A respected filmmaker once told me that if you’re getting your start in the business, be careful what you do because how you behave will set a habit for the rest of your career. It’s always stuck with me, making me strive to stay grounded and real in the midst of the chaos and glamour of working in film.
One area actors can set a great habit is to become part of the crew by helping to crowdfund a project. The films you’re a part of when you’re just starting out will probably be passion projects that have you “donating creative equity.” In other words, you’re doing the job for free.
But don’t shirk these opportunities; you never know what will come from being part of them. A friend of mine started acting in independent films and one was pitched to a large distribution company, which then turned into a sequel to a popular franchise, helping launch his career.
So what is crowdfunding? It’s when an independent film or show raises all its funds from friends, family, and fans. Alan Tudyk did this with his show “Con Man.” The “Veronica Mars” movie was funded almost completely via Kickstarter. Fans of the cult classic TV show “Firefly”
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