Our Promise to You
Funding Responsibility
You're trusting us with your money to tell a story that matters. Here's exactly how we honour that trust.
Core Commitment
Every pound raised goes to production. The full £250,000 budget covers field production, archive licensing, post-production, translation, distribution, and a contingency fund. Any funds raised beyond the budget will be used to enhance the production, with any remainder supporting future True Illusions documentary work.
The project operates with complete editorial independence. No funder — regardless of contribution size — receives editorial influence. This is non-negotiable.
How Funds Are Protected
All donations are held in a dedicated production account, separate from any personal or business finances. Funds are released in phases aligned with production milestones, not drawn down in advance.
Founding funders (£5,000+) receive a detailed financial breakdown upon request at any stage of production. A post-production financial summary will be made available to all donors.
Phase-Gated Production
The project doesn't spend money it doesn't have. Production is structured in phases that only begin when the corresponding funding is secured.
Field Production Begins
Crew, equipment, travel, on-location interviews across multiple regions.
Post-Production & Archives
Editing, sound design, original score, archive licensing, colour grading.
Full Budget Met
Distribution, translation (Arabic, Hebrew), festival submissions, contingency.
What If Things Don't Go to Plan
We believe in being honest about risk. Here's what happens in each scenario.
Funding falls short of £70,000
Field production cannot begin. All funds are held in escrow. Every donor is contacted directly with two options: a full refund or consent to hold funds while alternative funding is pursued (with a 6-month deadline). If the deadline passes without reaching the threshold, all remaining funds are returned.
Funding reaches £70k–£170k
Field production proceeds. Post-production scope is adjusted to match available funds — this may mean fewer archive sources, a reduced original score, or simplified colour grading. The documentary still gets made. Donors are updated on the adjusted production plan.
Funding reaches £170k–£250k
The core documentary is fully produced. Distribution scope may be reduced — fewer festival submissions, deferred translation into additional languages, or a smaller marketing push. The series itself is complete and released.
Production is delayed or interrupted
The £7,000 contingency fund covers minor delays. For major disruptions (conflict escalation affecting access, key crew unavailability, force majeure), we pause production, communicate the situation transparently, and present a revised timeline. Funds are never forfeited — they either complete the project or are returned.
The project is cancelled entirely
In the unlikely event the project cannot proceed at all, we commit to: a full accounting of any funds already spent on pre-production; the return of all unspent funds to donors; and a public explanation of what happened and why. No funds are retained without a completed deliverable.
Governance & Decision-Making
Financial decisions are made by the director in consultation with the production team. Editorial decisions are the director's alone — no funder or advisory body has veto power over content.
If circumstances require a material change to the production plan (scope reduction, timeline extension, budget reallocation exceeding 10% of any line item), founding funders are notified in advance with a clear explanation.
"This project exists because people chose to fund a story they believe the world needs to hear. That trust is the foundation everything else is built on. We don't take it lightly."
— Abbas Holcroft, Director