LOS ANGELES -- A Hollywood production company known for popular films including "American Psycho" has chosen a novel tactic to fund its projects in development: Get the public involved.

Los Angeles-based Pressman Film will allow individuals to invest in its movies, the company told The Times, making it the latest firm to turn to crowdfunding. The campaign, which opened to the public last week, is targeting $1.5 million in this round.

By investing in a slate of upcoming projects, rather than a particular film, investors can spread their risk and bet on a variety of genres, said Sam Pressman, the firm's chief executive and son of founder Edward R. Pressman, a producer known for "Wall Street" and "The Crow" franchise, who died last year. The company's summer reboot of "The Crow" flopped at the box office.

"There's great reason for optimism in our industry, but it's incumbent on the producers to be able to provide fresh movies and fresh ideas and fresh filmmakers to audiences," the younger Pressman said in an interview. "We need to galvanize audiences to be a part of the future."