Next Step for New Film

[JT21Forever]

Greetings All,
I am curious to learn about the steps in taking a script from concept to actually getting it into production and I would very very much appreciative of your advice. I have written and directed several short indie films and one feature film before, but all were very low budget. I have recently finished a script for my 2nd feature, but after now having a few more years of experience under my belt, I understand that this is not a film that can be done without the proper support and funding. I have already sent it out to other indie producers I know for their opinions and etc so that the script is now locked and ready to move forward. My real question is this:

I have the script, where do I go from here? How do I attempt to get funding, and how do I get support for the film before it has funding (or is that even possible)?

I have some ideas such as indiegogo and kickstarter, but the budget I believe it will take to make this film is at least $40,000-$60,000, and I feel it would be difficult to raise such capital simply on those resources. Any and all help would be incredibly helpful. Thank you all kindly.

-Josh

 

[vic777]

Hi Josh,
Send me a copy and I'll tell you what I think.
thanks,
v

 

[JT21Forever]

V,
Thank you for your response. I sent you a private message.
-Josh

 

[Eric Boellner]

Hey Josh,

My friend and I are in a similar position ourselves on our next feature (my first, his fourth). If it helps any, and since you live in SoCal it might, our plan is to shoot whether or not we have the money, but since we've set a shoot date of Jan 21, 2012 and the script is already at a point that it's ready to get out there, we're hoping to raise a little interest from low- to mid-level studios/production companies in the next couple months leading up to the shoot. Our plan is to create a one sheet (a basic poster for marketing purposes), a few different types of synopses of the story, and take the script and those materials to whomever we can get a meeting with - which, generally speaking, should be more than a few people.

As we're managing the details of getting the one sheet done (need temporary tattoos that will wash off easy), I'm looking into every low-range studio/prodco I can find. Before we "go out" with the script and the pitch package, I'm going to have a list of who is in charge of development at a given production company, comparable films that the studio/prodco has produced or distributed, and if possible, I'd like to know what budgets those films were shot on so that we can pitch our film at a similar budget (as I mentioned in the production thread for our film, Skinhead, if you pitch $40k to a production company that hasn't made a film for less than $500k, they're going to think you're looney - similarly, if you pitch $2mil at a prodco that usually runs on the cheap, they'll point you to another prodco... like, any other prodco).

For your project, I would definitely do a few of these things:

- Talk to filmmakers who've done projects at a similar budget level, see where and how they got the money, ask for advice, etc. Most filmmakers are perfectly willing to help, but generally speaking, the ones who know what they're talking about, and who've been in your situation, don't always find your thread or post. So seek them out, approach them personally, and I'm sure they'll be more than willing to help.

- Research similar-genre films with a similar budget, learn all you can about them, and look at the production companies and producers listed in the credits and on the DVD case/website. Then research those production companies and see what other low-budget films they've produced, see if they'd be a good fit for your project.

- If you know how to work it, you can make IndieGoGo or Kickstarter work for you. But in the $40k range, you're right in that it's going to be a lot of work and you've got to have a special project. About 99% of the other filmmakers on this site know more about crowdsource funding than I do, though, so hopefully someone else can step in here and help you on that aspect. Alternatively, there is a S..TLOAD of helpful info to be devoured in the User Films section. Skim the production threads and find the ones that have lots of info in them (one of my favorites is Kholi's "SUPERSEEDS" thread).

Good luck!

Michael Traven

 

[JT21Forever]

My friend and I are in a similar position ourselves on our next feature (my first, his fourth). If it helps any, and since you live in SoCal it might, our plan is to shoot whether or not we have the money, but since we've set a shoot date of Jan 21, 2012 and the script is already at a point that it's ready to get out there, we're hoping to raise a little interest from low- to mid-level studios/production companies in the next couple months leading up to the shoot.

