What is a “Film Package”?
A film package is far more than just a script and a budget, though that is what many new filmmakers think it is. A film package is a set of documents that: Outlines, in detail, a plan for producing Proves, conclusively, that a producer and his team are ready, willing and able to execute this plan Demonstrates that the film is likely to...
Once You Have a Script, You Need a Line Producer
Once you have a script and it is something actors and others love, you need to pay a line producer to break the script down into shooting days and budget items. Why? You need real numbers in order to determine how much your film will cost to make. It is not uncommon at all to change your script to reduce costs. Make sure your line producer...
What Goes In a Film Package?
Here is a sample business plan table of contents for a feature film. Note that if you are funding a short film you probably won't have to provide all these documents to your potential funder. Executive Summary: One page reviewing the project financial requirements, projected revenue from various sources, key team members, etc. Synopsis:...
Developing a Weekly Cash Flow
Having created a production schedule, a distribution plan, and revenue projections, you should now be in a position to create a worksheet that outlines, on a week by week basis, when funding will be used and when revenues will be received. Start by taking the items from your budget top sheet and entering them line for line in the...
How to Find Film Funders
If you go online and search for terms like "film finance", "entertainment capital", "entertainment holdings" you'll find hundreds of listings for those who invest in film. You can approach them by phone, fax or email. Phone works best if you are good at pitching your project on the phone. Note that these folks are easy to approach. They do this...
What are the rules of film financing?
There are no universal rules in the film industry. Film productions, by their very nature, are constructed by very small teams which means decisions by a very small number of people are required to make some very big decisions. There are films that have been funded based on nothing more than a few lines on a napkin. There are other films made by...
Understanding the Iron Triangle of Film Financing
If you want to produce a feature film you need many things, most of which are relatively easy to acquire. You need a script, a camera, a camera man, lights, a location, a crew, etc. But the heart of your production, if your film is to be profitable, will be the Iron Triangle, which is to say a cast, financing and distribution. If you have a...
