Film Production

At my job I am training with a USC film grad and she's given me some good pointers on how to produce short films on the cheap.

1. Hook up with a Non-profit. There are non-profits out there designed to help filmmakers get cheap movies made...there's all sorts of companies that give matching donations. If you can donate through a non-profit, they can filter you back your money doubled with a corporate donation that can get written off.

Added bonus: USC can act as a donating institution for a final project. The caveat is that some businesses won't donate to small film foundations

2. Women or Minority Owned Businesses, especially small businesses are eligible for cheap loans...if they've been around for 3 years. So start a production company on paper.

3. Documentary films are eligible for grant money, but it takes about a year for the grant to get circulated. Do it early.

4. Tax Accountants for rich individuals often have access to money that needs to be given away around tax time. Befriend one...

I learned more today at lunch about movie financing than in all of film school thus far....