Tisch Senior Devin Ershow is in love with love. Or a movie about love, anyway. “I was interested in examining the way love is understood and experienced by people in different times of life,” he explains.  Beginning production for his senior thesis film, Ershow is experiencing first-hand the challenges of putting an idea on the silver screen. He estimates that his film “As Love Grows” will cost $10,000, without including the costs of equipment and insurance. And without a Hollywood studio behind him, Ershow needs to raise every cent himself.  His plight is one facing student filmmakers throughout the country. Transforming a creative hypothetical into a real film is an arduous undertaking requiring both stalwart dedication and savvy marketing skills.

Luckily, Ershow does not have to face these struggles totally alone.  Tisch’s senior thesis program offers allotments that cover the film’s production insurance and allow students access to necessary equipment.  The school also provides small grants, ranging upwards of $1,300. Without allotments, the films would cost too much for most students to make; but the allotments are limited. In Ershow’s Advanced Production class, only half of the students were able to get them, the rest required to join the crew of another project, or reapply through a different class. It’s is a classic issue of too few means and too many ends.

With limited direct resources, Tisch makes a special effort to teach students how to otherwise accumulate capital. Production instructor Christina DeHaven explains that one of the primary goals of the film programs is enable students to successfully pitch ideas to potential investors.  “Essentially we are talking about [establishing] a business relationship” she says, “where students go out…and see how far a smile and a firm handshake can go.” Indeed, the ability to put together and sell a cohesive proposal is a valuable one. “If I don’t have my stuff together,” Ershow jokes, “I wouldn’t even expect my own sister to give me money.”

The Internet also provides many tools for the student director to meet potential investors.  Sites like KickStarter and IndieGoGo allow filmmakers to create a webpage via which they can ask supporters for funds. The creator of the page sets a goal, and the money –hopefully – flows in until a pre-set deadline.  There is a catch, however. If a page on KickStarter does not meet its target within deadline, the filmmaker does not receive even a fraction of the pledged money; it all goes back to the donors. And while IndieGoGo allows the money to go through no matter what, they charge a higher premium if the goal is not met. However, Ershow has found great success in using IndieGoGo to find financiers for his film.  His last page sailed over its goal, and he hopes his newest campaign will find equal success.

There are other ways to fundraise as well. Tisch Senior Theresa Du worked with Fractured Atlas, a non-profit artist organization, to grant her projects 501(c)(3) charity tax status, making it possible for donators to count contributions as a tax write-off. A filmmaker can also look into special grants. Du’s film “Half the Sky” is a character study of Chinese mother-daughter relationships, which allowed her to attract grants from Asian-American and women’s rights organizations, based on subject matter alone.  “If you are making a film about something special,” she says, “you can definitely get in touch with special interest groups.”

Whether through allotments, donations, or grants, there are many options for the young, independent filmmaker. “[People are] interested in supporting young independent filmmakers,” Ershow says, “we’re the people who are going to be the voice of the generation.” But filmmakers must make sure to utilize the advertising and networking tools available to them in order to find these new investors.  And the logistics of creating a film without studio backing will never be easy.  Perhaps then, it is important to remember those who charitably donate their money to support these fledgling films.  When it comes to cinema this independent, every cent counts.