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

Please Help The Valley Film Festival Reach Our $30,000 Fundraising Goal

Dear Friends of VFF:

June is a magical month for us.  It was on June 1, 2000 that the idea behind The Valley Film Festival (VFF) was born.  

After 15 months of non-profit paperwork and planning, the first festival launched on October 26, 2001, at my childhood stomping grounds, the Sherman Oaks Galleria.  My dream to further the education, production and distribution of filmmaking in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley has been going strong for 13 amazing years!  This has been possible through the generosity of an awesome all-volunteer staff, fabulous in-kind sponsors and non-profit support from Community Partners.

Now, as The Valley Film Festival has reached the awkward teen years, we need your financial support. 

We've been tasked with raising $30,000 cash, by June 30, or risk being fined. While the fine is minimal by comparison ($3,000), it will eat into our 2013 festival funds.  

We're currently at a third of our goal and the VFF13 will happen either way November 13-17 at the Laemmle NoHo7. Still, we need your help to ensure the money raised goes towards our mission and not to pay fines. 

The deadline for raising these funds is June 30,2013, so PLEASE HELP US REACH OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL. 

To help, please scroll down to VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL on the Designate a Project page of our fiscal sponsor Community Partners and contribute what you can.  All donations are greatly appreciated and will be given a special shout out during the festival! Also please help us by spreading the word about this vital campaign to friends and family via all your social media outlets.

We appreciate all your love and support all these years and we look forward to bringing you a great festival in the years to come!

Sincerely,

Tracey Adlai

Founder & Valley Girl

The Valley Film Festival is an activity of Community Partners, a nonprofit charity exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and which is not a private foundation because it is described in Sections 509(a)(1) and 170 (b)(1)(a)(vi).