.)
Existing Resources
• Savings?
• Time?
• Equipment (especially camera, sound and
edit gear)?
• Skills (especially shoot and edit)?
• Social capital?

12. How Much $ (contin.)
Budgeting
• Two scenarios
– Best case: everyone gets paid; all is paid for.
– Worst case: no one gets paid; only hard costs.
• Change as needed, keep track of versions.
• Article, sample budget: Robert Bahar.
– http://www.doculink.org/Downloads/IntroDocBudgetBahar.
pdf
– http://www.doculink.org/Downloads/DocSampleBlank.xls
• Add „actuals‟ and „income/deficit‟ column to track progress.

13. Preparing for $
Fiscal Sponsors
• Nonprofit surrogate
• Donors write checks, or give via C.C.
• Donors get proof of tax-deductible gift
• Foundations can go through FS
• 5% - 8% fee; check request turnaround; reporting requirements
• Choosing a fiscal
sponsorhttp://www.cinereach.org/grants/resources

14. Preparing to Receive $ (contin.)
List Management
• Email addresses of donors and targets
• List of target foundations, grants, deadlines (sort by
deadline date!), programs, forums.
• List of broadcasters, contacts, etc.
• Timeline for who to reach out to, and when.

15. Preparing to Receive $ (contin.)
Web presence
• Basic site (or area of existing site) w/ room to grow
• Image
• Blog
• Store
• Trailer
• Community page
• Laurels & funder logos
• List sign-up
• Social networks
• Press kit
• Short film e.g. : http://www.xoxosmsfilm.org/
• Feature e.g. : http://www.lionessthefilm.com/

16. Preparing to Receive $ (contin.)
Social Networks
• Do NOT replace email or direct asks
• Where does your audience hang out? Might be
elsewhere?
• Take time to grow; not direct funding source
• Grow from authentic fan interest, useful
content, not self-promotion
• Examples:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/If-A-Tree-Falls-
A-Story-of-the-Earth-Liberation-Front/186553578028577
Twitter: @gaslandmovie

17. Preparing to Receive $ (contin.)
IRS:
• Grants and donations are income!
• Need accountant who knows film industry
• Good bookkeeping, save receipts
• Deductions for expenses
• Establish DBA (at the least)
• Business checking account
• All project related expenses and income
• Only pay income tax above $400
• Certificate of Authority, avoid sales tax
• Caution:
http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/news/2011/07

18. Preparing to Receive $ (contin.)
Online tools for CC
• Fastest, easiest way to collect
• Can go through:
• Fiscal sponsor‟s web site
• Crowdsourcing site
(Kickstarter, Indiegogo).
• Other collection tools.
• Your own web site.

19. Preparing to Receive $ (contin.)
Relationships get complicated the second any $ comes in.
Crew Agreements:
• Who “owns” my film? Who decides what to pay when?
• Deferred payment plans?
• Clear expectations. Credits, contribution, etc.
• Agreements in writing!
Subjects
• What if subjects want to help raise $$$?
• NO!!!!!!
– Expectations, roles, power
– Integrity
– Promotion vs. storytelling

20. Types of $ (or value)
in order of likelihood
SELF!
Team
Friends & Family
Grants
Broadcasters
Investors (equity)

21. Self & Team
Self
• Time/energy/Determination/Continuity
• Skills/Experience
• Equipment, software
• Contagious passion
• Network
• Endurance
Team
• Skills/Experience
• Equipment, software
• Networks
• Endurance

22. Friends & Family
• Most likely, early source.
• Non-industry folks are less jaded.
• Make explicit, multiple, direct asks (VERY HARD!)
• Create sense of community, ownership, novelty.
• Update, don‟t overload.
• Approaches:
- Large amounts from small number
- Small amounts from large number
- Both together

23. Friends & Family (contin)
Crowdfunding
• Indiegogo, Kickstarter
• Tools not miracles
• Does not replace email
• Requires strategy, endurance
• Compelling reason, evangelism
• Impending, clear deadlines
• Study successful campaigns
• Strategize to reach beyond
existing network.

24. Grants
Types
• Private foundations
• Larger organizations
• City, state, federal resources
Range
• Size
• Specificity of focus
• Competitiveness
Appropriate targets
• Research
• List by deadline
• Non-Film grants, too!

