2. A House Divided
Legal Notice
This business plan proposal has been submitted on a confidential basis solely for the benefit
of selected, highly qualified investors and is not for use by any other persons. Neither may it
be reproduced, stored or copied in any form. By accepting delivery of this business plan
proposal, the recipient acknowledges and agrees that: (i) in the event that the recipient does
not wish to pursue this matter, the recipient will return the copy to the contact and address
listed as soon as practical; (ii) the recipient will not copy, fax, reproduce, or distribute this
Confidential Business Plan Proposal in whole or in part, without permission; and (iii) all of
the information contained herein will be treated as proprietary and confidential material.
This agreement is executed by the recipient prior to, or contemporaneously with, his or her
receipt of the Business Plan Proposal.
THIS BUSINESS PLAN PROPOSAL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR
SOLICITATION TO ANYONE.
PROSPECTIVE FINANCING PARTIES SHOULD NOT CONSTRUE THE
CONTENTS OF THIS BUSINESS PLAN PROPOSAL AS LEGAL, INVESTMENT
OR TAX ADVICE. EACH FINANCING PARTY SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN
COUNSEL, ACCOUNTANTS, AND OTHER ADVISORS AS TO THE LEGAL, TAX,
ECONOMIC AND RELATED ASPECTS OF PROVIDING FINANCING TO THE
COMPANY AND AS TO THE SUITABILITY OF SUCH INVESTMENT.
THIS BUSINESS PLAN PROPOSAL INCLUDES CERTAIN STATEMENTS,
ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY WITH
RESPECT TO THE ANTICIPATED FUTURE PERFORMANCE OF THE
COMPANY. SUCH STATEMENTS, ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS REFLECT
VARIOUS ASSUMPTIONS MADE BY THE MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY
CONCERNING ANTICIPATED RESULTS, BE INCOMPLETE OR INACCURATE
AND MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE OCCURRENCE OF UNANTICIPATED
EVENTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. CONSEQUENTLY, ACTUAL RESULTS
ACHIEVED MAY VARY MATERIALLY AND FOR THE LOWER OR THE HIGHER
FROM THOSE PROJECTED.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
3. A House Divided
Table of Contents
Executive Summary.................................................................................................4
Our Vision ..............................................................................................................5
Synopsis ..................................................................................................................6
Story Points ............................................................................................................8
Production Team ....................................................................................................9
Attached Director.................................................................................................10
Target Role of Helene...........................................................................................14
Target Role of Greg ..............................................................................................13
Target role of Max Lyons ......................................................................................15
Target Role of Ben Lyons......................................................................................16
Target Role of Emma............................................................................................17
Comparison Films ................................................................................................18
Comparable P&L Model #1.................................................................................19
Comparable P&L Model #2.................................................................................20
Marketing .............................................................................................................21
Distribution Strategies .........................................................................................22
Target Distribution ..............................................................................................24
Appendix A: Term Sheet ......................................................................................25
Appendix B: Investment ROI ..............................................................................26
Appendix C: Development Breakdown ...............................................................27
Appendix D: Financing Scenario #1 ....................................................................28
Appendix F: Projected Profit & Loss Model .......................................................30
Appendix G: Film Distribution Window ............................................................31
Appendix H: Illinois Tax Credit Document........................................................32
Appendix I: SECTION 181 - Federal Tax Incentive ...........................................34
Contact Information ............................................................................................35
Risk Factors ..........................................................................................................36
Elder Pictures
Daniel Elder
Daniel@Elderpictures.com
847.722.1333
George Elder
George@Elderpictures.com
312.498.4555
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
4. A House Divided
Executive Summary
THE COMPANY:
A HOUSE DIVIDED LLC., will be formed under its parent company, ELDER PICTURES, LLC.. for the purposes
of financing and producing the motion picture currently entitled A HOUSE DIVIDED (the “Motion Picture”).
• The budget for the Motion Picture is $1, 575, 0000
• Brent Huff, a respected and successful director with 5 completed features is attached to direct the
Motion Picture.
• There exists a potential for a tremendous ROI within a two-year period, due to foreign sales, domestic
theatrical revenues, and DVD / VOD sales.
• We have strong interest from the top sales agency which handles the distribution of movies,
PREFERRED CONTENT.
• We are in talks with GARY SINESE (Forrest Gump, Apollo 13) about playing the lead in the Motion
Picture.
• The Motion Picture is a medium sized budget feature length drama/suspense, screenplay written by
JOSHUA HOWES.
• The Motion Picture will be produced by ELDER PICTURES, LLC.
• The Company plans to be in Production by SPRING 2014.
• INDEPENDENT TAX CREDIT SECTION 181 - US Federal Government gives a 100% tax writeoff on all investment into film up to $15 million.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
5. A House Divided
Our Vision
We are inviting indie aficionados and savvy financiers to get in on the
ground floor of this pathbreaking film. At the heart of the project is
the one thing everyone in Hollywood is looking for and desperately
wants: a compelling, life-changing original screenplay.
