business plans that get funded - how?

Ah, now we're getting somewhere. Since you've already completed Felliniesque Players, you have prior works to illustrate proof of concept. Of course for the investors, having an "entertaining and artistically satisfying movie" does not presuppose a correlation to financial success. But the good news with media in hand you can demonstrate to potential investors you indeed have a hot concept. As we addressed earlier, many filmmakers would go the traditional film festival route.

Let's take El Mariachi as a case in point. Robert Rodriguez filmed his first movie (actually he says it was his 30th, others in-house) which kicked butt at the festivals. Using this to demonstrate his viable proof of concept, he went on to commercially film the remake, Desperado. Obviously any reasonable business model would be a winner for Robert, the investors knowing the remake would be a hit (with name talent actors and his directing/production skills). And Robert is legendary for stretching the dollar/peso.

So yes, you're advocating for Felliniesque Players is the "build a little - test a little" approach, which is a much easier sell to prospective investors (risk mitigation).

Michael
 
So screening Felliniesque Players to investors would be the logical way to go, instead of screening it to cast -- like I'd planned. Should I also have cast present? Should I have anything to hand out to investors?
 
filmman said:
So screening Felliniesque Players to investors would be the logical way to go, instead of screening it to cast -- like I'd planned.
Click to expand...

filmman said:
Should I also have cast present?
Click to expand...

Yes, for sure - mandatory appearance!

filmman said:
Should I have anything to hand out to investors?
Click to expand...

Sure, I'm sure you're getting tired of me saying it but I recommend you consult "Reel to Deal" which spells all this out, and more...

Michael
 
filmman said:
a 35mm feature film production. My film and lab costs through a release print will be $35,000.
Click to expand...

How are you breaking this down... lets say its the average 8500 foot feature...

$8,500 5 to 1 at .20 a foot for short ends... (poor loader is always loading)
$5,100 for lab at .12 a foot (its been a while since my 35 days so could be off)
$425 prepping for transfer (42.5 x $10 we have a total of 42,500 feet of film)
$4,200 for transfer to video (3 to 1 one light transfer at $200 per hour 21 hours)
$100 for mini dv stock to bring into Avid or FCP (never cut a feature on FCP though) never used dv either... digibeta
$750 for non circle takes that editor might need...
$10,000 negative cut
$6,800 A/B wet gate answer print 8,500 feet x .80 a foot...
$3,400 mag transfer to optical track 8,500 x .40 a foot...
$2,550 for release print to show... 8,500 x . 30 a foot...
$3,400 for low-con print for making video masters 8.500 x .40 a foot...

$45,225 and I know I'm missing some steps in here... and if your shooting ratio goes up add 1/4 to 1/2 of these costs to your budget... and if you want to save time... but not always having your loads run out get at least 500 foot loads which will give you give or take about 5 minutes... so add another .10 a foot to your film stock numbers... which of course will be bring up your lab costs...

Unless your going to do it this way...
$8,500 5 to 1 at .20 a foot for short ends... (poor loader is always loading)
$5,100 for lab at .12 a foot (its been a while since my 35 days so could be off)
$425 prepping for transfer (42.5 x $10 we have a total of 42,500 feet of film)
$7,350 for transfer to HD (3 to 1 best light transfer at $350 per hour 21 hours)
$1,575 HD stock (Sony HD Cam)
$35,000 your DI for film out http://www.contact-di.com/digital-intermediate2.html
$57,950

So if you can beat these numbers let me know where...
 
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Thanks for asking, Gary :-)

How are you breaking this down... lets say its the average 8500 foot feature...

For easy math, let's say 100 minute movie; therefore, 9,000 ft.

$8,500 5 to 1 at .20 a foot for short ends... (poor loader is always loading)

15 cents per foot average, 200-1000 ft rolls, 5:1 ratio, 45,000' = $6,750.

$5,100 for lab at .12 a foot (its been a while since my 35 days so could be off)

10 cents per foot DeLuxe Labs, Hollywood = $4,500.

$425 prepping for transfer (42.5 x $10 we have a total of 42,500 feet of film)

I splice the 35mm rolls together into 1000 ft reels. The labs does the ultrasonic cleaning.

$4,200 for transfer to video (3 to 1 one light transfer at $200 per hour 21 hours)

Magic Film in Burbank transfers my negative at $150 per hour. Circled takes only, 20,000 ft. = $880. (includes a few extra hours for change-overs.)

 $100 for mini dv stock to bring into Avid or FCP (never cut a feature on FCP though) never used dv either... digibeta

I use DVCAM and supply it myself -- about 5 or 6 tapes, about $20.

$750 for non circle takes that editor might need...
$10,000 negative cut

I do all negative cutting myself -- have all the equipment.

$6,800 A/B wet gate answer print 8,500 feet x .80 a foot...
$3,400 mag transfer to optical track 8,500 x .40 a foot...
$2,550 for release print to show... 8,500 x . 30 a foot...

$10,000 for 35mm Answer Print with Optical Track.

Total = $22,150.

I'm not sure about digital master for DVD production. I have FCP 5.04 and there are new choices now as technology allows many options.

$3,400 for low-con print for making video masters 8.500 x .40 a foot...

$45,225

So my estimate of $35,000 is doable.

If you're interested I can even do better than this. I will help you shoot 35mm for less than many people spend on digital.

I have 35mm mag transfer and recorder -- Magnasync Moviola.

vic@felliniesque.com
 
Crazy thing said my message was too short... tell me how with all this below it can be too short... : )

And hopefully I'm thinking right... one of those nights where you're tired but can't sleep...

