Financing / Crowdfunding : LIVE: The Stage 32 Film Finance Summit - The State of the Industry by Amanda Toney

Looking forward to this event! ᕕ(⌐■_■)ᕗ ♪♬

Me neither

Here's the Zoom link everyone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85125503315

New York City!

Hello from Manchester, CT!

Hi from Austin, Texas!

Logged in and excited from the San Francisco Bay Area

Hi, from London.

Hey guys, I'm tuning in from Los Angeles. Excited!

Hello from Sacramento!

Dana from Los Angeles CA!

Cheers from Nashville, TN!

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Hello everyone, here from San Antonio, Texas, excited to be here

From Ft lauderdale, look in promo or spam folders for link

Washington, D.C1

hello from McAllen, Texas

Hello from Trinidad and Tobago :)

Hi all, I'm from Scotland originally but based in Annapolis, MD now

Hello from Lake Lure, North Carolina!

Let's go! It's on. Excited for a great learning event!

Hey everyone. I'm moving to LA next week

Hello from Baton Rouge, LA, during the calm before the storm.

Golden sunny LA

Hello from Houston, TX

Hello from Sweet Home Alabama!

New York, NY

Greetings from beautiful Downtown Torrance!

Greetings from Calgary Canada.

In sunny Minneapolis, MN

Tarzana, CA

Yo Yo Yo from Orlando. FL!

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Hey

From Long Island, NY

Greetings from Bollywood, India.

Hello from Chicago!

Hi! Atlanta here.

Hello everyone. This is William Drew Weinbrenner from Orlando, Florida.

Hey Guys, Los Angeles

Greetings All...from The Great Smoky Mountains!

Hello from Tegucigalpa, Honduras...

Hi there - from Atlanta!

Hey from Charlotte, NC

Greetings fron the good state of Virginia

Hello from Atlanta!

Hello from Spokane, WA

Canyon Country, CA.

Hi from Las Cruces NM

Is it a good idea to create/produce "Proof of Concept"

I think your music may be a bit hot

Hello from Vero Beach, Florida.

Oh crap!! I had another window open. UGH!

In Atlantic Canada

I didn't get the zoom link :( . Could somebody share it with me, please???

Hello everyone :) from the warmest place on earth: Durban, South Africa

Hi from NY, NY

Hi everyone from Venice CA!

Mariannjely https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85125503315

Washington state in the room.

If you produce a film with independent financing, how can you subsequently license it to streamer for more than that cost? Do you lose or gain leverage? Seems like they like to lowball to guarantee your investors a worse return (or loss).

Hi everyone from San Jose, CA

Thank you!! @Sandeep Gupta

Hi from New York

Had to dip out, but will stop by later and watch the recording. Ahh! The advantages of Zoom!

Watching this while preparing to evacuate New Orleans... fun times!

Hello! Currently on the east coast but live in LA!

For all the reasons Tatiana talked about, I decided to add DYI and add producer to my writer-director job title. The advantage is that I'm greenlighting myself. The downside is that I've had to invest 100s of hours into learning new skill sets to pull it off effectively.

If you want to check out Chris & Rebecca’s Producers Union, you can check it out on Deadline here - great article from David Robb: https://deadline.com/2021/05/producers-union-launches-seeks-to-collectiv...

what kind of podcasts are these people producing? Like filmmaking podcasts? Murder profiles? ha

This is honestly hard to listen to. They said film making is literal hell, and nobody offers inspiration. I'm appreciative that these guys took the time for this, but it sounds like everyone is struggling and it's hard to hear. I"m going to watch the rest later, but entertainment is valuable. And I hope they talk about what innovative ways (or tried and true methods) we can focus on to make a living in entertainment. I get that it's hard but someone somewhere is making it. How can we? Thanks all!

Film seems to be hitting the same issue publishing hit 10 years ago when Amazon started their self-publishing arm. Everybody could produce something and the big publishers had to pivot. While anyone can still publish, it has come down to being able to market and provide good content.

JJ Duffy, I agree. The landscape is changing like markets always do, and they are lamenting about how it's not like it used to be. The old channels are closing but I'm finding success stories out there based on new models. They're not talking about those.

