Private, interactive lab with an International Film Financier & Producer

Build a Professional Investor Prospectus for Your $2–$5MM Feature Film!

10 Spots Available

Payment plans available at checkout or email edu@stage32.com for more info!

If you are ready to turn your $2–$5 million feature film idea into reality, this is your moment! You have the vision, the story, and the passion and now it’s time to confidently speak the language investors understand. In today’s film industry, your ability to create an investment-ready business case can make all the difference between your film moving forward or staying on the page. In this exclusive Stage 32 lab, you will learn step by step how to translate your creative vision into a clear, compelling prospectus and walk away with a polished financial plan, a strong pitch, and the confidence to present your film as a compelling investment opportunity!

Financing a film can feel complex, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Many creatives excel at pitching story, tone, and audience appeal but struggle with structuring budgets, defining timelines, explaining potential returns, or identifying viable funding sources. This interactive lab ab removes that uncertainty by guiding you through the process, with weekly lessons applied directly to your own project so you are building real, usable materials along the way.

Your instructor, Emma Louise Smith, brings a rare dual perspective few educators can offer. As a producer, executive producer, and financier, she has advised ultra-high-net-worth individuals on structuring investments across Monaco and Switzerland and is an ACCA-certified accountant trained in international finance and audit legislation. As Head of Finance and advisory board member for the International Emerging Film Talent Association, she mentors producers in global financing and co-production strategy. Having worked on both sides of the investment table, Emma knows exactly what financiers are looking for and how you can deliver it.

Over seven weeks, you will assess your project’s readiness, define realistic budgets and timelines, explore financing structures, identify potential investors, build return models, practice pitching, and develop strategies for connecting with financiers. Through hands-on assignments, group practice, and personalized feedback, you will actively create investor materials, not just learn the concepts. By the end of this lab, you will walk away with a fully polished financial prospectus, a compelling investor pitch, clear return models, and the confidence to present your film as a high-value investment that has a real chance of getting made!

This interactive Stage 32 lab is held on Zoom and goes substantially more in depth than a Stage 32 webinar. Best of all? As soon as you sign up you will be linked on email with your Stage 32 Educator and given a questionnaire to fill out and send back to them. You will have access to your Educator for the duration of your class by email to ask them any questions you have about your craft or career - it’s like having a mentor on demand! And, if you can't make a live session, don't worry! All class recordings will be available 48 hours after each session and you will be able to view them in your Library on your Stage 32 profile. Finally, you can expand your network with like-minded creatives - you'll have a dedicated lounge for interactive support and discussions with your fellow classmates!

 Praise for Emma:

“Emma was very warm, professional. Genuinely wanting to further our projects. She gave us tons of information.” -Betty S

“First, I'd like to say Emma's class was fantastic. She's so generous with information and tailored the subject matter to our individual projects. It felt personal and extremely relevant!  That being said, Emma illustrated them with a lot of clarity.” -Carley B

"Really enjoyed the experience and appreciated the overview the course provided. Having the Zoom sessions was very helpful in being able to go back and watch the recording. It met my expectations and was helpful moving forward to the next step" -Katherine V

"One of the best things about the class was that Emma filled in a large hole in my knowledge of the financing side of the business:  contracts, and presentations with a specific focus on tailoring it to a particular audience." - Peter B

Session #1: Introductions and Project Assessment

Orientation: 

• Meet fellow filmmakers, understand the lab's objectives, and familiarize yourself with the collaborative environment.

Budget and Timeline Definition: 

• Learn how to realistically define a budget and timeline for your project

Packaged Checklist Assessment: 

• Evaluate where your project stands using a comprehensive checklist that will guide your requests from potential investors. 

Homework Assignment: Develop the preliminary project budget and timeline for your film. Assess your project against the provided checklist, identifying areas that require further attention.

Session #2: Crafting Your Financial Roadmap

Elements of a Finance Plan: 

• Understand the core components of a finance plan for your film project.

Funding Sources Exploration: 

• Explore various funding sources available for filmmakers.

Distribution Channels: 

• Delve into the nuances of distribution channels, understanding the literal ‘ins and outs’ you must consider and manage.

Homework Assignment: Refine and expand upon your project's finance plan. Identify at least three potential funding sources specific to your project and research distribution channels relevant to your film's genre and target audience.

