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While I can’t say that I didn’t learn anything, I can say that this should have been a free book, at the most 99cents. However I was inspired to learn that anyone can get published and charge 25 bucks for a book and then even be lucky enough to have Amazon put it as a recommended title, how fortunate for me. I will be writing my own book on how to raise funds in the years to come.

DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK. I have read several and I highly recommend:

The Film Finance Handbook: How to fund your film, Global Edition by Adam P. Davies.

Also

The Independent Filmakaker’s Guide. It’s yellow and blue, I can’t remember the full title or authors. It’s a good one too, but the best is the one I mentioned above.

Rating: 1 / 5

First, a quick disclaimer: This book is not a book on BUDGETS. It is not about how to create them, what you need to add, where you can cut costs, where you can splurge. If you need a book on film budget creation – look elsewhere. This book assumes, off the top, that you’ve already got a budget in your back pocket and it is in the $500,000 to $4,000,000 range.

For years I ran the “United Way” campaign in my law office. Every fall I would hustle the attorneys and staff to pony up some cash for the community. I held meetings, handed out forms, gave out prizes and overall made a fool of myself. The best year? I raised over $100,000. Most years I would end the campaign in the $75,000 to $85,000 range. I knew who the big givers were and I knew who wouldn’t give a dime.

Every year at the end of the campaign I would think: “Why can’t I do this for a film I want to make? These attorneys are generous (when it comes to charity); wouldn’t they be MORE generous if it came to investing in film? MY film?” Sadly the firm I used to work for dissolved in 2008 and the attorneys and staff have been scattered to the wind. In 2008, though, I DID make my movie at a cost of one-tenth of 1% of a $3,000,000 budget. Yes, I made a feature film with fourteen speaking roles and 12 locations for $3,000. But I digress.

Tom Malloy’s book is, simply, about money. And how to get it. You need $1,000,000 for your film? He tells you how to do it. You need, $2,000,000, $3,000,000, $4,000,000? He tells you how to get it. Using his proven techniques you, too, can raise the funds for your film. He tells you, up front, that he’s going to tell you all the tricks of the trade – all the systems that he uses – AND HE DOES! After reading the book I really felt two things: 1. I can raise the funds for a feature film and, 2. He’s told me everything he knows. I didn’t put the book down still wondering if he held back on some of his knowledge or wasn’t straight forward in what he had written. Granted, he’s not going to print out a list of his investors and their names and e-mails – but I wouldn’t either.

I know, you’re saying to yourself: “How easy IS it to get $3,000,000 for your film?” And I’ll tell you what he tells you: “IT’S NOT EASY! YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK!” So, yeah, if you’re looking for a “get rich quick scheme” look elsewhere. You’re going to need to hustle, you’re going to need to schmooze, you’re going to need to be persistent and you’re going to need to work. You’re going to need a fantastic script and a passion and vision for seeing it through to production.

In my screenwriting class I talk about Hollywood and how everyone in my class probably knows SOMEONE in Hollywood. Tom takes a similar approach…you probably know SOMEONE who might invest in your film. Or THEY might know someone who might invest in your film. Then Tom takes you through all the various scenarios and approaches you should take in terms of reeling them in to a great investment opportunity. I’ve worked in law for many years – I know most of the high powered attorneys in Seattle. I’m one degree separated from Bill Gates and Paul Allen. I’m three degrees separated from Oprah Winfrey. Should I approach them for my “indiewood” film? You bet I should!

If I had any issue with Malloy’s book, it’s simply the fact that he DOESN’T have a chapter on creating a budget for your $3,000,000 film. Certainly there’s talk of cast and crew and director, above and below-the-line costs – but I would have liked a little more detail in that direction. Still, inserting a 20 page chapter on budget creation would probably just skim the service of budgeting and the book, may I remind you, isn’t about budgeting – it’s about getting the money to pay for your budget. Still, it’s a bit off-putting to just assume in chapter one that I’ve got a budget in a back pocket and a killer script in my hand. But…if you DO have those – then this book is certainly for you.

Simply: Malloy’s book explores a new approach (or approaches) to finding funding you need to make your films. Includes everything you need to know to take those next steps. Highly recommended!

Rating: 4 / 5

Tom Molloy has designed his book – BANKROLL – specifically to put you on a roll to financing your $300K to $5-Million feature film in what he calls “Indiewood.” The book is practical, pragmatic, and motivational. Don’t be deceived by the subtitle’s statement that his is “a new approach” – it’s actually the oldest approach of all based on street-smarts, experience, hard work, and an emphasis on tacking action. What IS new about the approach is that Molloy is so honest about separating the wheat from the chaff. He speas to filmmakers in a very direc conversational tone of voice about:

- The lessons he learned from raising money for 3 featuers

- How to find and talk to investors (High Networth Indivduals)

- The Art of pitching

- What should be in a business plan

- The approaches you can use to find money

The lenthy section on how to create a business plan is alone worth the price of the book. There Molloy demystifies one of the more difficult parts of fundraising for filmmakers. I particularrly appreciated Molloy’s emphasis on how hard this work is. He recommends an attitude he calls “programmed obsession,” and in my own dealings with filmmakers, I would agree 100%. One of the hallmarks of this book is how Molloy tries to motivate as well as educate. He even includes that old chetsnut poem “Don’t Quit” by Edgar Gues , in its entirety! Tead this book. You’ll raise more money and you’ll be a better person too.

Morrie Warshawski, Author

Shaking The Money Tree, 2nd Edition: How to Get Grants and Donations for Film and Video

The Fundraising Houseparty: How to Party with a Purpose and Raise Money for Your Cause – 2nd Edition

Rating: 4 / 5