Navigating a Film's Financials: Budget, Cash Flows & Cost Reports
Other education that may be of interest to you:
A Line Producer's Guide to Making a Movie in 10 Steps
Most people don’t know the scope of what a Line Producer actually does. How does one make a budget? What goes into it? How do you devise a realistic plan to shoot a movie and how do you seamlessly make it happen? Maybe you’ve managed to finish one movie, but how do you repeat that over and over? Do I really need a budget for my $100k film? (Hint: the answer is Yes!) Every project, whether it's a movie, a TV show or web series, or even reality TV works off the same basic blueprint. You need a script, a schedule, a budget, and lastly someone with a plan to manage all the elements you need to shoot, from cast and crew to locations and equipment. This person is the Line Producer. Maura Anderson is an award winning Line Producer who has worked on films and TV series such as Academy Award nominated Winter’s Bone, Would You Rather, and Suit Up. She's the former EVP of Production for Indigenous Media, a next generation digital studio focused on producing original content for digital and emerging platforms worldwide. Having filmed in many places and situations, from the Ozark Mountains to the Alaskan Tundra, and with budgets ranging from $30k to $10M, Maura discusses everything from the minuscule details to the broader strokes of making a film. In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, Maura will take an in depth look at all the steps a line producer takes from script stage to years after the film is made. Using materials from actual films, she’ll discuss how a script is turned into a schedule and a budget. You’ll learn how to build out your team and how you can create long lasting relationships. You’ll also learn the basics of setting up a film’s infrastructure. Lastly she’ll look at enacting the brilliant plan that you came up with and what that looks like in terms of prep, shooting and wrap. This webinar includes live examples of schedules, budgets, wrap binders, etc. from films she's worked on! PRAISE FOR MAURA'S TEACHINGS: "Seriously one of the best webinars on the whole site. Absolutely fantastic, informative, and easy to follow. Maura gets 5, no 20 stars from me!" -Steph G.
How to Produce & Shoot a Successful Low Budget Horror Film
Low budget horror films have never been hotter or more in demand. More and more companies are looking to follow the Blumhouse model of making horror films on the cheap and then raking it in at the box office and VOD. Even the streaming platforms have jumped in with both feet. But make no mistake, just because many of these production companies and filmmakers are keeping their costs down, they are not skimping on quality. Quite the opposite in fact. Horror film aficionados demand great stories, memorable characters and scares that are earned. They want fresh ideas, a unique vision, and an experience they can return to again and again. To stand out from the crowd, you need to be prepared not only to find or produce great material, but to understand how to navigate the landscape. More people produce and shoot horror than just about any other genre. And in such a crowded field, it can be hard to stand out. Go to any film market or horror trade show and you are instantly inundated with posters for dozens if not hundreds of horror features, short films, television shows and digital content looking for a home. After a while, everything seems to look the same. But there is a way to break out of that crowded field and assure that your work gets seen, bought, distributed and/or screened. And we have just the guy to show you how to get it done. Nick Phillips knows horror. In his 20 years in the business, Nick has worked, developed and produced films for Miramax and Sony Screen Gems. In 2012, Nick co-founded his own production company specializing in genre films, the Revolver Picture Company. Just some of the films Nick has worked on include Scream, Halloween, Hellraiser, the Crow, Vacancy, Feast and The Roommate. Now, exclusively for Stage 32, Nick will share his knowledge on how to create terrifying films at not-so-terrifying costs. Films the industry wants to have a piece of and horror fans won't be able to get enough of. Nick will start by teaching you one of the most common failings of producers and filmmakers within the horror space, namely what you should look for in a horror script. From there, he will talk development and the production process during this all important period of the project's evolution. Nick will show you how to stretch your budget dollar, by minimizing locations (but maximizing how you use them), making the right hires, keeping the shoot moving and staying on schedule. He will teach you his tricks on working with actors during the most intense scenes and keeping them motivated. Speaking of actors, he will discuss whether name talent matters or whether choosing the best actor for the part is a better approach. He will show you how to get the best production value throughout the film. And everyone knows, a great horror movie demands a sequel! Nick will show you how to set yourself up so that your project is franchise ready. This is a fully comprehensive overview of how to immerse yourself in the horror genre as a producer and/or filmmaker. PRAISE FOR NICK'S TEACHINGS: "I have no desire to work in any other genre outside of horror. I've been frustrated that my vision always seems to be too expensive for the money I have available. Thank you, Nick, for showing me the path to seeing my vision through while keeping my costs down. I'm inspired again!" - Matt H. "There is nothing scary about this webinar. It's fantastic." - Devon M. "Man, was this eye opening. I have seen the light and now know how to keep my costs in check. Let the blood flow!" - Francisco D. "My all female slasher grindhouse project is back on my production slate thanks to you, Nick. I don't know how that makes you feel, but I feel fantastic!" - Marissa G.
