This impressive panel investigates radical funding ideas for new projects. Included is the possibility that it might be possible to dispense with ‘investors’ altogether, in some cases with amusingly ‘horrific’ alternatives

A riveting session video explores the opportunity for backers to suggest ‘experiential involvement options’ instead of investment, as a reward for their financial contributions. Actual examples given in the video include backers willingly offering themselves up for the role of ‘doomed victim’ in horror movie productions.

The example in question (‘paying $2,000 to be dismembered’) is given by Yancey Strickler, 20 minutes 40 seconds into the video.

Funders and filmmakers talk about the age-old question of how to raise money to make and distribute your film. Panellists look at money raising techniques from traditional models, such as grants from nonprofits and equity investment, to new methods, such as Web 3.0 strategies that use crowdfunding websites like IndieGoGo and Kickstarter.

Panelists include: Sarah Lash, Consultant; Jason Orans, Producer, Goodbye Solo; Adella Ladjevardi, Grants Manager, Cinereach; Yancey Strickler, Co-founder, Kickstarter. The moderator was Milton Tabbot, Senior Director, Programming, IFP.

The Independent Feature Project is the nation’s oldest and largest non-profit organization of independent filmmakers, created to support and advocate the courageous work of artists and technicians working in independent film whose voices might not otherwise have been heard.

The session was hosted by The new school for general studies and  Co-sponsored by Independent Feature Project and the Department of Media Studies and Film. The event was held on the 22nd of February 2010 in the Wollman Hall, Eugene Lang Building, 65 West 11th Street, New York City.