This book is about the practical realities of the film market today and how to make a film while minimizing financial risk. Film is a risky investment and securing that investment is a huge challenge. The best way to get investors is to do everything possible to make the film without losing money.
Featuring interviews with film industry veterans - sales agents, producers, distributors, directors, film investors, film authors and accountants - Daniel Harlow explores some of the biggest obstacles to making a commercially successful film and offers best practice advice on making a good film, that will also be a commercial success. The book explores key topics such as smart financing, casting to add value, understanding the film supply chain, the importance of genre, picking the right producer, negotiating pre-sales and much more. By learning how to break even, this book provides invaluable insight into the film industry that will help filmmakers build a real, continuing career.
A vital resource for filmmakers serious about sustaining a career in the 21st century film industry.
Introduction
PART 1 One small problem
1 A surprising discovery
2 The journey begins
PART 2 The obstacles
3 The culture of secrecy
4 Fear and loathing: commercial is a dirty word?
5 This stuff is complicated
6 Falling revenues: falling demand for indies
7 The downside of festival culture
8 Trends in film journalism
PART 3 How films make money
9 Rubber, meet road
10 The players
11 Monetization
12 How much to DIY
13 Promotion and publicity - who's selling this thing, anyway?
PART 4 Making profitable films
14 Sell the sizzle
15 Development: crafting a commercial success
16 Genre
17 Rising above genre
18 More film elements
19 Drafting
20 Casting
21 Producers and producing
22 Financials
23 Raising money the traditional way - beg
24 Before you start begging
25 Reducing the risk when presales don't work
26 Press - the gift that keeps on giving
Conclusion
Top ten lessons
Appendix: case studies, interviews and producer profiles
Case study: micro- budget filmmaking - Marcus Mizelle
Interview with legendary film school teacher Dov Simens
Case studies: niche moviemaking - Tom Malloy
Case studies: low-risk, low-budget sci fi - Jeffrey Giles
Case study: making 70 films with Daniel Zirilli of PopArt Film Factory