The brainchild of writer Joshua Howes and passion project of
director Brent Huff, A House Divided is a family drama/thriller filled
with mystery, action, suspense, great characters, and a shocking twist.
It is the story of a young writer who moves back home with his
parents only to see his little brother inherit millions from a long-lost
family friend, shutting him out entirely, and prompting him to
uncover family secrets that lead to shocking acts of love and violence.
Like The Brothers McMullen did for Ed Burns or In the Bedroom did
for Todd Field, A House Divided is poised to make its creators breakout stars.
It is currently being shopped to talent like Emile Hirsch, Gary Sinise,
and Julianne Moore who want to seize a truly great role and extend
their prolific careers. Our behind-the-scenes production team
combines the passion of two young producers whose last film
premiered at Cannes with the wisdom of a grizzled vet whose latest
work was nominated for two Emmys. We are perfectly suited to
deliver this film to market, where it will be the Winter’s Bone-type
sensation of 2014 and earn significant return on its investment. Be a
part of the next great indie crossover hit.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
6. A House Divided
Synopsis
In one fateful day, young writer Max Lyons burns all his bridges in New
York—gets evicted from his apartment, attacks his boss with a croquet
mallet, and spends his last dollar on subway fare. His only option: to
move back home with his parents in the leafy Midwestern suburbs, where
he clashes with his artistic mother, Helene, and blustery father, Greg,
who dote on his carefree little brother, Ben. His only pick-me-up is his
old crush Emma, the girl next door who still thinks he’s a hotshot success
in New York.
Things seem set for a tense, hot, romantic summer—UNTIL a long-lost
family friend, Mr. Marechal, suddenly dies… and leaves a $30 million
fortune only to Max’s brother, Ben.
At first Max tries to make light, celebrating with Ben and romancing
Emma on the family sailboat. But soon jealousy gets under his skin—his
parents are sucking up to Ben; he finds out his father’s business is failing;
and worst of all, Emma “accidentally” kisses Ben, before switching her
affections to him. The tension culminates in an explosive family
argument about why Max was left out and what Ben will do when he
comes into the money.
Angry and isolated, Max decides to investigate his parents’ relationship to
Mr. Marechal, enlisting the help the person who knows them best—the
young Ukrainian housekeeper, Nadia. As Max and Nadia dig into old
photos and documents, and Max questions his parents, he finds himself
falling for Nadia, a lit student who is much more than she seems.
First Max and Nadia discover a new secret—Ben is hiding an affair with
Oscar, the gawky neighbor kid. Spooked by Max’s knowledge, Ben breaks
it off with Oscar, who’s devastated. Then Ben plunges into dating Emma,
despite how it’s killing Max. Meanwhile, alliances in the family shift daily.
Angry at being lied to, Helene influences Ben not to trust his father.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
7. A House Divided
Seeing Nadia’s effect on Max, Greg tries to fire her only to be overruled by
Ben—the new master in the house.
At the end of the summer, the Lyons go up to Mr. Marechal’s mansion.
Out hunting, Max finds his rifle pointed at Ben’s back, but resists the
urge in disgust. Ben tells Emma he loves her, and she secretly ditches her
birth control. Then—Max finds sure evidence that Helene and Mr.
Marechal were lovers. He tries to tell Ben, but his brother knocks him off
the family sailboat rather than listen.
That night Max spills the family’s secrets in the open. At a topsy-turvy
dinner, he announcing that Mr. Marechal is Ben’s father and throws the
evidence on the table. Ben attacks Max before Greg confirms it’s true,
leaving Ben devastated. Ben flees home with Emma, and Max and Nadia
follow, stealing Greg’s prized Jaguar. That night, Ben and Emma make
love tenderly, while Max and Nadia make love for the first time, and Greg
forces himself on Helene in a cold, awful scene. In the morning, the
doorbell at home rings—it’s Oscar. Ben answers. Oscar raises a rifle from
the shed. BANG.
After Ben’s funeral, Max and Nadia leave together in the stolen Jag. Greg
and Helene discover that only Ben or his descendants can inherit the
money—at which point Emma reveals she’s pregnant. She and her baby
inherit the fortune. Helene leaves Greg, with Emma’s help, to pursue her
dream of art school in Greece. Greg is left alone and bankrupt. Finally,
Max wakes up in a motel in Iowa to find Nadia has taken off without
him. In the last scene, we see him alone amid the corn, hitchhiking to a
new life somewhere.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
8. A House Divided
Story Points
• We see “A House Divided” as an award-winning film that will generate critical acclaim and appeal to a
wide audience.
• It’s a story about how money gets in the way of true relationships, prompting us to give in to the seven
deadly sins that tear us apart.
• The plot is full of drama, suspense, mystery, and action, with a shocking twist--all the ingredients of a
compelling film.
• The story asks the question “What if ?” which will leave audiences buzzing. What if I’d done something
differently--would she still love me? Would he still be alive? Would everything be different?
• At its core it’s a film about love, family, respect, and relationships.
