Top 4 Takeaways from VFF15's Crowdfunding Panel

A very warm VFF "Thank You" to our crowdfunding panelists, our hosts, Aaron Kaiser, Rick Shaw and Secret Rose Theatre, and all who attended. This was a very popular topic and there's no doubt we'll be hosting another soon. In the meantime, here's some key takeaways to get help get your project funded:

• Believe in the project. No matter what, you have to have passion (commercial or artistic) for the project that you’re asking others to support

Mindset is the first module – Alexia Anastasio

• It’s important to build a team and support for the campaign before it goes live.Thunderclap is a great tool to pool your resources (and it won’t cost your friends a penny)

Pre-launch campaign with an offline presence. Host a house party or a reading with the cast – Justin Zagri

• While it may seem like everyone is asking for money, they aren’t. It just feels that way because, well, we’re in L.A. and in the entertainment industry. The world is big and donors are everywhere. We all know the big players in the U.S. ( GoFundMe, IndieGoGo and KickStarter) but consider Europe, Asia, and Middle East

People will always support awesome projects – Lysandra Petersson

• Just because you’ve raised 25% of your goal, with three days to go, don’t think you’ve failed. And if you do fail, that’s OK, because you’ll learn what not to do the next time around

The last 2-3 days is when 50-75% of funding comes in – David Raiklen

Crowdfunding... a Free Industry Panel Hosted by Aaron Kaiser

Over the last several years, crowdfunding has opened up new avenues for indie filmmakers to raise the production budgets for their projects. With high-profile successes, such as Rob Thomas' Veronica Mars and Zach Braff's Wish I Was Here, the door appears wide open to use audience participation to green light. To further expand the playing field, the SEC has recently released regulations for equity crowdfunding and the JOBS Act. 

Join The Valley Film Festival and filmmaker Aaron Matthew Kaiser for a panel discussion about crowdfunding + the JOBS Act. We will discuss:

- What you should consider when planning a crowdfunding campaign.
- What to look for in a crowdfunding platform and what type of campaign is right for your project.
- What are the common mistakes filmmakers run into in crowdfunding campaigns and how to avoid them.
- What equity crowdfunding is and whether it should be an option for your project.

Our panelists include:

- ALEXIA ANASTASIO, VFF alumnae, actress and filmmaker who has crowdfunded three projects since 2010

- JUSTIN ZAGRI, VFF alumnus, makes his living freelancing in the entertainment industry and has recently succeeded in raising $24,000 through Kickstarter for his short film "Severus Snape and the Marauders"

- LYSANDRA PETERSSON is a Screenwriter, Director, Editor, and the co-founder of the production company Deep Structure Productions

- DAVID RAIKLEN is a Producer-Composer-Crowdfunder who has raised thousands of dollars online for projects around the world

Saturday, April 25, 2015

1:30pm - Doors Open

2pm-3:30pm - Panel

3:30pm-Networking

Secret Rose Theatre

11246 Magnolia Blvd. 

North Hollywood, CA 91601