Over the last 18 months, I’ve been privileged to work on some really cool projects as something of an adhoc crowdfunding consultant. After my own first film project was successfully crowdfunded, I developed a unique set of “must do’s” which has helped contribute to the success a number of other projects totaling $340k. These projects have been featured all over the web, from Wired to CNN, and have been spurred along by social media engines like Twitter and Facebook and an army of fans. Two projects are in the Kickstarter top 20, one is in the top 5 (most donated), and one recently earned an 2010 Kickstarter award. Most of these are not “my” projects, but I’m proud of the role I have played in helping these talented artists get their projects off the ground and strategize all the way to the end. Below are some testimonials by from friends and colleagues whose work I’ve been able to help:
(If you’re looking for kickstarter advice, I will direct you to this article which should answer any question you might have about how to run an effective campaign):
“I didn’t realize how intensive the process of running a Kickstarter campaign would be. I thought that once you launched, you could just sit back and watch the funds roll in. Nathaniel showed me how much work is necessary during the days of the campaign, and that really makes all the difference. You have to work to meet your goals.”
Fable – Fiction Narrative short film
The most helpful advice that Nathaniel Hansen gave this project was to market ourselves to the people who would take a special interest in the film. Once we refocused our funding efforts to appeal to these people, the money came faster than expected. Hansen’s help was crucial to the success in finishing the Fable.
250/250 Windsor Vermont Project
10,000 Trees – Short Documentary Film
Sync – Fiction Narrative Film
You once made the statement in class that ‘any one of you could raise between 5-10k right now’ – I didn’t really believe you.
Thanks again for sharing the great info that made this campaigns success possible. Feel free to share my case as an example to your class of how following your formula works. – Houston Yang, Director/DP, Sync
Losing Lebron – Feature Length Documentary Film
The Price – Animated Short Film
The Banjo Project – Feature Length Documentary Film
Nathaniel’s advice was invaluable at every stage, particularly in how to prepare and set up a Kickstarter campaign, as well as how to sustain it after it’s been launched. — Marc Fields, The Banjo Project
Liars, Fires & Bears – Feature Length Fiction Film
Launching a kickstarter seems like a total dice roll, but, if you know someone who’s been through it, they will tell you it’s not so much a gamble, as a strategy. Nathaniel shared his experience with several successfully funded kickstarters, making me calm and collected when I would have been pulling my hair out. Knowing how donations come in waves and how to initiate new waves was ultimately what made my project successful (we raised 12,000 in 30 days) and I ow that to the advice nathaniel had given me throughout the process. — Jeremy Cloe, Liars, Fires & Bears
The Elders – Feature Length Documentary Film
My own project, sucessfully crowdfunded in May 2010 and received two matching donations from organizations who were following the project online.
KMC 2.0 – Concert
Nathaniel gave us a ton of great tips that helped us set up our Kickstarter fundraiser and successfully fund our new live show. Here are three of Nathaniel’s tips that we thought were extremely important:
1) Make an interesting pitch video.
2) Make killer rewards.
3) Promote throughout the course of your fundraiser with email (and Facebook) blasts. – Brett Bolton (Kid Meets Cougar)
“A lot of people say that the constant reminders are what got them to head over to the site in the end – they wanted to give, but kept putting it off until it got closer.” -Nathaniel Hansen
Movies of the Future with Lloyd Kaufman – Short Documentary Film
Kickstarter & Filmmaking: Crowdfunding Success
Over the last 18 months, I’ve been privileged to work on some really cool projects as something of an adhoc crowdfunding consultant. After my own first film project was successfully crowdfunded, I developed a unique set of “must do’s” which has helped contribute to the success a number of other projects totaling $340k. These projects have been featured all over the web, from Wired to CNN, and have been spurred along by social media engines like Twitter and Facebook and an army of fans. Two projects are in the Kickstarter top 20, one is in the top 5 (most donated), and one recently earned an 2010 Kickstarter award. Most of these are not “my” projects, but I’m proud of the role I have played in helping these talented artists get their projects off the ground and strategize all the way to the end. Below are some testimonials by from friends and colleagues whose work I’ve been able to help:
(If you’re looking for kickstarter advice, I will direct you to this article which should answer any question you might have about how to run an effective campaign):
http://www.nathanielhansen.com/film-fundraising/the-ultimate-crowdfunding-to-do-list-before-you-launch/
Beth Balaban – Producer, Director, Editor – Principle Pictures
Fable – Fiction Narrative short film
250/250 Windsor Vermont Project
10,000 Trees – Short Documentary Film
Sync – Fiction Narrative Film
Losing Lebron – Feature Length Documentary Film
The Price – Animated Short Film
The Banjo Project – Feature Length Documentary Film
Liars, Fires & Bears – Feature Length Fiction Film
The Elders – Feature Length Documentary Film
My own project, sucessfully crowdfunded in May 2010 and received two matching donations from organizations who were following the project online.
KMC 2.0 – Concert
“A lot of people say that the constant reminders are what got them to head over to the site in the end – they wanted to give, but kept putting it off until it got closer.” -Nathaniel Hansen
Movies of the Future with Lloyd Kaufman – Short Documentary Film
The Lower Nine – Feature Length Documentary Film
