Cynematik • Cyndi Greening

BY CYNDI GREENING, ARIZONA, USA — The number one rule of independent filmmaking is always use Other People’s Money (OPM), preferably a studio’s money or a distributor’s money. How many times did I give that lecture? Don’t use your credit cards. Don’t use your family’s money. Don’t use your friends’ money. Statistics say that it is almost certain that your film will not make money; that you’ll lose your friends and alienate your family.

The students always argue with me during this lecture. They talk about Morgan Spurlock’s film, SUPERSIZE ME. Some folks will talk about Kevin Smith’s success with CLERKS. Occasionally, someone will remember the more obscure but equaly suprising Robert Townsend film, HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE. They like to recall the miracle filmmaking stories, stories about the people who do just this sort of thing and end up with a wildly, financially-successful film. It’s my job to remind them that there are THOUSANDS of filmmakers who follow that film financing path into a very dark tunnel. If a distributor or producer gets behind your film, chances are that they see an opportunity for financial success. Since they’ve made a whole lot more films than you, that’s a good thing. If the money people don’t get behind you, they may be doing you a favor in the long run. They may be saving you a lot of heartache and a lot of money. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to get distributors to fund educational projects ahead of time. They want to see the finished product to know if the story hangs together because, well, let’s be honest, it’s students learning by doing. They’re cautious about giving money to that sort of thing.

So, how did I end up in the rabbit hole that I did? Surely I know the rule about OPM. If there’s anyone who knows this rule, it is me. When I told my filmmaking nephew that I was well over $80,000 on these two films and was probably going to go over $100,000 by the time they were done, I thought he was going to have a stroke. “Are you out of your mind?” Jason gasped. “You used your money? Is that why you sold your house?”

Well, there’s nothing like being called on the carpet by someone half your age. And, if I wasn’t feeling stupid before he started lecturing me, l surely got there within a few seconds. To add insult to injury, Pamela edited a short video piece on what it took to finance the two Zambian films. I think she should enter it in film festivals or send it to every university and college with a film program. I think they will find it quite educational, perhaps even amusing. Or not.

• Cyndi’s Houses (quicktime)
• Cyndi’s Houses (swf)

So, now, I’ve added a new portion to my lecture on OPM. So, if you decide it’s a good idea to go to Africa to make two films (and encourage 18 faculty and students to come with you for the learning experience of a lifetime), make sure the OPM you get is waaaaay more than a small educational grant that only covers the flight for about a third of the crew. Unless you don’t care if you anyone ever actually sees the films that you made.