Your Definitive Legal Guide to Distribution Deals: 2-Part Intensive Class
Other education that may be of interest to you:
Step by Step Guide: How You Can Protect Yourself Legally on Film & TV Projects
Learn from an attorney at one of the most respected Hollywood law firms how you can protect yourself on all your film and television projects! Embarking on creating a film or television project is an enormous undertaking from a business perspective. There are many moving parts to consider - from creative rights to copyright, entity structure, chain of title, compensation, financing, publicity - and that's just scratching the surface. Any missteps during the process could expose you and the production to legal risk, which you always want to avoid. If only there were a blueprint that can help you think through every step of the process from development all the way through post production...Now there is! Stage 32 Educator Sean Pope is a Senior Associate at Ramo Law PC, one of the largest and most respected entertainment law firms in Hollywood, where he works with producers and production companies focusing on all aspects of production legal services from development to distribution. Some of his most recent projects that he's worked on include the Liam Neeson thriller HONEST THIEF, Netflix documentary THE BLACK GODFATHER, and Emmy-winning Netflix docu-series CHEER. Sean has put together a thorough and exclusive 2-part class for the Stage 32 community to help walk you through everything you need to consider legally for your project. You'll learn everything you need to know in the development stage all the way through pre-production and production. Sean will help you navigate the legal side of film and TV projects ensuring you feel confident going into your next project prepared. Praise for Sean's Stage 32 Teaching: "Sean is a master! Everyone in film and television should take this course to learn how to cover themselves legally on all productions." -- Chase B. "This is such a rare opportunity to learn from an actual entertainment lawyer. Usually, information like this would cost thousands of dollars. Thank you, Stage 32, for making this information accessible." -- Shane M. "Whatever you do, take this webinar! For that matter, take any course Sean teaches. He's a pro and a great teacher." -- Will H.
Your Step By Step Guide to Producing Your Ultra Low Budget Film
You have a great feature film idea and story to tell but you don't think you have the money to produce your movie. However, that really shouldn't stop you from making your film. The industry is filled with filmmakers who broke in with movies made on a shoe strong budget that resonated with decision makers, reps and audiences alike. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you’ll learn how you can produce a high-quality film on an ultra-low budget, and the tools you need to make it happen. You’ll find out how to pick the perfect project and identify what you need to successfully produce it, all on a micro-budget. You’ll also find out what to do once you finish making your film, with tools to find distribution so that audiences can see your movie. Showing you how it’s all done is producer and unit production manager Aymie Majerski, the founder and CEO of LotusShark. She’s produced low-budget indies such as SANTA’S PROMISE, HEALING RIVER, NOTZILLA, 4192: THE CROWNING OF THE HIT KING, and 7 BELOW. In addition to film projects, Aymie and her team at LotusShark produce digital content for Showtime, Spotify, HBO, YouTube Originals, the OTR International Film Festival, and more. Aymie will provide you with essential information she’s learned over her many years of experience producing low-budget features, including: Choosing the right story Perfecting your script for a low-budget shoot Building your budget from pre-production through post Sourcing your funding Managing your team Locking locations Casting your film Production insurance needs How to shoot fast and safely Finding distribution And examples of pre-production checklists You can't let fear, budget or industry access hold you back from making the film that can change the trajectory of your career. But with this fantastic Stage 32 webinar, you can gain the tools that you need to make your idea into a finished film without a lot of money at your disposal. It's all about being creative! PRAISE FOR AYMIE'S TEACHINGS: “Aymie not only knows her stuff because she has been in the trenches and uses real world examples but she does so in a fun and approachable way and truly cares and wants to help other filmmakers” Sara T.
