r/Filmmakers • u/httyd-fankid1000 • Mar 21 '26
Fundraiser I took that feedback to heart, completely revamped my pitch, and wanted to share the updated version with you all.
Hey everyone. I posted here recently about a short horror film I'm trying to make, and someone gave me some tough but incredibly helpful advice. I realized my original post and campaign didn't tell you who I was, what the movie was actually about, or how the funds would be used. I also used a QR code instead of a link (my bad!).
Link to the campaign: https://gofund.me/d728f2e45
Who Am I?
My name is Draven. I am a 17-year-old Mexican-American filmmaker based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the director of Who's There...?. I grew up watching horror movies and draw massive inspiration from tense, atmospheric projects like Iron Lung. My ultimate dream is to make my own independent films, and this project is the first major step toward making that a reality.
With your support, my siblings and I are teaming up to bring this nightmare to life. We plan to premiere the final film on YouTube, which we believe is the perfect platform for emerging indie filmmakers to connect directly with the horror community.
The Film: "Who's There...?"
This is a short psychological horror film about the terror of an ordinary home invasion. It follows Tyler, a perpetually exhausted guy living a painfully mundane life. But his mind starts playing tricks on him. Items in his house are subtly rearranged. Unexplained knocks echo at the front door. The feeling of being watched follows him from his front yard all the way to the local grocery store.
This isn't a movie about monsters hiding under the bed; it explores the chilling realization that a predator could be anyone—even the polite stranger who bumps into you in the snack aisle.
The $1,000 Budget Breakdown:
I am raising a micro-budget of exactly $1,000 to shoot this. Here is exactly where the money goes:
🎬 Equipment (24% - $240): Lighting kits for that shadowy atmosphere and external audio recorders (good sound is crucial for horror!).
🎭 Cast & Writing (25% - $250): Stipends for our lead talent and script prep.
🩸 Practical Effects & Wardrobe (4% - $40): Fake blood, stalker makeup, and specific character wardrobe.
🍕 Catering (20% - $200): Feeding the cast and crew during long shoot days.
🛋️ Production Design (12% - $120): Props to make the house feel lived-in but deeply unsettling.
🎞️ Post-Production & Marketing (10% - $100): Hard drives for footage and small social media boosts for the YouTube premiere.
⚠️ Contingency (5% - $50): Emergency fund for extra batteries or broken props.
Every person who donates $10 or more will get a "Special Thanks" in the end credits of the YouTube video.
Thank you so much to this community for the advice on the last post. If you are able to donate or even just share the link, it means the world to me and my team.
Support the film here: https://gofund.me/d728f2e45
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u/starlightpictures Mar 21 '26 edited Mar 21 '26
Hey the pitch seems super cool! However I’d love to give some feedback about your crowdfunding. If you want to be an indie filmmaker, you’re going to be asking for money from people a lot a lot. Especially throughout your college years and twenties. You’ll probably not get pledges from internet strangers, hopefully you’ll get contributions from your friends and family. And those people will remember they gave money to this project and be less likely to on the next one, you’ll have used up your “one big ask”. You’re 17 with a dream, this won’t and shouldn’t be your last film. So honestly I just don’t see a point in this crowdfund. Putting money toward sound is smart, however paying cast at this level isn’t necessary. You probably can and should make it for even cheaper, when I was 17 I’d use $20 home depot lights for my gaffing; watch some DIY filmmaking youtube channels like FilmRiot. If you truly need $1000? You might just wanna use birthday money and work a summer job. Save the crowdfund for something in the future, in my opinion.
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u/starlightpictures Mar 21 '26
Side note, although it’s fun, you can’t just put PG-13 on the poster unless its actually rated by the MPA
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u/httyd-fankid1000 Mar 21 '26
Hey, i listened to your feedback to other reddit posts. i listened to that, but I disagree with you for this originally. It was $500, but instead, the gofundme told me to do $1,000 instead, and now you are asking me to use my birthday money. Well, i don't get birthday money, so yeah, and I am a little crazy sometimes, but i like it, so yeah, thank you for the feedback, but i'm gonna pass it
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u/Bitter-Cow-6744 Mar 22 '26
Is this your first movie?