How Fiscal Sponsorship Can Help Finance Your Indie Film
“The first yes is the hardest one to get. Once you get that yes, the other yeses just start coming.”
Fiscal sponsorship can give independent filmmakers access to tax-deductible donations, in-kind contributions, grants, and other resources without changing how they ultimately monetize their films.
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins speaks with filmmaker Lindsey St. Laurent and New Hollywood’s Ian Mark about how fiscal sponsorship works, how filmmakers can make their projects more attractive to donors, and why sustainable working conditions should be built into an indie film’s financial plan from the beginning.
They also discuss practical ways to prevent burnout, make microbudget sets more efficient, leverage tax incentives, and build the relationships that can help filmmakers get their projects made.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What fiscal sponsorship is and how it allows filmmakers to raise tax-deductible donations while still operating as a for-profit project when the film goes to market
- Why fiscal sponsorship can make donating to an independent film more appealing than a traditional equity investment
- How in-kind donations such as equipment, food, and other production resources can reduce a film’s cash expenses
- Why fiscal sponsorship can add legitimacy when filmmakers approach corporations and local businesses for support
- New Hollywood’s requirements for fiscally sponsored projects, including 12-hour maximum average workdays, 11-hour turnarounds, and protected meal breaks
- Why sustainable set culture and crew wellbeing can be part of a film’s financing and production strategy
- Lindsey’s preference for keeping production days under 10 hours and how extensive pre-production helps make that possible
- How table reads, storyboards, and careful crew selection can help prevent burnout and keep an indie production on schedule
- Why directors need a clear creative vision while remaining flexible when working with limited time and resources
- How filmmakers can make department heads’ jobs easier by including them in scheduling and production-planning conversations
- The emotional demands placed on actors during fast-paced productions and why filmmakers should consider those demands when building a shooting schedule
- The importance of knowing your workplace rights, advocating for fair pay, and reading contracts on union and non-union productions
- How the current economic environment has made grants and corporate support more competitive for independent filmmakers
- Why filmmakers raising larger budgets should understand production tax credits and rebates before approaching investors
- How to approach potential donors as collaborators rather than simply asking them for money
- Why filmmakers should create momentum around a project and communicate that the production is moving forward with or without a particular donor
- Lindsey’s advice to emerging filmmakers about building a community, supporting other filmmakers, and continuing to make work without waiting for ideal circumstances
- Ian’s advice to learn as many filmmaking jobs as possible, create projects that fit the available budget, and maintain creative outlets while pursuing financing
- Why securing the first supporter, sponsor, or production partner can make subsequent partnerships easier to obtain
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