On Demand Webinar - Available for immediate viewing and unlimited access.
On Demand Webinar - Available for immediate viewing and unlimited access.
As a literary manager Nicholas Bogner has run the literary branch of Affirmative Entertainment for the last fifteen years. Under his stewardship, he has had numerous movies made including Wedding Season for Netflix announced in Deadline, Infinite Storm for Sony, announced in Variety, Come Play for Amblin and Focus Features and has sold television pilots to just about all of the majors from network to streamers. In addition, many of his writers have been staffed at various levels of successful shows over the years including a supernatural thriller sold to Paramount, announced on Deadline. Previously, Bogner served as Vice President of Original Programming for TNT. In this capacity, he was responsible for the development of all long form – including two-hour movies, backdoor pilots, mini-series - for the network’s TNT Originals franchise. Bogner worked on several high-profile projects including Steven Spielberg’s twelve-hour mini Into The West as well as Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. Beyond these projects, Bogner shepherded over 15 movies into production. Prior to assuming his position at TNT, Bogner spent four years at Cruise-Wagner Productions (Tom Cruise and Paul Wagner), where he spearheaded the acquisition of material, supervised writers and collaborated with directors and talent on such films as Mission Impossible: 2, Without Limits, Vanilla Sky, and The Others, which he’s credited with finding and supervising. Bogner began his career at the Agency for Performing Arts (APA) before becoming a story editor for Michael Douglas at 20th Century Fox. Bogner has two produced credits as a screenwriter, The Little Death and No Strings Attached. He also produced Soccer Mom starring Emily Osment and Missi Pyle for Starz and Anchor Bay. Most recently, he produced A Nice Girl Like You (based on a non-fiction book by Ayn Carrillo- Gailey) which stars Lucy Hale. Full Bio »

Learn how to turn your short film into intellectual property (IP) that you can then develop and make as a feature film from esteemed literary manager Nicholas Bogner of Affirmative Entertainment, whose client's short films have gotten feature films deals with major companies like Steven Spielberg's AMBLIN PARTNERS!
PLUS! You'll receive the scripts for the short film LARRY and the feature film based off the short, COME PLAY, that was produced by Amblin.
Intellectual Property (IP), such as books, toys, comic books, graphic novels, short stories, etc., are a bedrock of film and television development. This year's biggest films, including BARBIE and OPPENHEIMER, are based on pre-existing IP. The reality of the current film and television marketplace is that it is increasingly difficult to sell your project if it is not based on any IP. And that's why making a short film that can then be used as IP that you develop into a feature film has become a proven avenue to success.
There is an absolute obsession in the marketplace to have material based on pre-existing IP as a way to mitigate the risk of the investment in the project. If there’s already been an audience for the book, short film, article, etc., then film and television buyers feel at ease that there will be a built in audience for their large investment into the film. While original films and series do get made, it is particularly challenging for new and emerging writers and filmmakers to get their project sold if it is not based on IP. However, there is a way for you to create your own IP without having to spend big bucks to buy the rights to a book or a person’s life, and that is to make your own short film! One notable example of a short film leading to a feature film is Damien Chazelle's WHIPLASH, which became the Academy Award winning feature film of the same name and launched Damien Chazelle's career (he went on to write and direct LA LA LAND, FIRST MAN, and BABYLON).
In this exclusive Stage 32 Webinar, you will learn how you can use your short film as IP to help sell your feature film or television project. You could be sitting on a gold mine with your short film, and we’re going to help you figure out how to leverage it to make your larger project. Teaching you everything you need to know about how to use your short film as IP for a feature film or television project is literary manager Nicholas Bogner of Affirmative Entertainment. Former VP of Original Programming at TNT and head of development at CRUISE/WAGNER, Nicholas’ clients have had immense success making shorts and creating their own IP.
In an information packed 90 minutes, Nicholas will share how he guided his client Jacob Chase to success through his short film. Jacob made the short LARRY, which was then sold in a bidding war to Steven Spielberg’s company, AMBLIN PARTNERS. Jacob’s concept was subsequently made into a feature film for Amblin and Focus Films with the new title of COME PLAY. Subsequently, Jacob made a short film titled MR. BLUR, which sold to BLUMHOUSE, and is currently being adapted into a feature film. Many of Nicholas’ other clients have also made shorts which has led to representation and future projects.
You will walk away from this webinar with the skills and industry insight you need to use your short film as IP to leverage a feature film or television series deal.
