On Feb 2, 2010, I joined Nic Baisley at Film Snobbery with David Geertz of Biracy to discuss crowdfunding, and specifically the idea of Kevin Smith testing this ground for his next film. Nic pulled this convo together in light of all the twitter and blog buzz on the topic that day.
GoGoSlava joins a panel of crowdfunding experts this Friday for an online webinar on how to make crwodfunding work for your venture. (See below.) Tickets are $40.
Here's how you can win your FREE ticket:
Twitter about crowdfunding, IndieGoGo or vPanel and include "#indiegogo"
Contest ends Thursday Feb 25
No limit on no. of tweets per twitterer (no bots please :)
* * * * * * * *
1st Twinner: @Merrynell for her tweet at 11:31 am PST, Feb 22:
CERISE is featured on the #indiegogo homepage! Please keep the support coming and help make it happen for CERISE! http://ow.ly/1a1nc
2nd Twinner: @grking for his tweet at 8:17 pm PST, Feb 24: RT @GetStuck: Here's the #indiegogo page for #SLCToo. Please help in any way you can! http://bit.ly/aTxoAn
Crowdfunding has gained momentum in the past several months as a credible new process of raising capital for entrepreneurs and non-profits.
In an era where venture capital funding is difficult at best, and development campaigns are more challenging than ever, crowdfunding is becoming a viable alternative. By identifying groups of like-minded individuals who are willing to donate small sums of money to support your vision, they can provide you with needed capital to fuel your initiative.
Find out how you can make crowdfunding work for you with the latest Shift Worldwide 90-minute virtual panel discussion.
We’ve brought together professionals on the front line of crowdfunding – entrepreneurs who are using it to build their businesses and support non-profits, a legal expert who know the ins and outs of capital development and SEC regulations, and a consultant who has counseled successful startups.
Range of Topics:
Explanation and overview of crowdfunding
Concrete examples of how it has helped entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations
What you need to know regarding Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and other government regulations
What you are obligated to owe “stockholders” and other contributors
Specific tactics to implement to help raise funds immediately
Our Distinguished vPanelists:
Nathan Beckord, CEO, Venture Archetypes, San Francisco, CA
Nathan has provided business advisory services for 10 years, and has also led or co-managed several key business development / partnership deals between startups and F500 companies. He is an active speaker and moderator on such topics such as, Startup Business Development, Entrepreneurial Strategy and Capital Sourcing Alternatives.
Kamil is the technical lead for Cameesa.com, a Chicago-based clothing company that uses crowdfunding to let its community of supporters decide what is made by artists who produce the t-shirt designs.
Rick Goossen, CEO, Make Good, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Rick has focused on entrepreneurial strategy and finance for over 20 years. He has written five books, edited five books and written 150 articles. His two most recent books are Entrepreneurial Excellence (2007) and E-Preneur: From Wall Street to Wiki – How to Succeed as a Crowdpreneur™ in the New Virtual Marketplace (2008). His company also is involved with the world’s first crowdfunded “wishing well” atGreedyorNeedy.com
Jenny Kassan, Managing Director, Katovich Law Group, Oakland, CA
Jenny Kassan is an attorney and community development consultant, specializing in environmentally friendly and socially responsible ventures. She is a frequent author on capital and related fund-raising topics for businesses, and created a network called Edge Capital Raising.
Slava co-founded IndieGoGo to empower creative entrepreneurs with Do-It-With-Others (DIWO) tools. He offers expertise in audience-building and social media marketing, and serves as an Advisor to the IFP Film Week and Film Labs. Slava also recently produced the short film Wonder of Seasaws.
Entrepreneurs – anyone with a business idea needing capital: whether you are growing a start up or a software developer working on a ground-breaking application
Anyone connected with non-profit organizations and local chapters of all sizes who need to expand their funding sources
Musicians, designers and any artist seeking to fund creativity
Venture capitalists wanting to stay updated on current funding trends
Schedule (all times in EST):
2:45 – 3:00 p.m.: Log on to vPanel (link is provided once you register)
3:00 – 3:05 p.m.: Introduction of vPanelists
3:05 – 4:00 p.m.: vPanel Discussion
4:00 – 4:30 p.m.: Interactive Q&A session
You do not need a web cam to participate in the vPanel.
IndieGoGo's bundled up and headed to Park City for the Sundance 2010 Film Festival. From panels to parties to red carpet interviews, we got it all. Catch the highlights below.
Interviews
Party
Panels
________________________________________
Interviews
We talked DIWO, crowdfunding,
crowdsourcing and all that good stuff with the filmmakers of Sundance 2010. From "google-optimized titles" to "the importance of following your heart and trusting your gut," these Sundance 2010 filmmakers and their teams reveal what it took to get to this remarkable festival and where they're going next.
Interview with Muhammad Yunus (Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Subject of Sundance Film "To Catch a Dollar")
Interview with Jospeh Godon-Levitt (Founder of HitRecord; Star in Sundance Films "Hesher" & "500 Days of Summer")
6Q with Diane Bell & Chris Byrne of Obselidia (Sundance 2010 Dramatic Competition) - Winner of the Sloane Prize!