• Regardless of who we are, we all experience the emotions of greed, lust, envy, wrath, gluttony, sloth, and
pride, at some point in our lives--everyone can relate to this film.
• This story needs to be told, especially in today’s tough times, to show that no matter how rough life gets
or what differences tear us apart, we can always overcome them and face the future with hope for a
brighter day.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
9. A House Divided
Production Team
George Elder
Producer
George served as President and Executive Producer of Luminair Film Productions, Inc. George has over 30 years of
production experience as Producer/Director in corporate video work, television production, documentary and
feature films. His recent credits include the award-winning, “Encounter in the Third Dimension,” which has grossed
$40 million to date, award winning, internationally distributed feature film “Boxboarders!,” which grossed $2
million to date on a $500,000 budget. and the Telly Classic award-winning production of a feature-length
documentary film on the music of Edith Piaf distributed by Lionsgate and Producer on a feature length film “You
May Not Kiss the Bride.” George currently serves as Executive Producer of “Mexico: One Plate at a Time with Rick
Bayless,” which has been nominated for two Emmy Awards in 2014.
Daniel Elder
Producer
Born and raised in Chicago, Il, Daniel, a Co-Founder and Award winning Producer at Elder Pictures, has associate
produced more than 700 hours of television, docs, commercials, music videos, and an internationally distributed
feature film. Daniel recently finished a short, “Your Own is Your Own,” that was an official selection at the 2014
Cannes Film Festival, the Indian International Film Festival, and others. Before that, Daniel was an associate
producer on “Mexico: One Plate at a Time” which is up for two Emmy nominations and on the award winning
comedy “Boxboarders,” which has done $2 million in receipts since its release.
Sean Maurer
Executive Producer
Born in NYC to Broadway Director/Producer/Writer Michael Maurer and actress Jane Maurer, Sean was raised in
Santa Barabara. He began acting at a young age, before becoming a partner in a Hollywood boutique agency
representing actors and writers for 8 years. In 2009, Sean formed State & Cabrillo Productions, focused exclusively
on the development and packaging of feature films including the thriller JUST PLAY DEAD by acclaimed
screenwriter Dan Gordon based on a novel of the same title, the feature and graphic novel THE STUDY, and the
bio-pic of the deceased original RED HOT CHILI PEPPER lead guitarist THE HILLEL SLOVAK STORY by
James Slovak.
Sean is a partner in S+C Management and Productions, representing actors, writers and directors, where he also
produces. Recent productions include THE WESTSIDERS, an award winning surfing documentary by director
Josh Pomer currently in pre-production for the scripted feature adaptation; EXIT 91 SUMMERLAND, a horror
film based on a real urban legend currently in post-production; and MY LEFT HAND MAN by director Antonia
Bogdanovich, a gritty shortfilm playing the present international independent film festival circuit, named Best Short
of the New Jersey Film Fest 2012, nominated for Best Short 2012 at the International Memphis Film and Music
Festival, as well as Best Short of the Madrid International Film Festival 2012.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
10. A House Divided
Attached Director
Brent Huff has directed eight feature films in the last decade, following a distinguished career as an actor and writer.
His latest film, the hard-hitting documentary “Chasing Beauty,” which reveals the dark side of the modeling
industry, was distributed by MTV and peaked at #1 on iTunes, ahead of contemporaneous films such as “Lincoln,”
“Life of Pi,” “Zero Dark Thirty,” and “Argo.” His previous feature films were the courtroom drama “Last
Will” (2012), starring Academy Award winner Tatum O’Neal, Academy Award nominee Tom Berenger, and James
Brolin; and the noir thriller “Cat City” (2009), a fragmented tale of corruption and murder starring Rebecca
Pidgeon and Brian Dennehy, which earned accolades at the Palm Springs, Rhode Island, Stony Brook, Methodfest,
St. Louis, and Prince Edward Island International Film Festivals and was distributed by Showtime.
Huff works in both short and feature formats. His recent short films include “Hero” (2012), an uplifting drama
which won Best Film awards at the Brooklyn, Pan Pacific, Cottonwood, Family and Enfogue festivals; and
“Helpless” (2011), a disturbing portrayal of an accident told from multiple perspectives, which won Best Overall
Film at the San Diego Indie Fest and the Jury Award at the Riverside International Film Festival.
Additional highlights from Huff’s feature film directing career include “Serbian Scars” (2009), a political thriller
starring Michael Madsen, shot on location in Serbia; “Treasure Raiders” (2006), starring David Carradine, one of
the most expensive productions ever mounted in Russia, praised for its stunning cinematography and action
choreography; and “100 Mile Rule” (2003), a dark comedy starring Maria Bello, Jake Weber, and Michael McKean,
a festival favorite at Fort Lauderdale, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Taos Talking Pictures, Nashville, Newport Beach,
the USA Film Festival in Dallas, and the closing night film at the Cinequest Film Festival. “Welcome to
Paradise” (2007), starring Brian Dennehy and Crysal Bernard, a gripping drama about a small-town female
evangelist, had its theatrical release in 2007 and has enjoyed great success in the DVD market.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
11. A House Divided
DIRECTOR BIO (CON’T)
Huff’s most recent project was the documentary, “Behind the Orange Curtain” (2013), an expose of the
prescription drug abuse epidemic, which has so far won Best Film at the Metropolitan Film Festival, sold
out four screenings at the Newport Beach Film Festival, and was recently picked up for distribution by
Filmbuff.
