I am not going to make this long (I'm going to try not to any way). About several months ago my company J and R Films, LLC was in the mist of putting our cast together to do a feature film called A Cry In The Dark based off of true life events. The story that came from the book called The Scream That No One Heard.
We pitched it around and we had several promises however; nothing came of it. Than in mid December, we found a Financier that made all type of promises and he had advised me to add more value to the film, we need to get a well named actor. We then reached out to several well known actors, Clarence Howard, Rockmond Dunbar, Columbus Short, Iris Elba just to name a few. Two of the many that we reached out to responded back. Rockmond Dunbar and Columbus Short. Once we received confirmation on the one who we really wanted to play the lead character; we reached back out to our Financier who told us that during the holidays that no one is going to be doing anything. So after the holidays is when everything kicked started for us, we had a full cast, costume designer, makeup artist, set designer, casting director, production assistant (s) etc. Then all of this Coronavirus came about and plus the Financier failed to produced anything on any type of investor (s) after telling us that he had about 4 or five investors ready.
My thing is this, since now that this Coronavirus has now changed the way that we live, and since we know that we have a major hit on our hands. What can we do to get this production finished and get it ready for the public on Hulu, NetFilx etc?
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Johnny L Watson Jr - We are in the same boat (corona virus) and the only thing you / we can do is keep making new contacts and be patient. This is the best time to reach people, while executives are on lock down they are looking opportunities and development deals. The best advice I would give you or anyone is to sign up for the Stage32 one on one sessions with a development producer, financier or executive producer. Good Luck.
CAB
Thank you Cab for the advice, that's exactly what I've been doing, just not here on Stage 32. I've been out networking on other venues with hopes of connecting with investors. Thought that I had one on lock, but he was a joke basically. Looking at his profile on IMDB, he's making films that is D- at best and barely making over 5 mil. So in realty, he couldn't afford to hook up with us even if he wanted to. Not with the list of talent that we have on board for our film.
But I'm still knocking on every internet door that leads me to investor that is serious about making money and that wants to help us make this film. But again Cab, thanks for the encouragement and the advice.
Johnny of J and R Films
Seriously, Wuhanvirus - CPP Virus - Covid-19 has nothing to do with the experience you relayed. It sounds classic fake financier story. I mean, did they ever offer up seed capital or money to attach and obligate talent? Or anything else? Or did they just suggest you do something, then suggest you do something else, etc. You are in the same position today as in December. What can do is what you must do - find the money and get the show shot. Sorry I have no other advice.
Everyone entitled to their opinion Sir, I'm just glad that I was find an investor..
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If they cannot provide you with Proof of Funds (POF) up front that is verifiable through YOUR bank manager, then it's not worth your time pitching to fake, self proclaimed financiers who claim they can provide a POF only IF you can provide intellectual property first. If the intellectual property is worth the funding, then that script is the asset that can produce the revenue at the Box Office. The Producer is the one person who is suppose to seek financing for an optioned script. A well known producer has development business relationships with prior funding practices that allows him/her to continue negotiating financing terms with his financier relationships. If you find a producer that has the credits worthy of financial backing for projects he/she is interested in, then funding a project (Your project) isn't an issue and can provide you with POF simply by his record of prior productions listed within his portfolio of credits. If the producer doesn't have a lot of executive producer credits, then I would seek out another producer to find the backing for you. If YOU are trying to break into the industry to become a producer, then you're seeking people who have assets that can be used to create a financial opportunity between your project opportunities and the potential "asset holder". This is leveraged by the bank as collateralized assets and depending on the type of assets they have (Paintings, jewelry, in ground assets, securities, etc) depends on what a bank will offer against the potential ROI of the slate or projects presented for financing. Do yourself a favor and get an entertainment attorney to assist you in finding legitimate financing contacts for your project. Once you've established business relationships with the few, the many will come your way through word of mouth.
I read a blog post today on this site that made a movie for $9k you should read that if you want that movie made. I think it makes the point very well. Good luck!
WL Wright, thank you for your response, and I did read part of that blog about making a film for 9k. I find that all well and good for that person who made that film. That may have worked for them, but in what they did may not work for everyone, especially for WHAT we have, we already have an Hollywood leading actor on board for this project and plus he's bringing with him his A+ acting friends as well to add even more value to the film. So for us to make a film for 9k, is totally out of the question. We won't even consider the idea. But thank you again for your response.
And Mr. Bales, thank you as well for your comment.
As I have said to someone yesterday, you live and you learn. And that's what happened with us..we learned so now we move forward
I didn't mean the part about the $9K I mean it about the passionate part about making sure that movie gets done through all the obstacles. The writer of that refers to some book he used as his get it done bible for his movie.
Okay...thanks again
:)
William E Bales great words, couldn't of said it any better!