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WhiteWood

WhiteWood

Carbonite Member
Hey, Tommie Green here. Okay, short and simple, here's my ordeal:
Right now I'm in the process of working on my company's 2nd annual event:
WHITEWOOD @ THE MOVIES
Where, for 2 hours, we'll be showcasing all of the work we've done this year in front of fam, friends, fans and most importantly, investors.
Why investors? Because we're looking to raise $200,000 so that I may begin production on my first full length film soon.

In order to entice these investors, I'm going to create an
'Investment Package'
I plan for it to include:
-A free ticket to the event.
-The first 10 pages of my screenplay (It's a BRILLIANT work in progress)
-A statistic sheet explaining how other films LIKE MINES have done at the box office, in their area, with their target market, etc.
-A breakdown as to where (I plan for) all of their money to be spent on the film (Producer, Actors, Catering, Film, Etc.).
-A sheet explaining estimated payback options. Including How we plan about making the money to pay them back. How long it should take. How many installments it'll take. Etc.
-A free DVD of everything they just saw on screen for them to go home and contemplate upon.

What I'm asking of you:
GIVE ME SITES, PLEASE!
Sites that do the research on films statistics.
Sites that explain how to break down film budgets with your specific amount of money
Sites to find investors! (lol, but seriously)

If not sites, then BOOKS will do!
Please help, one-man team working like NUTZ!
THANK YOU in advance!
 
You sure you want to give them the impression that your film will do as well as your examples of like films?

The lawyers will love you if it doesn't.

Not your lawyers. Theirs.
 
Several suggestions regarding budgeting: Film Budgeting and Film Scheduling. As far as software goes, invest in a copy of Gorilla.

More importantly, you say your screenplay is a work in progress. You need to have it finished if you plan on putting together a realisitc budget as EVERYTHING flows from the completed shooting script.
 
GenJerDan said:
You sure you want to give them the impression that your film will do as well as your examples of like films?

The lawyers will love you if it doesn't.

Not your lawyers. Theirs.
Click to expand...

well, I was told to do this from MovieMaker magazine. Statistics don't lie. And I'm going to give the investors the facts of movies like these, not pass them off as if MY movie is going to do that, just that it can.
 
Blaine said:
Several suggestions regarding budgeting: Film Budgeting and Film Scheduling. As far as software goes, invest in a copy of Gorilla.

More importantly, you say your screenplay is a work in progress. You need to have it finished if you plan on putting together a realisitc budget as EVERYTHING flows from the completed shooting script.
Click to expand...

So true. I think about that all the time. Thing is, no matter what I write, I KNOW that I’m only shooting for 20 Thou. So I won’t write in anything crazy expensive like an exploding plan on the GoldenGate. Lol. I’m pretty much just going to put a generic breakdown for a 90 page script and a $200,000 budget, as far as cast and crew by the hours, film and so forth. I already know every scene I’m going to write anyhow.
 
Just a couple thoughts. I packaged a feature script a couple years ago in a similar fashion. It's still under option. The one valuable tool we used was hiring a solid line producer to lay out a real budget, not just the main budget but all the tables and fringe work. All the bells and whistles are cute but the investors want the facts, the exact breakdown of expenditures and real projections. I remember giving them a package similar to yours during investor meetings and all of them skipping all the other crap and going straight to the budget and projections. It was an enlightening experience. Some of them didn't even care what it was about, the title or genre. All they wanted to know was their potential ROI. Keep that in mind when spending weeks (like we did) on a cool looking package. Unless of course these are not seasoned investors. If it's friends and family, go with the bells and whistles approach.

Good luck!
 
alveraz said:
Just a couple thoughts. I packaged a feature script a couple years ago in a similar fashion. It's still under option. The one valuable tool we used was hiring a solid line producer to lay out a real budget, not just the main budget but all the tables and fringe work. All the bells and whistles are cute but the investors want the facts, the exact breakdown of expenditures and real projections. I remember giving them a package similar to yours during investor meetings and all of them skipping all the other crap and going straight to the budget and projections. It was an enlightening experience. Some of them didn't even care what it was about, the title or genre. All they wanted to know was their potential ROI. Keep that in mind when spending weeks (like we did) on a cool looking package. Unless of course these are not seasoned investors. If it's friends and family, go with the bells and whistles approach.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

wow...that was enlightening. Thanx. Where'd you find your Line Producer?
 
