Getting the Money : A Step-by-Step Guide for Writing Business Plans for Film

by Juuso, Jeremy

• ISBN13: 9781932907643
• ISBN10: 1932907645
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-10-01
• Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions

Summary

Sure, you might be fortunate enough to have your film funded by your family and friends and not need a business plan. But if you want a successful filmmaking career, you'll need to prove where profits will come from when your investors shout "show me the money!"

Author Biography

Jeremy Juuso serves as financial advisor and writes business plans for Fly High Films. As the founder of Jeremy Juuso Consulting, a firm specializing in the writing of film business proposals, publication of film data, and education of investors on the basics of the movie business, he also consults with a wide range of indie filmmakers and producers from all over the world. www.jeremyjuuso.com

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction	p. xi
Financial Projections	p. 1
Compare your film to other great films (Comparable Films Table)	p. 1
Predict your fame and glory (Income Projections Table)	p. 9
Forecast when everyone gets a Ferrari (Cash Flow Projections Table)	p. 14
Sum it all up (Investor Projections Table)	p. 24
Sample Financial Projections Sections	p. 31
Market Analysis & Marketing Strategy	p. 49
Describe how independent films are doing (... be honest)	p. 49
Preach the importance of word-of-mouth	p. 51
Talk about how independent films are marketed	p. 52
What's your target audience and how will you reach them?	p. 53
Sample Market Analysis & Marketing Strategy Sections	p. 55
Motion Picture Distribution	p. 67
Tell them how your movie makes it to Grandma's iPod	p. 68
Break the news gently: you pay the charges, distributors make the decisions	p. 68
Describe independent film distributors (nicely)	p. 70
What do they look for in a film?	p. 71
What's your strategy for snagging a distributor? - No begging	p. 72
Sample Motion Picture Distribution Section	p. 73
Company Description	p. 81
Identify yourself! (Or at least your film's business entity.)	p. 81
Who's on your team?	p. 82
Sample Company Description Section	p. 83
Product Description	p. 87
Write a story synopsis for your film	p. 87
Describe the project's other important details	p. 88
Sample Product Description Section	p. 90
Financing	p. 93
Briefly scare the crap out of the investor (a.k.a. the mini-risk statement)	p. 93
Explain how you intend to fund this gamble/film	p. 94
Explain how you intend to distribute the winnings	p. 94
Depict the ugly truth about residuals	p. 95
Sample Financing Section	p. 97
Industry Overview	p. 99
Portray the wonderful process of moviemaking (without the blood & sweat)	p. 99
Studio Films vs. Independent Films	p. 100
Describe the current and future state of the movie industry	p. 100
Sample Industry Overview Section	p. 104
Executive Summary	p. 109
Restate the whole plan... in one page	p. 109
Sample Executive Summaries	p. 111
Information and Risk Statement	p. 117
Legal junk (a.k.a. keeping you out of jail)	p. 117
Scare the crap out of the investor (a.k.a. the full risk statement)	p. 120
Sample Information and Risk Statement	p. 122
Completed Plan	p. 125
Put it in the right order	p. 125
Get a good lawyer	p. 126
Make a great film!	p. 126
Sample Plan in its Entirety	p. 127
Nitty Gritty Details	p. 165
Recommended Reading	p. 205
Index	p. 211
About the Author	p. 221
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