From 'No' to 'Yes': The Ultimate Guide to Winning Over Film Investors
So, what do you do when you get the dreaded investor NO? Well, many filmmakers curl in a ball and question why they chose this crazy industry, indulge in a pint of ice cream or bottle of win, threaten to quit or literally quit…..
Well, I would encourage you to make a little mindset shift (shocker I know) and see every no as a wonderful opportunity to still finance your film.
How? You have gotten them excited about the project and but perhaps the financial ask is a bit too steep for their capabilities at the moment. Well, already you are at an advantage because anything you offer is already an easier pill to swallow.
The shift- When you are in this critical phase of raising money for your film, you are not just raising money but you also need to think about cutting your budget and saving money and the potential investors what say no are the perfect place to start.
On the first film I EVER got involved in, Tattered Angel with Lynda Carter, that is exactly what happened. When I first came on board, I had zero film experience so all my ideas and thoughts were not at all “traditional” or colored by film school but instead, I thought outside the box where there were no rules, just logic (in my mind). So as the producers worked on raising money, it seemed so logical for me to focus on ways we could cut our budget through inkind, donations, product placement and even made up perks like sponsorship, credit tiers. In my mind, anyone who was interested in seeing this film made could do something to get us closer to greenlight.
I am going to share with you an Investor Flow Chart that walks you through exactly how to convert investors who say they cannot come on at your investment minimum.
See the video above for explanation.
If you want to dive in deeper and are ready to start preparing to raise money, I'd suggest next you check out our online Raising Money and Finding Investors course or our Investment Development Materials Package, which includes that class plus additional Investor materials and templates.
~Keep Living Life Out Loud~ With Love, Sara Elizabeth
