Session 1: Funding Foundations (3 hours)
- Understanding the indie film financing landscape
- The different types of investors: private equity, grants, crowdfunding, tax incentives
- Budgeting for credibility — how much should your first feature really cost?
- Building a financial strategy that matches your story and resources
- Homework: Start outlining your film’s budget & potential investor targets
Session 2: Building Your Investor Package (3 hours)
- What goes into a strong pitch deck: logline, synopsis, tone, visuals, team, comps, financials
- How to position your film for investors (creative vision + business case)
- Case studies: successful indie pitch decks and why they worked
- Workshop: Begin creating your own pitch deck with provided templates
- Homework: Finish your draft pitch deck to present next week
Session 3: Pitching & Feedback (3 hours)
- Students present their pitch decks to the class and mentor (practice investor pitch)
- Mentor gives live feedback on strengths, weak points, and how to refine
- Guidance on next steps: networking, film markets, reaching investors
- Building confidence in your pitch delivery and Q&A strategies
- Closing: Resources, templates, and ongoing support
Who Should Attend:
- Independent filmmakers ready to move beyond shorts and want to understand the financing process.
- Film school graduates or students finishing school who have strong creative skills but little knowledge of raising money.
- Writers/Directors with a script in hand and the ambition to make it happen.
- Producers in the making who want to learn the business side of film and how to talk to investors.
- Anyone with a feature project in early development (script, idea, or treatment) who needs practical tools to attract funding.
This course is available for "remote" learning and will be available to anyone with access to an internet device with a microphone (this includes most models of computers, tablets). Classes will take place with a "Live" instructor at the date/times listed below.
Upon registration, the instructor will send along additional information about how to log-on and participate in the class.