His next project is to direct the family drama “A House Divided,” a tale of an unexpected inheritance that
splits two brothers and awakens the seven deadly sins within a family.
While many directors begin their careers in commercial and music videos, Huff comes from an acting and
storytelling background. Since age 15, he starred in more than 50 films. Thus, in addition to his knack for
visual flair, crisp pacing, beautiful images, and expressive musical choices, Huff specializes in drawing
spectacular performances from actors—the heart of the director’s craft.
Joshua Howes
Writer
Joshua just earned his MFA in Fiction & Screenwriting from Columbia University, where he was invited
to teach before he even finished his degree. His script for “A House Divided” won a national Golden Brad
in Screenwriting. His previous screenplay, for the short film “Jackson Parish” (dir. Edward McDonald,
2009), won Best Screenplay at the NYU-Tisch First Run Film Festival and was shown on television. His
first short story was published this year in the nation’s most prestigious literary journal, Ploughshares,
which has since brought out more of his fiction. His fiction also won the Bocock-Guerard Prize for Fiction
at Stanford University. As a journalist, he has published more than a hundred stories and reviews in the
Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, and Newsday, among others. In the last year he has sold two feature
scripts, “The Last Cowboy” and “Two Terrorists Meet,” but “A House Divided” is his passion project.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
12. A House Divided
Casting Director (In Talks)
The Management Team is IN TALKS with Johanna Ray who IS NOT YET ATTACHED. She has
casted some of the most prolific film and TV projects over the last 25 years. She continually works with
some of the great directors such as Quentin Tarantino, David Lynch and Brian de Palma. Here are a few
of her credits for some notable movies she helped cast:
• Snowpiercer
• Apollo 18
• The Bad Lieutenant: Port
of Call - New Orleans
• Inglourious Basterds
• The Black Dahlia
• Kill Bill: Vol. 2
• Kill Bill: Vol. 1
• Mulholland Dr.
• Cherry Falls
• Starship Troopers
• Habitat
• Lost Highway
• The Portrait of a Lady
• From Dusk Till Dawn
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
• Showgirls
• Twin Peaks: Fire Walk
with Me
• Buffy the Vampire
Slayer
• The Blob
• Red Sonja
• Conan the Destroyer
• Firestarter
13. A House Divided
Target Role of Greg
The management team of the Company has already begun to pursue A-List talent to
attach the Picture to make it a more viable project for distributors. Please note that NO
TALENT IS ATTACHED at this juncture; however, we will approach the following:
Tim Robbins
Gary Sinise
Kevin Costner
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
14. A House Divided
Target Role of Helene
Julianne Moore
Laura Linney
Catherine Keener
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
15. A House Divided
Target role of Max Lyons
Paul Dano
Elijah Wood
Kieran Culkin
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
16. A House Divided
Target Role of Ben Lyons
Nicholas Hoult
Dave Franco
Sebastian Stan
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
17. A House Divided
Target Role of Emma
Elizabeth Olsen
Imogen Poots
Analeigh Tipton
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
18. A House Divided
Comparison Films
In a suburban family, an unexpected inheritance awakens the seven deadly sins.
A HOUSE DIVIDED is a story about a young writer who moves back with his parents only to see his little brother
inherit millions from a long-lost family friend, his jealousy prompts him to uncover shocking secrets that lead to
surprising acts of love and violence.
Worldw
U.S Box
Distributi
Est.
