With numerous financing options available and platforms for distribution, there's never been a better time for $3 million and under films from great new talent. With guidance from a producer and financier on over 45 films and television projects, you won't have to wait for a studio green light to bring your low-budget film to reality.

Is your desire for your script to be a commercial film holding you back from producing it yourself?

Are you overwhelmed by the thought of coming up with those big numbers and convinced only a big studio could bring your project to life?

Whether you're making an intimate character study or a high-concept comedy, there's no need to wait to produce your film.

Investors and producers avoid films in the $1 to $3 million range as these lower budgets are riskier, but the returns have the greatest rewards if you produce them correctly. In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, you'll learn the optimal way to finance your $1 to $3 million film and make a profit by choosing the best project for the market, attaching great talent to build a package, and assembling a great business plan that attracts investors. You'll understand the financing, production, and distribution options available to low-budget films, how to secure and structure the various finance sources, and how to optimize distribution agreements.

Showing you the ropes is acclaimed producer Jeanette Milio, who has worked on over 45 film and television projects with major studios and producers, such as Netflix, Disney, Sony, Paramount, HBO, Showtime, and many more. Her films have starred major stars, including Academy Award-winning performers Halle Berry, Adrien Brody, Forest Whitaker, and Mickey Rourke. As a member of the Producer's Guild of America, Women in Film, and the Cannes Film Festival Producer's Network, Jeanette has deep industry knowledge for domestic and international markets at every budget level.

Jeannette brings extraordinary knowledge for your benefit and will be available for questions so that you can ask for information specific to your project. You'll also have access to the recording to revisit the lessons and be provided with exclusive handouts from Jeanette, including:

• Financial Planning Tools
• Sample CAMA (revenue/profit) agreement
• Sample story rights agreement (option)
• Sample talent offers for director and cast (pay-or-play)

Praise for Jeanette's Previous Stage 32 Teaching:

"Jeanette has invaluable knowledge and made me feel like seeing my movie on the big screen was possible." -- Phillip F.

"This webinar is truly amazing and informative. Jeanette is such an expert!" -- Margaret M.

"She was very knowledgable, thorough and wise. The content was well organized and she explained things well. I learned a lot." --Heidi H.

"I finally learned the language of the banks. I had operated in lower budget arenas where 100% equity was the name of the game. As I move up in budget range, having a working knowledge of where the money comes from , when it comes, and what it is called (as well as what it costs) made this worthwhile. What I didn't learn (because time ran out) was the HOW." -- JK

"I've been trying to figure out how to make a low budget film and didn't realize how much I DIDN'T know until I took this course from Jeanette. Thank you for your wisdom and guidance." -- Zachary M. 

Step 1: The Project – Understand the importance of choosing the right project

• Choose the right kind of film for your budget range
• Understand what genres works best in today’s marketplace
• Mainstream films vs. Arthouse films – Understand your options and obstacles
• Choose the right project: The story that sells today and why
• Understand the distribution options for low budget films
• Protect your project
• Understanding the pitfalls of securing your rights
• Establish a clean title (= Chain of Title)
• Create value
• The importance of packaging the right director
• How to attach a meaningful lead actor
• Elevate the value through “packaging”

Step 2: The Finance Sources & Partners

• Choose the right finance partners for your low budget film
• Understand what financiers are looking for
• Establish a financial plan that generates profits
• Understand what project details are important in a business plan to secure financiers
• Finance Sources
• Understand the various finance sources that are available to your today
• Debt financing
• Senior lending
  • Junior lending
  • Bridge lending
• Distribution financing
• Presales and minimum guarantee license agreements
• Co-production agreements
• Banked commissions
• P&A financing
• Non-recoupable finance sources = “Free Money”
• Production incentives U.S. production incentives
• International incentives
• Brand integration
• Understand what brands need to provide sponsorships
• Music investment
• Understand what music investments require
• In-kind services
• Understand how to secure in-kind deals
• Deferments
• VFX deferments
• Post-production deferments
• Fee deferments
• Equity investments
• Understand equity investment options and related terms
• Establish risk mitigation for your investor

Step 3: Distribution

• Understand distribution options, terms, and conditions
• Project valuation and market verification
  • The importance of estimates & presales
• Distributors and Sales Agents
• The importance of understanding the difference between both
• Distribution deals
• Theatrical distribution options today
• Deals with studios, networks, and streamers
• Pitfalls of Distribution
  • Understand “the devil in the detail”

Step 4: Revenue Protection

• The optimal balance for finance sources to generate profits
• Design a solid finance plan
• Design a solid recoupment plan
• Include Collection Agents – “Profit Police”
• Protect your budget: Completion Bond insurance

Step 5: Execution

• Establish a business plan for your project
• Important elements to include in a business plan
• Key points that attract investors
• Term sheets for investors
• Do’s and Don’ts when presenting your business plan pitch to investors and buyers

Q&A with Jeanette

Take Away Documents

• Financial Planning Tools
• Sample CAMA (revenue/profit) agreement
• Sample story rights agreement (option)
• Sample talent offers for director and cast (pay-or-play)

All levels of directors (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the optimal way to finance your $1 to $3 million film.

All levels of writers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the optimal way to finance your $1 to $3 million film.

Producers looking to learn the optimal way to finance your $1 to $3 million film.

Actors looking to learn the optimal way to finance your $1 to $3 million film.

"Jeanette has invaluable knowledge and made me feel like seeing my movie on the big screen was possible."

- Phillip F.

"Jeannette is very experienced and knowledgeable. her enthusiasm is contagious. It was one of the best, if not the best stage32 webinar I attended.What was particularly excellent is that she used examples with number, it felt really real and concrete. Especially for new filmmakers, it seems that distributions and sales are a big secret, very difficult to find any info on the internet."

-Vanessa S.

"Jeanette is out of this world. Amazing."

-Javier B.

"Jeanette's conference was astounding, definitely she is a real professional, thank you very much for putting this together."

-Rene L.

"She was very knowledgable, thorough and wise. The content was well organized and she explained things well. I learned a lot."

-Heidi H.

"I finally learned the language of the banks. I had operated in lower budget arenas where 100% equity was the name of the game. As I move up in budget range, having a working knowledge of where the money comes from , when it comes, and what it is called (as well as what it costs) made this worthwhile. What I didn't learn (because time ran out) was the HOW."

- JK

"Jeanette is has a wealth of information and she showed up and showed out. I can't wait to listen to the playback, Awesome! "

-Delsi C.