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This week on the podcast I sit down with actor, filmmaker, and crowdfunding coach Melissa Center for a deep dive into the world of indie filmmaking and raising money for your creative projects. Melissa shares her journey from producing her very first micro-budget feature to balancing the roles of both actor and producer. Along the way, she reveals what it really takes to launch a project from scratch and why choosing between shorts or features isn’t always as straightforward as it seems.

In our conversation, Melissa demystifies the crowdfunding process, tackling common fears, debunking myths, and highlighting what makes a campaign successful. We talk about whether genre plays a role in funding, what the “perfect” budget looks like and her platform of choice. From building momentum before a campaign launches to choosing the right perks (hint: story driven ones are best!), Melissa provides practical advice that can empower filmmakers at any stage.

We also explore bigger questions around sustainability and community. Can you rely on previous investors? Does online advertising really work? And what’s the best timeline for running a campaign? Melissa opens up about what she wishes she had known when she started out, and we unpack the ever-present fear of asking for money. To round out the episode, Jim recommends How to Crowdfund Your Film with MJ Dixon, a perfect companion to Melissa’s invaluable insights.

Check out the re-release of Jim's first solo directing feature The Witches Hammer - out now on amazon 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0F235F4T8/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

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