ide Box
Office
on
Budget
Office
Gross
Gross
Film
Martha Marcy May
Marlene (2011)
FOX Searchlight
$2,500,000
$2,981,038
$3,531,038
Beginners (2011)
Focus Features
$3,200,000
$5,776,314
$14,311,701
City Island (2009)
Anchor Bay Films
$6,000,000
$6,670,712
$7,875,862
Garden State (2004)
Fox Searchlight
$2,500,000
$26,782,316
$35,825,316
In The Bedroom (2001)
Miramax
$1,700,000
$35,930,604
$43,430,604
American Beauty (1999)
Dreamworks
$15,000,000
$130,096,601
$356,296,601
The Virgin Suicides (1999)
Paramount
Classics
$6,000,000
$4,859,475
$10,409,377
Happiness (1998)
Good Machine
$2,000,000
$2,746,453
$2,746,453
Beautiful Girls (1996)
Miramax Films
$2,000,000
$10,597,759
$10,597,759
Ordinary People (1980)
Paramount
Pictures
$6,000,000
$54,766,923
$54,766,923
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
19. A House Divided
Comparable P&L Model #1
P&L MODEL ($000's)
Fee (%)
Negative Costs of the Film
Low Case
$3,200
Production Rebate (Tax Incentive + PreSales)
$960
Domestic Theatrical Sales
Domestic Box Office Gross
$5,800
Gross Film Rentals (Distributors Gross)
Distributer Fee & Other Costs
43%
$2,470
17.5%
($430)
Prints & Advertising
($3,000)
Domestic Theatrical NET Proceeds
($960)
Domestic Aftermarket Sales
DVD Market
$2,900
Marketing and Distribution Costs
33%
($957)
Pay-Per View/Video On-Demand
12.5%
$730
Pay Cable Revenue
$2,500
Network TV Revenue
10%
Domestic Syndication
$145
Merchandising/Music/New Media
Total Estimated IRR
100% + 20% + 137%
Distribution Licensing Fee
$580
1%
17.5%
$60
($1,210)
Domestic Aftermarket NET Produceeds
$4,748
Total Domestic NET Distribution
$3,788
Foreign Markets
Sales & Overages
Fees & Costs
$8,700
10%
($870)
Overseas NET Proceeds
$7,830
Worldwide NET Income
$12,578
Negative Costs (Films Budget repaid to Investors)
($3,200)
20% Preferred Return Rate
($640)
Total A BEGINNERS NET Profits
Nash Information Services: The
Numbers - Movie Box Office Data,
Film Stars, Idle Speculation
$8,738
50% Investor Profits
$4,369
50% Creative Profits
$4,369
BEGINNERS ROI
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
137%
20. A House Divided
Comparable P&L Model #2
P&L MODEL ($000's)
Fee (%) Low Case
Negative Costs of the Film
$6,000
Production Rebate (Tax Incentive + Pre-Sales)
$1,800
Domestic Theatrical Sales
Domestic Box Office Gross
Gross Film Rentals (Distributors Gross)
Distributer Fee & Other Costs
$6,700
43%
$2,850
17.5%
($500)
Prints & Advertising
($3,000)
Domestic Theatrical NET Proceeds
($650)
Domestic Aftermarket Sales
DVD Market
$3,350
Marketing and Distribution Costs
33%
Pay-Per View/Video On-Demand
12.5%
Pay Cable Revenue
Network TV Revenue
Merchandising/Music/New Media
Distribution Licensing Fee
$840
$2,500
10%
Domestic Syndication
Total Estimated IRR
100% + 20 + 3%
($1,106)
$670
$168
1%
17.5%
$70
($1,330)
Domestic Aftermarket NET Produceeds
$5,162
Total Domestic NET Distribution
$4,512
Foreign Markets
Sales & Overages
Fees & Costs
$1,340
10%
($134)
Overseas NET Proceeds
$1,206
Worldwide NET Income
$7,518
Negative Costs (Films Budget repaid to Investors)
20% Preferred Return Rate
Nash Information Services: The
Numbers - Movie Box Office Data,
Film Stars, Idle Speculation
($6,000)
($1,200)
Total A BEGINNERS NET Profits
$318
50% Investor Profits
$159
50% Creative Profits
$159
BEGINNERS ROI
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
3%
21. A House Divided
Marketing
The management team of the Company plans to take the Motion Picture to the major film festivals as
the target for the film, we see “A House Divided” as an award winning project.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
22. A House Divided
Distribution Strategies
NOTE: Both Preferred Content or Cassian Elwes ARE NOT ATTACHED, but we have had multiple
conversations with both parties and they have both expressed strong interest in the Motion Picture for
coming on as SALES AGENTS to rep the film for distribution and film festivals.
Cassian Elwes
Elwes began his producing career with 1983's "Oxford Blues" starring Rob Lowe and Ally Sheedy and
quickly went on to make another 29 films, including "Men at Work", with Emilio Estevez and Charlie
Sheen, and "The Chase" with Sheen.
In 1995, Elwes joined William Morris. His first effort was the long stalled project "The English Patient"
which won best picture that year. He quickly followed up with such indie hits as "Slingblade" and "The
Apostle," both of which were nominated for multiple Oscars. "Monster's Ball" was their follow up, which
won the Oscar for Halle Berry.
The Hollywood Reporter has said that Elwes was "involved in a virtual who's who of every great
independent film of the last ten years" with films such as "Thank You For Smoking", "Half Nelson", and
"Frozen River" '(the last two of which garnered Oscar nominations for Ryan Gosling and Melissa Leo
respectively).
"What people lose sight of," Elwes said to Screen International, "is that these films cost a tenth of the
films that they competed against at the Academy Awards. The privilege was the recognition."
Elwes is an expert in the field of arranging financing and distribution for independent films having done
so for 283 films during his tenure at William Morris Independent.
