Filmmakers who have done this sort of thing tend to make a 20 minute presentation and show a five or ten minute clip of their work. The filmmakers invite audience members to speak with them after the presentations to learn more about the project and about opportunities for supporting independent filmmaking. Morrie Warshawski refers to filmmakers who did Lions Club and Rotary Club luncheons. It was not clear how much was raised as investments and how much as donations by this strategy. Apply for Grants While there are fewer and fewer options out there for grant funding they should be explored nevertheless.
Grants add prestige to productions.
We may attempt to pre-sell the film. This is very unlikely to work but should not be underestimated. Fragmenting distribution rights is not looked upon too well by large distributors because they want all the rights. But, if we can make a sale we will have to consider the consequences at that time. Talk to your target audience Lauran Hoffman, executive producer of the lesbian romance Bar Girls went barstool by barstool to potential investors in L.A.'s girl bars.