02.16.2001
For some North Carolina financiers, investing in independent filmmaking is hotter than Wall Street. Financial supporters of Bandwagon, a film financed and produced in North Carolina, reportedly doubled their investment in less than two years when the film was sold after a screening at the Sundance Film Festival. These investors may achieve even greater returns after the film hits the screens in the U.S. and is distributed on cable, home video, television and in international markets.
For investors accustomed to stocks, bonds and mutual funds, the financial gains from films such as Bandwagon seem implausible and, indeed, they are usually not realized without a high degree of risk. Although film investment requires a significant tolerance for risk, the potential returns may be enormous. Today’s independent film industry, especially in North Carolina, offers individuals a unique opportunity: a chance to become involved with a dynamic industry that involves art, glamour, celebrities and premieres, while at the same time allowing investors the prospect to realize triple-digit returns.