Understanding Product Placement for Your Film - Raising Money, Building Partnerships & Staying Legal
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Webinar hosted by: David Paterson
Screenwriter & Producer - The Great Gilly Hopkins, Octavia Spencer), Disney's Bridge to Terabithia
David Paterson is an Award-winning playwright and screenwriter, who has penned over two-dozen plays, 12 of which are published through Samuel French, Inc. His works have been performed on Broadway, Off Broadway, and throughout the world. He is the only playwright ever to have three plays premiere on the New York City stage in one month. In 2005 David began writing for film. He adapted his play Finger Painting In A Murphy Bed into a screenplay and produced it. As Love, Ludlow, the film premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews; “Another Sundance treasure!” Roger Ebert reported. David sold the film to The Sundance Channel, Starz Channel and Warner Home Video. Love, Ludlow was one of the few success stories of Sundance 2005. The screenplay was nominated for the HUMANITAS award for excellence in screen writing. David has also written for The New York Times, Moviemaker Magazine, Filmmaker magazine, and IndieSlate, among others. David’s second feature, Disney’s Bridge To Terabithia, was one of the most successful studio releases of 2007. His short, Open Air, starring Munich’s Lynn Cohen, won numerous awards on the festival circuit. David’s films and documentaries have been seen in over 100 festivals worldwide. His most recent Documentary Don’t Stop Believin; Everyman’s Journey won the coveted audience award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and was nominated for a Gotham Award. David’s latest film, The Great Gilly Hopkins, starring Glenn Close, Octavia Spencer, Kathy Bates and Julia Stiles opened in theaters to rave reviews. Through his own production company, Arcady Bay Entertainment, he is currently at work on three other major family market adaptations – The Flint Heart, Come Sing Jimmy Jo, and My Final Answer, with Steve Jones’ Beeholder productions (You Don’t Know Jack). David is a professional stuntman, an adjunct professor of screenwriting for NYIT of Manhattan, and serves on the Film Advisory Board for the Savannah, Gold Coast, First Time and Big Apple Film Festivals. David has served as a panelist for numerous film festivals in the U.S. and abroad, and is in great demand as a guest lecturer and motivational speaker at colleges, Universities and writer symposiums, most recently lecturing at the RIO IFF in Brazil. David is also a fireman; his memories as a 9/11 rescue worker were published in the novel 911-Book of Help, with his royalties going to scholarships for children who lost parents in the tragedy. Full Bio »
Webinar Summary
If there's one subject that seems to confound and confuse filmmakers, producers, screenwriters, financiers and even set designers more than any other, it's the world of product placement. Can you raise meaningful money through product placement? What products can I put in my film or screenplay and which should be avoided? What are the legalities when dealing with product placement? These are all very valid and important questions. Those who understand the way the product placement industry (and it is an industry unto itself) works use this aspect of the production process to raise significant funds and stay on the north side of any potential legal issues. Those who fail to understand often have difficulties with clearances (and by virtue, issues securing sales and distribution) and may find themselves on the south side of some major lawsuits that include claims copyright infringement, misuse, and other serious charges.
While the world of product placement was once considered to be an unregulated wild west of backroom deals and shady characters, it is now developed into an extremely controlled and accessible industry. Choosing a partner in this arena can lead to monetary deals that can help you close the rest of your financing. It can also help you fund parts of your pre-production phase. But most of all, it can lead to creative flexibility for your screenwriter, your director, your producer, your set designer, and even your crew.
Over a 20+ year career in the film industry, David Patterson has worked as a writer, director and producer on dozens of projects. His films have played at Sundance and other prestigious film festivals which have garnered him sales to distribution outlets and various networks including Sundance Channel, Starz Channel and Warner Bros. David's work attracted the attention of Disney and his Bridge To Terabithia, was a huge studio release and box office success for the studio. More recently, David’s film, The Great Gilly Hopkins, starring Glenn Close, Octavia Spencer, Kathy Bates and Julia Stiles opened theatrically to rave reviews. Throughout this journey he has always used product placement to help with the success of each of his films.
David will demystify and clearly explain the world of product placement and how you can best utilize a product placement strategy for your project. He will start by defining product placement - it may surprise you to know there are over 12 answers! He will then dive into how you can use just about everything to help you with product placement from your script, to your cast and crew to your producers to locations to utilizing your actors. He will teach you how to secure product placement - where to look, how to approach, how to close a deal. He will show you how the legalities of product placement for film festivals and commercial release differ and what you need to have buttoned up. He will explain E & O insurance and if you truly need it at all. He will also go into all the mistakes filmmakers make along the way and share some horror stories from filmmaker/producer friends and how you can avoid making the same mistakes - mistakes that can cost you money, time, endorsements and put you into legal peril. Additionally, David will teach you all the tips and tricks he's learned along the way to get the most out of your product placement strategies and build relationships with the right companies and brands so you can go back to the well time and time again!
"Brilliant."
- Jonathan C.
"I was so unfamiliar with this world. Incredible breakdown of what and what not to do. This one truly opened my eyes. Can't recommend it enough."
- Heather P.
"David, where have you been my entire producing life?"
- Priya R.
"I don't throw this word around often, but this webinar was genius."
- Alan L.
What You'll Learn
- What is Product Placement?
- There are more than a dozen answers!
- Pre-Production For Product Placement
- Screenplay
- Your Cast and Crew
- Producers
- Locations
- Craft Services
- Production Product Placement
- How to Avoid Product Conflict
- Working with the Actors
- Working with the Director
- Working with Locations
- How to Identify Product For Your film
- Should You Use a Product Placement Company? Pros and Cons
- DIY Options
- Key Team Options
- How to Secure Product Placement For Your Film
- How to Approach
- What Documentation You Need
- A List of Examples of What You Can Offer
- Protecting Yourself
- What Insurance Protection You Will Need
- Legal Ramifications of Unauthorized Use
- Can You Shoot First and Ask For Permission Later?
- Post Production Product Placement
- How to Honor Commitment to Product and License
- Festival Promotions
- Distribution Outlets
- 6 Key Takeaways from The Webinar That will Help You with Your Product Placement
- Q&A with David
About Your Instructor
David Paterson
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Testimonials
"EXTREMELY helpful! Yeah, now I know how to cover 98% of my props and craft expenses. Thanks for the help." - C. Masi
"Awesome webinar David! Learned a lot!" - R. Vasylev
"Great webinar. In particular liked the approach to broaden how to think about product placement opportunities. Thanks!" - R. Heaps
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Reviews Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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Jamaal R. James This is a great course for someone who has no idea or how to begin placing products in your project. Several examples are given of success and failure and the general idea behind the placement of products in your production. Enjoy. -
Gershom Hyldreth Some useful info, but not much. Lots of rambling that didn't follow the screen outline (interesting stories though). If your looking to save $1000 here or $500 there then this video will help you. -
Matt Graziaplene Did not help me at all. Very basic info. Could be good for a beginner.
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