So I was hoping my crowdfunding campaign would provide me with enough money to at least pay my rent this month, and maybe the rest of the year if it had reached or surpassed its goal.
It didn’t. It’s only at a quarter of its target, and most of that won’t be available until the campaign is over and the credit card donations clear. I’ve used what small amounts I got through PayPal to pay other bills, and feed myself.
Rent was due two days ago. I was very late last month (I borrowed it from my Mother), plus I went through a similar mess a few years ago, so there is no tolerance anymore. I can’t pay the rent, so inevitably I am now going to be homeless.
That was my question. However in this thread Please help crowdfund my Steampunk short film - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board he did say he would use money for living expenses as well. However, it sure seemed like the bulk of the money was for finishing production, not subsidizing months of rent. As someone who donated I do feel a little :rolleyes: at this thread.
Finishing production means financing the guy who is doing it. Which is me. That’s what money is for - paying bills.
I look at it as buying perks. As I will be using my time to finish the edit, make the DVDs and posters, then delivering them to everyone, that’s what the money is going on. Rent is included in that simply because that’s part of production costs.
If I don’t pay my rent I cannot finish the film, or have a home, or live, or eat, or anything at all. Sorry if you think money should be used in a more noble way, somehow.
You may need to step back from the production, get yourself a steady source of income such that roof, clothes, and food are covered, then take it from there. Yes it will take longer to finish the project but what is more important?
Sorry but if this is your approach to trying to get more money I don’t think it works and I advise you to try another approach.
I know many creative people that have made short film projects on their own initiative and self funded. They were working full time jobs or self supporting from client or freelance work and completed their personal projects around their paying work on weekends and nights.
I’d be more inclined to support a director / writer that can cover their own rent first and needs the money to pay for actors / props / lights / sets etc than one in your position.
I didn’t get that sense from the description. If I had contributed as a result of reading the description and then discovered that the above was your rationale, I’d feel deceived.
Back in June 2012, I had a job, and money. I planned to make my film. I set aside a budget of $3000. In September 2012, I shot my film. It cost me $3500. This included studio hire, costumes, props, and equipment hire. I anticipated finishing the film in the evenings and weekends while I still had my day job.
Then, a month later, I lost my job. The manager was stealing money from us and stopped paying everybody. He owed me $8,300 that I had already worked for but was not paid. It is still owed to me. He has been taken to Court, but it will be a long time, if ever, before I see that money.
While I have been looking for new work, I have been living off my meagre savings. It has been a struggle, even though I live a very frugal life at the best of times. To occupy myself while looking for work (and I have got a few one-off jobs here or there, but brief and low-paying) I have been working on my film.
As I started to run out of money, I asked my filmmaking buddies what they thought I should do, would crowdfunding let me finish my film if I gave decent perks? It is an experiment, but maybe I can support myself while I get to the end of the post-production (I anticipate only six weeks or so is left to get it done, including sound effects, music, and colour grade, then pressing DVDs etc) and they said it was worth a try. So I did.
Where do you think production money goes? It goes to the people involved in making the film, and then they can do with it as they wish, as it is their wage for the work they have put in. I don’t see that this is any different. If you are donating to a campaign, with the intent to receive the listed perk or item, then there need not be any more transparency than that. I have, in fact, been as honest and open about where the money goes as I felt was fair, by using the phrase “my coffers are dry” in the video clip, and by saying in the crowdfunding thread that it would be partially used for living expenses.
Everyone has living expenses. If I wasn’t spending it on the barest of necessities, what would you rather? Perhaps a trip to Las Vegas? Maybe champagne for the wrap party? Is that somehow a better use of money than letting me have a home, inside which I can finish the film?
I can’t see that I have done anything wrong by using donated money in this way, as long as everyone still receives the perk they bought.
Maybe not, but people might have reason to doubt your ability to finish the project and deliver those perks due to your financial stability. All I’m saying is, get a job first and get yourself stable, then do another appeal once you’ve got that sorted and you might get a better response.
Also you’re in Australia, so there are various unemployment and rental assistances you can get before you end up homeless.
So what you’re saying is… If I had money earned from a job, I could get donated money to finish the film. Which I wouldn’t need because then I’d have my own money.
But if I don’t receive donated money, rendering me incapable of finishing the film, that would prove I didn’t deserve the money because I’m so incompetent.
I’m not the only one saying this, read the other comments above. Given the title of the OP, it sounds like you are directly appealing for people to help pay your rent… and oh yeah I’m making a film (secondary).
Your approach rubs people the wrong way… Try another tactic. Lots of people want to get paid for doing creative work and they have to do all kinds of things to get into that position. Begging for rent on IndieGoGo doesn’t seem to be a very successful method, does it?
I will be using the money to fund post-production, including paying the Editor, the VFX Artist, the Sound Designer, the DVD Media Company, and the Website Designer*.
At least 20% of the funds will need to be set aside for fulfilling the perks.
Are you actually capable of doing all of those things to a proficient level? Plus you wrote and directed it right? If people donate its because they want to get a good polished product at the end. One person doing everything does not make me hopeful for a quality result.
I’d be personally more inclined to donate if you were paying experienced specialists to do VFX and sound. These things are hard. Trying to do everything yourself is (probably) going to just compromise the end result.
When you do - people will donate. I don’t get why this is difficult to understand.
If I say - I’m working to build 20 wells in Uganda for poor children. Donate money for my project. And then it turns out that I use the money to pay rent. And then come on here and claim “well who do you think is gong to build the wells - his expenses need to be paid” - you’d find a similar reaction.
If you actually were using that money for a studio or something - people wouldn’t have a problem. Rent for your apartment (that yes may also be a studio) - people will have a problem.
If I had donated - and read your OP - I’d feel a little ticked off, but think - “oh well”.
If I had donated - and read your OP - and the rest of your responses to the thread - I’d try to put a stop on my PayPal donation.
I do wish you luck though, as it looked neat, but I don’t think you are going to get support now with the responses you are giving.
I have ten years of experience in 3D VFX and compositing, 15 years in Editing and Website Design, and 30 years in writing and Graphic Design. Everything you see here, here, here, and here are all by me, 100%.
That’s comparing me with a Registered Charity, I’m not that, I’m an artist and filmmaker. And 2) I presume at least some people do get paid in almost all charitable situations. Even if it’s all spent on materials and equipment hire, somebody gets rent money.
Do you know what I’d love to spend the money on instead of rent? Upgrading my PC hardware, Adobe Suite and plugins, and a Zoom H4 digital audio recorder. That was my plan, until I lost my job. Priorities have been continually shifting ever since.
