My script, Murder and Cocktails, was covered positively by Stage 32 so I decided to make it myself.
A podcast, How to Finance Your Film, just posted a 30-minute Podcast on how I put the project together.
It's now live at - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoQjc5YS6PI
See Murder and Cocktails on Prime, Apple TV + and any Cable Platform.
Discover how to make your script into something big.- Ron Jackson
PS - I'll answer any question
1 person likes this
Ama: what was cost of the movie and how much profit as of today? Ty
2 people like this
About $78,000 all in, I won't know the income until after the first quarter
1 person likes this
Thanks for sharing. Congrats! I will share your podcast with a friend in a film class at Pepperdine.
3 people like this
M LaVoie - I have a sales agent, Vision Films who handles distribution and sales. They will send me an income statement sometime after the first quarter. They set up distribution and the streamers and cable outlets determine their own pricing which neither nor Vision has any control over,.
1 person likes this
Kelly - thanks. I am open to answering almost any question.
1 person likes this
Any recoupable fees with your sales agent?
1 person likes this
I imagine you mean does the sales agent take any money to cover some of their promotional expenses.
If so, yes. My entertainment attorney negotiated the contract and she said that money was much less than usual. Pretty hard to avoid that expense considering the state of the market.
2 people like this
Vision did a great job of marketing my first film. Congrats on all this, Ron.
3 people like this
Thanks for your note, I’m working on a new script that may be closer to your heart, a neo noir.
2 people like this
Ron Jackson I don't know the particulars of your deal (nor is it my business), but for anyone else seeking distribution, marketing fees are how many companies make a buck on indie filmmakers for not doing anything additional, and a way to keep small guys in the red indefinitely. For example, there might be a 25 of 50k recoupable expense cap. Most indie films will never make more than this, so they don't make any money.
This is a great article everyone should read if they are seeking distribution:
https://www.stage32.com/blog/4-rules-to-financially-protect-your-film-wi...
Anyway - on a positive note, congrats on getting a film done. Self-financing is the way to go for most projects nowadays! Hope you are able to make some / all your money back!
2 people like this
I am watching the podcast now and enjoying it
2 people like this
Thanks Antonio. This will sound like a sales pitch but I suggest you watch the movie for professional reasons, to see what is possible and how on a low budget.
Then try writing a a script that can be offered to a producer.
Good luck…
3 people like this
Stephen Folker you’re right sales agents and others can make money off your production while the producer gets little to nothing.
That’s why you need a good entertainment attorney. Mine negotiated a very reasonable maximum on billable expenses. So I’m protected.