QUOTE=filmman;1400179]Thanks for asking, Gary :-)

15 cents per foot average, 200-1000 ft rolls, 5:1 ratio, 45,000' = $6,750.

if you can get it for .15 a foot buy it all up now... still go for 350 to 500' or better rolls...

10 cents per foot DeLuxe Labs, Hollywood = $4,500.

I wasn't sure if anyone is doing .10 a foot anymore... I was going with .12 since its been two features and two TV spots since I've done 35....

I splice the 35mm rolls together into 1000 ft reels. The labs does the ultrasonic cleaning.

Okay here I'm lost... they'll still charge you on average at least $10 bucks a roll so I still just have the lab do it...


Magic Film in Burbank transfers my negative at $150 per hour. Circled takes only, 20,000 ft. = $880. (includes a few extra hours for change-overs.)

Surprised Magic is still doing it that low... $150 per hour... unless I'm tired which isn't the case... having one of those nights where you can't sleep... but 45,000 feet equals 45 1000' loads... at I'm just going to guess half are circle takes... then that 22,500 so about 3.75 hours... x 150... yeah I can see where you coming from... but seems like transfers always go a little bit longer... so lets say $1,200 (adding you might need a shot or two that are not circle takes to cover a bad cut, etc..

I use DVCAM and supply it myself -- about 5 or 6 tapes, about $20.

Yeah... I was going a little high there...

I do all negative cutting myself -- have all the equipment.

Ah... a brave man... I hated cutting film even just a one lite work print... that's why I love NLE's...

So my estimate of $35,000 is doable.

Man, cut out the thing about FCP... maybe you're a better colorist than myself... never had any good luck getting a one lite transfer to look good... now a friend in New York did... but of course they did that on a rank... if I remember right..

If you're interested I can even do better than this. I will help you shoot 35mm for less than many people spend on digital.

I can get the above DP in upstate New York and I can't remember which ARRI he has... if I beg.. him... camera and primes... and have him even throw in his sound stuff for $2,500 a week...

I have 35mm mag transfer and recorder -- Magnasync Moviola.

That'll save you some...

Yeah another savings there...

vic@felliniesque.com
[/QUOTE]
 
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Geez... I know I'm tired.. having a sleepless night but man I answered all these... went to correct a mistake and it says message too short and everything disappeared...

And I tried to delte this one and added stuff and its missing... oh well maybe I should see if I can crash now...

Just thought since you can cut the neg... there's the $10k difference... plus your mag also...
 
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filmman said:
All you need is a hot splicer and a couple of rewinds :-)
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Hot splicer... I always hate burning my fingers : )

I've really have not looked into FCP to see if it can do it... never really used Cinema Tools much...

But does it handle flex files and how bout the final EDL output with all your edge code numbers....

Or will you just watch the monitor for your edgecode numbers and then cut . splice... then watch the next cut, cut & splice again... like I said a brave man... since like I posted above.. always hated cutting even a work print...

Which really makes an impression on me of all these old films cutting on film and how they kept track of everything... just hate looking for a missing frame that you cut out... and then you need it again... having to search your edit bins for it and then if you can't find it your on hands and knees looking for that frame on the floor... give me NLE's all the time...

Guess we better get back on topic... : )
 
I haven't worked with cinema tools yet. I was under the impression cinema tools will produce an edge numbers printout? With my last 35mm feature film, BUTTERFLIES IN THE WIND, I had a work print of the movie. I edited the movie on my 35mm Cinemonta flatbed (6 plates) and I telecined the edited work print. I had just been given a G5 and FCP 5.04 as a present, so I ended up learning it and now I just love doing my soundtrack on FCP.

Of course, when it comes time to make a 35mm Answer Print, I will transfer the mix to 35mm mag and then syncronize on my Cinemonta.

I like digital movie making when I want to really get creative. I can try anything; no worry about having to do another take. I really like my Sony Z1 camera (also a present :-). Felliniesque Players looks terrific on DVD. I can't imagine how beautiful it will look on bluray? I can't wait until someone makes a bluray burner that can do DVDs. With a 50 Gig movie file, one can do theatrical screening with blurays, I would imagine?

How do I put all this in a business plan? :-) I'm so excited about the potential of the new media -- especially for release purposes and exhibition.
 
Find a fellow who knows about taxes. Tax credits and tax shelters are brilliant if you know how to use them properly. I personally am not great with taxes, but I know that if you utilize a tax shelter properly, the investor will essentially be gaining money that would have been originally lost to taxes by investing in your film. Also, depending on what state you are in or plan to shoot in, the tax credits can provide a huge rebate, sometimes up to $500,000 or $1 million. That's money back in the investor's pocket without you doing anything but spending their money. Obviously this is not the entire solution to your issue of raising money, but it's a good tool to look into.
 
Thanks Alex. I've heard of this, but one secure a tax credit letter before the movie is made? Let's say, based on a script and budget?

Can you direct me to some tax expert who can help me?
 
I need a business plan that takes into consideration what my project is all about. Every movie is different. I guess i should develop a new business plan template.
 
I do not know of a tax expert to direct you to, but a good line producer should know a bit about that or at least know of someone to go to. Also, regarding the business plan template, I don't know if you have looked into this, but there's a book titled FILMMAKERS AND FINANCING: BUSINESS PLANS FOR INDEPENDENTS by Louise Levison. It takes you step by step through everything that should be included in film business plans, and how to mold it to your film. It's a decent resource.
 
Thanks Alex. I checked it out. There are used copies for $3.75 and $4.00.

Good reviews too on Amazon.com

It comes down to using a book or reading about how to do it. There is no free lunch :-)
 
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