Calling all indie-film fans

NEW YORK — If you are looking for a place to invest a few thousand dollars, check out the movie biz.
IndieVest Inc., a Los Angeles-based film-financing firm, is providing investors with the opportunity to jump into the indie-film world and giving independent filmmakers a shot at having their work seen in theaters.
“I wanted to make independent-film investments and quickly realized I couldn’t get comfortable with the level of risk in the marketplace — namely, the inability to get distribution,” said Wade H. Bradley, founder and chief executive of IndieVest. He estimated that more than $1 billion of investment capital is lost each year on films that never make it to the big screen.
Participating filmmakers will receive access to a production company that will help them with development and provide them with talent for the cast. At the end of the filming process, filmmakers may have their film shown across the country in as many as 1,500 theaters.
IndieVest provides investors with two membership tiers: For $4,950, participants can attend events such as the Variety Screening Series and the Sundance Film Festival, and attend after-parties. At the $2,950 level, investors gain access to industry publications such as The Hollywood Reporter.
Members of both levels can check out the Premier Portfolio, a showcase of investment-grade film projects available to members for review and investment.
The investment risk level is an acquired taste, however.
“We don’t guarantee certain revenue, since it’s a subjective artistic project,” Mr. Bradley said.
IndieVest went into full swing at the end of last month. Mr. Bradley declined to disclose the names of any upcoming projects. The firm’s advisory board includes actors Don Cheadle and Liev Schreiber.