How To Create A Compelling Investment Proposal That Attracts Financing For Your Project

Hosted by Emma Louise Smith

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Emma Louise Smith

Webinar hosted by: Emma Louise Smith

Emma Louise Smith has a superb ability to accurately plan, analyze, budget, manage and deliver for organizations and projects alike. Emma trained with Saffery Champness and qualified as an ACCA in International Audit and Accountancy. She gained experience in overseeing financial management of private assets plus commercial forecasting for individual companies her UNHWI employer was directly invested in. Reporting to the Principal in family office environments and presenting in key Board meetings, she has played a central role in drafting business plans and strategizing; Emma has a strong track record in influencing decision makers. She gained business acumen early on in her career (e.g. lead negotiation for l0M GBP contract one-year post qualifying). She possesses a diligent work ethic and attention to detail - IEFTA's external audits (by the UN) have a 700% success rate during her tenure. Lateral thinking with an ability to spot inefficiencies in workflow and processes; Emma has re-designed and implemented change to systems in every professional role held since becoming an ACCA in 2077. Emma has a natural overview perspective and sees patterns readily, she's an excellent problem solver and instinctively knows how and where to make connections - joining dots and streamlining are two of her strong suits. Her calm and logical demeanor make her an excellent team player. She strives to bring the best out in the individuals she works with and enjoys managing people in an environment that allows her to support and encourage growth. Emma is as creative as she is practical and follows her own interests in writing and design - handily these translate well professionally and allow her to add value in marketing concepts and strategy ideas. Emma is also very capable and comfortable with public speaking and presenting, in 2020 she hosted a series of live webinars interviewing guests from sectors of the film industry, she's moderated panels at large global film festivals on the subject of film finance and developed, wrote and co­ hosted (with BAFTA member Garry Herbert MBE) a film podcast. Full Bio »

Webinar Summary

Learn how to create an investment proposal for your project that appeals to financiers with Emma Louise Smith, a film producer and who has managed portfolios and film investments for ultra high net worth individuals!

PLUS! You'll receive a FILM INVESTMENT PROPOSAL handout that will help guide you when you’re working on the finance pitch deck for your next project!

Whether you’re looking to make a low budget short film or a big budget feature film, it is critical you have a thorough understanding of how to manage other people’s money when undertaking such a creative endeavor. Regardless of whether you’re raising money from family and friends or institutional investors, you need to present a financial plan for how you will allocate the funds and show the investors a path to how they can make their money back. However, properly understanding the financial layout of films is often the downfall of many creatives. You may conceptualize and present the creative elements of your project with ease, but struggle with the financial and business acumen to present an appealing investment proposal. We’re here to help you be great at both.

In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you will learn how to create a professional investment prospectus so that you can confidently pitch to financiers and EP’s to secure funding for your project. Your investment proposal will cover everything from equity investments to gap financing from institutional investors. You will learn how film financing is structured and how you can show evidence of why you’re a trustworthy custodian of someone else’s cash. The key is to understand the ins and outs of the investment opportunity from a financial perspective, not just a creative one.

Teaching you everything you need to know about creating an attractive investment opportunity for your project and putting together your investment proposal is seasoned finance professional Emma Louise Smith. Having managed private equity portfolios for ultra high net worth individuals and producing films herself, Emma has sat on both sides. Emma will show you how you can create a stellar finance deck for your film.

Emma has managed the production fund and budget for the UNHCR funded collaboration with IEFTA since 2018 and she’s credited as Finance Manager on several UNHCR/IEFTA films including BEYOND THE RAGING SEA currently airing on Netflix. Emma’s film work started in 2021 when she was asked to join the feature documentary LATIN FOUR PLUS as Executive Producer and as a Producer on the feature documentary POUR THE WATER. In her consultancy work Emma sources equity or gap financing for films across a budget range of 1M – 20M+ and as a brand strategy director she sources additional revenue or reduces production budgets for studios and broadcasters utilizing branded content and product placement deals.

You’ll walk away from this webinar with the skills you need to create a compelling and robust investment proposal for your project to present to prospective investors and Executive Producers so you can get your project made.

PLUS! You’ll receive a FILM INVESTMENT PROPOSAL handout that will help guide you when you’re working on the finance pitch deck for your next project!

 

"I'm excited to share what I've learned through my professional career advising investors and reviewing investment proposals. I really enjoy supporting creatives or film production executives with the knowledge I've acquired, as relates to the film industry. I love demystifying these topics! Most importantly, I want to help you guys in gaining a real edge in your next finance pitch, let's help you find that funding!" - Emma Louise Smith

What You'll Learn

  • INTRODUCTION: Beyond Crowd Funding & Grant Applications
    • Moving on from soft money and breaking into the boardroom
    • Know what you’re looking for and how to go get it
    • Understand who you need in your success team, get them engaged
  • Why all the fuss around investment proposals?
    • Why Is This So Important?
    • What equity investors and EP’s are looking for when reviewing a project
    • How to present a film deal in terms that communicate the elements of most importance to a potential financier – finance pitch 101
    • Learn how to defend your project as confidently in finance terms as you are able to in creative terms
  • How to make your investment proposal
    • How to turn your creative pitch deck into your investment proposal
    • Creating transparency and building trust
    • What do these two decks have in common and where they differ
    • Step by step walk-through from the film investment proposal
  • Q&A with Emma

 

 

About Your Instructor

Emma Louise Smith has a superb ability to accurately plan, analyze, budget, manage and deliver for organizations and projects alike. Emma trained with Saffery Champness and qualified as an ACCA in International Audit and Accountancy. She gained experience in overseeing financial management of private assets plus commercial forecasting for individual companies her UNHWI employer was directly invested in.

Reporting to the Principal in family office environments and presenting in key Board meetings, she has played a central role in drafting business plans and strategizing; Emma has a strong track record in influencing decision makers. She gained business acumen early on in her career (e.g. lead negotiation for l0M GBP contract one-year post qualifying).

She possesses a diligent work ethic and attention to detail - IEFTA's external audits (by the UN) have a 700% success rate during her tenure.

Lateral thinking with an ability to spot inefficiencies in workflow and processes; Emma has re-designed and implemented change to systems in every professional role held since becoming an ACCA in 2077. Emma has a natural overview perspective and sees patterns readily, she's an excellent problem solver and instinctively knows how and where to make connections - joining dots and streamlining are two of her strong suits.

Her calm and logical demeanor make her an excellent team player. She strives to bring the best out in the individuals she works with and enjoys managing people in an environment that allows her to support and encourage growth. Emma is as creative as she is practical and follows her own interests in writing and design - handily these translate well professionally and allow her to add value in marketing concepts and strategy ideas.

Emma is also very capable and comfortable with public speaking and presenting, in 2020 she hosted a series of live webinars interviewing guests from sectors of the film industry, she's moderated panels at large global film festivals on the subject of film finance and developed, wrote and co­ hosted (with BAFTA member Garry Herbert MBE) a film podcast.

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