Music Clearances 101: How to Secure Amazing Music for Your Film, TV or Digital Project
If you're a filmmaker, producer or any creative/professional looking to incorporate music into your film & television, advertising or digital project, you'll need to understand the basics steps of how to secure the rights for the music you desire to use. From well known hit songs from major recording artists, to indie bands, to public domain, to original compositions and cover songs of historical and iconic music hits, you need to be armed with all the knowledge of clearing the rights to that music for your project to protect yourself legally and in order for it to play at festivals, screen theatrically, stream on the internet or be released on DVD/VOD. The memorable song you heard on the internet. You can't get it out of your head. You would so love to use it in your opening credits. Is it available to be used and licensed if you want to screen your film theatrically? What type of rights will you need to obtain if you plan on distributing your project globally? What about that jukebox song your editor temped into the background during one of your bar scenes - is that okay to use? And for how much will the licensing fee be for the rights you need? (You may just be surprised to the upside!) These are just some of the need to know details and nuances you need to know to be sure you can secure the music that can make or break your film, but also protect yourself legally. Anna Grannucci, a Los Angeles-based film producer and Yale School of Drama graduate who has more than a decade of experience working as the Music Supervisor on films such as WHIPLASH (nominated for 5 Academy Awards, winning 3), written and directed by Damian Chazelle, STICKY NOTES starring Ray Liotta, GHOST HOUSE, DIRTY, UZLA, KISS ME and many more. She currently owns song copyrights, and has become a beckoning music publisher which includes controlling the music rights to WHIPLASH. She has also recently collaborated with the Academy Award Winning Italian Maestro Ennio Morricone and his son Andrea Morricone on musical material for film in Rome, Italy. With her vast experience in producing and music, she is the go-to source when it comes to music clearances. Anna will teach you a variety of valuable information starting with the types of other source music available for film, television, advertising, video games and every other digital media source, which also includes public domain music, royalty free, original composition, and score. You will learn how to gauge what songs are licensable or not for use in your film or project. Once you've chosen your music, you will learn music rights, the clearance process, the difference between festival, theatrical, DVD/VOD and advertising clearances and more! You will have a clear understanding of how to obtain and clear music to assure the key moments in your project have the feel and sound you desire and make your film's soundtrack a memorable success! PRAISE FOR ANNA'S TEACHINGS: "Very good breakdown of how to clear music for your film. Thanks for your time and wealth of expertise Anna!" -- Gershom H
Stage 32 4-Part Class: Producing Short Form Content To Elevate Your Career
Work One-on-One In An Interactive Zoom Classroom With A Producer Of Short Form Projects For Hulu's Series Bite Size Halloween And Over 70 Projects For Netflix, Fox Television, Legendary, IFC Films ***Flexible Learning: if you cannot attend any of the sessions live don't worry - you will be sent the links to the recordings of each session within 48 hours of the live session and you will have direct access to Michael on email to ask him any questions so you can keep up at your own pace and schedule.*** Many notable filmmakers and content creators started off making short form content that helped launch their careers. Short form content includes everything from scripted short films to branded content for companies, documentary shorts, commercials, sketch comedy shorts, sizzle reels, and social media videos. Household names like Martin Scorsese, Damien Chazelle, Michael Bay, and Jordan Peele (just to name a few) all started making short form content. It can be a great calling card for up-and-coming creatives, as well as a perfect way to hone your skills behind the camera. Not to mention, short form content can even lead to successful larger productions, as was the case with the short films that we're developed into hit feature films such as SMILE, WHIPLASH, LIGHTS OUT, BOTTLE ROCKET, DISTRICT 9, THE BABADOOK, SAW, and others. In this exclusive Stage 32 4-part class, you will learn how to produce, distribute, and capitalize on your short form projects. Teaching you everything you need to know about short form content is veteran producer Michael Wormser, co-founder and producer at Cinemand Films. Michael has produced over 70 projects in his career and has made features for Legendary, Lakeshore Entertainment, Netflix, and IFC Films, as well as series for Fox Television Studios, Hulu, FreeForm, Netflix, and 20th Century Digital. Michael has also produced short form content for the Hulu series BITE SIZE HALLOWEEN. You will learn how to go about producing high quality short form content, how can you produce your project on a shoestring budget, and what types of stories work best for short form content. You will discuss how and where to distribute short form content and, more importantly, how can you leverage your short form project to further your career. Producing Short Form Content is an exciting venture for top-tier filmmakers, working filmmakers, and up-and-coming filmmakers alike. It’s an opportunity to tell a story at almost any budget level. You will walk away from this class with a keen understanding of how to make high quality short form content to showcase your creativity and further your career! PLUS! You will receive an exclusive handout to help you produce your next short form project. Downloads include: An exclusive Resource Guide with production tips Praise For Michael's Teaching On Stage 32 "I'm so glad I got to work with Michael. I thought I knew everything there was before making my first film but boy was I wrong. He really helped me get my production in shape before we started shooting. Thank you!" -- Caroline R. "Michael's expertise and knowledge really comes out in his class. If only all producers can be as resourceful as him!" -- Mark H.
