Cut To The Deal: The Business of Film
Welcome to the ultimate podcast for indie filmmakers who want to learn the business side of the industry. In each episode we’ll cut straight to actionable advice and dive deep into the business side of the film industry, unpacking everything you need to know about film funding, distribution strategies, and career development. Whether you're just starting out or looking to transform your hobby into a thriving career, we provide proven, detailed techniques, and real-world advice to help you succeed.
Cut To The Deal: The Business of Film
How to Use Equity Crowdfunding to Fund Profitable Indie Films with Greg Bekkers
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In this episode, ZB Siwek sits down with producer and sales agent Greg Bekkers to dive deep into the world of equity crowdfunding for films. Greg shares his hands-on experience running multiple successful campaigns—raising over $200K on platforms like Wefunder and breaks down exactly what it takes for independent filmmakers to stand out, attract investors, and actually close deals.
We cover:
- Greg’s journey from managing actors to producing and film sales
- The genres and strategies distributors are backing right now (and which ones they’re avoiding)
- How equity crowdfunding really works - legal steps, platforms, timelines, and investor expectations
- The importance of lead investors and how to leverage them for trust and momentum
- Outreach strategies: LinkedIn, cold emails, Zoom calls, and the art of building relationships
- Why filmmakers need to embrace marketing as part of the creative process
- Greg’s honest take on mistakes, lessons learned, and why perseverance + community are essential
- Whether you’re planning your first raise or looking to improve your next campaign, this conversation gives you practical, battle-tested insights to make your film fundable and profitable.
Greg Bekkers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbekkers/
📌 Chapters
00:00 – Introduction to Filmmaking and Funding Strategies
05:32 – The Importance of Sales and in Filmmaking
15:47 – Navigating the Landscape of Film Genres and Market Trends
21:58 – Setting Up an Equity Crowdfunding Campaign
35:55 – Lessons Learned from Crowdfunding Campaigns
42:17 – Building Your Brand in Filmmaking
48:28 – Effective Messaging for Investor Outreach
57:20 – Understanding Investor Calls
01:01:15 – The Role of Lead Investors
01:06:02 – Marketing Strategies for Fundraising
01:10:14 – The Importance of Pre-Campaign Outreach
01:17:17 – Navigating the Crowdfunding Landscape
🎧 Subscribe to Cut to the Deal for more conversations with top industry experts on funding, distributing, and marketing independent films.
Connect with ZB Siwek:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zb-siwek-55938442/
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