Line Producing Strategy - How to Make Your Movie with The Highest Quality for the Lowest Price
Hosted by Michael Mandaville
$49
On Demand Webinar - Available for immediate viewing and unlimited access.
Start Learning
Hosted by Michael Mandaville
$49
On Demand Webinar - Available for immediate viewing and unlimited access.
Webinar hosted by: Michael Mandaville
Line Producer (Taken 1-3, Havoc, The Kiss)
Michael Mandaville has worked for 25 years as a line producer, production manager and production supervisor. These films include “Taken”, “Taken 2” and “Taken 3” written and produced by Luc Besson, “Havoc” with Anne Hathaway, “The Kiss” with Terence Stamp and Billy Zane, (“American History X” (New Line Cinema) with Edward Norton and Edward Furlong, “Friends of Friends” with Bruce Davison and Sherilynn Fenn, “Blood and Wine” (Jack Nicholson, Director: Bob Rafelson), “Millenium’s Child” (Disney/Miramax) with William Windom and Karen Black, “Sensation” with Eric Roberts, Ed Begley Jr., Paul Le Mat and Ron Perlman. “Hail Caesar” with Anthony Michael Hall, Robert Downey, Jr. and Judd Nelson. “Pumpkin Head II” (MPCA) with Ami Dolenz and Steve Kanaly. Michael also produced “The Almighty Fred”, an independent film. He has directed commercials, shorts, a documentary and industrial films. He has also worked on “Manahi” an Arabic language comedy which was the first film shown in Saudi Arabia in 35 years. He recently directed two ultra low budget feature films – “Conviction: Murder in Four Parts” and “Into the Flames”. His web series “Beer Pong Coach” now has ten episodes. He wrote the thriller novel “Stealing Thunder” and the activist nonfiction book, “Citizen Soldier Handbook: 101 Ways For Every American To Fight Terrorism”. He has worked on numerous feature films in physical production, primarily as a Line Producer or Unit Production Manager in the Directors Guild of America. Mandaville has had 14 scripts optioned or hired to write. His “Stealing Thunder” series is an international thriller about an FBI agent stopping a legendary Russian spy to start World War III between China and the United States. His second novel, “A Cold Death” is in discussion for a TV Show in France. His third novel, “Journey” is almost finished for publication. Mandaville directed the short film, “The Big Bucks.” His short, “Winning the Race” was show at the Liberty Film Festival. The documentary “Guards of Honor” showed volunteer veterans at the Riverside National Cemetery. He received a B.A. in Philosophy from UC Santa Barbara and attended the B.A. Cinema program at Columbia College – Hollywood. He received his M.A. from USC in Professional Writing. Full Bio »
Webinar Summary
Creating a realistic budget can make or break a film before it ever makes it into production. Where should you spend? Where can you cut? How do you stretch your dollar? In short, how can you assure you're creating the highest quality film for the lowest price?
Listen, not everyone can afford a line producer. And even if you can, you want to make sure he or she is protecting your vision and your money! Understanding this aspect of the business and how a film can be put together is everything! Let's make this complex aspect of filmmaking easier, shall we?
Michael Madaville (Taken, Taken 2, Taken 3 to name a very few) is one of the most respected line producers in the business. Michael has created budgets from some of the most successful indie darlings, mid-majors and studio films in the business. And now, exclusively for Stage 32, he will take you by the hand, help you problem solve just about every issue that may arise, and help you toward financial success no matter what your budget may be.
Using examples from his decades in the business, Michael will walk you through examples of micro to major budget films and discuss how to reduce costs for crew, locations, materials and more and how to apply that information to get your schedule tight and your budget to where it needs to be.
No more chasing funds or getting caught short during filming! Michael will show you how to get on the path to a smooth shoot well before yelling "Action!"
What You'll Learn
The “Filmmaking With a Calculator” Mentality
- What is the current state of the marketplace with feature films and media in general?
- How do you give yourself the best chance to get your film made in a world where compromises are not only ordinary, but required?
The VIDCON Mentality
- What is it and why is this a key entry point into the industry?
Problem Solving Your Overall Project
- How can you look at your script’s cost in relation to the funding offered and give it the best chance of getting made?
- How do you reduce costs?
- What are some of the considerations in terms of American unions to be aware of?
Problem Solving Your Production Crew
- What are the three points of a great crew member and how can that be crucial to your project?
- What are the structural elements for crew in both micro and major films?
Where Should You Shoot Your Film?
- How can you give yourself a competitive advantage based on where you shoot.
- Location – US, Canada and international shooting
Budget & Schedule
- When do you get a budget and a schedule and why is it important?
- What questions should you ask about the budget & schedule and what parameters should you be giving out?
- Bond companies – what you need to know.
- What are the key aspects of the schedule as it relates to the scriptwriting?
- How do you determine time to shoot in relation to the script?
- Tactics for budgeting microbudget and major budget films
- How to present the schedule and the budget with your project
Q&A with Michael
About Your Instructor
Michael Mandaville
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