Session #3: Investor Return Model

Potential Investor Identification: 

• Identify and categorize potential investor sources for your project.

ROI Package Showcase: 

• Learn the art of showcasing a compelling Return on Investment (ROI) package.

Homework Assignment: Create a draft of your investor return model, showcasing the potential return on investment for different investor sources. Clearly articulate the unique selling points of your project to make it an appealing investment opportunity.

Session #4: One-on-One Sessions (No Online Class)

• Personalized Q&A: 

Address individual questions and challenges in a one-on-one setting with Emma

Homework Assignment: Based on the feedback received during the one-on-one session, revise and improve your investment proposal deck. Address any specific challenges or questions raised and discussed during the individual consultation.

Session #5: The Art of Pitching to Investors

Fundamentals of Pitching for Funding: 

• Master the foundational principles of effectively pitching your financial plan to potential investors.

Homework Assignment: Develop a concise and compelling pitch for your project. Practice delivering it to friends or family to gauge its effectiveness. Identify areas for improvement and refine your pitch accordingly.

Session #6: Group Practice Pitching and Q&A 

Collaborative Pitching Practice: 

• Engage in group practice pitching sessions for hands-on experience and a 360 learning approach through the inclusion of group feedback.

Q&A Session: 

• Resolve any outstanding questions or areas of uncertainty in a supportive group environment.

Homework Assignment: Based on the group practice session and feedback received, further polish your pitch. Prepare to address potential questions and objections from investors by anticipating their concerns. Create a visually engaging presentation to accompany your pitch, using multimedia elements where appropriate.

Session #7: Final Class - Connecting with Investors

Connecting with Potential Investors: 

• Learn strategies for reaching out to and connecting with potential investors.

Securing Meetings: 

• Understand the key steps in securing meetings with potential financiers.

Pitch Material Presentation: 

• Conclude the lab by discussing key take homes from the full lab and how this will translate to an action plan to present your newly crafted materials effectively. 

 Homework Assignment: Develop a strategy for connecting with potential investors. Identify at least five potential investors or production companies that align with your project. Prepare a brief introductory email or package to send to them, showcasing your investment proposal.

What To Expect

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 lab is limited to 10 people and will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis. The opportunity to work this closely and for this long with an executive and an expert in the field is an incredibly unique and valuable opportunity. If you are interested, please book quickly. Once the spots are gone, they’re gone for good.

• This lab is designed for beginner, intermediate, or advanced producers, filmmakers or screenwriters interested in developing a financial investor prospectus
• **Emma will be available on email during the 7 sessions to answer any questions you have about your craft or career.**
• By the end of this 7-week lab, you will have a completed financial investor prospectus that has been vetted by an industry executive.
• This is an in-depth, practical, and detailed lab with one-on-one time with the instructor and significantly more content than a standard 90-minute webinar.
• You will be held accountable to take the lessons from each week and move your work forward.
• Plus, to stay motivated and inspired, you will have access to a private, dedicated Stage 32 Lounge where you can communicate with your fellow classmates throughout the length of the lab.

• Filmmakers developing a feature film with a projected budget between $2MM–$5MM

• Producers who want to confidently approach investors with professional financial materials

• Writer-directors ready to move their project from concept to financing stage

• Creatives who understand story but want stronger skills in film finance and investor communication

• Independent filmmakers seeking clarity on funding sources, ROI models, and financing structures

• Producers preparing to pitch to private investors, funds, or production companies

• Anyone who wants hands-on guidance building a real investor prospectus for their own project

 Praise for Emma:

“Emma was very warm, professional. Genuinely wanting to further our projects. She gave us tons of information.” -Betty S

“First, I'd like to say Emma's class was fantastic. She's so generous with information and tailored the subject matter to our individual projects. It felt personal and extremely relevant!  That being said, Emma illustrated them with a lot of clarity.” -Carley B

"Really enjoyed the experience and appreciated the overview the course provided. Having the Zoom sessions was very helpful in being able to go back and watch the recording. It met my expectations and was helpful moving forward to the next step" -Katherine V

"One of the best things about the class was that Emma filled in a large hole in my knowledge of the financing side of the business:  contracts, and presentations with a specific focus on tailoring it to a particular audience." - Peter B