Learn a veteran acquisitions executive at Vertical Entertainment

Get an exclusive "Acquisitions Checklist for First Time Filmmakers" to make sure your film is a financial success!

Every year you hear of splashy sales coming out of the major film festivals like Cannes, Sundance, Berlin and more. Some of these movies win awards, some of them make money for their investors, and some even manage to do both. But for every success story there are many movies that go unsold for months or even years, with frustrated filmmakers wondering what went wrong.

While filmmaking is usually considered a risky bet for an investor, there are certain elements that you can have in your story and in your production that can help ensure your film is a success creatively and financially. So, what are these specific elements that can mitigate risk on your film? 

In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you'll learn all about what kinds of movies, and what elements in those movies, buyers are looking for when they are shopping to acquire the rights to a new film for distribution.

Teaching you everything you need to know about what makes your independent film attractive to buyers is Tony Piantedosi, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions at Vertical Entertainment. Vertical Entertainment recently acquired distribution rights to JEANNE DU BARRY, which stars Johnny Depp and was the opening film at the Cannes Film Festival. Vertical is also the company behind films such as the critically acclaimed EMILY THE CRIMINAL starring Aubrey Plaza, SHE CAME TO ME starring Peter Dinklage and Anne Hathaway, which was the opening film at the Berlin Film Festival, THE POD GENERATION starring Emilia Clarke and Chiwetel Ejiofor that was the opening film at the Sundance Film Festival, and countless more films!

With over a decade of experience as an acquisitions executive, Tony is an expert in distribution and will to teach you what kind of movies he and his contemporaries want to pick up for distribution and how these films can be best positioned to be sold and find a broad audience. 

If you’re looking to understand the priorities of a film buyer and how they can help you develop your projects for success, then this webinar is a must!

PLUS! Tony will provide you with exclusive handout to help you make your film marketable to buyers:

• An "Acquisitions Checklist for First Time Filmmakers" to make their film attractive to buyers

Tony on Teaching for Stage 32:

“The Stage 32 community is a talented and diverse group of artists and storytellers, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to connect and share insights with you!”

Production Guidance:

• Do you need a Unit Photographer? 
• If you can’t afford to dress your set, what do you do?
• Why you should favor day scenes over night scenes

Post-Production Guidance:

• Why are music clearances important?
• Make sure to have Music & Effects tracks for foreign territories
• Why your title matters more than you think

Selling Guidance:

• Should you premiere at a festival? The answer isn't always yes. 
• How the right logline, genre classification, and still image for publicity can make all the difference
• Make temp art and trailer, but don’t include dates in them
• Who should sell my movie? An agent, manager, lawyer? Myself?
• What deal points are we negotiating?

Who is Buying My Movie?

• Domestic Distributors vs Foreign Sales Agents
• Streaming originals
• Pros and cons of where your film goes

Bigger Picture: Why Am I Making a Movie, What’s the End Goal?

• Artistic Integrity and Awards?
• Profit?
• What do audiences want to see, and how do they watch it?
• What did COVID change?
• How you can set yourself up for future successes

Q&A With Tony

All levels of producers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to sell their feature film project.

All levels of filmmakers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to sell their feature film project.

All levels of producers and filmmakers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn the elements of a feature film that experienced and credible buyers are looking for.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) who want to write a feature film that will attract the attention of film buyers.

Actors who want to take control of their careers by being involved in feature film projects that will sell to buyers and garner a large audience.

Financiers who want to understand what elements in a feature film lead to the best ROI. 

Tony on Teaching for Stage 32:

“The Stage 32 community is a talented and diverse group of artists and storytellers, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to connect and share insights with you!”