How To Make A Feature Film Based On Your Short Film
Webinar hosted by: Nicholas Bogner
Head of Literary / Manager at Affirmative Entertainment
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 »
Webinar Summary
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 and Netflix!
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, now on Netflix. 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:
- Script for the short film LARRY
- Script for the feature film COME PLAY based off LARRY
What You'll Learn
- WRITE YOUR SHORT SCRIPT:
- LENGTH: be mindful of the length. How long should your short be?
- BUDGET: Make sure it is budget friendly since it is more than likely you will be financing it yourself
- How can you write a short that won't break the bank?
- IS THERE A MOVIE IN YOUR SHORT? It will be more beneficial for there to be a potential movie concept in your short (at least that is what your manager and/or agent will hope for)
- Why you should make a visual short that can really showcase your talent
- HIRE YOUR CREW (HOPEFULLY FOR FREE!)
- You need a producer (other than yourself)
- What jobs you should do and shouldn't do as a director
- The importance of contracts!
- Why you need to cover yourself and how it can come back to bite you if you don't
- Perhaps there is a promise of monetary payment in the event you sell the project but limit your exposure
- Why you need to be flexible and how to do it
- Crew will bolt if they find paid work, so have back-ups in mind. Consider shooting over a weekend, so day jobs don’t get impacted
- You need a producer (other than yourself)
- CASTING
- Your budget might be minimal, but don’t compromise when it comes to casting (talent-wise). And think big. Professional Actors like to work and when they are between shows, you might be able to land someone much bigger than you anticipated
- How do you get a name actor in your short?
- THE FEATURE FILM
- If there is a feature film in your short (hopefully), pick a scene that really sells it to buyers. Think WHIPLASH.
- You don’t have to have the film figured out before you make your short, but have it in the back of your mind. Soon as you share it with your reps, they will want to hear the feature film version.
- SUCCESS STORIES THAT I HAVE HELPED SELL:
- OCULUS by Mike Flanagan
- COME PLAY (aka LARRY) by Jacob Chase
- MR. BLUR by Jacob Chase
- Q&A with Nicholas
About Your Instructor
Nicholas Bogner
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