Summary
Learn the tools to finance your $1MM-$3MM film with one of the entertainment industry's top film financiers
Get access to exclusive handouts including sample budgets, packages and collection account management statements, 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.
In recent years, the independent producing model has shown that films budgeted between $1-$3 Million have become a "sweet spot" for investors. But first, you must understand the ins and outs of what goes into financing a film with this budget level so you can ultimately find success.
Knowing how to raise money intelligently for films and projects with budgets between $1MM-$3MM can be your calling card toward making a life working in independent film. Simply put, if you understand the strategies and methods to help your investors see a return, you get to keep those investors time and time again. And those investors can, and usually do, bring more investors with them if they're happy. While everyone says that raising financing is the hardest aspect of filmmaking, it's not impossible, and in fact can be well within your grasp, especially with the right guidance and education.
Viviana Zarragoitia is the Senior 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 in the $1-3MM range can find success.
In this advanced level and intensive 4-session on-demand class, Viviana will comprehensively teach you how you can finance your own film in the $1-3 million budget range. 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 using tax credits, soft money, and grants to help fund your project. Session 3 will delve into equity, pre-sales, gap, and sales agents. Finally Session 4 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:
"I didn't realize how much I didn't know until I took this course. Viviana is amazing!" - Sarah L.
"This class is perfect for everyone in the film industry, no matter if yo
u're a producer, actor, or crew member. We should all know how films come together to be able to do our best work. Definitely recommend." - Michael G.
"Run don't walk to this class!" - Samantha 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
• Equity – Private Investors
• Sales Agents – Gap and Pre-sales
• Tax Credits
• Budgets
• Q&A with Viviana
Handouts: Sample Budget and Package
Session 2 – 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
Session 3 - Equity, Pre-Sales, Gap, Sales Agents
- Handout: Sales Sheet - Discuss in Detail
- Pros & Cons of Pre-Sales and How It Affects Equity
- Handout: Sales Agent Contract – Discuss Fees and Commissions
- Domestic & Foreign Distributors – Distribution Rights
- Film Markets
- Q&A with Viviana
Handouts: Sales Sheet, Sales Agent Contract, Sample Collection Account Statement
Session 4 – Waterfalls, Recoupment, Collection Accounts
- Participants and Participations
- Handout: Distribution Agreement – Discuss Profit Centers and Distribution Expenses
- Collection Account Management Agreement – Role of CAMAs in the Independent Film Industry
- New Media/Streaming/Revenue Effects in Terms of Budget and Film Financing Models
- Q&A with Viviana
Handouts: Distribution Agreement
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 learn the fundamentals of film financing at the $1-3MM level
All levels of filmmakers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the fundamentals of film financing at the $1-3MM level
All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the fundamentals of film financing at the $1-3MM level
Investors looking to learn the fundamentals of film financing at the $1-3MM level
Actors looking to improve their career by making a $1-3MM feature film
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:
"I didn't realize how much I didn't know until I took this course. Viviana is amazing!" - Sarah L.
"This class is perfect for everyone in the film industry, no matter if yo
u're a producer, actor, or crew member. We should all know how films come together to be able to do our best work. Definitely recommend." - Michael G.
"Run don't walk to this class!" - Samantha V.
Credits