These panelists are working inside the system. I used to, and I get where they're coming from. But now I work outside the system and this discussion doesn't pertain to that. But if you want to join the system, take notes! This is a super high-end insider discussion.

Good point, Randy.

Is it worth shooting "Proof of Content"

Good question Tom. I just shot a short to hopefully use as proof of concept and would love to know their thoughts on that

That is a good question. I'm being told both "yes" and "no," so I suppose the answer has more to do with the market you're aiming for.

@TomKearney - in my experience, the POC was a money and time waster. I wont' do it twice.

I'd say it depends on how good and how cheap you can make that PoC for. Sometimes a look book is better than a reel.

Randy, I've been told specifically that the POC has turned a "yes" on the script into a "no." Cheap is incredibly dangerous territory for a POC if you're aiming high.

Exactly. Don't do it if you can't do it great.

there you go — three silver linings after the gloom : )

I agree. It has to look good or yes, it could ruin script. The POC I made during Covid - comedy short/Pilot just won "Best Comedy" at Toronto and LA Indies.

Question for Chris Moore. You mentioned there is little back end these days in contracts. Who today is receiving back end?

Martin Jeffers (You) 11:41 AM

Without a complete project how can we get a sales agent involved?

Martin Jeffers (You) 12:03 PM

As a producer what are you currently doing to include people with disabilities in your productions?

Question for Chris, Tatiana and Brian, How does a writer who is not represented find talent to attach to the screenplay, or is this the role of the producer? How does a non-represented writer find a producer?

Summary of first panel ... I mean it most gratefully re the candor and the silver linings : )

Hi from Mexico City!

Much love from the East Bay Area.

Great session today! You're all wonderful Stage32 fam!

I've made 4 short films - ranging 20-30 minutes each - and now I have 2 spec scripts that I'm marketing. I have not-not-REALLY NOT wanted to do another film on my own and have really been hoping to get backing from a studio or network so that I have the budget for quality crew & equipment. But everything seems to be guiding me to just MAKE MY PROJECT. (including all I heard on this webinar) So - my question is: Is it a good plan that I just raise enough money in order to HIRE an experienced Producer who can help me get talent and funds to make my TV pilot?

This was a great webinar!

Hi from Mumbai, India!

Does anyone have a preferred crowdfunding site? IndieGoGo, WeFunder, Kickstarter, Seed & Spark, GoFundMe, etc..

Seed & Spark because their staff is dedicated and they provide the most support and training for filmmakers.

I have heard good things about Seed and Spark but I have not used it myself yet.

Seed & Spark looks like the best bet for all around development, but I am romantic in my view on occasion. It is good to hear others recommend them too!

It's also good to allocate a marketing campaign for the crowdfunding you want to run and therefore promote.

@Melanie… So many people I know have crashed on these rocks. Never shoot your own pilot unless you intend to do a web series. TV development doesn't work on spec. Best path is find an experienced TV producer but no, you can't hire them. They have to love it enough to be the showrunner and bring it to a TV studio. Failing that, the other episodic option is going to the web and building an audience grassroots style over time. Both roads are hard in different ways.

Hello from Menifee, CA

Melanie Star Scot I had a mentor tell me pilots are dead weight right now. A studio wont watch a pilot anymore, but they will watch a vertical slice/ POC short that is less than 10 minutes long. If you can put together a good pitch deck and have a stunning Proof of concept, they are more likely to look at your project than if you have the pilot made. If a studio fronts cash, they will want to put their take on it and call it a studio original. Having a pre made show takes away what you can offer them.

Thats a good point Jonathan. I have created 4 pilots. One got me 3 meeting with Disney and got really close. This last one I made is winning at Festivals. 7 nominations and 2 wins. Risky yes, but they all gave me something to market and brand. At least gave them something to talk about. Is it better then doing nothing? Only if it's not done well.

Hello from Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Thank you @RandyMack

Good things to think on. Thank you @JonathanThompson

Tom Kearney That is awesome Tom, congratulations on the meetings and the awards!

