Financing Fallout

The collapse of the "pre-sales" market has left indie producers scrambling. Traditionally, a film could be funded by selling the distribution rights to foreign territories before a single frame was shot. That market has dried up as global streamers consolidated their power.

"You used to be able to bank on selling to Germany and Japan," says producer Mike Roth. "Now, Netflix owns Germany and Japan, and they aren't buying unfinished scripts."

The Equity Crowd

Desperate for cash, filmmakers are turning to equity crowdfunding. Platforms like Wefunder allow fans to invest as little as $100 in a movie. While it democratizes access, it exposes unaccredited investors to one of the riskiest asset classes on Earth. Most indie films return zero.