Make Your Animated Series or Film a Reality by Working With an Overseas Studio
Animation is one of the few types of productions that hasn’t slowed down or halted due to the pandemic. Since it’s possible for the bulk of the work of animated films and television to be completed from home or while socially distanced, animation has been flourishing as more players are turning to this format. With these ongoing changes in animated film and television production and financing, it’s now more important than ever to develop solid relationships to get into animation, and especially with overseas animation studios to successfully produce your own animated project. The truth is you’ll be hard-pressed to find many animated projects that are fully financed and produced in America. In fact, well over half of the work of most animated projects is done overseas, and that number is only rising as the industry continues to change. Working with overseas company is the norm and something that might be necessary if you are working towards producing your own animated project. Yet there’s more to gain in working with companies overseas than simply avoiding being left behind. Working with other countries opens the door for better tax breaks and lower cost and overhead. Going global might be the best step you can take in making your animated project a reality, but it requires a deep understanding of how this pipeline works and how to get your foot in the door. Mike Disa is the director of the hit Netflix series PARADISE PD and has been in the animation industry for over twenty-five years. Mike found success working with studios such as Dreamworks, Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount, and many others. Over a fascinating career, Mike has worked with some of the greatest and most infamous people in Hollywood including Steven Spielberg, Eric Goldberg, Ralph Bakshi, Glenn Close, Steve Oedekerk, David Tennant, Amy Poehler, Adam Sandler, Jeffery Katzenberg and Roy Disney. A favorite and fixture among the Stage 32 community, Mike has directed and produced movies and television with over a dozen overseas partners and wants to tell you how it's done. Mike Disa will walk you through the why and how of producing your animated project with an overseas company to best position it for success. He’ll begin by explaining the three basic models of animation production and how each works within a global pipeline. He’ll then explain why you should work with an overseas animation company and will outline both the benefits and negatives of doing this. He’ll then give you tools in how to best start a relationship with an overseas company and explain the difference between an overseas company, an overseas company with American offices and an American company with overseas offices. Next, Mike will explain how financing works with overseas companies and what these companies are looking for in an American partner. He’ll then delve into how the crash of movie theaters has affected the overseas markets and partnerships. Next he will focus on the impact Netflix animation has had on the industry as a whole and address the question “is everything bad Netflix’s fault?” Mike will teach you about how ownerships and participation work when working with overseas animation companies and will delve into why Chinese and Indian money is different than other money. Finally he will spend time explaining the problems Brexit is causing and how you can navigate these issues. Through covering these topics, Mike will give you a thorough blueprint of how to think and work globally and give your animated project success. Praise for Mike's Stage 32 Webinar: It was really advanced stuff, and great advice. I appreciate that he was willing to stick around as long as he did to answer questions. -Shari E. I loved the wealth of content and Mike's humor. -Prema R. "Amazing" - Nilfredith S. Loved the host and the webinar! Mike’s knowledge is sound and extensive. His vision for what’s happening now and what we are to expect in the future is brilliant. I could listen to him forever. -Jane D.
How to Break Into TV Writing: Get Repped, Get Staffed, Get Sold
Learn From A Top Literary Manager Whose Clients Work With Netflix, FX, CBS, NBC And More And Receive Exclusive Handouts + THE STRANGER THINGS Pitch Deck Are you looking to be staffed on your favorite TV show or sell your original TV project? If so, it's important that you understand the overall TV landscape, how you fit in, and where to begin. With so many fresh shows emerging on television and various streaming platforms, more writers' rooms are looking to staff up and more original ideas are getting bought. The opportunity to start a career in TV writing is more attainable than ever. Literary manager Spencer Robinson can help you get there. Spencer is literary manager at one of the top management companies Art/Work Entertainment who has been selling and staffing his clients on the industry's leading series for years, including shows on Amazon, HBO Max and with Jason Bateman's production company Aggregate. He's also had clients work for Netflix, The CW, Cinemax, CBS, NBC, FX, Starz, Nickelodeon, EPIX, and TBS, to name a few. Spencer is one of the most sought-after literary managers in the business for nearly two decades and is one of Stage 32's most popular and in-demand educators. In this 3-session on-demand class, Spencer will go in-depth on the steps you should be taking to find work as a writer in TV. Whether you're interested in selling your own TV show or film, or if you want to join a writers' room, there are specific steps you need to be taking aside from simply writing well, and Spencer will break it all down for you. Spencer will provide you with the proper approach when it comes to talking with reps, managers, agents, attorneys, showrunners and execs. What’s more, he’ll share his powerful pitching knowledge for writers looking to sell their show idea or screenplay. You’ll leave this four week class understanding what it takes to write on assignment, what kinds of written tools you should have prepared prior to meetings, and the general etiquette you should come to the table with so you can land a job as a writer in the industry. Plus! Spencer will provide exclusive and helpful downloads and resources you can use when working on your own projects including: The real STRANGER THINGS pitch deck The real ADVENTURE TIME pitch deck PRAISE FOR SPENCER'S TEACHNINGS: "I had a great time learning and progressing my knowledge of the craft of writing and working directly with a mentor who is a professional in the industry. Spencer was fantastic to be taught by! Thank you!" - Natalie A. "Spencer tells it like it is - he doesn't beat around the bush. He gave me practical, solid, actionable advice. It opened my eyes and I can see how it can help me shorten my path to break in." - Wally M. "Spencer was amazing!" - Summer K. "Spencer's teaching style is the best! His patience and easygoing approach is ideal and unique to him. Kudos to Stage 32 and to Spencer!" - Armando O.
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