Making Docs - #8: Crowdfunding your film

#8: Crowdfunding your film

01/16/21 • 55 min

In this episode we continue our conversation with professional filmmaker Thomas Meadmore, discussing his experience of successfully raising £40k through popular Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter to fund one of his latest feature documentary films titled The Cancer Conflict.

Hosted by Karoline Pelikan (@PelikanPictures) and Paul Hulligan (@paulhully).

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Episode guide:

01:10 - Synopsis of ‘The Cancer Conflict’ and it’s background

04:27 - Starting the project without funding (self financing)

05:52 - Deciding to crowdfund and approach

13:03 - Building your own niche audience, tactics

18:23 - Building the ‘machine’. Marketing tactics to gain followers and collect email addresses

35:26 - Launching the campaign, techniques

40:18 - Creating the Kickstarter ‘campaign page’

45:48 - Thoughts on its performance and response

49:27 - Managing ‘the dip’ (when people stop contributing)

52:28 - Reflections (was it worth it?) and top tips.

Hosted by Karoline Pelikan (@PelikanPictures) and Paul Hulligan (@paulhully).

------------------------

Episode guide:

01:10 - Synopsis of ‘The Cancer Conflict’ and it’s background

04:27 - Starting the project without funding (self financing)

05:52 - Deciding to crowdfund and approach

13:03 - Building your own niche audience, tactics

18:23 - Building the ‘machine’. Marketing tactics to gain followers and collect email addresses

35:26 - Launching the campaign, techniques

40:18 - Creating the Kickstarter ‘campaign page’

45:48 - Thoughts on its performance and response

49:27 - Managing ‘the dip’ (when people stop contributing)

52:28 - Reflections (was it worth it?) and top tips.

Previous Episode

#6: Editing short form documentary films

In this episode we visit VICE Media in London, where we speak with their award winning lead video editor Marta Velasquez to get practical advice on editing short form documentary films.

Hosted by Karoline Pelikan (@PelikanPictures) and Paul Hulligan (@paulhully).

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Episode guide:

00:52 - Marta's editing journey

03:04 - Opening with impact – The first shot is the most important

04:46 - The narrative structure in short docs

05:40 - The ethics of editing - taking care of your contributors

07:05 - The editing process

12:46 - Tips for the editing work

14:30 - The first rough cut screening

18:55 - Preparing the film for post production

22:00 - Top 3 Tips for editors

25:03 - Changing male structures: having diverse film teams

26:30 - How do you get a job at VICE?

Next Episode

#9: Editing feature length documentary films

In this episode we meet with BAFTA award winning editor Joby Gee, who has been editing factual film and TV for over 30 years, on a wide variety of subjects. We speak with him to learn more about the process and challenges of editing feature length documentary films.

Hosted by Karoline Pelikan (@PelikanPictures) and Paul Hulligan (@paulhully).