How can I get money to shoot a low budget feature film?

Question:

How can I get money to shoot a low budget feature film?

This is the first feature film for my production company. We have very high hopes are are confident this film will go far. How can we get some extra money for the film? I need any and all suggestions as quickly as possible! Thank you!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Most people in your position turn to credit cards. (Seriously!).

You might try to find someone who will give you an arts grant. Your state government probably has an arts granting council, and there may also be local arts support organizations. Many corporations also have arts grants (usually administered through their public relations departments). But unless the grant is especially designated for new artists, the odds are almost zero that you'll get one--they tend to like established, reliable artists for their money.

If you do go for a grant, the key is to read the grant application guidelines over and over and make certain your application meets every single point of those guidelines--in detail!

Now, the only other possibility would be to find private investors who would buy "shares" in your project. This is a situation where there are some legal issues, so consult with an attorney or at least a banker if your friends and family are kicking in $100 per share, to make certain you keep records and handle the cash legally.

(I had friends who invested in the film "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" starring Barbara Eden. Never heard of it? That must be why they never got their investments back!)