6. Crowdfunding: platform choice and strategy
. Crowdfunding: platform choice and strategy
| Platform | Fees | Model | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kickstarter | 5% platform + 3–5% processing + ~$0.20–0.30/pledge, roughly 8–10% all-in (Kickstarter fees) | All-or-nothing | Best fit. All-or-nothing is a feature, not a bug: if you don't raise the licensing money you aren't on the hook for it. Strong film-community norms and reward culture. |
| GoFundMe | No platform fee; 2.9% + $0.30 per donation, with lower rates for verified charities (GoFundMe pricing) | Keep-what-you-raise | Cheapest, but donation-framed rather than reward-framed. Good if a nonprofit is your fiscal partner. |
| Indiegogo | 5% platform + ~3% processing; flexible funding has been discontinued for new campaigns (Indiegogo help) | All-or-nothing | No longer differentiated from Kickstarter. |
| Direct presale ticketing | Ticketing fees only | N/A | Often the best of all: presold tickets are your funding, with no reward fulfillment burden. |
Structure the campaign as presale, not charity. "Back this and your ticket is your reward" converts far better than an appeal. Set the goal at your fixed-cost floor plus fees plus contingency — never your dream budget.
Reward tiers that work: $5 name in the program; $18 single-block ticket; $40 all-day pass; $65 pass + screen-printed poster; $120 pass + poster + reception + reserved seat; $300 "presented by" credit on screen and in marketing; $750–1,500 sponsor tier with logo placement and a block of tickets.
Do not offer: anything you have to ship internationally, anything featuring studio artwork or characters (that's a trademark problem), or anything requiring the studio's blessing.
Campaign timing: 30 days maximum. Launch with 30% already committed from sponsors and friends — campaigns that hit early momentum finish; campaigns that start at zero stall.