Comments on: How not to use the internet to find investors for your film or theatre project. http://firemark.com/2009/05/13/how-not-to-use-the-internet-to-find-investors-for-your-film-or-theatre-project/ Theatre, Film, Television, Music & New Media Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:24:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Erich Astudillo http://firemark.com/2009/05/13/how-not-to-use-the-internet-to-find-investors-for-your-film-or-theatre-project/comment-page-1/#comment-346 Erich Astudillo Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:25:51 +0000 http://firemark.com/?p=360#comment-346 Hello, Very good article. I have a question for you, can you support me to find investors in USA for a film project about a hero in century XIX, in Pacific War. If you can, please how much is your fee and how I can spend it?? Regards Erich Astudillo Hello, Very good article.
I have a question for you, can you support me to find investors in USA for a film project about a hero in century XIX, in Pacific War.
If you can, please how much is your fee and how I can spend it??
Regards
Erich Astudillo

]]> By: Aaron Kirk Douglas http://firemark.com/2009/05/13/how-not-to-use-the-internet-to-find-investors-for-your-film-or-theatre-project/comment-page-1/#comment-283 Aaron Kirk Douglas Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:06:59 +0000 http://firemark.com/?p=360#comment-283 Best article I've ever seen on the subject! You should try placing it in Indie Slate Magazine!! Best article I’ve ever seen on the subject! You should try placing it in Indie Slate Magazine!!

]]> By: Documentary filmmaker, hat in hand : DocumentaryTech http://firemark.com/2009/05/13/how-not-to-use-the-internet-to-find-investors-for-your-film-or-theatre-project/comment-page-1/#comment-246 Documentary filmmaker, hat in hand : DocumentaryTech Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:10:14 +0000 http://firemark.com/?p=360#comment-246 [...] as investment chunks without doing an SEC filing, as it would be a stock offering. There’s a useful post on this subject, called “How not to use the internet to get investors for your f...by attorney Gordon [...] [...] as investment chunks without doing an SEC filing, as it would be a stock offering. There’s a useful post on this subject, called “How not to use the internet to get investors for your f…by attorney Gordon [...]

]]> By: Gordon Firemark http://firemark.com/2009/05/13/how-not-to-use-the-internet-to-find-investors-for-your-film-or-theatre-project/comment-page-/#comment-100 Gordon Firemark Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:19:32 +0000 http://firemark.com/?p=360#comment-100 Christopher, There are lots of good books. Try "Filmmakers & Financing". It's a few years old, but very informative and easy to read. Christopher,

There are lots of good books. Try “Filmmakers & Financing”. It’s a few years old, but very informative and easy to read.

]]> By: Christopher http://firemark.com/2009/05/13/how-not-to-use-the-internet-to-find-investors-for-your-film-or-theatre-project/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Christopher Sat, 08 Aug 2009 07:03:13 +0000 http://firemark.com/?p=360#comment-90 I really loved your article, and had I not read this could have faced some penalties as I'm a new producer however did not take the time to educate myself in terms of the laws regarding solicitations of my projects. Can you recommend some books that would be helpful in educating myself. Clearly I should consult a lawyer, however I want to understand more before approaching one so that I may speak intelligently on the subject at hand and ask the right questions. Thank you. Christopher I really loved your article, and had I not read this could have faced some penalties as I’m a new producer however did not take the time to educate myself in terms of the laws regarding solicitations of my projects.

Can you recommend some books that would be helpful in educating myself. Clearly I should consult a lawyer, however I want to understand more before approaching one so that I may speak intelligently on the subject at hand and ask the right questions.

Thank you.
Christopher

]]> By: How NOT to use the internet to find film investors http://firemark.com/2009/05/13/how-not-to-use-the-internet-to-find-investors-for-your-film-or-theatre-project/comment-page-1/#comment-95 How NOT to use the internet to find film investors Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:00:22 +0000 http://firemark.com/?p=360#comment-95 [...] Unfortunately for these producers, their use of the internet as a tool in identifying and securing the financing for their projects may actually serve as an impediment to their efforts, making the sometimes improbable chances of raising funds virtually impossible. — Gordon P. Firemark | Read The Full Article [...] [...] Unfortunately for these producers, their use of the internet as a tool in identifying and securing the financing for their projects may actually serve as an impediment to their efforts, making the sometimes improbable chances of raising funds virtually impossible. — Gordon P. Firemark | Read The Full Article [...]

