Southampton - NY/LA Production Company, Conversations with the Living, LLC, has recently joined forces with online fundraising platform, Indie Go Go, to raise funds towards the completion of its feature documentary "Conversations with the Living," - a film that documents the plight of HIV+ orphans in Haiti. Indie Go Go offers cause-driven organizations like Conversations with the Living, LLC, an opportunity to build a global network of support and sponsorship by providing an outlet where such noble initiatives can directly reach creative audiences who share similar passions.

Still from "Conversations with the Living." (Courtesy Photo: Dyani Brown)

Throughout the first phase of the film, the team at Conversations with the Living, LLC, relied heavily on traditional foot-to-pavement solicitations. However, upon completion of the first phase of production, the team hit the proverbial wall with this methodology, and decided that a more unconventional fundraising approach was necessary to complete the film. According to Producer Leigh Carlson fundraising has been a challenge. "After acquiring fiscal sponsorship from the International Documentary Association (IDA), (a 501(c)(3) operation) we became eligible for foundation grants and donations," Leigh says. "To date, we have managed by acquiring funds via individual donors, fund raising events, online campaigns and simply reaching into our own not-so-deep pockets."

When donations from friends, family, and fundraising events dried up, it became evident that an online platform would be potentially advantageous. Crowd sourcing is the future of micro-financing films and a tight business model is key; so according to Conversations with the Living Film Director Marc Landas, partnering with Indie Go Go was a no brainer. "All too often, fundraising can be impersonal or too formulaic," Landas attests, "Indie Go Go allows us to interact with our donors/followers and build lasting relationships with them." The hope is that followers will see the sincerity and quality behind the film and become avid sponsors of its production.

The Conversations Indie Go Go page offers donors the opportunity to donate directly to the project. In addition, an itemized list is displayed detailing how their donations will directly affect and push the production of the film. With this added layer of transparency, donors may feel a stronger connection to the film-making process, thus encouraging both the quality and quantity of donations. Along the way, regular updates of the most current news, videos, and pictures of the documentary in progress will be posted to the page thus allowing donors to follow the collective success of the film's production.