Summary
If you are a writer, filmmaker, digital content creator, or producer, it's vitally important to not only understand the role of a sales agent, but how to find, vet and hire the right sales agent. This is a vital, yet extremely overlooked aspect that could make or break the viewership and profitability of your film or project!
In this challenging and competitive world of film and digital content finding the right sales agent is key. Understandably, many creatives, producers and digital content creators find venturing into the world of sales agents to be daunting. But it doesn't need to be!
There are few who know the world of sales agents better than Simon Graham-Claire and Ricky Margolis. Simon and Ricky head up, Future Films USA and have been involved in the financing and distribution of over 200 films and TV shows. In this extremely popular and exclusive Stage 32 Webinar, Simon and Ricky give you all the tools to navigate the minefield of sales agents.
Just some of the questions Simon and Ricky will be answering include:
What can a sales agent do for me that I can't do for myself? Where do I go to find a sales agent? How do I know if a sales agent is reputable? How do I know a sales agent is right for my genre? What questions should I be asking when vetting a sales agent? What if a sales agent disagrees with where I believe the film or project should be distributed? How much do sales agents cost? Will a sales agent expect to have an equity position in my film? How does the waterfall distribution of funds work with a sales agent involved? Can a sales agent bring financing to a project?
Let Simon and Ricky demystify the world of sales agents and help you protect the films, shows, and projects you worked so hard to conceive and create by getting your work seen and by increasing your likelihood of profitability!
PRAISE FOR SIMON AND RICKY'S TEACHINGS:
"I felt like Simon and Ricky had a concise step by step study guide on the process of getting to the green light... The idea of hiring a sales agent is no longer a jumble" - Betty S.
"Loved the presentation and I found it very informative! Thanks again!" - Richard D.
"Great seminar - informative and to the point." - Robert G.
"Very well presented! Loved their personal approach!" - Glenn C.
"Excellent presentation! Organized, well-spoken, and crystal clear!" - Brent B.
"My second webinar with Simon and Ricky. They're incredible. Please bring them back again." - Samantha M.
This webinar is available for immediate and unlimited viewing On Demand
What You'll Learn
Just some of what you'll learn from Simon and Ricky includes:
- What is a sales agent and what is a distributor?
- What are the benefits of working with a sales agent?
- What will a sales agent do for me that I can't do on my own?
- What is a sales agent looking for?
- How and where do they sell? The formats they sell (theatrical/SVOD/VOD/HV/TV).
- How do you vet a sales agent?
- Different types of financing a sales agent can bring to the project.
- How the money from sales flows to the producer.
- How and when you should approach a sales agent.
- How can a sales agent help with actor/cast values?
- How does the partnership work to get a project into production?
- What happens once the project is shot?
- Signs you have a great sales agent.
- Film Festivals and their position in the world of distribution.
- How a sales agent gets paid.
- Q&A with Simon & Ricky
Who Should Attend
Any Filmmaker, Producer, Screenwriter, or Digital Content Creator who is:
- Looking to partner with a sales agent
- Looking to get their project sold or distributed
- Wanting a better understanding of what makes their project desirable (or not!) to distributors.
- Wanting a better understanding on how to make their scripts/films/shows/projects more desirable to financiers and producers.
- Wanting to learn the financial benefits a sales agent brings to a project.
- Looking to navigate the competitive independent financing space.
- Looking for current information on the market and what's selling.
- Wanting to learn how to position their scripts/films/shows/projects to take advantage of the international market
- Interested in maintaining control of their material by producing their own projects
- Looking to understand and navigate the brave new world of digital/streaming financing and distribution
Executive
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 Future Films USA, with a background in physical production and film finance. 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.
Testimonials
"Loved the presentation and I found it very informative! Thanks again!" - Richard D.
"Great seminar - informative and to the point." - Robert G.
"Very well presented with a personal take on the business." - Glenn C.
"Excellent presentation! Organized, well-spoken... nothing negative to say here!" - Brent B.
"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" - Betty S.