Interview with the cast of Obselidia: Gaynor Howe, Frank Hoyt Taylor & Micheal Piccirilli
6Q with Andre Nekrasov (Sundance 2010 World Cinema Documentary Competition)
6Q with Gayle Ferraro of To Catch A Dollar (Sundance 2010)
"Where Internet & Film Collide" - Park City. We co-hosted this
party with IndieFlix and AFCI. Thanks to Mike Hedge for providing the
photos
________________________________________
PANELS
GoGoSlava discussed the changing film industry and filmmaker roles with Adam Chapnick on Steven Beers' NY Film Commission Panel, while GoGoDanae discussed the importance of audience-building with screenwriters (sorry no video from this one).
Paul Gitschner has funded 40 projects on IndieGoGo! Thank you Paul!
As a fundraiser, it's
sometimes hard to remember what it feels like to be a funder. However,
understanding your funders' interests, goals and motivations is key to
your success!. So take a moment to read what our Funder Extraordinaire
had to say about why he funds on IndieGoGo.
"I found out about your site when someone who I helped with
a script, shot a trailer and placed it on Indiegogo to raise funds.
I've since seen other films listed here from
friends and even recommended Indiegogo to some of my local
filmmakers." - Paul
"It's cool to be able to interact with others who have
projects worldwide through your site. That's how it started and then, as a
full time writer, with time on my hands, I got a little carried away." - Paul
"I'm not a major dollar funder. Most of my contributions
are small and a simple 'hello' and show of support, like buying a show ticket. Being in Canada,
I'm not going to go to events nor want them to go through the cost and
bother of mailing stuff. I want to keep up with what filmmakers are
doing, right and wrong." - Paul
"It's more interesting to follow projects once you
have some, even a minor connection. All the horses look the same unless you put place a
bet. Then it's easy watching yours." - Paul
I caught up with Michael Mohan, Anthony Deptula and Stephen Hale of One Too Many Mornings, one of Sundance NEXT films in the festival.
This team did Sundance a little differently than others and harnessed the publicity of the festival to launch distribution. The night One Too Many Mornings premiered at Sundancel, fans could purchase it on their website. Watch, learn and buy this Sundance premiere today.
00:25 1. What are your goals for the film? 00:40 2. Who are your fans and how have you identified/reached out to them? 01:30 3. What tactics did you use for financing? 02:45 4. What role has the internet played in your audience-building efforts? 03:20 5. Plans for distribution? Self-distribution? 04:45 6. How can fans follow you?
Looking for love? Found love? Or just want to share the love this special day? IndieGoGo's full of love... love stories, labors of love, and lots of lovely funders!
Be any project's GoGoValentine today. Make a contribution, get a perk and share the love.
The project that raises the most today... ...will be my GoGoValentine tomorrow! I promise.
Google Buzz is a new way to share updates, photos, videos and now IndieGoGo projects. (See the video below for an overview). Google introduced Google Buzz earlier this week, and we're excited to bring it to every IndieGoGo project.
Fantastic interview with filmmaker Danny Lacey whose short film Love Like Hers just launched on IndieGoGo. Danny sheds some interesting insight into the tools and tactics he's used to build his audience, why he's choosing self-distribution and the three reasons he chose to use IndieGoGo for fundraising.
Danny also hosts a bi-weekly live internet show to share what he's been going through as filmmaker, crowdfunder, audience-builder and self-distributor. (details below)
Well done, Danny & Team. Let's get you funded and launched into the festival circuit.
01:10 2. Who is the audience for Love Like Hers? How are you identifying and reaching them?
02:25 3. What online tactics and tools are you using for audience-building and fundraising?
04:00 4. Why are you using IndieGoGo? How has it helped?
04:45 5. What are your plans for distribution? Any thoughts on self-distribution?
06:20 6. How can fans fund, follow and support you?
Bi-Weekly Internet Show:
From Danny: "This Friday, 12th Feb, at 6.30pm (GMT UK) I will be attempting a new, unique and pioneering way to raise funds for my next short film, Love Like Hers. And yes, I am a little nervous!" Details here.
Fun interview with Brad Barnes - Co-director of Homewrecker, which was one of Sundance's NEXT selections this year at the 2010 Festival. Homewrecker was also part of YouTube's latest initiative - which enabled fans to rent Homewrecker on YouTube during the festival. Great option if you couldn't make it to Park City!
Watch this interview if you want to be entertained, learn about a new distribution experiment, and hear from the creator of the film deemed by one critic as the "Best Date Movie of Sundance 2010."
00:00 Intros
00:24 1. Goals for Homewrecker at Sundance?
01:35 2. Plans for distribution? Self-distribution?
02:25 3. Who are your fans? Any surprises? (2:45: Homewrecker deemed "Best Date Movie at Sundance")
03:45 4. How are you using the internet to get the word out?
05:00 5. Anything new and interesting you did with financing? (6:00 What they might do next time.)
After a loyal son comes home to visit his aging mother, she assigns him some chores; one of them involves a road trip to help satiate her desire for a certain special herb.
I got a chance to catch up with the masterminds behind My Mom Smokes Weed. Watch to hear the director, producer and lead actor talk about their experience making, funding, marketing and distributing this 2010 Sundance selection. Prepare for funny :)
00:00 Intros
00:30 1. What are you goals for My Mom Smokes Weed, and specifically at Sundance?
01:35 2. Who is your audience and how are you reaching out to them?
02:30 3. What internet tools and tactics have you used during production and/or to engage your audience? (What they tweet about, 3:30; What they should tweet about: 5:15; importance of a catchy title: 4:30 & 6:20)
07:30 4. How did you finance the film?
09:30 5. What are your plans for distribution? Any thoughts on self-distribution (10:30)?
2nd Twinner: @