]]> By: Gordon Firemark http://firemark.com/2009/05/13/how-not-to-use-the-internet-to-find-investors-for-your-film-or-theatre-project/comment-page-/#comment-99 Gordon Firemark Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:51:03 +0000 http://firemark.com/?p=360#comment-99 <blockquote>It probably doesn't violate SEC regulations, since it's characterized as a donation. (Donors don't expect a return of money from the project if it's a success)... but, it MIGHT violate tax law or certain other laws that require donation solicitations to be registered with state and/or local government. (Such as in Los Angeles). It'd be wise to consult an entertainment lawyer / attorney before using such a scheme, to make sure it won't cause you problems later on.</blockquote>

It probably doesn’t violate SEC regulations, since it’s characterized as a donation. (Donors don’t expect a return of money from the project if it’s a success)… but, it MIGHT violate tax law or certain other laws that require donation solicitations to be registered with state and/or local government. (Such as in Los Angeles).

It’d be wise to consult an entertainment lawyer / attorney before using such a scheme, to make sure it won’t cause you problems later on.

]]> By: Viet Wilcots http://firemark.com/2009/05/13/how-not-to-use-the-internet-to-find-investors-for-your-film-or-theatre-project/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Viet Wilcots Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:20:27 +0000 http://firemark.com/?p=360#comment-98 I know of a producer who has posted their upcoming film project on the web. This individual's last page of their webpage offers viewers who are interested in giving a donation in whatever incriments starting with approx. ten dollars or more through Pay Pal. Gordon, would this too violate the SEC regulations? I know of a producer who has posted their upcoming film project on the web. This individual’s last page of their webpage offers viewers who are interested in giving a donation in whatever incriments starting with approx. ten dollars or more through Pay Pal. Gordon, would this too violate the SEC regulations?

]]> By: Gordon Firemark http://firemark.com/2009/05/13/how-not-to-use-the-internet-to-find-investors-for-your-film-or-theatre-project/comment-page-/#comment-89 Gordon Firemark Wed, 20 May 2009 18:00:12 +0000 http://firemark.com/?p=360#comment-89 <blockquote>Donations to political campaigns are a completely different animal, covered by Campaign Finance regulations. Generally, donations are different from investment because the donor is not promised any participation in profits or other return on investment. Donations are often tax-deductible, and so are governed by provisions of State and federal tax laws, as well as other laws governing non profit organizations, etc. I'm not very well informed about Australian securities laws and regulations, so prefer not to speculate on that subject. If you are raising money in Australia for a film, consult an Australian securities lawyer for advice on the subject. </blockquote>

Donations to political campaigns are a completely different animal, covered by Campaign Finance regulations.

Generally, donations are different from investment because the donor is not promised any participation in profits or other return on investment. Donations are often tax-deductible, and so are governed by provisions of State and federal tax laws, as well as other laws governing non profit organizations, etc.

I’m not very well informed about Australian securities laws and regulations, so prefer not to speculate on that subject. If you are raising money in Australia for a film, consult an Australian securities lawyer for advice on the subject.

]]> By: Flloyd Kennedy http://firemark.com/2009/05/13/how-not-to-use-the-internet-to-find-investors-for-your-film-or-theatre-project/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Flloyd Kennedy Wed, 20 May 2009 00:02:16 +0000 http://firemark.com/?p=360#comment-91 I wonder how this legal situation applied to the recent Obama political campaign? My understanding is that people donated, rather than invested. Could you comment on the difference? I'd be very interested. My understanding of Australian securities law is that the situation is similar here to investment, strictly regulated with obligations on the part of the organisation to provide business plan and disclosure document under certain circumstances. However, I am still interested to know if there is a difference under the law between investing and donating. cheers I wonder how this legal situation applied to the recent Obama political campaign? My understanding is that people donated, rather than invested. Could you comment on the difference? I’d be very interested.

My understanding of Australian securities law is that the situation is similar here to investment, strictly regulated with obligations on the part of the organisation to provide business plan and disclosure document under certain circumstances.

However, I am still interested to know if there is a difference under the law between investing and donating.
cheers

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