I wish I could say we could do this but the props, locations, and sheer number of actors for the film will require the budget, not having the money is not an option, my first feature was like that, a kind of make it happen somehow film, but this one would not permit filming without the proper budget behind it.”

Our plan is to create a one sheet (a basic poster for marketing purposes), a few different types of synopses of the story, and take the script and those materials to whomever we can get a meeting with - which, generally speaking, should be more than a few people.

I am currently working on a few versions of a “One Sheet” for the film, as well as treatments and synopsis, but if I may ask who are you and how are you finding people with which to meet and pitch your idea?

As we're managing the details of getting the one sheet done (need temporary tattoos that will wash off easy), I'm looking into every low-range studio/prodco I can find. Before we "go out" with the script and the pitch package, I'm going to have a list of who is in charge of development at a given production company, comparable films that the studio/prodco has produced or distributed, and if possible, I'd like to know what budgets those films were shot on so that we can pitch our film at a similar budget (as I mentioned in the production thread for our film, Skinhead, if you pitch $40k to a production company that hasn't made a film for less than $500k, they're going to think you're looney - similarly, if you pitch $2mil at a prodco that usually runs on the cheap, they'll point you to another prodco... like, any other prodco).

Are you researching these production companies so that you can pitch your film to them? Or are you trying to get them to back your film so you can take it to even bigger companies? The goal for my film, if at all possible, is to get the backing behind it so that my indie production company, Long Board Productions, can, in association with another few production companies, make the film ourselves.

For your project, I would definitely do a few of these things:
- Talk to filmmakers who've done projects at a similar budget level, see where and how they got the money, ask for advice, etc. Most filmmakers are perfectly willing to help, but generally speaking, the ones who know what they're talking about, and who've been in your situation, don't always find your thread or post. So seek them out, approach them personally, and I'm sure they'll be more than willing to help.

I would love to speak to people who have produced films like this or of this caliber, but as you said they difficulty is in finding them.

Research similar-genre films with a similar budget, learn all you can about them, and look at the production companies and producers listed in the credits and on the DVD case/website. Then research those production companies and see what other low-budget films they've produced, see if they'd be a good fit for your project.

This is a fantastic idea, thank you.

 

[MichaelP]

Do you have a business plan? Check out www.filmspecific.com for lots of good resources on creating a plan and distribution ideas. Membership required but worth it. Also on facebook as film specific.

Michael

 

[JT21Forever]

Do you have a business plan? Check out www.filmspecific.com for lots of good resources on creating a plan and distribution ideas. Membership required but worth it. Also on facebook as film specific.

Michael

Michael,
Honestly, no I do not yet have a business plan, my training is in directing, so I am still learning man of the producers tasks. I would be very appreciative of any suggestions of how to make a good business plan, or raise capital for the film. Thank you very kindly.

Josh

 

[prexdealer]

I also think FIlmspecific is a great place to go for information. It has a ton of contact info (mainly sales and distribution companies). But there is a lot of info on how to package deals together.

Michael,
Honestly, no I do not yet have a business plan, my training is in directing, so I am still learning man of the producers tasks. I would be very appreciative of any suggestions of how to make a good business plan, or raise capital for the film. Thank you very kindly.

Josh

 

[Ryan-Guy]

Greetings All,

I have some ideas such as indiegogo and kickstarter, but the budget I believe it will take to make this film is at least $40,000-$60,000, and I feel it would be difficult to raise such capital simply on those resources. Any and all help would be incredibly helpful. Thank you all kindly.

-Josh

You'd be surprised what a good video on Kickstarter can do. When I launched my campaign 8 months ago $40k was only reached by a select few... Now there are many hitting that goal. I say give it a shot. Spend a few days coming up with a great pitch video, spend a few days making it, and post your project and see what happens. And you have a great network here on DVX that I'm sure would get behind a good project. I raised that much and I'd love to help someone else do it to. I'm now in SoCal so PM me if you decide to go that route and want some veteran tips/guidance.