PLUS! You’ll receive exclusive handouts to help you create IP out of your short film. Downloads include:

Nicholas Bogner
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Learn to be great at pitching in the Room. Writers pitch for 5 minutes (timed) and Nicholas and the Stage 32 team will break the pitch down and offer constructive, supportive feedback in order to graft your pitch to its best version. This is a safe environment, and all are welcome to join!
The director and actors may get the lion’s share of the credit, and the writer might be the one who thought up the story in the first place, but it’s the producer who actually puts a film together and who turns ideas into reality, all the way from conception through distribution and beyond. The role of a producer can be enigmatic, though. It’s not as straightforward of a job as, say, an actor or a DP, and with so many different types of producers (Line producer? Associate producer? Executive producer? Co-Executive Producer?) it’s a hard concept for people to wrap their heads around. But if you’re interested in being a producer yourself and in leading the charge in creating great content that people want to watch, it’s important you better understand the role and find ways you can separate yourself from the pack and excel. There are a lot of producers out there, a lot of people working to create content. However there are a lot fewer who are prolific, who have multiple projects under their belt and have the know-how to make any project they have their sights set on a success. So what makes these power producers stand out? How do they choose what to produce and how do they operate within the industry to make things happen? And how can you join their ranks? A good step might be to learn directly from a power producer herself. Luckly, successful producer Aimee Schoof will lend her experience exclusively to the Stage 32 community. Aimee Schoof is the co-founder of Intrinsic Value Films and has produced more than 35 feature films. Of those, nine have premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, four at the Tribeca Film Festival, three at SXSW, and one each at LA Film Festival, Toronto, Venice, New York FF, New Directors/New Films, and Berlinale, to name a few. Aimee’s company develops, produces and sells independent films that have been distributed worldwide, have won many awards and been honored with numerous nominations. Accolades include winning a Sloan Sundance Award and a Sundance Special Grand Jury Prize. Aimee’s work has led her to be nominated five times by Film Independent as a producer. She is currently both a Sundance and Film Independent Fellow and has worked in international sales attending all major markets, and regularly lecturing on film finance and production. Aimee has had more than 25 years’ experience working as a hands-on producer on projects of all shapes and sizes and knows what I takes to thrive in this role. She’s excited to share that with you. Aimee will give you a soup-to-nuts overview of what it takes to produce a film of any level and how to position yourself for success not only on your current project, but for your career moving forward. She will begin by teaching you the different types of producers on a film and what each person’s responsibility is. She’ll then give you strategies of how to choose your own path as a producer, including what it means to be an independent producer. She’ll walk you through how to find partners, collaborators, and mentors in this industry and will discuss the crucial but tricky task of finding and selecting material to produce. She’ll also break down whether a producer should focus on just one project at a time or multi-task. Aimee will illustrate what exactly a day in the life of a producer actually looks like. Aimee will then focus on relationship building, one of the biggest parts of a producer’s job. She’ll break down how to form and maintain relationships with agents and managers, actors, casting directors, and fellow producers, among others. She’ll then discuss the best practices for networking to build your connections, including how to work film festivals and markets to meet new and exciting potential partners or friends. Next, Aimee will delve into how best to source IP as opposed to working with original stories. She’ll go over the balance between holding your relationships close and expanding your network and how a good producer budgets their time when working on multiple projects. Aimee will also give you tips on how you can produce a science fiction film, even on a budget. Then, Aimee will give an honest and realistic breakdown of what a film’s timeline actually looks like—how long it actually takes to make a film and how you can stay motivated along the way. Aimee will use examples and case studies from her own past films, including projects made from existing IP, to further break down the role of a producer. Like what you heard from Aimee during this webinar? Send your script to Aimee and speak with her for an hour by clicking here. Praise for Aimee’s Webinar: “I loved this! Aimee knows so much about the subject. I really learned a lot” -Cheryl B. “Aimee was able to take these big ideas and make them feel totally accessible and easy to understand. I really enjoyed hearing from her” -Howard F. “This was great! Thank you!” -Joanne D. “I feel ready and inspired to set out on my own and make some great movies after listening to Aimee!” -Hannah W.
