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...
Refining the Production Schedule and Production Budget
As a producer building a fundable film package, the budget and schedule provided by the line producer are your starting point. You go UP from there. You will add costs for: Purchasing & Developing the Script Paying the Producer, Executive Producer and Finder Paying Lead Talent Paying Key Specialty Cast Marketing Prints &...
Lining Up Distribution and Sales Agents
This is actually somewhat impossible for most independent feature films just at the moment. In 2008 when the stock market crashed, motion picture studios and distributors hit a serious cash flow crisis. Their operations were funded by banks, by hedge funds, by asset backed securities transactions, by government rebates and overseas investors....
Creating a Useful Budget for Your Documentary
A budget is never your enemy. Budgets are always your very best friends. Even if you are making a documentary you think you can’t afford, like millions of documentary filmmakers before you, taking time to calculate and manage your costs will let you reduce the size of your “indulgence” without preventing you from shooting your...
The Iron Triangle: Cast, Financing & Distribution
Ancient alchemists spent their lives in pursuit of the Philosopher's Stone, a magical item that, once made, would turn lead into gold. As a filmmaker you will spend a great deal of time in pursuit of something almost as ephemeral called the Iron Triangle. In order to produce a feature film you need many things, most of which are relatively...
