As creatives, we tend to focus on the writing, the directing, the creative producing, basically all the creating aspects of a film or television series. But it’s important to understand what happens after a film is released or TV series is aired. All those big box office numbers sound great, but who gets all that money and in what order? Who gets paid and in what order is called the “recoupment schedule” also known as “the waterfall.” It’s important to understand this schedule, so that you know your place in the waterfall.

Some people may find the recoupment schedule confusing, because there are several factors and various agreements that go into determining the order of recoupment. Those includes sales agency agreements, co-production agreements, finance agreements, talent agreements, interparty agreements, security agreements, and collection account management agreements. Plus there’s the consideration of domestic and international revenue, and what gets allocated through the waterfall. But if your head is already spinning, fret not. With the right guidance, all of this will make much more sense and David Zannoni is the best at breaking this down.

David Zannoni is an international business specialist for Fintage House in the US, Europe, Canada and Latin America territories. Fintage House, the world's most respected company for revenue and rights protection for industry professionals and companies. David negotiates agreements for films and television series and is involved in business development and relationship management globally on hundreds of productions. David is continuously present to make deals and speak at international film markets, festivals and conferences, including: the Cannes Film Festival, the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin, the American Film Market (AFM), Ventana Sur, the Bogota Audiovisual Market (BAM), and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and travels regularly to the United States, the Netherlands, Europe, and all over Latin America.

David is going to help you understand the ins and outs of a recoupment schedule and how to make sure you are on top of your finances for your own project. He will first go into what exactly a recoupment schedule looks like and what kind of projects they are normally used for. He will delve into the agreements that recoupment schedule is based on. He will also go into how the payments are executed, how to determine the order of payments, and which funds you should be allocating. You’ll walk away with a solid foundation and understanding of “the waterfall” and where you may fall in the waterfall.

• What is a Recoupment Schedule?
• Who Puts Together the Recoupment Schedule?
• Who Uses a Recoupment Schedule?
• Which Projects have a Recoupment Schedule?
• Agreements on which the Recoupment Schedule is Based
• Sales Agency Agreement
• Co-production Agreement
• Finance Agreements
• Talent Agreements
• Interparty Agreement
• Security Agreement
• Collection Account Management Agreement
• Which Payments are Done from the Recoupment Schedule?
• Off the tops
• Collection Account commission and expenses
• Guild Residual payments
• Sales Agent commission and expenses
• Other costs and expenses
• Financing
• Debt financing
• Production loans
• Private loans
• Senior, mezzanine, and junior debt
• Equity financing
• Private equity
• Equity investors
• Other financial contributions
• Deferments
• Box office bonuses
• Profit participations
• Other entitlements
• How to Determine the Order of Payments from the Recoupment Schedule
• How to Determine the Manner of Payments from the Recoupment Schedule
• Pari passu payments – at the same time
• Pro rata payments – in proportion to financial contribution
• Which Funds are Allocated through the Recoupment Schedule
• Revenues generated from distribution
• Domestic distribution revenues
• International distribution revenues
• Surplus tax credit funds
• Festival receipts
• Merchandise receipts
• Other sources of revenues
• Multiple revenue streams
• Q&A with David

All levels of directors (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to understand the ins and outs of a recoupment schedule and how to make sure you are on top of your finances for your own project.

All levels of writers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to understand the ins and outs of a recoupment schedule and how to make sure you are on top of your finances for your own project.

Producers looking to understand the ins and outs of a recoupment schedule and how to make sure you are on top of your finances for your own project.

Actors looking to understand the ins and outs of a recoupment schedule and how to make sure you are on top of your finances for your own project.