What do you think is The Critical First Step to Being a Filmmaker? Is it having a distribution deal in place? Is it having the funding secured? Is it having acquired name talent, or a great director, or a sought-after composer? None of these are most important first step to become a filmmaker. The most critical, oft-overlooked first step to being a successful indie filmmaker is...

Film funding options go much further than just Film Investors. Most movies are financed via multiple sources, and not all are cash transactions or investing (hard money). Alternative investments include soft money, deferred payment, profit participation, product placement, cross-promotion and multiple other ways to decrease a film's negative costs.