Learn from a top indie producer who's worked with Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Paul Rudd, Olivia Wilde & more!

Get downloadable actor and director offer letters plus actor and director agreements!

PLEASE NOTE: Although this exclusive Stage 32 class is no longer live and the teacher is not available on email, we highly encourage you to do any assignments to get the most out of the educational experience.

In the world of feature filmmaking, getting the right actors and directors on board can make or break your project. Right now top talent actors and directors are getting offers from streamers, networks and independent productions all over the world so it's important that your approach - and your offer! - stands out from the rest. This is a tricky process and it's important that you understand how to navigate it. 

When it comes to making offers often times a "no" comes because of poor timing, lack of preparation, or misunderstanding what makes talent say "yes." These missteps can lead to missed opportunities and, ultimately, jeopardize your entire film. We're here to help you avoid those pitfalls and make sure your talent offers hit the mark.

To guide you on this process is a prolific award-winning indie producer, Jim Young. With almost two dozen films to his name, Jim has worked with top stars like Bradley Cooper, Paul Rudd, Olivia Wilde, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Dev Patel. His projects have premiered at major festivals like Sundance and Tribeca, and his films have been released through places like Showtime and Paramount Pictures. Jim's extensive experience makes him the perfect guide for you.

Over four sessions, you'll get all the tools you need to succeed in making talent offers. In Session 1, we'll talk about what to consider during the development phase to attract talent. Session 2 covers how to lock in that talent, including tips on creating a cast list and working with casting directors. Session 3 is all about making your offer to actors, from writing the perfect letter to involving actors as producers. Finally, in Session 4, you'll learn how to make offers to directors, with a focus on the critical elements of agreements and offer letters. Each session includes practical assignments and Q&A time with Jim. You will walk away ready to make offers that will take your film to the next level.

PLUS! You will receive the following downloads:

• Actor offer letter
• Director offer letter
• Actor agreement
• Director agreement

Praise for Jim:

"Jim opened up new avenues that I didn't realize existed. He was a great presenter and shared his own experience with relevant info. It was really motivating."

-Ricki L.

"Tons of new information. Thanks!"

-Jacqueline L.

SESSION 1: Things to Consider in Development Phase in Advance of Talent and Director Outreach

• Things to keep in mind for talent at the script stage

• Keeping potential cast in mind while developing characters in the writing phase

• Thinking about location in terms of attracting talent and financial viability of the film

• Considerations for Directors in the development phase

• Scheduling the Film and Talent- A Day Out of Days breakdown

• Q&A with Jim

• Assignment: Breakdown your script for page count for the 4 lead characters.  This will ultimately help determine how many days each of your actors will have to work.  

SESSION 2: Locking in Talent for Your Film

• Chicken and egg dilemma - getting talent without money vs getting money with out talent

• Vetting the “value” of actors

• Putting together a Cast List

• The advantages of a bringing on a Casting Director

• Ways to break through an actor’s “fortress” 

• Assignment: Come up with a list of potential cast for your 4 lead characters.  

SESSION 3: Making Your Offer to Talent

• Writing a letter to an actor and what to cover in it

• Creating and sharing a Look Book

• Attachment vs. Agreement

• Involving an actor as a Producer

• What to Include in an Offer Letter

• Important Elements for the Long Form Agreement

• Q&A with Jim

• Bonus Handouts: Actor Offer Letter/Actor Long Form Agreement

• Assignment: Use the Actor Offer Letter template to make a mock agreement for your project.  

SESSION 4: Making Your Offer to the Director

• Things to consider when deciding on a Director to approach

• Attachment vs. Agreement

• What to Include in an Offer Letter

• Important Elements for the Long Form Agreement

• Q&A with Jim

• Bonus Handouts: Director Offer Letter/Director Long Form Agreement

• Assignment: Use the Director Long Form Agreement template to make a mock agreement for your project.  

PLEASE NOTE: Although this exclusive Stage 32 class is no longer live and the teacher is not available on email, we highly encourage you to do any assignments to get the most out of the educational experience.

Praise for Jim:

"Jim opened up new avenues that I didn't realize existed. He was a great presenter and shared his own experience with relevant info. It was really motivating."

-Ricki L.

"Tons of new information. Thanks!"

-Jacqueline L.