"Corrado" - A production blog

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Hi Adam.

When in the buying selling mode at any stage or faze you need something for leverage. And I guess all is fair in love and war short of fraud and misrepresentation but that aside; lets say you get Mr. A-list attatched for say one day is that something that you can parley to get the rest of the dominos to fall? Do they have to know when they ask "Who is in it" that it is only one scene or a cameo? I am not talking about using that to sell to a distrib I mean at the casting stage and finance stages to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

You say in order to sit down at the table with the big boys you need a feature under your belt. Even a piece of shi*? Even if there are no names in it? Even something that hasent found distribution? Or what exactly makes it relevant?

Would a feature in production count? What about a Documentary that has been picked up?

Pre-Sales...Does a very polished trailer and script count for anything? Also with a Pre-Sale
do they actually advance finance or is it a kind of guarentee that you take to a bank that then loans you that amount against your agreement?

Dogday.

I just read your last post alot was already covered. Yes selling is an Art.
 
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taormina said:
Do you now see how perception has become reality? Make yourself an authority to your investors.
[/B]
Click to expand...


I am sure that your model will be successful, why because it is extremely logic, i will give you that. But i guess this answers a previous question of mine that in your opinion every person that comes to a business deal is on his own, each one tryes to emphasize the upsides and the the down side is everyones individuals own problem to evaluate?

So you are basically advocating to play with your cards close to the chest when in negotiations? I always think imagine my self that the big boys sit down they go like well this is how it really is, good and bad, here are the numbers, it looks like a good model, bla, bla........let's do it.
 
How much did you have to "play" the experienced film maker when meeting with people? You just come as you are dressed or you put on your french barrette and director shall. How much "spiel" is involved? Did it make you nervous?

Did you encourage or discourage meeting agents face to face during negotiations? Most of us are better pulling off the "grande" producer on the phone? Or did the whole thing work by fax, email...?
 
Did your investors just write you one check 350k before you stated production? How long in advance did you get the core amount? Did you pay as you vent or put off paying some things until you sell the film?
 
Ok silly question ( in a way ) ... Its a what would Adam do if he were in this type of situation...

Here is my dilema at the moment and some possible solutions.

I have raised a small amount of cash 60.000USD.

My goal is to generate more cash to be able to get the cast I want for my killer script.

Here are some options;

A.
I use the money to invest in great gear and do a smaller feature length no namer, many plus and minus with that, basically track record and maybe some sort of sale somewhere. I have a shi* genre script with a bunch of talented good looking no namers that will work for free.

B.
I hold the cash and get a sponsor to agree to use their name and then approach other sponsors showing them someone has already come on board and ask would they like to join the club. Of course in thsi scenario there is a plan of platforms and forecasts with numbers etc.

C.
I secure one A-lister who takes lets say 30K-50K in day rate and then give them % in advance with dates etc then turn that around to raise more based on that attatchment? Though what I have heard is that if they catch wind to your use of their name to raise more finance they want to cut a back end point deal ( Yes ? No? down to how one negotiates? )

D.
This last scenario is two fold, Approaching a soft money situation, a co-production of sorts, Is 60.000USD liquid regarded as the sames as 60.000USD in insured and appraised gear IE: "Company Assets" ?

Dogday.

P.S.
What was the % of Tom`s wages you had to cough up in advance to make them feel you were for real?
 
DogDay said:
Hi Adam.

When in the buying selling mode at any stage or faze you need something right for leverage. And I guess all is fair in love and war short of fraud and misrepresentation but that aside; lets say you get Mr. A-list attatched for say one day is that something that you can parley to get the rest of the dominos to fall? Do they have to know when they ask "Who is in it" that it is only one scene or a cameo? I am not talking about using that to sell to a distrib I mean at the casting stage and finance stages to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

You say in order to sit down at the table with the big boys you need a feature under your belt. Even a piece of shi*? Even if there are no names in it? Even something that hasent found distribution? Or what exactly makes it relevant?

Would a feature in production count? What about a Documentary that has been picked up?

Pre-Sales...Does a very polished trailer and script count for anything? Also with a Pre-Sale
do they actually advance finance or is it a kind of guarentee that you take to a bank that then loans you that amount against your agreement?

