I have a local acquaintance who was producer on an indie flick. They just wrapped up the project and have been shopping it around for a while. They raised $1 million locally to fund the movie over the course of two years.
http://sophomoremovie.com/
We've got a budding indie film community here in Rochester, NY. I know you're in LA, but if you were elsewhere...I'd have him convince you to do your work here.