Summary
***Please note: There are audio issues with this webinar so the price has been reduced. If purchased you are acknowledging this fact.***
Learn directly from Tatiana Kelly and Jim Young, independent producers who have worked with actors such as Bradley Cooper, Zoë Saldana, JK Simmons, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone, James Franco, Lily Tomilin, Cuba Gooding JR, Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons!
In order to raise financing for any independent film, most investors these days will be savvy enough to be utilizing the foreign sales-driven model of selling a film based on a director and talent. Attaching “valuable” talent to a film as early as possible is extremely beneficial for filmmakers looking to get a green light on their film. However agents receive so many financial offers for their clients on a daily basis that those that are on an unfinanced film and without a monetary offer will likely go to the bottom of the pile.
With an independent budget, how can you make your film stand out as an attractive offer to talent reps? How can you get top talent excited about your project without using money as an incentive? If you don’t already have connections to casting directors, what options are available to get in touch with A-list actors?
Stage 32 Next Level Webinars is thrilled to bring back Tatiana Kelly and Jim Young to teach you how to attach talent to your independent film! Having worked with various A-list actors on independent films such as Lovelace, The Words, Life of a King and Wristcutters: A Love Story, they will teach you how to break through an actor’s fortress and get them interested in your project. You will learn how to determine what to offer talent based on your budget, how to be strategic about what agencies you’re making offers to, what to keep in mind at the script stage and early in the casting process and how to get past the dilemma of getting talent without money and getting money without talent.
You will leave this webinar not only knowing how to attach talent to your project on an independent budget but how to get actors excited about working with you!
What You'll Learn
- Why talent is the key to unlocking your green light.
- How to use talent to raise financing.
- What level of talent you need depending on your project.
- Big budget vs. period drama vs. low budget.
- Why low-budget films have more latitude in casting choices.
- Ways to break through an actor’s “fortress”.
- How to utilize an actor’s production company.
- Why you should get in good with an actor’s manager early on.
- How to get casting directors involved at the beginning stages of your project.
- How to build a team that has some clout.
- The power of a heartfelt letter.
- How to target crew, executive producers, producers, casting directors that have worked previously with the talent you’re interested in.
- What to keep in mind during the script stage and early in the casting process to help you attach talent.
- How to make sure an actor feels like this role will really do something for their career if it is not going to be a pay-day.
- Why you should target actors looking to do something different with their careers.
- The value of a Casting Director.
- How to attract a good Casting Director.
- What a Casting Director can bring to the table for your project.
- How to determine what to offer an actor.
- Why sales projections and soft money matter.
- How to determine the actor’s value coupled with their market rate.
- Things to consider when trying to attract talent.
- Why scheduling matters.
- Why location matters.
- How to utilize an actor in marketing materials.
- Why you should be strategic about what agencies you’re making offers to.
- Recorded, in-depth Q&A with Tatiana and Jim!
Who Should Attend
- Independent producers looking to attach A or B-list talent to their projects.
- Filmmakers looking to secure top-level talent to increase funding for their films.
- Talent Reps who want a better understanding of how to get their clients work on independent projects.
- Casting Directors working in the independent space.
- Foreign Sales Agents looking for deeper knowledge on the advantages of A-list actors.
- Actors who want a better understanding of the independent film marketplace.
Executive
Tatiana Kelly is the owner of Serena Films, while Jim Young is an independent producer and the president of Animus Films. Tatiana and Jim boast over a dozen successful indie films which they have produced. Examples of their work include Independent Spirit, Sundance, and Gotham Award nominated Wristcutters: A Love Story; Lovelace (Amanda Seyfreid and James Franco) and The Words (Oscar nominated JK Simmons, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana and Olivia Wilde) which both premiered at Sundance; Life of a King (Cuba Gooding Jr.) which premiered at the LA Film Festival; and the upcoming film, The Man Who Knew Infinity, based on the New York Times bestseller (starring Dev Patel, Jeremy Irons, Toby Jones, and Stephen Fry) which recently premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.
Tatiana are Jim are also in pre-production on Cut Throat City which is being directed by RZA from the Wu Tang Clan, as well as Catcher Was a Spy based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name, directed by Ben Lewin (The Sessions) and written by Academy Award-nominated writer Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan, The Patriot, Thor 2). They are also in development on projects with Academy Award-nominated writers Tab Murphy (“Gorillas in the Mist”), Roger Avary (“Pulp Fiction”), Ernesto Foronda (“Better Luck Tomorrow”), and companies including The Mark Gordon Company, Tribeca Productions and NBC Universal.
Testimonials
“I have never found a better resource EVER!! ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS CLASS!!!! INVALUABLE.” – Steph G.
“Best class I've taken with Stage 32. They're the attitudes and types of people you hope you'll find when you get to Hollywood.” – Nick K.
“Excellent presentation. I've been on another site's presentation and this was far superior. Good info, good answers.” – John M.
“Very clear thread of do's and don'ts and the live questions were very helpful. A "No B.S." webinar. Liked it.” – Bobby G.
“Loved it. Very helpful.” – Ken B.
“Great class for someone like me who has lots of determination and really needed a coach to clarify and get to the next level. Thank you!! “ – Larry C.
“Great job explaining a complex subject.” – Skip B.
“Great job! I've been producing and line producing for ultra low budget films for years…I definitely learned a lot and appreciated Tatiana's honesty!” – Stephanie B.