10 Business Steps To Get Your Film Financed & In Production
In this Stage 32 Next Level webinar, Simon Graham-Clare will discuss 10 business steps for giving your project momentum and creating a viable package that feels right to investors. Having been involved in the production and/or financing of over 200 projects, Simon will discuss how a filmmaker can benefit by teaming up with a producer who understands this world, and he looks at all projects from an international point of view to give you a full spectrum idea of film financing. The last two films The Future Film Group produced were both first time directors, so Simon knows exactly what it takes to get your project in production, no matter if it is your first film or one of many. Simon Graham-Clare is a Producer at The Future Film Group, established in London in 2000 as a film financier, utilizing the expertise of its principles in both the entertainment and business worlds. It quickly established itself on the UK scene through its involvement in films such as Bend It Like Beckham (starring Keira Knightley), The Queen (starring Dame Helen Mirren) and Mrs. Henderson Presents (starring Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins). The company quickly formed a production division to work alongside its financing arm and, through an ever-expanding structure, has since been involved in the production and/or financing of nearly 200 films and television shows. Some of The Future Film Group’s notable productions include Transsiberian (starring Woody Harrelson and Sir Ben Kingsley), 50 Dead Men Walking (starring Jim Sturgess and Sir Ben Kingsley) and Flawless (starring Sir Michael Caine and Demi Moore).
How to Break into Film and TV as an Artist or Animator- With a Portfolio Case Study
Skydance Animation Director of Talent Acquisition Shares the Secrets of How Artists and Animators Get Hired Comes with a Case Study of a REAL Artist Portfolio that Got the Artist Hired! A lot of students and artists who complete prestigious academic programs with degrees in Film, Animation, Digital Media, and similar fields, emerge from their institutions with incredible craftsmanship and no clue what to do next in terms of seeking work. That’s okay! You weren’t out sick the day they taught it; they didn’t teach it at all. The one step in career development that most academic institutions fail to address is the methodology of how to seek work and attain it. But there IS a methodology, and if you’re interested in applying your art and animation skills to film and television, understanding this methodology is critical to get your foot in the door. Submitting your application to an online job posting feels like you’re tossing your resume and portfolio link into a black hole. You know the competition is steep and the number of applicants is daunting. Standing out, getting your submission seen amidst the fray, and landing an interview – let alone getting hired! – feels like a luck of the draw. But it doesn’t have to be like that. There are sequential steps you can be taking to improve your chances of getting noticed, getting interviewed, and getting hired. How exactly can you stand out amongst the crowd? What art should you be including in your portfolio? And what are the biggest mistakes applicants make that you can avoid from the get go? Ariel Goldberg is an artist and animator who now serves as Director of Talent Acquisition for Skydance Animation, working to grow the new high-profile studio into a major player in both feature and episodic animation. Earlier in his career, Ariel worked as a Senior Concept Artist at Zynga, designing costumes and characters for social games FarmVille and CastleVille. He later joined the recruitment team at Disney Interactive and was then asked by Nickelodeon to oversee Talent Acquisition for its animated productions. At Nickelodeon, Ariel developed a staffing pipeline for the hiring of designers, storyboard artists, directors, production assistants, and script coordinators, among other positions. With his background, Ariel has seen it from both sides – as the artist trying to break in AND as the recruiter determining who makes the cut and has a deep understanding of how artists can break through and find success. Ariel will use his recruiting expertise to lay out how you can find art and animation opportunities in film and television and improve your chances of getting noticed, getting interviewed, and getting hired. He’ll break down what the animation pipeline in film and TV looks like, outlining the different steps and how it differs between TV and features. He’ll also talk about the main artist roles throughout the process and what the career trajectories look like. Ariel will give you tips on networking and finding your in as well as looking for opportunities and listings and how best to reach out to companies and recruiters that are hiring. Next Ariel will dive deep into putting together an effective portfolio and what it should look like. He will also teach you what an effective artist’s resume should contain and how to nail the job interview. He’ll finally explain the most common mistakes and misconceptions he has seen when trying to break in. Ariel will even show a REAL artist’s portfolio that helped get the candidate hired and explain why the portfolio earned him the job. Finding opportunities as an artist is hard work, but Ariel will show you how to pursue your career the right way and achieve your creative and professional goals.
