- 01
You are the proof
Put your face in the first photo, explain your background in two sentences and show something you have already made. Backers back people first and plans second.
- 02
Keep the scope small
The first milestone should fit one person's time and skills. Outsource only what you cannot do, and give those costs their own milestone so Backers see them.
- 03
Protect your time
Post proof when a step is done, answer chat once or twice a day and keep your story current. A steady rhythm builds more trust than bursts of activity.
Risks to plan for
- R1
Access falls through
An interview subject or location may become unavailable. Include alternative sources in the research milestone and allow room for additional field days without changing the core question.
- R2
The story shifts
New evidence can change the direction of the documentary. Use an editorial checkpoint after fieldwork and reserve editing time to reassess the outline before committing to a final cut.
- R3
Archive exceeds scope
Essential photographs or footage may be difficult to obtain. List priority archive needs early, price alternatives and keep a fallback approach using newly recorded material in the edit budget.
Budget example
A typical cost split for a documentary dream in Paris, shown in EUR. Backers pay you directly using your accepted payment methods.
Example goal
€16,000
- Research and access€4,000 · 25%
- Field crew and travel€6,400 · 40%
- Editing and archive€4,000 · 25%
- Captions and delivery€1,600 · 10%
What you receive
- Backers give
- €16,000
- 0% platform commission
- −€2,400
- You receive
- €13,600
Example milestone plan
An example plan for a documentary dream with a goal of €16,000. Backers pay you directly, funding the goal all at once or milestone by milestone as you post proof for each step.
Milestone 1
€3,200 · 20%
Confirm story access
Share a research outline, interview schedule and access confirmations, hiding participant contact information.
Milestone 2
€5,600 · 35%
Capture field interviews
Post a dated field log, equipment receipts and approved interview excerpts that demonstrate completed recording.
Milestone 3
€4,800 · 30%
Build the documentary cut
Share a rough-cut excerpt, transcript sample and edit log showing how interviews and archive material form the story.
Milestone 4
€2,400 · 15%
Complete final delivery
Post a captioned preview, source-credit list and delivery checklist documenting the finished documentary master.
How Backers are protected
14-day review per milestone
When proof is posted, each Backer has 14 days to review the proof, ask for more info, and decide whether to keep supporting your next milestone.
0% commission — direct gifts, nothing taken
Backers pay exactly what they choose directly through your payment methods. cohero takes 0% commission on backings, so you keep what is sent. Any refunds or disputes are handled directly between you, the Backer and your payment provider.
Gifts, not shares
Backings are gifts. No shares, equity, interest or repayment, and Dreamers keep full ownership. Nothing on cohero is an investment or a loan.
Questions and answers
How can I prove progress while protecting documentary participants?
Share redacted field logs, equipment records and excerpts approved for sharing instead of raw sensitive interviews. Tell Backers what each item verifies and build privacy-aware evidence into the fieldwork milestone from the start.
What if the finished story differs from my original outline?
Describe the central question rather than promising a specific conclusion. Use the editorial milestone to explain discoveries, show how the cut has changed and identify any revised filming or archive needs before final delivery.
Can one person really fund a documentary dream?
Yes. Backers do not require a company. They need to understand your goal and see proof as you go, and a small first milestone is the best way to show you deliver.
Ready when you are
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