Dogday.

I just read your last post alot was already covered. Yes selling is an Art.
Click to expand...

No, just tell them the guy is in it, end of story. This is filed under "telling people more than they need to know"

Your first feature is your first feature. You play the hand you're dealt. When you make movie number two, you use the leverage from the first one. Forget pre-sales at this stage. You are too risky. So am I.
 
HVX2006 said:
I am sure that your model will be successful, why because it is extremely logic, i will give you that. But i guess this answers a previous question of mine that in your opinion every person that comes to a business deal is on his own, each one tryes to emphasize the upsides and the the down side is everyones individuals own problem to evaluate?

So you are basically advocating to play with your cards close to the chest when in negotiations? I always think imagine my self that the big boys sit down they go like well this is how it really is, good and bad, here are the numbers, it looks like a good model, bla, bla........let's do it.
Click to expand...

Sales is such - you do not lie, and you do not exaggerate. You must carefully navigate the Scylla of saying too much and the Charybdis of mentioning the bad aspects of a particular transaction.
 
When you initially asked for Tom, did the agent ask you who was in the lead? How did you deal with that? What did you say? You say don't make them nervous, but i know from my line of work that i could spot "poser" within the first 5 min. I just the questions he askes or doesn't ask. Is there any particular book that you feel prepared you to deal with the business aspect, what a contract looks like, how you go about optioning an actor. You seem to have been very sure of your self and comfortable talking with those people. I know about your business experience, but every business got its own lingo, and way of doing things and if you haven done something you will just not know. It could be something stupid like sending a contract thats to thick or to slim. Or asking for a personal phone number....

I am just throwing out these questions as they come to me, if your fingers are getting a cramp just let me know.
 
HVX2006 said:
How much did you have to "play" the experienced film maker when meeting with people? You just come as you are dressed or you put on your french barrette and director shall. How much "spiel" is involved? Did it make you nervous?

Did you encourage or discourage meeting agents face to face during negotiations? Most of us are better pulling off the "grande" producer on the phone? Or did the whole thing work by fax, email...?
Click to expand...


I'm an awful actor. I can't play anything. But I do have self confidence and I know when to shut up. Even the fool as counted as wise when he holdeth his peace.

Not sure how to prepare you for a high powered negotiation. Most of it is done by phone, in the end you will meet everyone and must look and talk the part. I have faced an angry boardroom many times. My palms don't sweat and my pulse is very low while my mind turns at 10,000 rpm. It's a gift.
 
HVX2006 said:
Did your investors just write you one check 350k before you stated production? How long in advance did you get the core amount? Did you pay as you vent or put off paying some things until you sell the film?
Click to expand...

It came in installments during prepro.
 
DogDay said:
Ok silly question ( in a way ) ... Its a what would Adam do if he were in this type of situation...

Here is my dilema at the moment and some possible solutions.

I have raised a small amount of cash 60.000USD.

My goal is to generate more cash to be able to get the cast I want for my killer script.

Here are some options;

A.
I use the money to invest in great gear and do a smaller feature length no namer, many plus and minus with that, basically track record and maybe some sort of sale somewhere. I have a shi* genre script with a bunch of talented good looking no namers that will work for free.

B.
I hold the cash and get a sponsor to agree to use their name and then approach other sponsors showing them someone has already come on board and ask would they like to join the club. Of course in thsi scenario there is a plan of platforms and forecasts with numbers etc.

C.
I secure one A-lister who takes lets say 30K-50K in day rate and then give them % in advance with dates etc then turn that around to raise more based on that attatchment? Though what I have heard is that if they catch wind to your use of their name to raise more finance they want to cut a back end point deal ( Yes ? No? down to how one negotiates? )

D.
This last scenario is two fold, Approaching a soft money situation, a co-production of sorts, Is 60.000USD liquid regarded as the sames as 60.000USD in insured and appraised gear IE: "Company Assets" ?

Dogday.

P.S.
What was the % of Tom`s wages you had to cough up in advance to make them feel you were for real?
Click to expand...

None of the above. You make the movie you can make with $60K. You get a couple C listers instead and get it in the can.

