Too many indie filmmakers today are flocking to Kickstarter and other forms of crowd funding, when the funding they need already exists in Hollywood and within the entertainment industry. The trouble isn’t a lack of access, it’s learning how to find these investors and what to do once you’ve got them willing to listen to your pitch. This advice should help amateurs looking to take their work to a more professional level.
Find Investors
The first places you can check for investors should be with your state or county film commissioner’s office. Especially outside of Hollywood. They can put you in touch with someone who might be interested in investing, or help point you in the right direction. Lawyers may also know serial investors, but will probably less receptive to putting you in touch. If all else fails, you can always search IMDB and look at the casts and crews of films. Some may be willing to help in a small way.
Budget
If possible, you want to leave yourself the maximum amount of time possible to do a shoot. Even if all you can squeeze out is another week, it helps you iron out the flaws and kinks that come with production. Cut by using simple locations and relying less on digital effects and post production than you absolutely need to. You can also use tax incentives to help improve your own costs, so again, a trip to your film commissioner’s office is a necessity.
Bio: Omar Amanat is best known for his work with the Aman Resorts Group venture. Omar Amanat is also a film investor and philanthropist.
