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The film industry
is very competitive and can be a difficult arena for individuals to begin and
maintain a successful career. The stereotypes are those of backstabbing
assistants, conniving talent, stubborn directors, power hungry producers, and
lying studio executives. Although these horror stories can still be prevalent, the
film industry is actually a tight knit group of professionals who work together
and create communities built on respect and collaboration.
Small businesses
such as production studios, talent agencies, distribution specialists, post
production engineers, and special effects companies must establish themselves and
band together collectively in order to compete with major motion picture
studios. To start a small production company or film business, most
entrepreneurs seek out traditional funding methods such as investors, bank
loans, friends, and family. While these staples are ideal for expanding
businesses with proven track records, it is substantially more difficult for
novice companies to obtain financing.
Small businesses
do have an advocate in the form of alternative financing groups that are
dedicated to helping entrepreneurs realize their dreams of starting their own
enterprises. One such supporter is the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), a membership based organization that aims
to assist small business professionals obtain federal and private financing as
well as technology and equity awards. Their tactics involve mentoring, advocacy,
strategic planning and collaboration. Their mission is to create connections
and build communities that foster small business growth and give normally rejected
entrepreneurs a chance to realize their dreams. Assistance from AEO requires an
interested entrepreneur to simply fill out a questionnaire stating what they
are seeking and what type of community development focus their company is built
upon. Whether it be environmental, women’s advocacy, people with disabilities,
or veterans; AEO is committed to assisting and promoting companies who strive
to better their neighborhoods. Their
goal is to foster the visions of the “micro businesses”, those with fewer than
10 employees, who would otherwise be ignored or deemed inconsequential by banks
and venture capitalists. They believe that funding these “micro businesses”
builds strong communities and support systems that in turn build a strong
economy.
The concept of supporting
local growth in order to promote a competitive marketplace is also the mission
of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). Their focus lies on providing job growth
opportunities and strengthening local economies that can weather the changing
times and grow to make a global impact. Their methods involve creating
communities that bind together to support and encourage one another through
investing in qualified entrepreneurs with established public and private
resources. A stringent qualification procedure is in place to ensure that
applicants strive to create strategic local and global partnerships that may
compete on a global level, respect the environment and assist underserved
communities.
The Association
for Enterprise Opportunity and the U.S. Economic Development Administration
both pride themselves on developing local and underserved communities that can
compete on a larger and even global scale. They promote collaboration between
organizations in order to make an impact and grow the economy. Their funding
requirements and sources of money are fairly vague however and could appear
confusing to an entrepreneur looking for an alternative financing partner.
Teamwork and
collaboration have long been the principals for survival. Whether it is military
strategies, sporting events, film productions, or business creation; teamwork
is at the core. There are many funding institutions that see the value in
smaller and less experienced entrepreneurs as a piece of the larger entity,
even when dismissed by standard financing associations. In an industry such as
film where success is reliant on “who you know” and the names of those who
support you, starting a business follows a similar concept. In the end, if the
project, whether it is a film or a business, speaks to an audience, a strong and
connected support system can assist in seeing ideas become reality.
