Film Finance BluePrint.key

Film Finance
BLUEPRINT
Proven strategies to plan and finance your
next feature film project.
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
Build a Dream
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Start with the idea
Craft a Vision for the project... Not just the
story, but the entire progression of things.
Flesh it out as completely as possible.
Develop it into a treatment, script, outline,
bible, or something tangible, in which you can
assert an ownership interest
Images
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
Idea Processing by Catalin Boroi from the Noun Project
Thought by Adam Zubin from the Noun Project
Build a Foundation
Get the Rights Right
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Writer Agreement
Option Agreement
Life Rights Agreement
Depiction Releases
Underlying Rights Agreement(s)
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
Image: contract by Zachary Bogard from the Noun Project
Build a Business
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Form an Entity
• Holds The Assets
• Insulates Owners and Backers from liability
• Establishes Credibility
• Allows for raising of equity capital
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
Image: City by James Fenton from the Noun Project
Build an Asset
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Secure the Intellectual Property
Register copyrights
Register with WGA
Register Trademarks (if possible)
Register Domain Names
Register Title with MPAA
Images:
copyright by Austin Condiff from the Noun Project
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
Certificate by Christopher Beach from the Noun Project
Build a Team
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Producing Team
• Torchbearer
Producer
• Creative
Producers
• Financing
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Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
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Business Team
• Lawyer
• Accountant
• Financiers
• Sales Agent
• Publicist
Creative Team
• Writers
• Director
• Designers
• Casting Director
Image teamwork by Gerald Wildmoser from the Noun Project
Build a Budget
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Break Down Script
Best-Case
Worst-Case
Break Out Development, Production, Post,
and Distribution... Consider separate budgets
for clarity.
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
Image: By Gregor Črešnar for Noun Project
Build Your Plan
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Financing Plan
• How will you raise the money?
• From what sources?
• Equity
• Debt
• Cash
• Pre-Sales
• Crowdfunding?
• Studio sale or PFD?
• Other?
• When?
• Whom will you interact with in order to do this?
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
strategy by Gregor Črešnar from the Noun Project
Build Your Plan
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Business Plan
• Identifies the People involved with the project
• Identifies the Project
• Story
• Script
• Etc.
• Explains the Market for Films of this type
• Explains the Budget - I.e., how the money will be
spent to make the film
• Explains how the film will be marketed
• Projects Revenues
• (DANGER, Will Robinson)
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
Build Your Plan
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Marketing Plan
How will audiences learn about the film and
be attracted to attend?
• By Media
• By Territory
• By Demographic
• By Time-Frame
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
Planning by Gilbert Bages from the Noun Project
Build a Package
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Attachments!
• Talent
• Writer
• Director
• Producing Team
• Vendors offering discounts, investments, etc.
• Helpful in raising financing, if not with
marketing the film
• Distribution pre-sales?
• Helps with Financing
• Equity Contributors
• Helps bring other financing sources to the table
Images:
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
Actor by Jonathan C. Dietrich from the Noun Project
Gift by Hayley Parke from the Noun Project
Build a Network
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Audience of:
• Fans
• Followers
• Friends (Real Life, Social Media, etc.)
• Fans, friends, etc., of other team
members, cast, crew and financiers
Business contacts
• Financiers
• Bankers
• Agents
• Managers
• Casting directors
• Other producers
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
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Lawyers
Studio executives
Insurance biz execs
Distributors
Advertising agents
Critics
PR and marketing
people
Image: social network by Josh Sorosky from the Noun Project
Build a Proposal
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A film proposal presents your film to investors
as a visual concept and identifies you as the best
person to make this film with a unique approach.
Your proposal is your opportunity to tell funders
and film sponsors what your project is all about
and make them want to finance your film.
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Ultimately, the proposal may also contain the
actual OFFER, which will usually take the form
of a Private Placement Memorandum (PPM),
prepared by your lawyer, to comply with
applicable securities laws and regulations.
Image: business presentation by Gilbert Bages from the Noun Project
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
for more about preparing a proposal, see FilmDaily.tv, and FilmProposals.com
BUILD THE FUNDING
MAKE THE ASK
This is where the rubber meets the road!
It's time to approach investors, present your
proposal, and ask them to invest in the project.
Wondering how? You’re in luck!
Get our exclusive mini-course:
How To Find, Approach, and Close with Investors.
http://filmfinancehowto.com
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
make Amovie
You’ve done it! Congratulations.
You’ve put all the pieces together, assembled the
project, personnel and financing.
It’s time to realize the dream!
See you on the Red Carpet!
Thank you for reading this guide. Here’s to your
success!
Gordon P. Firemark
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark
Image: Video Camera by Charlélie Landes from the Noun Project
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Los Angeles based entertainment attorney,
Gordon Firemark has been helping
independent film, theatre and television
producers develop, finance, produce and
distribute their projects since 1992.
He holds a B.A. in Radio, TV, and Film from
the University of Oregon, and earned his
law degree at Southwestern Law School.
Mr. Firemark teaches Entertainment Law at Columbia College
Hollywood, and Theatre Law at Southwestern University
School of Law.
More about Mr. Firemark at http://firemark.com
Copyright 2016 by Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark