#005: How to Crowdfund $25,000 and Master Pre-Production w/ Edrei Hutson

Edrei Hutson, an award-winning writer and director, shares how she ran a successful crowdfunding campaign, which set her up for a smooth production for her latest film Hiding Spot.

Welcome to the 5th episode of the Hungry Artist Podcast, where we're getting rid of the "starving artist" mentality by interviewing hungry, driven, passionate artists and finding out their recipes for success! http://instagram.com/hungryartistpodcast 

MEET Edrei Hutson:

http://instagram.com/edreihutson 

http://edrei.com 

http://instagram.com/hidingspotfilm 

https://hidingspotfilm.com 

CONNECT w/ host Kaitlin:

My Website: http://kaitlinmoose.com 

My IG: http://instagram.com/kaitlinmoose 

TOPICS:

- maximize your pre-production to minimize obstacles during production

- work with people who are passionate about your project and will champion your story

- storyboard using references from tv shows/films (location scout before you storyboard)

- figuring out your schedule based on time needed for each scene

- intimacy coordinator on set to deal with more physically intense scenes

- how to direct actors

- anatomy of a scene; how to escalate and present obstacles

- what makes good cinema/story

- female-driven dramas tackling difficult topics like filmmaker Ava DuVernay

- tips for a successful crowdfunding campaign; treat it like a full-time job; use lots of visuals in copy and create an engaging kickstarter video

- working/partnering with nonprofits for PR and tax considerations + fiscal sponsorship

- campaign strategy with emails, creating urgency, and use of language to entice contributions

- trust God but also meet God in the middle by showing up and doing your part

- look at everything as a possibility

- timing your campaign for tax considerations

- consider raising funds for production and post/finishing funds separately

- how to look for grants and directing programs

- figuring out your festival strategy - role of 1st AD, 2nd AD, and director on set

- director's role in the editing process + working with an editor remotely

- plan your transitions in pre-production

- recipe for success: visualize with vision board every day, BELIEVE, don't give up, build your network, be genuine, give yourself grace

RESOURCES discussed:

- Kickstarter Crowdfunding Platform: https://www.kickstarter.com/ 

- Seed&Spark Resources: https://seedandspark.com/blog/education-for-every-step-of-your-creative-journey 

- Frame.io for Virtual Collaboration: https://frame.io/ 

Thanks for listening to the Hungry Artist Podcast! You can support our mission by subscribing and writing a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hungry-artist/id1702976743 

Until next time, STAY HUNGRY!