Summary
Hosted by one of the entertainment industry's top financiers that specializes in film and television projects!
Independent films are hotter than ever, and there's no better time to bring your creative vision to life! This exclusive Stage 32 four-part class offers you a unique opportunity to learn from one of the industry's leading financiers specializing in senior lending for film and television projects. With insights into innovative financing strategies, you'll learn how to transform your film concept into a reality!
Financing an independent film is notoriously challenging, and mastering the mix of equity, debt, bridge, and gap financing can be the difference between success and a stalled project. Many filmmakers face pitfalls like misjudging timelines, approaching the wrong financiers, or failing to present a compelling package. This class will equip you with the essential tools and insights to navigate these challenges and bring your vision to life!
Your host, Viviana Zarragoitia, Vice President of Three Point Capital, is one of the industry’s top financiers specializing in senior lending on film and television projects. She has closed financing on over 100 independent films and worked with major producers such as Cassian Elwes (DALLAS BUYERS CLUB), Rob Barnum (MARGIN CALL), Anthony Bregman (ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND), James Schamus (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN), Aaron Gilbert (JOKER), Kimberly Steward (MANCHESTER BY THE SEA), Nicolas Chartier (THE HURT LOCKER), and Kevin Frakes (HEREDITARY). With extensive experience at Millennium Films, Bold Films, and Lionsgate, Viviana brings unparalleled depth of knowledge to help you structure financing for your projects.
This four-part class simplifies independent film financing and equips you with practical tools to secure funding. The first session focuses on private equity, teaching you how to find investors, set pricing, navigate recoupment, and understand IP ownership—with an assignment to develop a film project package. The second session dives into debt financing fundamentals, covering collateral assessment, production loans, and recoupment, accompanied by an assignment to create a mock collateral package. In the third session, you explore bridge and gap financing, learning when to use each, effective recoupment strategies, and potential equity conversion, culminating in a comprehensive finance plan. The final session guides you through attracting distributors, navigating film markets, and structuring recoupment schedules. You will walk away with the tools, strategies, and insider knowledge to successfully raise financing for your next film. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to learn from a top industry expert!
PLUS! You Will Receive the Following Handouts:
- Waterfall Recoupment Schedule
- Finance Plan Template
PRAISE FOR VIVIANA'S PREVIOUS STAGE 32 EDUCATION:
"As an experienced film and television producer and writer, Viviana's class was just the refresher - and inspiration - that I needed! Having been a completion producer for a bond company, I have seen too many producers who were let down in the producing process by so-called-professionals who offered support at the on-set of a production, but then failed to deliver when needed. Viviana and her company Three Point Capital have an excellent reputation, and her counsel provided in the class solidified that. I highly recommend both Viviana and Stage 32 Education!" -- Patricia C.
"Viviana was personable, professional, interesting, interested, and a wealth of knowledge and useful information. I will take every opportunity to learn from her. She was patient and polite with every question and always clear with what she knew, what she thought, what she believed, and what she didn't know. She painted pictures and delivered facts, outlining the paths she has seen successful producers take while still encouraging all to pursue their art with a greater knowledge of the business and understanding of the challenges and potential pitfalls." -- Randy G.
"As someone who was totally new to the world of film financing, trying to learn about the process by myself was intimidating to put it lightly. Viviana clearly explains the film financing process step-by-step and demystifies the complex, bespoke nature of pre-sales, tax credits, sales agents, and so much more. I feel infinitely more confident in my ability to produce a film thanks to this class. I give it the highest possible recommendation for any independent filmmaker looking to finance their film and take their projects to the next level." -- Sean R.
What You'll Learn
Session #1: Private Equity
In this session, we will discuss how to put a creative package together that entices an equity investor, typically the first investor to approach when putting together a film. Topics covered include:
-
Where to find private equity
-
The pricing and recoupment in the waterfall for equity investors
-
Equity investors as owners of the IP (intellectual property)
Assignment: Take a project you have in the pipeline and come up with a package based on the attachments you currently have.
Session #2: Debt Financing
Lenders and other debt financiers rely on collateral (i.e., tax credits and/or distribution agreements) to provide a production loan. Topics covered include:
-
Requirements of a debt financier
-
Tax Credits
-
Pre-Sales
-
The pricing and recoupment in the waterfall of debt financiers
Assignment: Create a mock collateral package based on the creative package from the previous week's assignment.
Session #3: Bridge & Gap Financing
Bridge financing is a temporary loan until other financiers close. Gap financing is against the sales estimates of a project. Topics covered include:
-
Defining bridge and gap financing and when they're utilized
-
The pricing and recoupment in the waterfall for bridge and gap financiers
-
Bridge financiers as potential equity investors
Assignment: Come up with a finance plan based on the various types of financing previously discussed.
Session #4: Distribution Revenues & Recoupment
In the final session, we will discuss film festivals/markets, premiering the film, attracting distributors, and how to navigate distribution revenues in order to recoup all financing parties involved based on the package that was created. This class will expand on some of the following topics:
-
Distribution Expenses
-
Recoupment Schedules
-
Delivery and Timing to Receipt of Funds
-
Payment Schedules from Distributors
Who Should Attend
This class is ideal for independent filmmakers, producers, and creative entrepreneurs eager to secure and structure financing for their projects.
Executive
Viviana Zarragoitia is the Vice President of Three Point Capital. She began her career in the entertainment industry, working in production accounting at Millennium Films and Bold Films.
She then spent 5 years at Lionsgate, where she started working in the accounting department and segued into the finance division, specifically, profit participation. While working in profit participation, she oversaw the preparation of multi-million dollar film and television distribution deals. She was then promoted to the group's audit division, where she managed film and television royalty audits of producers’ profit participation statements.
She joined Three Point Capital, a boutique firm specializing in senior lending on film and television projects. While at Three Point Capital, Viviana has been involved in the financing of over 100 independent films and worked with such producers as Cassian Elwes, Rob Barnum, Anthony Bregman, James Schamus, Aaron Gilbert, Kimberly Steward, Nicolas Chartier, Kevin Frakes, among others.
As Vice President, Viviana closes the financing on every film that the company is involved in, as well as manages the company's operations in its satellite offices (Ohio, Kentucky, and Louisiana). Viviana has received over a dozen Executive Producer credits on titles she has financed.
Testimonials
PRAISE FOR VIVIANA'S PREVIOUS STAGE 32 EDUCATION:
"As an experienced film and television producer and writer, Viviana's class was just the refresher - and inspiration - that I needed! Having been a completion producer for a bond company, I have seen too many producers who were let down in the producing process by so-called-professionals who offered support at the on-set of a production, but then failed to deliver when needed. Viviana and her company Three Point Capital have an excellent reputation, and her counsel provided in the class solidified that. I highly recommend both Viviana and Stage 32 Education!" -- Patricia C.
"Viviana was personable, professional, interesting, interested, and a wealth of knowledge and useful information. I will take every opportunity to learn from her. She was patient and polite with every question and always clear with what she knew, what she thought, what she believed, and what she didn't know. She painted pictures and delivered facts, outlining the paths she has seen successful producers take while still encouraging all to pursue their art with a greater knowledge of the business and understanding of the challenges and potential pitfalls." -- Randy G.
"As someone who was totally new to the world of film financing, trying to learn about the process by myself was intimidating to put it lightly. Viviana clearly explains the film financing process step-by-step and demystifies the complex, bespoke nature of pre-sales, tax credits, sales agents, and so much more. I feel infinitely more confident in my ability to produce a film thanks to this class. I give it the highest possible recommendation for any independent filmmaker looking to finance their film and take their projects to the next level." -- Sean R.