“Almost 3 years ago I was introduced to Raindance” says Roth, “Boozin’ ‘N’
Schmoozin’ parties are my favourite, you get to meet people of your kind.” It's these
types of opportunities that Roth feels enabled him to engage with other filmmakers
and to “slowly and gradually progress in networking in London.” Finding that people
seemed genuinely interested in the premise of Debal, Roth was fuelled with
determination to establish some financial backing and make it happen.
The turning point, however, came when Roth pitched Debal to the panel at the
Meet the Buyers event during the Raindance Film Festival in October. “That was one
crazy event” he says, recalling the feedback that the panel of experts in sales,
distribution and marketing gave him: “I pitched. Some liked, some didn’t.” Despite
getting in touch with all of them afterwards, Roth didn’t hear anything back,
guessing that he was most likely “lost in their crowd of emails.”
Although he found this “disappointing,” Roth believes that the experience of Meet
the Buyers improved his confidence and ultimately “helped [him] to boost [his]
pitching skills.” Furthermore, it inspired him to take the advice and criticism that the
panel gave him and “turn it into success,” seeing him look toward crowdfunding on
indiegogo as a means of putting plans into action.
“The platform was free, so I made the campaign and posted it” says Roth, feeling
that there was nothing to lose through trying. With his ever-developing network of
friends and pitching practice at Meet the Buyers under his belt, Roth felt confident
that he could put together a strong campaign strategy to get the ball rolling and
raise “at least something to start the project.”
Shortly after Debal's campaign went live, Roth was contacted t