Ever wanted to invest in a film?

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Think of it like a donation for tax purposes

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Except it's not, it's basically giving money away. Let me guess you are planning to run this company and take a salary

Sounds unfocused (production company?) and super expensive (tax implications?!).

People get excited about projects with concrete assets attached. You'd be better off leading an actual movie project with a communicable vision.

I like the idea but before you waste any energy on this venture, the problem is, unless you have some deep oil pockets pitching in, it's going to be next to impossible to raise a workable budget. It's true, you can shoot movies on a shoestring budget (ie Mike Flanagan's Absentia) but there's a 99% chance the product will reflect the budget.

Are you a filmmaker or strictly looking to produce? None of this probably applies to you but I'm going to say it anyway because I've seen so many people get burned on their first attempt to crowdfund indie films.

The first thing I'd do is assemble a crew and shoot a concept trailer before you try to raise money. You aren't going to lure in any industry professionals unless you know someone. But you can find a lot of hidden gems graduating film school (make sure they're graduates because if you hire a DP midway through the course, there's a good chance he'll know how to perfectly light a scene but won't know a thing about shot composition, the rule of thirds, lens choice, etc.).

But you absolutely have to nail it. Poor audio and even subpar acting will turn investors away. And finding quality actors is also going to be an arduous task. I've helped industry ADs on shorts they directed that looked great but was ruined by bad acting because they went the "$100/8" SAG-eligible route. And just because they have "SAG-eligible" listed on their resume doesn't mean they're a decent actor.

If you have a script ready to go, it's not. Just trust me. Send it to a professional for coverage before you even think about starting the breakdown and casting process. I've heard nothing but great things about Blacklist and Coverage Ink. I work in the industry and the sides we receive on day one alone will tell me everything I'll need to know about the story. Almost every novice screenplay is filled with needless exposition. Show don't tell. If even 65% of the script is dialogue, it needs to be reworked. Even if you aren't the writer, you should strongly encourage whoever is writing the script to send it off for professional coverage until whoever is analyzing it says it's ready to go.

Not being a dick, just saying what needs to be said. A lot of people just jump into this head first because they're eager to get going. But if you're the man in charge of everyone's money, you need to ensure the product you're getting ready to create is going to put asses in seats.

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I appreciate your reasoned response. It’s not about ROI and more about just a fun diversion that may catch lightning in a bottle. This isn’t my first rodeo my friend. We are seasoned professionals just looking at doing it in a different way. It’s more about just giving back and seeing a different path forward than normal. Certainly isn’t unfocused in the slightest. We just want to open the opportunity for others to contribute in as little or as much as they can.

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All good, my dude. Just had to lend my not so professional advice because I've seen too many people get burned and simply give up or get caught up in legal shite storms.

Wish you and your crew all the best!

I donated money to the AVGN movie and it ended up being a big ole bag of shite.

It'd be fun if successful.
Maybe talk to JW?

This. I'd love to be able to sit in on these meetings where some of this absolute shite is approved.

I work in film and I have never wanted to invest in a film. There’s a 99% chance you’re never seeing that money again.

Explain the tax thing pls