As an independent filmmaker or producer, you likely start working on a new endeavor for creative reasons—the chance to tell an amazing story, build worlds, create something of cultural value. Yet this is, of course, not the only element of filmmaking. Like it or not, your independent film is not just a creative endeavor; it’s also a business. You’re sourcing financing and bringing in investors, building a team, and creating a property that will (hopefully) ultimately make money not only in the present, but for years to come. In short, you’re not just a making a piece of art; you’re also running a business. To operate successfully in the world of independent film and continue to make films that you’re proud of, you need to be able to think like an entrepreneur and understand the dynamics and the relation between financing, distribution and recoupment of film investments. Further, you need to open up your creative mindset to the myriad opportunities available all over the world including hot markets found throughout Latin America. The business side of films is often especially difficult for filmmakers and creative producers, but the more you understand, the better your chances of finding a production partner or investor to take your vision forward. Latin American film production is booming right now, diverse with a variety of production hubs all over the region. Big budget international films shoot alongside local films with relatively low budgets, all created for both local and international audiences. Working in the Latin American market, especially with films in the sub-$1MM range can offer you opportunities you haven't thought of before and give you a path to profitability. But to take advantage of this surging market, you need to understand the variety of production and financing options available and how to tap into them. Whether it's hard money, soft money or other methods toward financing and securing the necessary pieces to greenlight your project, getting a handle on the in's and out's of how to proceed will put you in a powerful and advantageous position. Understanding and executing this business model will open new doors to other productions around the world and serve to create a portfolio of proof that will serve as a calling card moving forward. David Zannoni is an international business specialist for Fintage House, the world's most respected company for revenue and rights protection for industry professionals and companies. David negotiates agreements for films and television series and is involved in business development and relationship management specifically in the US, Latin America and $ope. As an international film business specialist David is continuously present to make deals and speak at international film markets, festivals and conferences, including: the Cannes Film Festival, the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin, the American Film Market (AFM), Ventana Sur, the Bogota Audiovisual Market (BAM), and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and travels regularly to the United States, the Netherlands, Europe, and all over Latin America. David is intimately familiar with how independent films are financed and made profitable all over the world and will share what he knows exclusively about the Latin American market with the Stage 32 community. David will focus on the Latin American market and walk you through what you need to know to finance your independent film, $1MM or less, and leave profitable. He will begin by explaining what a $1MM or under budget looks like in the Latin American region and whether it’s considered a small film. He’ll delve into how film financing works specifically in Latin America, including a breakdown of soft money sources versus hard money sources, local vs international productions, forming a co-production as a financing tool, tax and location incentives, taking advantage of government support, and working with film commissions. He will highlight how Latin American film financing is different compared to other regions and how both Spanish speaking and English speaking content works within the region and will go over the notable platforms and TV channels available as well as how they differ. David will outline the production capacities in the region, including for in-house production, co-productions, production servicing, and work-for hire. He will then teach you what specifically Latin America can offer foreign productions, including incentives, co-productions, talent, and shooting locations. He will also discuss how Latin America has its eye on the US, Spain, and the rest of Europe. David will explain how to approach your film as an asset, how to see yourself as an entrepreneur, and how to see filmmaking as a business. David will then go over the continental circle of financing, distribution, and investment recoupment and will explain how revenue and right management works as well as managing your recoupment. He will spend time delving into Latin American film contracts, including distribution agreements, CAM agreements, and sales agency agreements. David will ultimately illustrate whether Latin American films can be profitable and how, and analyze with you when a Latin American film can be considered successful, whether it breaks even or finds profitability. Plus, David will show a case study of a real $1MM Latin American film to illustrate how a film of this leve l can be profitable and exactly how the money flows through from beginning to end. He’ll show financing documents and spreadsheets to illustrate the financing structure and demonstrate how money flows in and out. Through this detailed and practical demonstration, you will leave with strategies and a deep understanding of how to approach your own $1MM film as an entrepreneur and build a finance structure that will leave you and your investors profitable. This Stage 32 Webinar is Part 2 in David’s "Think Like an Entrepreneur" series. Click here to check out David’s webinar on being profitable in US marketplace with a sub-$1MM film and click here to check out his webinar on being profitable in the European marketplace Praise for David's Previous Stage 32 Webinars: "David is incredible and lovely and clearly knows his stuff." - Cynthia P. "Eye-opening information. A no-brainer approach that wouldn't be so obvious to the uninitiated." - Gary O. "By far, the best class I've seen on the subject." Kirk K. "David is a fantastic teacher. And what a voice! I could listen to him all day. More importantly, I learned so very much!" - Isabella T.
