Why crowdfunding counts

One of the most common questions we're asked is how the crowdfunding aspect of Loading Docs works and why we're using crowdfunding.

Crowdfunding is an effective way to build interest in a film or project, to create a community that will become an active, involved and supportive audience. Filmmakers tend to make documentaries because they are passionate about an issue or subject and the craft of filmmaking. Audiences are passionate about documentaries for the same reasons, and crowdfunding provides a platform that connects people who make films with people who want to see them made. The financial aspect of crowdfunding is certainly very helpful, but local filmmakers we've spoken to who have been involved in crowdfunding campaigns have told us that they've benefited in other ways, receiving offers of support in the form of goods and services and also emotional support. Knowing that other people care about your project too and appreciate your work is also very rewarding.

 

Here's how the budget for each Loading Docs film breaks down:

• $2,500 production costs - given to each documentary directly
• $2,000 (minimum) crowdfunded directly to the documentary
• Colour grade and sound mix to prepare each film for final delivery.

 

We've set aside part of our budget to pay for a post production package (colour grade and audio mix) to ensure the films are all finished to the same high standard, and some further budget to help with music licensing because we think we can provide better value for filmmakers in this way, working collectively. Additionally, each film project has been allocated $2,500 for the director/producers to use at their own discretion, but we'll do whatever we can to make sure that money goes as far as possible.

Documentary filmmakers are a tenacious and resourceful bunch and a lot of people could manage to make a three minute film with $2,500 cash and the additional support we're providing. But we've added a crowdfunding target of $2,000 to raise the total film budgets to a reasonable level. So the total budget for each filmmaker should be at least $4,500. Looking at the success that documentary projects have enjoyed on our chosen crowdfunding platform, PledgeMe, we think $2,000 is a very achievable target.

Loading Docs has been jointly funded by NZ On Air (from the Ignite Digital Fund) and The New Zealand Film Commission to be a launchpad for New Zealand documentary shorts. Our mission is not just to produce 10 amazing short documentaries, but to ensure that these films are seen throughout New Zealand and all over the world, to enhance the profile of our documentary filmmaking talent and to grow a community of documentary filmmakers and film audiences.

All media industries have undergone huge changes over the past decade or so, and as we're all well aware, the film industry is no different. Times are tough and things are changing fast. Documentary makers are increasingly having to manage their own marketing and distribution, which is challenging and time consuming and requires an additional set of skills. That's why Loading Docs is not just about producing films, but also about supporting filmmakers to reach and connect with audiences, and crowdfunding is an important part of this strategy.

During February each Loading Docs film will run a campaign on PledgeMe. You'll be able to find all the film campaigns in one place, on our Collab page (which will look something like this) and each filmmaker will also have their own Loading Docs mini-site that will link to their crowdfunding campaign. The money that each filmmaker raises from their campaign will go into their own film, and they'll be responsible for managing their own campaign. Loading Docs will providing support by driving promotion for all the PledgeMe campaigns with the help of our media partner The NZ Herald (more on this soon).

To make sure each film project's PledgeMe campaign is the best it can be we will be running a two-day workshop for our ten filmmakers that will help them to develop a strategy and pitch, supported by PledgeMe founder Anna Guenther and Monster Valley's Karl Sheridan, who ran a terrific PledgeMe campaign for New Zealand street art documentary Dregs. We will also have the assistance of filmmaker David White to hone the treatments of the three minute film. David was one of thirty international filmmakers commissioned to produce a three-minute documentary short (The Cleanest Pig) for the GE Focus Forward Films project and is about to complete the Ingenious/NFTS Entrepreneurial Producing for the Creative Industries course in the UK.

That's enough from us for now. Watch the TEDX clip below from PledgeMe's Anna Guenther to find out more about why crowdfunding counts.

 

posted: 15th Nov 2013 by