Chapter 11: Funding
At the end of each chapter of Greenlit you’ll find a list of useful exercises, links and useful resources. Here are some of them:
The Age of Stupid - an independent documentary about climate change that was funded by more than 600 ordinary people who donated money or invested in the project.
End of the Line - documentary was funded by grants from a number of US and UK not-for-profit organizations such as WWF, The Marine Conservation Society, The Waitt Family Foundation and Britdoc.
Blast! – an independent documentary about a group of scientists who travel to the Antarctic to launch a high-altitude telescope, funded via ArtistShare.
The TV Book Club (10×30’) – More 4’s new book club is funded by opticians Specsavers.
Alabama Film Organization – has a useful list of US film foundations and grants.
ArtistShare – primarily a site for musicians where fans can help fund a project in exchange for “access to the creative process”.
Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation – UK foundation that offers funding to socially documentaries that wouldn’t be funded by a UK broadcaster. Also runs the Good Pitch, which brokers “relationships between third sector and filmmakers” for social-justice films. The Good Pitch tours the UK and North America.
Indiegogo – provides online resources for “fundraising, promotion and discovery”, where filmmakers can upload their pitch and ask for funding.
Film Finance Handbook 2007/2008: How to Fund Your Film
Shaking the Money Tree: 3rd Edition: The Art of Getting Grants and Donations for Film and Video by Morrie Warshawski – a guide to planning your fund-raising strategy and how to apply for grants from corporations, individuals and foundations.
The Art of Film Funding: Alternative Financing Concepts
UK Film Council - funds documentaries that are intended for theatrical (cinema) release.