Producers and filmmakers of independent films and TV series deal with a multitude of parties regarding the production, financing and distribution of their films and projects. Many of these parties have a financial interest in the project and are entitled to a share of the revenues generated by domestic and international distribution of the film or series. In order to make the allocation and distribution of revenues manageable, it is important to design a recoupment schedule for your project. The recoupment schedule, also called “the waterfall”, combines all the single deal terms negotiated between the production and investors, financiers, talent, sales agents, co-producers, and service producers. Each project is unique, with its very own financing structure for example, and therefore there is no universal format for a recoupment schedule. However, there are certain guidelines to consider when putting together a recoupment schedule for your project. Understanding these guidelines will not only assure that there is no financial shadiness going on behind the scenes and no surprise lawsuits hanging out in the horizon. It also means that everyone who needs to get paid does get paid...and on time. And that can only raise your stature as someone who can deliver the goods and as a person people want to work with again and again. David Zannoni is consultant for Fintage House, the world's most respected company for revenue and rights protection for industry professionals and companies, and is the company's representative for the Americas. David negotiates agreements for films and television series, and he is involved in business development and relationship management specifically in the US, Latin America and Spain. David also runs a consultancy business through Xaman Ha Consulting and Zannoni Media Advisors, and has been focusing particularly on international service providers in the film and TV industries, and film and TV productions in Latin America, amongst others. As a film business specialist David is continuously present to make deals and speak at international film markets, festivals and conferences, including: the Cannes Film Festival, the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin, the American Film Market (AFM), Ventana Sur, the Bogota Audiovisual Market (BAM), and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and travels regularly to the United States, the Netherlands, Spain, and all over Latin America. David will explain in easy to understand detail the world of recoupment schedules and why they are so important to your film or project. In an in depth, interactive presentation, David will discuss sources and allocation of film and TV revenues, the purpose of a recoupment schedule, the entitlements and obligations that are payable out of revenues, and the order and priority of payment for film and TV entitlements. He will discuss various territories around the world including distribution rights and assignments. He will show you which kind of projects use a recoupment schedule and the importance of a recoupment schedule as it relates to securing financing and attaching production partners. David will take away all the guess work that goes into the world of waterfalls/recoupment schedules and simplify the entire process to assure everyone on your team is taken care of and given the sense of security they (and you) deserve! PRAISE FOR DAIVD'S TEACHINGS: "I went into this one expecting it to be dry as a bone in the sun. I was so wrong. David is incredible and lovely and clearly knows his stuff." - Cynthia P. "Eye-opening information. A no-brainer approach that wouldn't be so obvious to the uninitiated." - Gary O. "By far, the best class I've seen on the subject." Kirk K. "David is a fantastic teacher. And what a voice! I could listen to him all day. More importantly, I learned so very much!" - Isabella T.
Learn how to work with sales agents and generate pre-sales financing for your feature film with entertainment lawyer and producer Elizabeth Kormanova, who has helped close financing for the movies THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, PINOCCHIO, THE CARD COUNTER, MAY DECEMBER, LEE and more! PLUS! You'll receive a Sales Agency Term Sheet Template, Distribution Deal Memo Template, and Royalty Report Template to help on your next project! Pre-sale financing of a feature film involves working with a sales agent to secure distribution agreements with international buyers BEFORE the film is even produced. Utilizing pre-sales is a crucial component in film financing that can contribute directly to the success of your movie. Pre-sales financing is usually navigated by financial specialists called sales agents. This is how many independent films get financed and made and Stage 32 is here to show you how it's done. By understanding the importance of the role of a sales agent and how to utilize pre-sales film financing, filmmakers can not only secure the necessary funds but also gain valuable market validation and mitigate financial risks. But there are things to consider when trying to secure pre-sales financing. When do you need to consider pre-sale financing? How do you find a sales agent that is a good match for your project? How do you approach a sales agent and negotiate your deal? And, once you’ve completed your film, how can you ensure it receives wide distribution? And then how can you monitor the results of your film's distribution most effectively? In this information-packed advanced film financing Stage 32 webinar, you will learn how to effectively work with sales agents, set up pre-sale film financing, and navigate the world of international sales and distribution to ensure the best distribution deals possible for your project. Teaching you everything you need to know