Actors: Stand out to Decision Makers - What You Need to Prepare to Book More Work
You’ve taken the classes, you’ve studied your craft, and even nailed your audition…or so you thought. Ever wonder why you might not be getting certain acting jobs, even though there may be nothing wrong with your acting? The truth is, the jobs don’t always go to the best actors. There are numerous factors that go into casting, the decision ultimately lies with decision makers. So how do you make decision makers choose you? The challenge for many actors is not what they’re doing right, but what they’re doing wrong. You’ve thought about the role, the character’s backstory, even what accent you might put on, but have you thought about who you’re really auditioning for? There’s more to auditioning than just your acting skills. Everything from your tone upon entry, to knowing who you’ll be in the room with when auditioning (i.e., the director, producer, casting director), and even your social media. There’s a lot more to think about than just your acting chops, but fret not, with the right guidance you’ll be able to fully prepare yourself for your auditions. Multi Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and author Shane Stanley has worked in almost every capacity on and off the set with hit shows like ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT and SEINFELD and producing films like Sony Pictures’ GRIDIRON GANG a #1 box office hit starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. For three years, Shane was Vice President of Sheen/Michaels Entertainment where he produced several motion pictures starring Marlon Brando, Mira Sorvino, Thomas Hayden Church, Donald Sutherland, Marisa Tomei, Sean Penn, John Travolta, and Charlie and Martin Sheen. Shane continues to produce and direct independent films of all levels, and just wrapped production on his latest action thriller BREAK EVEN. Having spent over 30 years auditioning actors, Shane knows better than anyone what it really takes to land acting jobs. In this webinar you’ll learn which actors usually end up booking roles and why. You’ll also take a look at your own acting career, what roles you should actually be submitting to and why you may not be reading casting breakdowns properly, discuss cold emailing producers, filmmakers, and casting directors, your acting reel, navigating the audition room, and how social media can be your best friend or your worst enemy. By the end of this webinar, you’ll walk away with more confidence to nail your next audition. Testimonials for Shane's Previous Webinars: "Shane was thorough and encouraging. Easy to listen to and follow. I'll be signing up for other classes he teaches in the future." -Karena K. "Just straight-forward, real, the kind of producer most of us would kill to work alongside." -Clark R. "Shane was relevant, knew what was happening, and could walk the walk." -Chuck R.
How to Develop, Pitch and Sell Your Sitcom to a Network or Streamer
DOWNLOADABLE STUDIO & PRODUCER PITCH TEMPLATES INCLUDED! Do you want to know how you can sell your sitcom or sitcom concept to a streamer like Netflix, a premium channel like Starz, or to a network like NBC? We have the answers and the templates to get you there. But here's a hint for you, it all begins with the development and the pitch.There is a literal template for comedy pitches. One that is helpful to you AND the executive you're pitching. This structure will help you focus your idea and underscore what the buyers need to hear in the room. As great as your script or your concept may be, you have to remember the competition is fierce. Your pitch needs to be on point. To teach you all about this is multi Emmy Award winning comedy writer and producer, Mike Gibbons (GREAT INDOORS (CBS), HOOPS (NETFLIX), TOSH.0 (Comedy Central). Mike has sold many shows to the streamers, premium cable, and networks and he will show you how to do the same!The great news is that all fantastic pitches share similar structure and in this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, we'll not only teach you how to develop and pitch, but how to handle your meetings, what to do in the aftermath, and even teach you what to do if your pitch sells.
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