

Summary

An exclusive on-demand class with top film financier Viviana Zarragoitia, VP of Three Point Capital.
Includes 12 exclusive handouts including sample budgets, packages and collection account management statement, sales sheets, sales agent contracts and distribution 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.
One of the biggest challenges you’ll face as a creative is finding financiers and raising funds for your film. You may have a great script, a great cast and crew, but at the end of the day, no money means no project. For many creatives, the world of financing can seem overwhelming and impenetrable.
Knowing how to raise money intelligently for films can be your calling card toward making a life working in independent film. . While everyone says that raising financing is the hardest aspect of filmmaking, it's not impossible, and in fact can be well within your power, especially with the right guidance and education.
Viviana Zarragoitia is the Vice President of Three Point Capital, one of the entertainment industry's top financiers that specializes in senior lending on film and television projects. Through Three Point, Viviana closes the financing on every film that the company is involved in. She has been involved in the financing of over 100 independent films, and worked with such producers 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), among others. Before Three Point Capital, Viviana worked in accounting at Millennium Films and Bold Films, as well as in the finance division of Lionsgate, where she oversaw the preparation of multi-million dollar film and television distribution deals. Viviana has seen it all when it comes to film financing and knows intimately well how films find success at all budget levels.
In this advanced level and intensive 6-session on-demand class, Viviana will comprehensively teach you how you can finance your own independent film, whether it's microbudget ($500,000 or less), more than $10 million, or anything in between. In Session 1 she will provide an overview of the different types of film financing available to you. In Session 2 she will focus on microbudget films specifically and dig in to how films with these budgets can find success. Session 3 will center on using tax credits, soft money, and grants to help fund your project. In session 4, Viviana will bring in a notable film producer she has worked with in the past and discuss with them the principles of finding and approaching financiers and convincing them to contribute to your project. Session 5 will delve into equity, pre-sales, gap, and sales agents. Finally Session 6 will look at waterfalls, recoupment and navigating collection accounts.
Along the way, Viviana will provide exclusive and valuable handouts that you can take with you for your own projects, including:
- Sample Budgets and Packages
- Sales Sheets
- Sales Agent Contracts
- Sample Collection Account Statement
- Example Distribution Agreements
Praise for Viviana's Past Stage 32 Financing Classes:
"Viviana inspired me to learn more about the business side of filmmaking. I had an idea of how to finance a movie, but after our first class, I realized I had a lot to learn. I'm learning more to this day! I highly recommend her class to any film creative with little, to no understanding on how to finance an independent film. What she has to say is priceless!"
-Steven K.
"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.
"Viviana has a tremendous depth and range of knowledge about film financing and she was happy to share everything she knew. Thanks to her loose, attentive style for the class, it ranged far and wide, and she answered a lot of people’s questions whether they were general or specific to their own projects. And I feel like there was value for all of us in even the most project-specific questions."
-Randy V.

What You'll Learn
Session 1 – Overview on Types of Film Financing
- Equity, Gap, Tax Credits, Bridge, Debt, Pre-Sales
- Debt Financing – Bank and Private Lenders
- Working with Banks
- Equity – Private Investors
- Completion Guarantors
- Tax Credits
- Budgets
- Q&A with Viviana
You will have an assignment after this session
Session 2 – Microbudgets
- Review Homework Assignment
- Characteristics of a Microbudget Film
- How to Raise Money for Microbudget Films
- Production of a Microbudget Film
- Festivals & Distribution of a Microbudget Film
- Pitfalls & Tips on Making a Microbudget Film
- Q&A with Viviana
Handouts: Microbudget sample budget
You will have an assignment after this session
Session 3 – Tax Credits, Soft Money & Grants
- Types of Incentives and How to Access Them
- Domestic & International Tax Credits
- How to Monetize Incentives
- Effects of Tax Incentives in the Entertainment Industry and Locally
- How to Decide on a Jurisdiction – Creative and Financial Elements
- Q&A with Viviana
You will have an assignment after this session
Session 4 – Approaching and Forming Relationships with Investors
- Viviana will be accompanied by a notable producer in this session who will discuss strategies to find and approach financiers and investors and bring them on board to your film
You will have an assignment after this session
Session 5 - Equity, Pre-Sales, Gap, Sales Agents
- Pros & Cons of Pre-Sales and how it affects recoupment
- Handout: Sales agent contract – discuss fees and commissions
- Working with Pre-sales when taking a senior loan from a Bank
- Domestic & Foreign distributors – distribution rights
- Film Markets
- Q&A with Viviana
You will have an assignment after this session
Session 6 – Waterfalls, Recoupment, Collection Accounts
- Participants and Participations
- Profit Centers And Distribution Expenses
- Collection Account Management Agreement – Role of CAMAs in Independent Film Industry
- New Media/Streaming/Revenue Effects in Terms of Budget and Film Financing Models. Although this class is On Demand, and therefore assignments won't be turned in, we recommend students complete the assignments outlined in each session to get the most from the information provided.
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.
Who Should Attend
All levels of producers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to grasp an understanding of financing.
All levels of filmmakers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to grasp an understanding of financing.
All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to grasp an understanding of financing.
Actors looking to learn about financing.
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.