I didn't have to cough up anything to make me seem real. People already get that I'm real....you feel me? Go make others believe YOU are real. It'll cost less.
 
taormina said:
It came in installments during prepro.
Click to expand...


On your next feature providing you have several producers. Telling one that you have raised X$ with another investor, so you only need this much $ more - (Even if it is just a verbal agreement in principle provided that you can raise the remaining money elsewhere. Is that standard or dodgy. Basically do you have to have money on the bank to say that you have it for the film. Would a letter of intent be any good. I mean to use as a chip when raising money?
 
HVX2006 said:
When you initially asked for Tom, did the agent ask you who was in the lead? How did you deal with that? What did you say? You say don't make them nervous, but i know from my line of work that i could spot "poser" within the first 5 min. I just the questions he askes or doesn't ask. Is there any particular book that you feel prepared you to deal with the business aspect, what a contract looks like, how you go about optioning an actor. You seem to have been very sure of your self and comfortable talking with those people. I know about your business experience, but every business got its own lingo, and way of doing things and if you haven done something you will just not know. It could be something stupid like sending a contract thats to thick or to slim. Or asking for a personal phone number....

I am just throwing out these questions as they come to me, if your fingers are getting a cramp just let me know.
Click to expand...

The agent did not ask the role. When he asked for the script it became apparent Tom was not the lead. I read all the movie books, Doc Simmens, etc. None of them helped me do a single thing. When I received Tom's deal memo I did not have an attorney look at it. I'm fairly familiar with contract law, and read it through to make sure it looked normal.

Amico, I know you are fishing for some magic answer as to what made this all happen. There isn't one. Which is why I think it's bullshit to make it look like there is, and profit from this information. This is why I do not want to sell my "secrets". Because there is no secret.

You've asked me all night and I've answered truthfully and fully. No revelation has come of it save for the meat and potatoes of life - common sense, faith in Almighty God, perseverance, determination, attitude and drive. There is no luck. I do not believe in luck. I make my own.

Now how am I supposed to charge you for that???
 
taormina said:
None of the above. You make the movie you can make with $60K. You get a couple C listers instead and get it in the can.

I didn't have to cough up anything to make me seem real. People already get that I'm real....you feel me? Go make others believe YOU are real. It'll cost less.
Click to expand...



That kind of goes against what you have said so far. Basically you can only be fairly sure to sell a film if it has a B lister of Tom's caliber in it. Didn't you say no one really cared about if you had a TV actor in your cast. Would it not be better to wait raise more money or not do the film at all. As you said, making a film with a nobody in it is like making a very expensive pet project. That is if you are doing this to sell and not just to gain experience???
 
HVX2006 said:
On your next feature providing you have several producers. Telling one that you have raised X$ with another investor, so you only need this much $ more - (Even if it is just a verbal agreement in principle provided that you can raise the remaining money elsewhere. Is that standard or dodgy. Basically do you have to have money on the bank to say that you have it for the film. Would a letter of intent be any good. I mean to use as a chip when raising money?
Click to expand...


Generally to say the money is forthcoming or earmarked is enough - at some point you will need to produce the money though, so control your exaggeration.
 
HVX2006 said:
That kind of goes against what you have said so far. Basically you can only be fairly sure to sell a film if it has a B lister of Tom's caliber in it. Didn't you say no one really cared about if you had a TV actor in your cast. Would it not be better to wait raise more money or not do the film at all. As you said, making a film with a nobody in it is like making a very expensive pet project. That is if you are doing this to sell and not just to gain experience???
Click to expand...

Dog is already waaaaaaay ahead of the game. He has sixty large, bro. Sixty large! that already puts him above 98% of the people on this board. So if the choice is:

1) Not make the movie - wait for more dough
2) Make the movie with nobodies
3) Make the movie with some C listers or TV guys

He'd be a fool to not make the best film he could with the cast he can afford...i.e. choice #3!!!!!!!!!

And if he makes a good film he will sell said film. And when someone asks who's in it he can say "Patrick Duffy" or whatever instead of some unknown.
 
Anyways thank you for taking the time to reply to my questions, i feel i learned allot of new things. This thread is amazing, cant wait to hear about how the sales go. Good luck!
 
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