What is Crowdfunding at Angel Studios?

An Angel Studios Model

Angel Studios relies on the tastes, opinions, and feedback of our audience members. When we want to make a new movie, TV show, or documentary, we don’t ask executive producers to put up millions of dollars. Instead, we ask viewers like you to vote on what you want to see next and then filmmakers give you the opportunity to invest in it through equity crowdfunding offerings. Before we go into more specifics, let’s answer your first question.

Why? Why does Angel Studios do it this way?

It’s simple—we think the wisdom of the crowd, their collective intelligence, is much more accurate and trustworthy than a few powerful producers.

What is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is just like it sounds—a crowd of people raising funds. You’ve heard of this with Kickstarter and GoFundMe, but we do things a little differently. At Angel Studios, once you have voted and let us know what shows you would like to see made,  the show’s filmmakers/owners have the option of raising money from the crowd to help bring the show to life.  If the show decides to raise money this way, then it engages in what’s commonly referred to as “equity crowdfunding”  – a form of crowdfunding that is regulated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Through equity crowdfunding, you can invest in a show in return for ownership in the company.  

Why does Angel Studios utilize a crowdfunding model?

Crowdfunding is not just a financial means to an end; it's a catalyst for creativity, a platform for diverse stories, and a testament to the power of collective support. It empowers both shows and filmmakers to break free from traditional constraints and bring their unique visions to a global audience. In the ever-evolving world of entertainment, crowdfunding stands as a beacon of possibility, offering filmmakers the chance to engage with a community of dedicated supporters.

The Chosen: Making Crowdfunding History

While The Chosen successfully raised the necessary funds through crowdfunding, it didn't stop there. It went on to achieve an unprecedented milestone: becoming the first show ever to pay back its investors who had participated in the crowdfunding campaigns, and not just with a return, but a remarkable 120% ROI.

This achievement is not just a testament to the show's financial success but also sets a new standard for future crowdfunding efforts in the entertainment industry. It proves that crowdfunding can be a sustainable and highly profitable way to fund creative projects, providing a substantial return on investment for those who believe in the project's vision.

Sound of Freedom: A Rapid Rise

In a remarkable feat, Sound of Freedom raised its required funds within a week. This rapid fundraising success is a testament to the passionate community that rallies behind Angel Studios' projects. With the financial backing secured in such a short span, the creators could focus on bringing their vision to life without the constraints of traditional funding timelines.

DAVID: Largest Audience-Funded Film Production

DAVID, an animated feature film depicting the biblical story of David, holds the title of the largest audience-funded film production ever. Slingshot USA, the company behind DAVID, raised an astounding $49.7 million out of its $60.9 million project budget. This accomplishment showcases the immense potential of crowdfunding to support ambitious and meaningful storytelling on a grand scale. The film is set for a worldwide theatrical release in 2025, promising to captivate audiences worldwide.

Angel Funding Portal: A Hub for Investment Opportunities

It's essential to clarify that Angel Studios, the distributor, and Angel Funding, the funding platform, are not the same entities. Angel Studios, through its innovative crowdfunding model, has raised substantial funds for marketing purposes, illustrating the effectiveness of this approach in the film industry.

Crowdfunding has become a vital force in reshaping the landscape of filmmaking. Angel Studios' Pay it Forward model empowers creators, engages audiences, and ensures high-quality content thrives while remaining accessible to all. The success stories of The Chosen, Sound of Freedom, and DAVID highlight the transformative potential of crowdfunding in the entertainment industry. As Angel Studios continues to champion this approach, it provides a beacon of hope for storytellers and investors alike, ushering in a new era of collaborative, audience-driven creativity.

There are two different regulations that filmmakers typically rely on to raise funds.

Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg. CF)

“Regulation Crowdfunding generally refers to a financing method in which money is raised through soliciting relatively small individual investments or contributions from a large number of people.  Companies can use Regulation Crowdfunding to offer and sell securities to the investing public giving the public the opportunity to participate in the early capital raising activities of start-up and early-stage companies and businesses.”*

Regulation A (Reg. A)

Regulation A is often referred to as a “mini-IPO” and has some similarities to Regulation Crowdfunding. However, Regulation A allows companies to raise more money than they can under Regulation Crowdfunding. In addition, companies conducting an offering under Regulation A must provide more information to investors than they do under Regulation Crowdfunding, although this information is still more limited than companies provide in a traditional IPO. “Regulation A allows companies to offer and sell securities to the public, but with more limited disclosure requirements than what is required for publicly reporting companies.  In comparison to registered offerings, smaller companies in earlier stages of development may be able to use this rule to more cost-effectively raise money.”**

Each of these regulations has different rules regarding, for example, who can invest and how they can invest, how much money a filmmaker can raise each year, and what information must be provided to investors during the offering and on an ongoing basis.    Additionally, even though these are regulated offerings, investments in productions through Regulation Crowdfunding and Regulation A still involve a high degree of risk and speculation. Read more about those risks at the links to SEC.gov, and always make sure you understand all of the risks before investing money.

*“Updated Investor Bulletin: Regulation Crowdfunding for Investors”, Available:  SEC.gov | Updated Investor Bulletin: Regulation Crowdfunding for Investors

**“Updated Investor Bulletin: Regulation A”, Available: SEC.gov | Updated Investor Bulletin: Regulation A