" -A statistic sheet explaining how other films LIKE MINES have done at the box office, in their area, with their target market, etc."

yes, showing them the box office $$ of other movies like yours that were done for cheap is good ... AND you have to balance it with for every one of those that made $$ there were hundreds that didn't !!!
when you have no name director , no name actors etc . these days you have to tell your investor in writing they probably are never going to see a dime back , 90+ chance it will never get released etc .... yet at the same time you want to provide there is a "chance " for it to succeed "if" ..... you have to walk ( write) a fine line between realistic and hope ...

remember the easy part in the process is making the movie ... the hard part is getting the $$$ and then the most difficult of all is getting it seen ...

bottom line for all investors/investments is RISK vs. REWARD
 
donatello said:
" -A statistic sheet explaining how other films LIKE MINES have done at the box office, in their area, with their target market, etc."

yes, showing them the box office $$ of other movies like yours that were done for cheap is good ... AND you have to balance it with for every one of those that made $$ there were hundreds that didn't !!!
when you have no name director , no name actors etc . these days you have to tell your investor in writing they probably are never going to see a dime back , 90+ chance it will never get released etc .... yet at the same time you want to provide there is a "chance " for it to succeed "if" ..... you have to walk ( write) a fine line between realistic and hope ...

remember the easy part in the process is making the movie ... the hard part is getting the $$$ and then the most difficult of all is getting it seen ...

bottom line for all investors/investments is RISK vs. REWARD
Click to expand...

Thanx. MM Magazine suggested all of that. I mean, you don't DWELL on negativity, you just INCLUDE IT. Right now I need a line producer like that guy suggested. lol.
 
I wouldn't be comfortable seeking money without a completed polished script.

And investors are going to want to see your track record. Have you made short films that have played in festivals? Have you won any awards?
 
Isaac_Brody said:
I wouldn't be comfortable seeking money without a completed polished script.

And investors are going to want to see your track record. Have you made short films that have played in festivals? Have you won any awards?
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I'm 50 pages into the screenplay and took a break a few months back because I'm currently CRAZY busy with this event in December. I plan on restarting the script and having it 'polished' by the end of Jan.

No awards. TONS of short films. None in festivals, all in theatres.
 
Short films in theatres? You should get those shorts in festivals. It helps to have festival recognition when approaching investors. You've got at least forty pages left to write with your screenplay, not to mention rewrites. It sounds like you've got some work to go before trying to raise funding.
 
just to restate what others have already said, i think it's important you finish the script first. most people aren't going to want to put money down on a product that isn't ready to go. also, investors are going to make writing it that more stressful.
 
WhiteWood said:
wow...that was enlightening. Thanx. Where'd you find your Line Producer?
Click to expand...

I think it was on mandy.com? I don't remember, but just get some ads out there for a solid LP willing to give you a full breakdown. Of course, none of this can be done without a locked script. he will detail out every expense, down to the hairclip you describe in little suzy's hair.

Good luck!
 
Isaac_Brody said:
Short films in theatres? You should get those shorts in festivals. It helps to have festival recognition when approaching investors. You've got at least forty pages left to write with your screenplay, not to mention rewrites. It sounds like you've got some work to go before trying to raise funding.
Click to expand...

Well, I enjoy and appreciate this time away from the script. I've been doing research on LOTS of other successes, getting to know and grow myself and most importantly, forget my story. I'm falling out of love with it. I'll return to it with a newe eye. I'm building ideas, I already know what I'm going to write. Trust me, this idea works for ME. when I get BACK to my script, not only will I be able to write the 40 pages with SUCH EASE that it'll be complete in maybe a week, but I'll be able to improve on, what I feel, is already a GREAT story.
 
ugafan said:
just to restate what others have already said, i think it's important you finish the script first. most people aren't going to want to put money down on a product that isn't ready to go. also, investors are going to make writing it that more stressful.
Click to expand...

I've talked to two Michigan film makers (Darren Brown & Charles Cirgenski. IMBD them) that have MADE films. One of which JUST had Miramax cut him a $1,000,000 check BEFORE HE EVEN WROTE THE SCRIPT.
They BOTH told me that investors DON'T CARE about the script. Some do if they care about stories and movies. All they care about is 'when am I going to see my money back?'. They said don't include or mention it. Don't even write 'Script available upon request'. If they want to read it, they'll ask. And they usually don't.

So I don't need that kind of advice, sorry. What I DO need to know is the answers to the questions stated in the topic. Thanx anyways.
 
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