Since leaving William Morris Independent two years ago, Elwes has been involved in arranging
financing and distribution for 23 films including "Lawless," directed by John Hillcoat ("The Road"),
starring Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy, and the thriller "The Paperboy," directed by Lee Daniels
("Precious"), starring Matthew McConaughey and Zac Efron. Elwes produced the period drama The
Butler, which was directed by Lee Daniels and featured an ensemble cast, including Forest Whitaker,
Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Terrence Howard, Vanessa Redgrave, Alan Rickman, Liev
Schreiber, and Robin Williams, among others.
Additionally, he is producing "Dallas Buyers Club" starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer
Garner, "Saints" starring Rooney Mara, Casey Affleck and Ben Foster, and "Hateship, Loveship" starring
Kristen Wiig, Guy Pearce, Hailee Steinfeld and Nick Nolte.
On October 29, 2013, Elwes launched the Cassian Elwes Independent Screenwriter Fellowship, in
conjunction with The Black List, to award one writer an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2014 Sundance
Film Festival and mentorship from Elwes. Elwes and The Black List plan to award the fellowship
annually.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
23. A House Divided
PREFERRED CONTENT / KEVIN IWASHINA
Kevin Iwashina is a Managing Partner of Preferred Content, a film sales, project finance and media
advisory company.
Founded in January 2010, Preferred Content (PC) is one of the premiere brokers of North American
distribution rights for both fictional and non-fictional filmed entertainment content. Additionally, PC
is a leading supplier of independent movies with a specialization in low budget genre and documentary
features.
In addition to his responsibilities at PC, Iwashina is the Co-CEO of Preferred Film & TV (a film,
television and digital production company launched in partnership with Content Media Corporation),
Managing Partner of Preferred Ventures (a digital media investment fund), Co-President of City Room
Creative (a video editing and production services company) and Managing Partner of Killer Digital (an
original content company partnered with Christine Vachon's Killer Films that specializes in content for
distribution on digital platforms).
Prior to founding PC and his suite of affiliated companies, Iwashina spent 10 years at the Creative
Artists Agency (CAA), where he was a talent agent, specializing in film packaging, financing and
distribution.
Iwashina holds a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in French Language and Culture from
U.C.L.A. He is active in the non-profit and political sectors and currently serves as the Vice Chairman
of the Board of Directors of the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) and is a Member
of the Board of Directors of the International Documentary Association (IDA). He began his career in
the mailroom at the United Talent Agency (UTA).
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
24. A House Divided
Target Distribution
Concurrent to attaching a director and/or the lead cast the production team will seek a
distribution deal with one of the following distributors:
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
25. A House Divided
Appendix A: Term Sheet
Target Production Launch Production will begin in the SPRING 2014
Location Chicago & Evanston, IL.
Timing
The Picture will be completed by the third quarter
of 2014
Production Budget Budget will be held at $1,575,000
Full Equity Investment: $1,500,000
Equity Needed Cash Flow Tax Credit to Equity: $1,300,000
Debt to Equity: $900,000
Investment
Co-Finance Arrangement: $500,000 Minimum
Full Finance Arrangement: $1,000,000 Minimum
Print and Advertising $150,000 - $200,000
P&A Budgets (This is the amount the Production Company will
put up in lieu of a distribution agreement.)
The Company will have approval rights on all
creative and business decisions including but not
limited to:
Approval Rights
• Budget
• Chain of Title (copyright)
• Lead Actors
• Director
• Final Cut
• Distribution
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
26. A House Divided
Appendix B: Investment ROI
The Company has adopted strict financial protocols to ensure prudent
use of funds and to maximize Investment Partner returns. The Company’s
total cash flows are used first to repay the production equity, and then
flow through the profit waterfall at a 100% split. Investment Partners
receive 100% of all returns until 120% of the initial investment has been
recovered. The other 10% will go to the Company to support they’re
efforts to recoup all revenue generated by the picture. Of the remaining
net profits, Investment Partners receive 50% and the Company receives
50%. In addition, the Picture that the Company intends to produce will
earn ancillary revenue (i.e. video-on-demand, syndicated and cable TV,
merchandising) at similar levels of feature films costing up to ten times
more. When the film becomes successful in the marketplace, all proceeds
from the film paid to the LLC, after deduction of the fees and expenses
owed to distributors and sales agents from worldwide gross receipts for
all media will be paid out as follows:
• Each investor shall recoup, on a pari passu basis with all other
investors, one hundred and twenty percent (120%) of said investor’s
contributed funds. By way of example, if an individual’s investment is
$50,000, he/she would recoup $60,000 prior to payments to any
other party, except for other equity investors;
• After the Picture’s budget (or 120% of the final Picture budget) has
been allocated to the equity investors any outstanding residuals and/
or deferred payments will be distributed; and,
• Following these distributions, further proceeds will be split, with
50% going to the investors and 50% going to the Company and any
other profit participants (talent with back-end participation), in
perpetuity.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
27. A House Divided
Appendix C: Development Breakdown
The Picture will be need phases in financing that will come in forms of equity, soft
money (Tax Credits & Tax Allowances, Co-productions, Government-backed Loan
Support, Subsidies, Negotiated Service Discounts & Barter, Box-office Rebates/Tax
Support) and forms of mezzanine, gap and debt financing.