about pre-sale film financing and working with a sales agent is entertainment lawyer and producer Elizabeth Kormanova. Elizabeth has worked on the financial closings of the feature films THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, PINOCCHIO directed by Matteo Garrone, THE CARD COUNTER directed by Paul Schrader, MAY DECEMBER directed by Todd Haynes, LEE directed by Ellen Kuras, and more! Elizabeth is excited to share her abundant insight on this topic exclusively with the Stage 32 community. You will learn how to assess your financial plan utilizing pre-sale financing and how to coordinate it with other potential funding sources, such as equity, grants, or tax incentives. You will also learn how to prepare your sales materials, how to collaborate with sales agents and buyers to create a comprehensive marketing and distribution plan and how to maximize the revenue potential of your film and keep track of the results. There will be a Q&A with Elizabeth where you’ll be able to ask her specific questions and receive her guidance on how to best approach your own work with sales agents. PLUS! You'll receive exclusive handouts to help you navigate pre-sale financing and working with a sales agent on your next project. Downloads include: Sales Agency Term Sheet template Distribution Deal Memo template Royalty Report template If you want to produce successful independent films, this webinar is a must! Disclaimer: The information and handouts provided on this webinar do not, and are not intended to, constitute legal advice; all content, information and materials available on this webinar are solely for general informational purposes. Attendees should contact their legal counsel to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter. "I like to think about sharing ideas as an open-source code in the context of software development. Fostering collaboration and innovation, it is not merely about spreading knowledge but creating a communal effort to refine and build upon, making the journey richer for all." - Elizabeth Kormanova
Exclusive to Stage 32, Chris Lockhart, one of the most legendary and revered literary agency story editors in the business, teaches you how to create a world-class logline. Chris has read over 60,000 scripts in his career for WME and has the database to prove it! **PLUS! Chris breaks down selected loglines submitted from the Stage 32 community!** A logline is the way your screenplay is introduced to the world. It’s rare that anyone in the industry will read your script without knowing something about it first. A-List actors, producers, directors, managers, agents, financiers and development execs usually require hearing a logline before ever agreeing to read a screenplay. If your logline doesn't sing, the script usually doesn't get opened. Even more important, if the logline doesn't work, it's a signal to those who read screenplays for a living that the script probably doesn't either. Delving into a logline can help you identify problematic elements of your screenplay, enabling creative solutions to fix those issues. There is no one better to teach this subject than Chris Lockhart. As Story Editor at William Morris Endeavor (WME), the world's largest diversified talent agency, Chris has curated projects for A-list actors such as Denzel Washington, Liam Neeson, Mel Gibson, Matt Damon, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, and countless others over the last 20+ years. He's accomplished this reading and exploring through piles of screenplays, magazines, books, old movies, TV shows, and pitches in search of potential film projects. If you've seen one of these actors in just about anything, chances are Chris was the first stop for the screenplay (of which he's read over 60,000), but only after he heard the logline and deemed it worth of a read in the first place! Chris began his career at International Creative Management (ICM), where he worked as script consultant to legendary talent agent Ed Limato, who represented industry giants such as Mel Gibson, Richard Gere, Michelle Pfeiffer, Liam Neeson, and Robert Downey, Jr. Chris later moved to the venerable William Morris Agency, which eventually merged with Endeavor to form WME. Chris is the Story Editor for A-list talent such as Denzel Washington, Michelle Williams, Richard Gere and more! In this exclusive stage 32 on-demand webinar, Chris will break down the mechanics of a logline to determine what makes one work. He'll show you what aspects A-List actors, directors, managers, agents, producers, financiers and development execs look for in a logline that makes them want to take the next step and read your script. Chris will then take you on a broader discussion of the elements of successful screenwriting and how your logline can betray what you've written or reveal the shortcomings in your script. As a bonus, Chris will then read and break down several loglines that we're sent in by Stage 32 community members to demonstrate what worked and what didn't. In this jammed packed and entertaining webinar (trust us, Chris is a character and a half), Chris will not only teach you how to write a logline, but how to tailor it in such a way that it is appealing to talent, representation and the money! Praise for Christopher's previous Stage 32 Teaching: "Amazing webinar, loved it. It was the best I have ever watched!" -- Robert M. "Chris was clear, concise, helpful, and focused. Loved his enthusiasm and humor." -- Lori H. "Oh my god, I was laughing all the way through. In between writing about 10 pages of notes. SO much fun and a wealth of knowledge." -- Denise G. "Very informative. Clarified a lot of questions I've always had regarding loglines. Well worth the money." -- Emmit R. "It was very informative and insightful." -- Mays S.