Crowdfunding for Filmmakers offers practical information, tips, and tactics for launching a successful film campaign by detailing traditional models of fundraising, utilizing today’s technological and social innovations, and augmenting each step with an added personal touch. The book examines various ways to meet and exceed one’s crowdfunding goal through chapters ?on team building, audience outreach, and crowdfunder etiquette, along with a section containing case studies from successful film campaigns.
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
Crowdfunding for Filmmakers offers practical information, tips, and tactics for launching a successful film campaign by detailing traditional models of fundraising, utilizing today’s technological and social innovations, and augmenting each step with an added personal touch. The book examines various ways to meet and exceed one’s crowdfunding goal through chapters ?on team building, audience outreach, and crowdfunder etiquette, along with a section containing case studies from successful film campaigns.
About the Author
Writer and filmmaker John T. Trigonis has published work in a variety of literary journals all over the world. He launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo for his seventh short film, Cerise, through which he raised a total of $6,300 –– $1,300 over his initial goal of $5,000 –– in only three months, solely through Facebook and Twitter. Once the film was finished, John spearheaded a series of crowdfunding “Crusades” and raised an additional $2,000 with which to submit the film to festivals. Cerise has since screened at over a dozen venues, participated in the Cannes Court Métrage, was nominated for four awards, and won an “Award of Merit” at Indie Fest. When not working on his creative endeavors, John teaches creative writing and humanities courses at various universities across New Jersey as a freelance professor.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a film producer for many years I had to dig deep into the trenches to find financing for my film. Or I had to use my own cash, a huge no no! After a sabbatical from filmmaking I have the urge once again to tackle the beast. This book is exactly what i need. It details all the steps needed to create a successful crowdfunding of a project. Of course it all comes down to subject matter etc but by following these simple steps anyone with a desire and passion to get their project made can. I am getting ready to do a kickstarter and this is my Bible to make it successful!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Full disclosure. I just finished a Kickstarter campaign in an attempt to raise $100,000 for a local theatre to upgrade their video system from a blu-ray player to a full digital system. A two-month campaign and I raised almost 4%. To say it was a flop is probably being generous. How I wish I had John Trigonis' book "Crowd Funding for Filmmakers."
Though mine was a large campaign and not a film - Mr. Trigonis' book has many MANY hints/tips/examples/pitfalls, etc. that could have helped me and the theatre or you and your project.
Starting with the basics, Mr. Trigonis goes through the entire process of crowd funding. Determining if this is the proper approach, getting a team together, working through your incentives - ideas and suggestions of how to make those incentives unique - following up, pulling in the community and seeing the project through to the end.
He compares the two biggest websites (Kickstarter v. Indiegogo) and also touches on all the most pertinent of social media (Facebook and Twitter and personal E-mail).
Using examples of successful campaigns he shows you how they (and he) used crowd funding to eventually reach their goals, and sometimes exceed in their goals.
The book pushes beyond the basics to the advanced with even more real world examples and has a great collection of resource articles to read to help your campaign be as successful as you can make it be.
I do see now, very clearly, how my campaign may not have done as well as I had hoped. I was a "team of one" and did not have a group to assist me in getting the word out. Many people, who said they would help, didn't, and though we got a ton of free press (even a spot on a radio show) for whatever reason the campaign didn't succeed. Will the oldest working theatre west of the Mississippi close down now? Hopefully not - we're in the process of regrouping and figuring out our next steps - and this book will greatly help us.
If I had any suggestions for the book, I would have loved to have seen a list of vendors/companies that make t-shirts/buttons/posters/business cards/stickers, etc. I have no idea where to begin when it comes to those items and you may be able to find this information in the large amount of links he includes in the "additional resources" section - but I would have liked to have a seen a large list of reputable places where I could get DVDs burned or quality t-shirts made, etc. A 10% off your order if you mention the book would have been great to see, too.
Finally - speaking from my own experience, early on in my campaign I got some feedback from someone who felt it was fine to tell me that my solicitation video on Kickstarter was "terrible." They said that I didn't talk about the project soon enough and that I should have gotten rid of the voice-over. First, I talk about the campaign in the first 15 seconds of the video - I guess they wanted it in the first 2 seconds. And two, there was no voice-over. I would have liked Mr. Trigonis to touch on giving and receiving positive v. negative feedback or constructive v. destructive criticism. You're bound to find someone out there who doesn't care for your approach - and has no problem telling you this - or you might see a campaign that just needs a tweak or two to really make it pop and you want to nicely mention to the creator your ideas. A chapter on this particular subject would have been great.