Typical Film Development Scenario (US $000)
Development Costs
$100
(During Development)
Casting Director Cost
$20
20.0%
Director Fee Costs
$5
5.0%
Producers Fee Costs
$15
15.0%
Overhead Costs
$55
55.0%
Business & Legal
$5
5.0%
Total Development
$100
100.0%
• Summarizes the costs associated with the development fees that’ll
be used with the Picture.
• The Development funds can be rolled into the picture as an
equity investment or as a loan investment to help subsidize the
development of the property.
To maximize return on investment (ROI) for all general and limited
partners, Distribution relationships and Foreign pre-sales will be
utilized to mitigate the film’s downside risks.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
28. A House Divided
Appendix D: Financing Scenario #1
To maximize return on investment (ROI) for all general and limited partners,
Distribution relationships and Foreign pre-sales will be utilized to mitigate the film’s
downside risks. Case study
A House Film Financing Plan (US $000)
Budget of Production Costs
$1,575
Amount
Debt Loans Against Int’l Pre-Sales and Estimates
•
CoMerica, Union Bank, & OneWest Bank to finance Loan
•
32.0%
25.6%
$551
35.0%
$529.20
33.6%
$79
5.0%
$441
Cash flow tax Credit
$504
$403.20
Production Subsidy Loan (Illinois Tax Credit - Appendix H)
% of
Budget
28.0%
Mezzanine Financing
Donated Property, Equipment, Boats (Secured Donations)
•
All locations for “A House Divided” are secured for free as an investment
into the Motion Picture.
Equity Piece (120% ROI)
•
Equity with Cash Flowing Tax Credit / Debt
$643
40.8%
•
Co-Finance Relationships (50% / 50%) (120%)
$221
14.0%
•
Development Loan (5% of $1.8million) (120% ROI)
$79
5.0%
$1,575
100%
Total Production Cost
• The adjacent table portrays the typical capital structure of a film. Including the production
incentives, this strategy should limit equity used to 25%.
• The Company will not green-light a film unless it reaches the threshold of 70% in foreign
sales estimates and soft-monies.
• The investment proceeds will be used to purchase, build, develop, acquire, and finance the
equipment, facilities, and working capital to meet the company’s monthly and yearly
overhead. This will also include the retention of corporate and industry specialists.
• When the production process begins, the funds will be used fund all the above-the-line
and below-the-line costs associated with the film. Everything from writer, director, cast
and crew through to delivery of the master prints to distributers.
• Marketing, film festivals, and Prints & Advertising (P&A) are all part of moving the
product, our film. We need to make sure we have enough funds to successfully push the
film to any festival, markets, and all distributers (foreign and domestic). This is the most
important step to recouping the investment.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
29. A House Divided
Appendix E: Financing Scenario #2
To maximize return on investment (ROI) for all general and limited partners,
Distribution relationships and Foreign pre-sales will be utilized to mitigate the film’s
downside risks. Case study
Just Play Dead Film Financing Plan (US $000)
Budget of Production Costs
$1,575
Amount
Cash flow tax Credit
Donated Property, Equipment, Boats (Secured Donations)
•
$473
30.0%
$378
24.0%
$79
5.0%
$1,024
Production Subsidy Loan (Illinois Tax Credit - Appendix H)
% of
Budget
65.0%
All locations for “A House Divided” are secured for free as an investment
into the Motion Picture.
Equity Piece (120% ROI)
•
Co-Finance Relationships (50% / 50%) (120%)
$512
32.5%
•
Development Loan (5% of $1.8million) (120% ROI)
$79
5.0%
$1,575
100%
Total Production Cost
• The adjacent table portrays the typical capital structure of a film. Including the production
incentives, this strategy should limit equity used to 25%.
• The Company will not green-light a film unless it reaches the threshold of 70% in foreign
sales estimates and soft-monies.
