Understanding Global Tax Incentives

Where To Set Your Story and Where To Shoot Your Film
Hosted by Simon Graham-Clare and Ricky Margolis

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Simon Graham-Clare and Ricky Margolis

Webinar hosted by: Simon Graham-Clare and Ricky Margolis

Producers at Future Film USA

The Future Film Group was established in London in 2000 as a film financier, utilizing the expertise of its principals in both the entertainment and business worlds, quickly establishing itself on the UK scene through its involvement in films such as Bend It Like Beckham (starring Keira Knightley), The Queen (starring Dame Helen Mirren) and Mrs. Henderson Presents (starring Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins). The company quickly formed a production division to work alongside its financing arm and, through an ever-expanding structure, has since been involved in the production and/or financing of nearly 200 films and television shows. In 2006, the company opened an office in Los Angeles to give it a greater outreach to the wider filmmaking community, thereby making it a truly global brand. With this new outreach, the Future Film Group has produced films and television shows all over the world, including the US, the UK, Ireland, Spain, France, Eastern Europe and South Africa. Notable titles include Flawless (starring Demi Moore and Sir Michael Caine), Transsiberian (starring Woody Harrelson and Sir Ben Kingsley), Cracks (starring Eva Green), Fifty Dead Men Walking (starring Jim Sturgess and Sir Ben Kingsley) and Manolete (starring Adrien Brody and Penelope Cruz). Ricky joined Future Films USA in March 2007 as its Production and Development Executive, where his responsibilities included the sourcing and tracking of projects that required financing and helping them to progress into production, working closely with the London office to provide the Future Film Group with a global outreach for its fundraising and production activities. Other elements of his work included liaising with the various film commissions to keep abreast of their legislation, and the development of relationships with producers, sales agents and financiers. Since 2010, Ricky has been working in the role of Vice President of Future Films USA, continuing his work on the financing side whilst also becoming a more integrated part of the Future Film Group’s production activities, working closely with its London office. He has recently been directly involved in the production and financing of such high-profile films as Veronika Decides To Die (starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Melissa Leo), Breaking The Girls (starring Agnes Bruckner), Last Passenger (starring Dougray Scott), and Walter (starring William H. Macy and Virginia Madsen), among others, often serving in an Executive Producer or Associate Producer capacity, as well as serving as an Executive Producer on television shows including Ultimate Brain for the BBC. Simon Graham-Clare is a producer at The Future Film Group, USA. In his current position Simon assesses film and television projects that Future Films might board to finance or produce. Simon then works with producers and filmmakers to build a viable package and finance plan, attach a sales agent and raise any remaining finances. Full Bio »

Webinar Summary

Learn directly from Simon Graham-Clare (Producer) and Ricky Margolis (VP) at Future Films USA (Over 200 films & TV shows financed and produced)!

In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, Simon Graham-Clare and Ricky Margolis will demystify global tax incentives and highlight some of the many other factors to take into consideration when looking at different locations. They will look at current example incentives from around the world and also enlighten you on ways these incentives can trigger additional investment into your project.

Filmmakers will learn more about international independent film financing and how tax incentives are a key element to the business plan and can open doors to a slew of potential partners, helping to plot a ‘road map’ to production. Writers will learn why they need to be thinking about the locations in which they set their stories, and how it affects the attractiveness of their scripts to producers and financiers. Having a clear understanding of today’s global tax incentives will leave your project looking more professional and further advanced, hopefully increasing your chances to move the project into production.

Your hosts Simon Graham-Clare and Ricky Margolis are Producers at Future Films USA, having financed and produced over 200 films and TV shows! The Future Film Group was established in London in 2000 as a film financier, utilizing the expertise of its principals in both the entertainment and business worlds. They quickly established themselves on the UK scene through their involvement in films such as Bend it like Beckham (starring Keira Knightley), The Queen (starring Dame Helen Mirren) and Mrs. Henderson Presents (starring Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins). At Future Films USA, Simon works as a producer, assessing film and television projects that Future Films might board to finance or produce. Ricky works in the role of Development Executive, continuing his work on the financing side whilst also becoming a more integrated part of the Future Film Group’s production activities.