These minor issues aside, in a world where Independent filmmaking is becoming more and more affordable, Trigonis gives you all the details on how find and fund your latest project(s). The ins-and-outs and the ups-and-downs - they're all here.
Though mine was a large campaign and not a film - Mr. Trigonis' book has many MANY hints/tips/examples/pitfalls, etc. that could have helped me and the theatre or you and your project.
Starting with the basics, Mr. Trigonis goes through the entire process of crowd funding. Determining if this is the proper approach, getting a team together, working through your incentives - ideas and suggestions of how to make those incentives unique - following up, pulling in the community and seeing the project through to the end.
He compares the two biggest websites (Kickstarter v. Indiegogo) and also touches on all the most pertinent of social media (Facebook and Twitter and personal E-mail).
Using examples of successful campaigns he shows you how they (and he) used crowd funding to eventually reach their goals, and sometimes exceed in their goals.
The book pushes beyond the basics to the advanced with even more real world examples and has a great collection of resource articles to read to help your campaign be as successful as you can make it be.
I do see now, very clearly, how my campaign may not have done as well as I had hoped. I was a "team of one" and did not have a group to assist me in getting the word out. Many people, who said they would help, didn't, and though we got a ton of free press (even a spot on a radio show) for whatever reason the campaign didn't succeed. Will the oldest working theatre west of the Mississippi close down now? Hopefully not - we're in the process of regrouping and figuring out our next steps - and this book will greatly help us.
If I had any suggestions for the book, I would have loved to have seen a list of vendors/companies that make t-shirts/buttons/posters/business cards/stickers, etc. I have no idea where to begin when it comes to those items and you may be able to find this information in the large amount of links he includes in the "additional resources" section - but I would have liked to have a seen a large list of reputable places where I could get DVDs burned or quality t-shirts made, etc. A 10% off your order if you mention the book would have been great to see, too.
Finally - speaking from my own experience, early on in my campaign I got some feedback from someone who felt it was fine to tell me that my solicitation video on Kickstarter was "terrible." They said that I didn't talk about the project soon enough and that I should have gotten rid of the voice-over. First, I talk about the campaign in the first 15 seconds of the video - I guess they wanted it in the first 2 seconds. And two, there was no voice-over. I would have liked Mr. Trigonis to touch on giving and receiving positive v. negative feedback or constructive v. destructive criticism. You're bound to find someone out there who doesn't care for your approach - and has no problem telling you this - or you might see a campaign that just needs a tweak or two to really make it pop and you want to nicely mention to the creator your ideas. A chapter on this particular subject would have been great.
These minor issues aside, in a world where Independent filmmaking is becoming more and more affordable, Trigonis gives you all the details on how find and fund your latest project(s). The ins-and-outs and the ups-and-downs - they're all here.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you're looking to make films, buy this book. Raising money is one of the most daunting parts about planning a movie. John's book will help you turn that mountain into a speed bump.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read for all Filmmakers!
This book is a valuable asset to any filmmaker or producer looking to finance their next feature or short film! The book is easy to read, understand, and quick to get through. Read more
Published 14 days ago by TornadicEnt
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book for crowdfunding by a filmmaker whose actually crowdfunded
Are you planning an upcoming crowdfunding campaign for your film? GET THIS BOOK!
The best point about John's book is that unlike other crowdfunding books on the market,... Read more
The best point about John's book is that unlike other crowdfunding books on the market,... Read more
Published 1 month ago by NoBull408
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great resource for crowdfunders, not just filmmakers!
This book is amazing. John T. Trigonis has set the standard for books on crowdfunding. To be honest I ran a campaign last year that was unsuccessful. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Timothy D. Sparks
3.0 out of 5 stars
Doesn't Make Me Want to Crowdfund, But a Useful Book
I keep hearing that traditional funding for indie films is getting harder and harder.
I'm not sure it was ever that easy, unless you count the moment right after video... Read more
I'm not sure it was ever that easy, unless you count the moment right after video... Read more
Published 3 months ago by WeHaveSixFeet
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review by MJ Schirmer
John T. Trigonis' book "Crowdfunding for Filmmakers" is tightly packed with no-nonsense advice to separate people from their money via online pitches to potential investors. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ken Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not JUST for Filmmakers!
Ok, there's no quibbling with the title. If you are a filmmaker (or hope one day to be) this is a MUST read. Read more
Published 3 months ago by James F. Broderick, Ph.D., Bookpleasures Reviewer
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
So You'd Like to...
|
|