25. Grants
Specific Guidelines, priorities
• Figure out what your film is first!
• The more naturally aligned a fund is, the more likely you‟ll
get it.
Content Guidelines:
• Topics, issue areas
• Filmmaking styles (advocacy, artistic, both).
• Type: fiction, nonfiction, hybrid, experimental, interactive
• Length
• Hint: look at RECENT previously supported films and
talk to filmmakers

26. Grants
Other Guidelines
• Phase of project:
r&d, production, post, outreach, exhib., distrib.
• Filmmaker Experience: emerging, established
• Demographics/Geography
• Budget size, percent raised
• Intended Audience:
broadcast, theatrical, educational, issue oriented
outreach
• Timeline of grant vs. your timeline of need

27. Grant Materials
Written content
– Log line
– Synopses of different lengths
– Dir. Statement
– Script/treatment
– Team bios
– Social context
– Audience/Distribution/Outreach
plans
Materials
– Budget (income and expense)
– Secured and Potential Funding Sources
– Still imagery (evocative, representative, high quality)
– Sample footage (trailer, scenes, rough cut, previous work). Only
submit material that reflects very well on the filmmaker and
project.

28. Broadcasters
Enter at late stages (usually)
Co-Productions, Pre-Sales (intl.), Acquisitions
US Broadcasters/Cablers
• HBO, POV, Independent Lens, A&E, OWN, Showtime, The
Documentary Channel…
• Commissioned works for other networks (in house)
International Broadcasters
• Europe, Asia, Beyond…
Reaching them
• Quality work comes first; be ready!
• Authentic relationships developed over time
• Film Fests, markets, pitching forums

29. Investors (Equity)
• Lawyer needed!
• Business Plan
• Hard to mix equity w/
grants & donations
Reaching them
• Existing, authentic relationships
• Film Fests, Markets and pitching forums
• Don‟t call us, we‟ll call you.

30. Grant-Hunting Tips
• Spreadsheet, sorted by date
• Don‟t forget non-film grants!
• Check funder web sites regularly. Deadlines change, programs
change. Beware of dead links, old applications, or info about a
funder on another site (don‟t update frequently enough).
• Use other funders‟ sites as a resource
– Join mailing lists (they know e/o and announce deadlines for e/o)
– See resource pages, but always check actual site to apply
• Communities, email lists that notify of deadlines:
– IFP, DCTV, D-Word, Shooting People

31. Proposal/Pitch Writing Tips
• Read & Research
– Guidelines, Priorities, FAQs, Instructions
– Deadlines – (you will wait until the last minute, but PLEASE DON‟T)!
– Don‟t call with questions without doing your research first.
– Look at other films. Talk to supported filmmakers.
– Be aware of similar films in production or release and address differences.
• Grab me
– Person and situation – NOT ISSUE – first.
– Sample work is critical. Must reflect project/filmmakers well. Must be properly
contextualized.
– Visual language
– Striking images
– What is unique about how I will tell this story? How it looks? Sounds?
– Clear, concise writing demonstrates good storytelling, professionalism, clarity
– Passion, purpose, inevitability.
• Authenticity
– Do not try to impress with flowery or indirect language
– Don‟t squeeze into guidelines.

32. Important Names in Doc Granting
Grantmakers
• Sundance Doc Fund
• ITVS
• Cinereach
• NEH, NEA
• Creative Capital
• Ford Foundation, JustFilms Initiative
• Tribeca Film Institute
• Fledgling Fund
• Chicken & Egg (women)
• Jerome Foundation
• Women in Film Finishing Fund

33. Big Names in Doc Granting
(contin.)
• POV (Diverse Voices Project)
• State and local arts councils (e.g. NYSCA, Brooklyn Arts
Council, etc.)
• Catapult (development)
• Channel 4 Brit Doc
• San Francisco Film Society
• International Documentary Association
• National Black Programming Consortium
Other Ideas
• The Good Pitch (traveling)
• Independent Filmmaker Project
• Film Independent

34. Some Further Reading
Reva‟s IFP articles on doc fundraising (more coming):
http://www.ifp.org/author/revacinereachorg/
Esther Robinson: Financial health:
http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/issues/spring2009/credit-
crisis.php
http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/issues/summer2009/jobs.php
Diana
Holtzberghttp://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/sites/default/files/docume
nts/pages/currentstate.pdf
Paul Devlinhttp://www.independent-magazine.org/08/04/blogging-hot-docs-
playing-pre-sale-co-production-game

35. Ask me about
• Fundraising parties
• Approaching funders effectively in social
settings
• How much to “spin”
a grant app to fit a
funder‟s tastes?