For many independent film producers and filmmakers, approaching financiers and securing financing for your project presents one of the biggest challenges in the entire filmmaking process. How do you build your team, bring in development funds, attach name talent and work with rebates, sales estimates & distribution to attract financing all while compiling a plan to mitigate your financial risk? This  can all be overwhelming for a producer, especially given the ever changing landscape and the increasingly competitive nature of independent film. 

Your goal as a filmmaker or producer is to make your project more financially attractive to investors over everyone else presenting projects to them. What many filmmakers and producers don't know is that there's a "sweet spot" in a film budget range that will help you raise funds successfully and get the ROI your investors are looking for. Setting the budget for your feature film at between $250,000 and $2 million opens up a variety of options for you to be able to attach the talent you're looking for, the distribution you need and make your investors money. But first, you have to understand the financial blueprint to get you there.  

Franco Sama has produced 25+ successful independent feature films between $250,000 - $2MM. He has worked with Oscar winner Christine Lahti, Dane Cook, Christian Slater, Gary Oldman, David Arquette, Brittany Snow, Vivica Fox, Michael Madsen and many more. He's worked with first time directors and experienced directors and has seen all scenarios when it comes to putting together financing for films. Franco knows first hand every step of the financial model needed to make a movie profitable and he's bringing this knowledge exclusively to the Stage 32 community. 

In this webinar, you will learn how to approach your film from the investor’s point of view so you can not only get the money you need for your project but, most importantly, make a profit on your film so your investor gets their money back. You will learn how to build a team around your project that will not only make investing more attractive, but also assure you don't make mistakes when you go after funding. You'll learn the type of funding that is available to you and how to approach the investors attracted to and interested in each type of financing. You'll dissect how to get agents on your side to attach talent to your project and how to work with attorneys. You'll also learn the most effective distribution options for this type of film budget. Drawing from his nearly two decades of experience, Franco will teach you how he gets his dozens of projects financed, distributed and turning a profit, and why he stays in the “sweet spot” range between $250K-$2M.

Give yourself the competitive advantage to understand the types of investors you need to approach, how to approach them, how to get talent attached, and, ultimately, how to get your film made, distributed, and profitable so your investors return again and again!

PRAISE FOR FRANCO'S TEACHINGS:

“Head & shoulders above the usual webinars on film distribution and finance. Franco actually knows his stuff and has a track record to back it up. Really good presentation.” – Scott B.

“This webinar gave me a TON of information and things to consider as we move forward with our first feature project. Thank you Stage32 for providing these excellent training opportunities.” – LeAnn M.

“Franco was very informative. I've already produced a ton of stuff but have been challenged by the distribution side (although my 1st feature HAS finally gotten distribution!). He gave me some great nuggets of information. I would definitely take another webinar with him.” – Stephanie B.

“I thought that this seminar presented a wealth of useful information in a short period of time.” – Glen P.

“The material provided is informative and appreciated!” – Andry P.

• Script vs. Deal
• What attracts investors?
• Do’s and Don’ts for Development and Approaching Financing
• The old way of producing and financing a film.
• The new way of producing and financing a film.
• Building Your Team
• Six critical people to hire and why.
• Development Funding
• Why you need it and where to find it.
• Types of Funding for Your Film
• Hard Money
• Soft Money
• Equity vs. Debt Financing
• Tranches and Drawdown Schedules
• 6 things you need to know.
• Proof of Funds
• 5 things you need to know.
• Explaining Your Revenue Returns
• Understanding Investors
• Breaking down the 3 main types of investors, what they look for and what motivates them.
• Tax Incentives, Rebates and Credits
• Understanding how to monetize them.
• Distribution Options for your Film
• Distributors vs. sales agents
• International vs. Domestic
• Selling territories
• Pre-sales vs. Sales estimates
• Explaining Minimum Guarantees
• Limited Platform Release
  • What it will cost you
  • What the pros and cons are
• Third-Third-Third Theory
• The Art of Securing “A List” Talent.
• • 5 things you need to know.
  • Letters of Intent (LOIs)
  • Pay or play
• First Time Directors
• • 5 things you need to know
• Attorneys
• • Key things to look out for when engaging your entertainment attorney.
• Product Placement vs. Integration
• Q&A with Franco

• Independent Producers looking to get financing for $2M or less.
• Producers looking to learn how to incorporate distributors into their financing plan.
• Producers looking to learn how to turn a profit on their projects.
• First time producers who want to learn how to avoid fatal mistakes during the financing process.
• Directors and 1^st ADs who want to learn what they can do during the development process to make the project more attractive to investors.
• Financiers who want to learn how they can better invest their money and what they can do to see higher returns.
• Any creative looking to write or make an independent film under $2M.
• Screenwriters looking to control their own material and begin shooting their own films

“Head & shoulders above the usual webinars on film distribution and finance. Franco actually knows his stuff and has a track record to back it up. Really good presentation.” – Scott B.

“This webinar gave me a TON of information and things to consider as we move forward with our first feature project. Thank you Stage32 for providing these excellent training opportunities.” – LeAnn M.

“Franco was very informative. I've already produced a ton of stuff but have been challenged by the distribution side (although my 1st feature HAS finally gotten distribution!). He gave me some great nuggets of information. I would definitely take another webinar with him.” – Stephanie B.

“I thought that this seminar presented a wealth of useful information in a short period of time.” – Glen P.

“The material provided is informative and appreciated!” – Andry P.