1. Crowdfunding Your Film
Kate Griffin
This presentation was prepared by Kate Griffin of Kate Griffin, PLLC. It is not
legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Before acting on
this information please consult your own attorney experienced in these matters.

2. Potential Funding Sources
• Major investors/angels
• Rich friends and family
• Your own pocket/credit cards
• Crowdfunding -- Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, etc.

3. Crowdfunding
• Everybody and their dog wants to do a
Kickstarter campaign right now.
• Crowdfunding is a great way to get interest,
attention, & audience buy-in (as well as money).
• Lots of people will tell you how to run a
successful campaign.
• Not many of them will tell you how to stay on
the right side of the law.

4. Some of the Issues
You risk getting in trouble if:
• Your investors are not wealthy.
• You accept too much money from any one
person.
• You promise something in return for the
money.
• You do none of the above but an investor gets
angry or disillusioned and complains about you.

5. Rules Were Made to be
Broken?
If you violate SEC rules, you could:
• Be penalized and have to pay back all the
money you raised.
• Not be allowed to raise money ever again.
• Have trouble getting distribution for your film.
• Be sent to Club Fed.

6. What Are The Rules?
• The rules are in the middle of a big change.
• The JOBS Act loosens restrictions on small
businesses and entrepreneurs raising money
from smaller donors. They’ll be allowed to
offer equity in a project, which increases the
pool of willing donors.
• The SEC’s deadline for issuing the new rules is
the end of 2012.

7. So What Does That Mean
For Me?
• Raising funds for film projects will get easier,
but it will still pay to do it right.
• Learning what pitfalls to avoid ahead of time
can save you a lot of heartache (not to mention
money) in the long run.

8. Copyright 2012, Kate Griffin
Kate Griffin, PLLC | 1012 E. 38 1/2 St., Austin, Texas 78751 | griffinentertainmentlaw.com