After failing for the last two years to sell my big-budget screenplay, I have decided to try my hand at indie movie making. I have learned a lot from the various webinars here on Stage 32, read books written by other indie filmmakers, and done some internet research, so I think I'm pretty well-prepared as far as head-knowledge goes. Now for the experience part :) I am almost done with the screenplay and already have some interest from my home-town on participating in the project. I have a production company (which already have two features under their belts) that is very interested in the project. I even have an actress interested in the lead roll. My biggest hurdle, of course, will be raising the money, but I think with the team I am putting together, coupled with a (hopefully) great screenplay, I have a good chance of raising some capital. I know it sounds crazy, but I would LIKE to raise $1M. So, is anyone else on here in the midst of trying to put an indie movie together? If so, where are you in the process? How well are things moving along? Got any advice for a newbie?
Producing : Indie movie success by Toby Tate
Indie movie success
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First thing. Signed contracts. What role would you do on your project? Do you have a deal memo partnership with the prod company behind your script? $1mil is the sweet spot for Indie movies, enough $$ to attract experienced Crew and Talent (the example is Fruitvale Station) and $1mil is also when EGOs clash. my first movie was roughly $160K, personal money and 2 major Investors. Keep the private Investor pool small and write big checks. Investors can be headaches, especially if they want $$$ back after you cashed their checks. Cross off 2 years of life when you sign the contract to start the movie (new LLC company with you as one of Executives). It is a full time job. I think I was making .10cents an hour. Dont know how you would make your money back. Probably have to win Sundance Festival to get a deal. $1mil budget is iffy, high risk. Out of the $1mil budget, about $200K is on postproduction. (Maybe more). So you really have $800K to use. And out of the budget, pay yourself a salary. Good luck. Reality check. Stay healthy. Speak to RB of Stage32. he is at AFM now. Ask him about all the Producers there stressing they cant sell their movies.
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Thanks Dan - great info to have!
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yea, just compare the movie to a leased car. Decide early which payment plan : 2, 4, 8, 10++ year commitment?
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My second SAG ULB was a feature for $123K. My first SAG ULB was a thesis back in the 90s for $10K. I really wanted to get a new Maybach but $123K doesn't get you much Mercedes. What it does get you are open doors and opened my eyes in conducting business and the urgency to learn every tool to deliver product. And I won awards for every feature that I released (seems I release one feature every four years - first feature was a microbudget of under $2K). Since then, as a cinematographer, I have shot over 30 terabytes of camera RAW in the last 12 months. I also took my camera RAW for "Killers at Play" and loaded the 16 terabytes into an 18 terabyte RAID system I built myself. I am planning two more RAID builds for two features I am developing. This is to deliver Digital Cinema Packages for box office release. Start strong and have an exit strategy. Best of luck!
Thanks for the advice, Larry. Sounds like you're doing well.
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Just remember. Content is King.
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toby RB of stage 32 hosted a seminar on "how to make an indie look like a studio movie..." Pick his brain
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1 million for your first film...crazy. The things people are doing with 25 G's is amazing. Go slow..don't shame you or your town for 1 million. A good writer can do something for less. Maybe write a three location film.
Thanks Mark. Good advice.
Update: Two different Hollywood production companies have requested the screenplay, so I'm hoping to hear something positive from one of them. Since I already have a great screenplay, a film crew, locations and most of the actors on board, we're just basically looking for financing.
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OK so first...big budget let them do it...two you need an agent...easy if you have two studios after your project.
Larry.... I am planning two more RAID builds for two features I am developing. This is to deliver Digital Cinema Packages for box office release. ???????????
Mark, you seem confused. For clarification, what is your question then? We would like to know.
Curious an you explain a RAID build and how you you use it to deliver a package?
I'm kinda with Mark on this – I'm confused on how a RAID array will help you deliver digital product for theatrical release. Please enlighten me (there's something here I don't understand.) We use a five tier RAID array to feed our little 24 hour cable channel (I don't know the actual capacity – it works for us) but I don't understand how that would aid in theoretical release.