How do you fund your equipment and productions?

[Andy Lockwood]

Originally Posted by Mark W Given invention and resourcefullness I dont think equipment is the most important thing.....A great idea well executed is far more important than the latest toy...

Hear Hear. Toys are great of course, but with thought pretty much everything can be done 'on a budget'

[komatoast]

well clearly you have some kind of anger managment problem Guru.

i really dont understand why you have gone all crazy about this subject... it was a simple question and not one which was intended to cause offence due to me not wanting a loan.

once again i am not looking for 'investers'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! nore am i looking so sell shares.
all i was asking is do any of you ever do any fund raising in the sence of something simple like a raffle or a jumble sale or even a competition?

i certainly know the value of money and a few thousand is a hell of a lot but i would'nt get a loan for it. simply put i dont believe that starting out with a loan is the best plan at all.

you are making it sound as though i am not willing to put the effort in...... we do many free videos for all kinds of events in the stuggle to get our name known and any money that we earn from making video goes back into funding others and equipment for others.

[Alan Mills]

Originally Posted by komatoast we do many free videos for all kinds of events in the stuggle to get our name known and any money that we earn from making video goes back into funding others and equipment for others.

I think that's the way to go frankly. make a littrle here and ther and plough it back in. It may just take time to get where you want to be.

but respectfully, making 'free' videos is not the best money earner i've ever heard of

Also, I've not read it (yet) but Robert Rodriguez made a book a few years ago about how he made a full feature (El mariarchi) for only $7000. might be wortha read and it might give a few clues - although his practice of selling his body for medical experimentation does not ring too good with me. It is called 'rebel without a <something>" if I remember right.

[The Guru]

I don't have an anger problem, I just don't suffer fools gladly.

You asked how to raise money for videos... Two experienced videographers told you: Make a business plan and get a loan.

You didn't want to get a loan, so you were advised to make a business plan and seek investors.

You don't want investors and have completely ignored the important advice to make a business plan.

Making videos is the fun side, that's not making an effort. Working out a business plan, getting treatments and scripts finished, that's what we mean by effort. There is no easy way to get money, how many times do you have to hear that?

Other vidographers have told you that you don't need mega-bucks of equipment to make videos but that doesn't seem to have sunk in. It seems that you don't want to hear what's being said if it doesn't suit you.

and if you want to know how a real film-maker did it... "Rebel without a crew" is the book suggested by Alan.

[komatoast]

Originally Posted by Alan Mills I think that's the way to go frankly. make a littrle here and ther and plough it back in. It may just take time to get where you want to be. but respectfully, making 'free' videos is not the best money earner i've ever heard of Also, I've not read it (yet) but Robert Rodriguez made a book a few years ago about how he made a full feature (El mariarchi) for only $7000. might be wortha read and it might give a few clues - although his practice of selling his body for medical experimentation does not ring too good with me. It is called 'rebel without a <something>" if I remember right.

thank you very much. i will take a look at that.


i agree the free vids themselves are not the best way to make money - but we have have a little paid work from them so they were not all bad

at the moment this is a side project and as such i cannot commit quite as much time as the guru requires and i whole hartedly appologise.

i think for the moment we must plod along making little by little.

guru - i only asked how others raise funds for projects and equipment. i didnt want business advice, i think you were tugging on the wrong end of the stick.

[LukeD]

I can rember me and guru havng a arguemnt, After listening to him i knew he was correct. Rob only wants to help.

[komatoast]

im not saying he is bang wrong. i just dont care for his tone.
he has made what was intended to be a light subject into something way beyond what it should.
then got on his high horse.

[Alan Mills]

Originally Posted by The Guru "Rebel without a crew" is the book suggested by Alan.

That's the one! Cheers Robin.

[Marc Peters]

Originally Posted by komatoast im not saying he is bang wrong. i just dont care for his tone. he has made what was intended to be a light subject into something way beyond what it should. then got on his high horse.

The Guru is passionate about his subject, but trust me he was being reserved and giving some sound advice re: funding. Sometimes it takes someone to say what you don't want to hear to get your arse into gear. From time to time my mates will tell me how it is rather than pander to me: it's those times that you learn the most.

It doesn't work for many people. But it should. Simply put, if you don't plan, you'll be fucked. You may very well be lucky enough to get a grant or 'find' the money from somewhere, but without a plan you'll piss it all away.

Yes, this has steered away from your original post, but you'll come up against some fucking arrogant shits in your chosen industry, and you'll think the Guru is a sweat talking pansy compared to them.

[ChrisG]

It looks as if komatoast is looking for someone to buy him some kit - here's a cheque then, kidder - whoops, no, it was just the shadow of a pig flying past!

Making free videos is a wonderful idea if you want to make videos. Making videos for which you get some money back is what you have to do to get money.

You've got a job, you want to start a sideline business. Well, no-one's going to rush up and fund it for you; you either have to save the dosh out of your salary, get a loan, or do without. It's what I did - I dug some money out of my savings to buy what I wanted. It's earned its way back, but it is all as the result of work for both the kit and me! Later this year, when we start to shoot the new terrestrial broadcast programme venture that we hope we're now winning on the back of my broadcast Caravan Channel series (sky181, Monday, Weds and Fri at 6pm!), we'll trade up to DVCam . . but it'll be money coming out of my bank that I hope I'll be able to put back in!

It is a bit of a catch 22, isn't it - but the truth is that if you really want to do it, you'll bite the bullet and do it. If you don't have the courage to run the risks, you won't - its that simple.

And here's a closing thought: if you give something away for nothing, that's precisely what people will think it's worth . . .