Casey's book resource, the book INVESTING IN MOVIES: https://amzn.to/3jnFKbu

Todd's book resource, the book THE BIZ: https://amzn.to/3sSX1g1

I have two completed screenplays, a synopsis and outline on two other screenplays that are in the works. Love feedback on my loglines. You can find these on my Stage 32 profile at stage32.com/jaheagle. The genres I love to write are romantic dramas and biopics.

Hello from New York

Great panels today! Hi From Los Angeles!

thanks, I am happy to connect with filmmakers in New Mexico and Texas.

Educating One Self - Know Your Feild and Industry!

Great Webinar! Thank You, So Much!!!

Hi Everyone from the SF Bay Area!

Producer from Texas. Hit me up

Hi From West LA. Director/Writer/Actress - in preproduction on an action short and struggling to learn the best method for fundraising, especially because shorts don't typically generated income after they're produced. Looking for alternates to the crowd funding platforms.

Hey all - Producer|Writer|Director here from Washington, DC.

Hi Ron :) Have I been missing your Tuesday events? I haven't seen one in awhile.

Hello, what a great webinar! I am a talent rep (Executive Partner) and producer

Hey Ron

I agree, what an incredible webinar!

That was great. Thank you Stage32!

Golden Nuggets of Film Finance over here....Literally !!!

Hi from Santa Monica! Amazing seminars! I'm looking forward to seeing it again on recording. So much great information!

10x Gold

Thank you !

Missed it today Amanda Toney but will watch once it is archived!

Si there a recording that is available for this?

It was awesome. Seriously. Ya'll are rad. Thanks everyone. It's nice to be in the 'room' with everyone and feel guided and put in the right place.

Curious ~ pre-pandemic, low budget films were regarded as amateur; now they're being encouraged.

Harrison Glaser wow it was so enjoyable to "meet" you by seeing your presence in moderating these outstanding panels, really cool and so fast-paced!

Not that I had any doubts but even exceeded my loftiest expectations on all fronts,

superb insights and twists and turns in the conversation by you and all the other industry professionals on screen,

layers of passion and up-to-the-moment intel, fun and incisive, broadly interesting, motivating and heartfelt; just wonderful what a super day and experience, THANK YOU !!!!

Amanda Toney congratulations and THANKS SO MUCH to the Stage 32 team for two fantastic weekends in a row of galvanizing experiences

that you all provide for the many other artists here on the platform, thanks from my heart for working your magic!

What a generous and expert array of professional mentors,

more than lived up to the advance previews many times over,

what an amazing experience for those of us finding our way into the industry to gain insights on what is happening on these topics up-to-the-minute, so spontaneous and exciting, WOW !!! ᕕ(⌐■_■)ᕗ ♪♬

@EmilyElder "feeling guided" so right ♥♥♥

Amanda Toney Harrison Glaser @kristin, (and @RB) thank you as always, and 10x for working a whole Saturday. I have to say the narrative was like binge watching two too serious '80s Bollywood movies and the compound somehow had the meta structure of a sitcom ... except I wouldn't call the mid segment a muddle. Otherwise it did distinctly have the same emotional throughline though : ) including the fuel for to be continued!

Thank you all for a fantastic trio of panels!!

Thanks for the free webinar! My favorite part was about production/funding post-Covid (extra cost because of Covid, filming in small towns rather than big cities, etc.). This was in the "Financing Film in 2021" panel.

As far as Chris Moore comment about hazing, has anyone in New Mexico experienced hazing and are you willing to share your story? By e-mail , phone or skype/zoom? Thanks

It was amazing!!

I appreciated the comment about the $7mil cap, that definitely kept things in perspective.

Streaming has become the norm so we are counting on film journalists even more nowadays to sort through "the glut" in order to give us the top 10 or so and lead us to the good ones. As for the "missing data" they were talking about, I do hope that there would be more transparency and that everyone always gets their fair share.

We all miss the social experience of cinema so it's great to have cool alternatives like drive-in's or a private / home theater set up (a luxury, but worth spending on for some people).

I really appreciated the knowledgeable speakers and their willingness to deep-dive into their subject matter and share so much detail. I learned tons that I can actually apply to my film financing strategies. Thanks Amanda Toney for being such a wonderful moderator!

Is there a link to this? Was it recorded? Sadly was traveling on production and missed this!