PRAISE FOR SAM AND RICKY'S TEACHINGS:

“I felt like Simon had a concise step by step study guide on the process of getting to the green light…it's no longer a jumble!” – Russ G.

“Excellent presentation! Organized, well-spoken.” – Brent B.

“Very well presented with a personal take on the business.” – Glenn C.

“Great seminar, thanks!” – Augustus L.

What You'll Learn

  • What exactly are tax incentives?
    • Why they exist.
    • How they work.
  • The financial benefits for your project.
    • How much you might expect as a percentage.
    • What a finance plan would look like incorporating these incentives.
  • Examples of some good incentives.
    • Current examples from all over the world.
  • The right questions to ask, and the pitfalls.
    • It’s not just the dollar value of the incentives.
  • Film, television, documentary, and digital.
    • Different formats with different rules.
  • Who can help you find the right location and incentives?
    • The role of film commissions and additional surprising ways they can help.
    • Additional benefits available to filmmakers.
  • Applying for your tax incentives.
    • The steps to getting these incentives officially approved.
    • How these incentives are paid out.
  • International co-production treaties.
    • What are the benefits of a co-production?
    • Which countries have co-production treaties?
  • Setting your story.
    • Appropriate looks for story and character.
    • Making your film seem bigger than the budget – production value.
  • Production hubs.
    • Certain destinations (that may be close to you!) can double for places around the world.
  • Recorded, in-depth Q&A with Ricky and Simon!

About Your Instructor

The Future Film Group was established in London in 2000 as a film financier, utilizing the expertise of its principals in both the entertainment and business worlds, quickly establishing itself on the UK scene through its involvement in films such as Bend It Like Beckham (starring Keira Knightley), The Queen (starring Dame Helen Mirren) and Mrs. Henderson Presents (starring Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins).

The company quickly formed a production division to work alongside its financing arm and, through an ever-expanding structure, has since been involved in the production and/or financing of nearly 200 films and television shows.

In 2006, the company opened an office in Los Angeles to give it a greater outreach to the wider filmmaking community, thereby making it a truly global brand. With this new outreach, the Future Film Group has produced films and television shows all over the world, including the US, the UK, Ireland, Spain, France, Eastern Europe and South Africa. Notable titles include Flawless (starring Demi Moore and Sir Michael Caine), Transsiberian (starring Woody Harrelson and Sir Ben Kingsley), Cracks (starring Eva Green), Fifty Dead Men Walking (starring Jim Sturgess and Sir Ben Kingsley) and Manolete (starring Adrien Brody and Penelope Cruz).

Ricky joined Future Films USA in March 2007 as its Production and Development Executive, where his responsibilities included the sourcing and tracking of projects that required financing and helping them to progress into production, working closely with the London office to provide the Future Film Group with a global outreach for its fundraising and production activities. Other elements of his work included liaising with the various film commissions to keep abreast of their legislation, and the development of relationships with producers, sales agents and financiers.

Since 2010, Ricky has been working in the role of Vice President of Future Films USA, continuing his work on the financing side whilst also becoming a more integrated part of the Future Film Group’s production activities, working closely with its London office. He has recently been directly involved in the production and financing of such high-profile films as Veronika Decides To Die (starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Melissa Leo), Breaking The Girls (starring Agnes Bruckner), Last Passenger (starring Dougray Scott), and Walter (starring William H. Macy and Virginia Madsen), among others, often serving in an Executive Producer or Associate Producer capacity, as well as serving as an Executive Producer on television shows including Ultimate Brain for the BBC.

Simon Graham-Clare is a producer at The Future Film Group, USA. In his current position Simon assesses film and television projects that Future Films might board to finance or produce. Simon then works with producers and filmmakers to build a viable package and finance plan, attach a sales agent and raise any remaining finances.

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Testimonials

“I felt like Simon had a concise step by step study guide on the process of getting to the green light…it's no longer a jumble!” – Russ G.

“Excellent presentation! Organized, well-spoken.” – Brent B.

“Very well presented with a personal take on the business.” – Glenn C.

“Great seminar, thanks!” – Augustus L.

Questions?

If you have a generic question about Stage 32 education you can take a look at our frequently asked questions section on our help page, or feel free to contact support with any other inquiries you might have.
 

Reviews Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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