ABSTRACT
Much of this chapter deals with ways to finance short films. The paths for funding productions can be divided into those that have to do with underwriting a project as a worthy cause and those that are predicated on a short satisfying some sort of demand, whether commercial or otherwise. In the first category, we look at raising money from friends, family members, foundations, governmental programs and educational initiatives. In the second category, we examine television distribution and specialized markets, such as when a short is made to meet a specific demand for films on a particular cultural or educational topic. Whether made for profit or not, many shorts require a business plan that explains their missions and prospects for success. We review the contents of a business plan and then various options—both commercial and non-commercial—are laid out for structuring the entity that will produce a film.
