Directing a short film is expensive. Here's how to crowdfund it
LOS ANGELES — Writer William Yu always knew he wanted to try directing, but he thought he wouldn't get the opportunity for years.
Directing even a short film can cost a lot of money. An average short costs between $700 to $1,500 per minute, according to several online estimates. You have to hire a cast and crew, rent equipment and secure locations, then pay for postproduction, promotion and distribution.
After his pilot script for "Good Boy," which follows a Korean American aspiring streetwear designer, was selected for the 2020 Sundance Episodic Makers Lab, Yu started asking director friends whether he should try directing it himself.
"Everyone was really cautious about the advice they gave because it's really hard," he said. "You're signing up for a long journey, and in many cases, it's a sunk cost. You're really doing it just because you have to do it."
Yu said he's not the type to take large risks, especially when it comes to money. Once he decided to take on the project as a director, he started a spreadsheet, listing every person he thought he could ask privately for money and a projected amount they might give. He calculated how much more he'd need in order to cover the rest of his budget.
The spreadsheet became a key tool in the crowdfunding campaign he launched last September that raised $17,768, which was enough to film his pilot. He's currently submitting it to film festivals and shopping it to production companies.
Yu raised money through Seed&Spark, one of a number of crowdfunding sites that can help people raise money online for a wide range of projects, be they commercial, charitable or personal. Other sites, and . There's also Slated and Wefunder, which can match filmmakers with people looking to make equity investments in new projects.
