FINANCE & DISTRIBUTIONFOR NEW MEXICO INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS

Increase your chances of having a successful career as a Indie Filmmaker by knowing more about the business side of filmmaking.

FINANCEWHAT TYPES OF FINANCING ARE OPEN TO FILMMAKERS

STAGES OF PRODUCTION AND STEPS TO SECURE FINANCING

WHAT IS NEEDED TO FINANCE A FILM (GUIDELINE ONLY)

WAYS OF MITIGATING RISK AND WHY SHOULD THE FILMMAKER CARE

TYPES OF FINANCE FOR FILM• GRANTS (DO WHAT YOU AGREE TO DO)• DEVELOPMENT FUNDS• LOANS• PRIVATE CAPITAL • PERSONAL FUNDS (OPM)• CROWDFUNDING (INDIEGOGO & KICKSTARTER)• TAX CREDITS• GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS• IATSE PROGRAMS• OVER TWENTY OTHER TYPES OF FINANCING

STAGES OF PRODUCTION•MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT•MARKETING & PRE-PRODUCTION•MARKETING & PRODUCTION•MARKETING & POST PRODUCTION•MARKETING, DISTRIBUTION & EXHIBITION

DEVELOPMENT FINANCING• AN IDEA• A LOGLINE• A SYNOPSIS • A TREATMENT• A SCREENPLAY• A SERIES BIBLE• SOME PIECE OF IP THAT IS WRITTEN OUT ON PAPER

DEVELOPMENT FINANCINGONCE A PRODUCER BUYS THE IP OR OPTIONS IT TO MOVE FORWARD, INDIE FILMMAKERS COULD FILE A DBA OR LLC

IP AND BUSINESS ARE ASSETS (WORTHLESS??)THIS IS VERY SPECULATIVE AND RISKY AS AND INVESTMENT/PARTNERSHIP (OPM)LETTERS OF INTEREST NOT LEGALLY BINDING V. LETTER OF INTENT LEGALLY BINDINGLETTERS OF INTENT ARE BANKABLE ASSETS, LETTERS OF INTEREST ARE SPECULATIVEDEFERRED COMPENSATION POINTS, UPON SALE OF FILM

OPTIONS V. PURCHASE• OPTIONS• TERMS=AMOUNT ($$ and POINTS) + TIME PERIOD

• PURCHASE• TRANSFER OWNERSHIP MAYBE RE-WRITES

• POINTS ARE DEPENDENT ON THE BUDGET

PACKAGING BEGINS• REGISTER THE IP• LOI'S ARE SIGNED• TOP SHEET BUDGET• PRESS KITS, BUSINESS PLANS, TALENT BIOS • PPM (PRIVATE $$) DPO DIRECT PUBLIC OFFERING• PITCH DECKS, CREATE A TRAILER*• MOVIE POSTER & LOBBY CARDS, CREATE A WEBSITE FOR THE

FILM • PRE-SALES, PRODUCT PLACEMENT, DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS

PACKAGING OF A FILM• SYNOPSIS OR TREATMENT• TOP SHEET BUDGET• PROFIT PROJECTIONS (DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES AND ACCOUNTANTS)• COMPARABLES• SAME SIZE BUDGET• SAME GENRE• TALENT LEVEL (PRODUCER, DIRECTOR AND CAST)• BIOS OF THE ABOVE THE LINE PEOPLE ATTACHED • TARGET AUDIENCE • SCRIPT COVERAGE

MARKETING IN ALL STAGES OF THE FILMMAKING PROCESS

• CONCEPT TESTING, POSITIONING STUDIES, FOCUS GROUP TEST, TEST SCREENINGS, TRACKING SURVEYS, ADVERTISING TESTING, EXIT SURVEYS, FACEBOOK PAGE, TWITTER ACCOUNTS, LOBBY CARDS, MOVIE POSTERS, T-SHIRTS, RELATIONSHIPS WITH BLOGGERS, NEW MEXICO FILM FOUNDATION, KEY PLAYERS, SALES AGENTS, FILM AGGREGATORS & DISTRIBUTORS, FILM FESTIVAL DIRECTORS, ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS,

FILM PRODUCTION FINANCE CHECKLIST (GUIDELINE)

• NAME OF THE PROJECT, HOW IS IT INCORPORATED, NAME OF THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY, E-MAIL ADDRESS, PHONE #, PHYSICAL ADDRESS, LOAN AMOUNT, TYPE OF LOAN, DETAILED BUDGET (BROKEN OUT BY DEVELOPMENT, PRE-PRODUCTION, PRODUCTION, POST PRODUCTION, MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION) NAME OF THE PRODUCTION COMPANY/STUDIO, MOVIE TITLE, PROOF OF OWNERSHIP OF THE SCREENPLAY, GENRE, BUDGET TOTAL, BIOS OF PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS AND PRINCIPAL CAST, COMPLETION BOND

CHECKLIST CONTINUED• BUSINESS PLAN SHOWING ROI OR EXIT STRATEGY• BANK LETTER OF COMMITMENT• NAME OF LOAN OFFICER PHONE # & ADDRESS• PRODUCTION STATUS OF FUNDS• NAMES OF EQUITY INVESTORS AND POINTS• FILMING LOCATIONS (STATE)

CHECKLIST CONTINUED• ROI• TAX CREDITS• PRODUCT PLACEMENT• P & A, FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS• DOCUMENTED SALES ESTIMATE• ATTORNEY/ACCOUNTANT W/CONTACT INFORMATION• PRIVATE PLACEMENT MEMORANDUM V. DIRECT PUBLIC OFFERING • HOLD INVESTMENT V. TRADABLE INVESTMENT• ACCREDITED INVESTORS V. NON ACCREDITED INVESTORS

THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTORS• UNITED INTERNATIONAL PICTURES• WARNER BROTHERS• BUENA VISTA• 20TH CENTURY FOX• SONY• PARAMOUNT PICTURES• MANY OTHERS

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES• TUGG.COM• AGGREGATORS (THE FILM COLLABORATIVE &

DISTRIBBER)• HULU, HBO GO, CBS ALL ACCESS, CRACKLE, I-TUNES, • YOUTUBE, WATCH ABC, NETFLIX, REDBOX, FOX NOW• YOUR OWN WEBSITE• DVD'S

FILM FESTIVALS • GET YOUR MOVIE SCENE• MEET AND MAKE CONNECTIONS W/FILMMAKERS• MEET FINANCE PEOPLE (WHAT'S NEXT) • WIN AWARDS• GROW YOUR AUDIENCE • GET PICKED UP FOR DISTRIBUTION

SUBMIT TO FESTIVALS

WITHOUT A BOX (WAB)