• We can cash flow any part of the investment with a international sales agent, the equity
investment would allow for the Company to go straight equity and cash flow the Tax
Credit and debt after the production to retain more Cash on hand by not taking a loan out
and debt financing the film.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
30. A House Divided
Appendix F: Projected Profit & Loss Model
P&L MODEL ($000's)
Rate
Negative Costs of the Film
Production Rebate
Low Case
$1,575
$504
Base Case
$1,575
$504
High Case
$1,575
$504
Breakout
$1,575
$504
Domestic Theatrical Sales
Domestic Box Office Gross
$2,050
$2,950
$7,000
$12,000
$870
$1,250
$2,980
$5,100
($150)
($220)
($520)
($890)
Prints & Advertising
($3,000)
($6,000)
($12,500)
($15,000)
Domestic Theatrical NET Proceeds
Domestic Aftermarket Sales
($2,280)
($4,970)
($10,040)
($10,790)
$615
$1,180
$2,800
$5,400
($203)
($389)
($924)
($1,782)
$260
$370
$880
$1,500
$2,500
$5,000
$10,000
$10,000
$210
$300
$700
$1,200
$53
$75
$175
$300
$0
$0
$3
$25
($640)
($1,210)
($2,550)
($3,220)
$2,795
$5,326
$11,084
$13,423
$515
$356
$1,044
$2,633
$1,025
$1,475
$1,750
$3,000
($103)
($148)
($175)
($300)
Overseas NET Proceeds
$923
$1,328
$1,575
$2,700
Worldwide NET Income
$1,941
$2,187
$3,123
$5,837
($1,575)
($1,575)
($1,575)
($1,575)
($315)
($315)
($315)
($315)
Total A HOUSE DIVDED NET Profits
$51
$297
$1,233
$3,947
50% Investor Profits
$26
$149
$616
$1,974
50% Creative Profits
$26
$149
$616
$1,974
A HOUSE DIVIDED ROI
2%
9%
39%
125%
Gross Film Rentals (Distributors Gross)
43%
Distributer Fee & Other Costs
17.5%
DVD Market
Marketing and Distribution Costs
33%
Pay-Per View/Video On-Demand
12.5%
Pay Cable Revenue
Network TV Revenue
10%
Domestic Syndication
Merchandising/Music/New Media
Distribution Licensing Fee
17.5%
Domestic Aftermarket NET Produceeds
Total Domestic NET Distribution
Foreign Markets
Sales & Overages
Fees & Costs
10%
Negative Costs (Films Budget repaid to Investors)
20% Preferred Return Rate
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
31. A House Divided
Appendix G: Film Distribution Window
THEATRICAL
HOME ENTERTAINMENT
PPV / VOD
PAY TV
FREE TV
LIBRARY (FREE / HV)
Theatrical
Gross box office receipts are shared - studio and theater
•
owners.
Domestically, distributor’s % of box office receipts is 45%
•
- 55%.
Internationally, distributor’s % of box office receipts is
•
40%-50%.
Home Entertainment (continues in perpetuity i.e. library)
Distribution in the home video/DVD market occurs via a
•
rental or sell-through strategy.
Rental strategy:
•
- Sales to retailers at a wholesale price or based on a
revenue sharing
- Number of video units shipped to retailers is highly
correlated to domestic box office performance
- High growth with Redbox and Netflix providing low
cost rental options
Sell-through strategy:
•
- Most significant contributor of Studio revenues,
modest pressure due to transition to rental, partially
mitigated by growth high margin digital sales and
premium priced Blu-ray
Approx. 90 MM domestic households will be “DVD
•
capable” in 2009.
Video On Demand (VOD)
High margin digital rental option is growing at a
•
20%annual CAGR
Studio usually takes between 60% - 70% of VOD
•
transaction
Pay and Free Television ( continues in perpetuity i.e library)
Television licensing sequence:
•
- Pay television (HBO, Showtime and Pay-Per-View)
- Network broadcast television (NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox)
- Local broadcast (“syndication”) or basic cable network
License fees for pay television and broadcast are based
•
on the film’s domestic theatrical performance.
Library – revenues generated in free tv and home
๏
video, assumed to be equate on a npv basis to
approx 7% of first 10 years revenues excluding
theatrical.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
32. A House Divided
Appendix H: Illinois Tax Credit Document
This is what the Company estimates on a high-end that we will see
returned to the the Company before, during or after the Production of
the Picture. If we decide to use the tax-credit to monetize the value of the
credit, we can receive around 80¢ on the $1 for the tax credit, if we
decide to use it during the production, we can receive between 85¢ to
95¢ on the dollar or we can keep the credit and monetize its value after
the completion of the film and receive its full value as a tax credit towards
the Picture and begin to start paying back our investors at this point.
Tax Credit Certificate/Transfer
• 30% of the qualified Illinois Production Spending.
• 30% credit on Illinois salaries up to $100,000 per worker.
• Tax credit can be carried forward 5 years from when originally issued by IFO.
• The yearly sunset provision has been removed so the IL Film Services Tax Credit does not
expire.
• Applicants will receive an additional 15% tax credit on salaries of individuals (making at
least $1,000 in total wages) that live in an economically disadvantaged area (at least 10%
unemployment).e transferred
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
33. March 23, 2012
Daniel Elder
Elder Pictures, LLC
Dear Mr. Elder,
The Illinois Film Office a division within the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity has reviewed your budget for the film project entitled A House Divided.
Based on the budgetary information provided, A House Divided can anticipate an Illinois Film
Tax Credit in the approximate amount of Five Hundred Eighty Eight Thousand Dollars
($588,000).
Please note that this letter does not guarantee the issuance of a final Tax Credit Certificate.
Issuance of the Final Tax Credit Certificate is contingent upon meeting all of the rules and
regulations of the Film Services Tax Credit and the approval of the Director of the Department
of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Sincerely,
Cesar Lopez
Manager, Illinois Film Production Tax Credit
Illinois Film Office
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
34. A House Divided
Appendix I: SECTION 181 - Federal Tax Incentive
SECTION 181: You’ve heard of farming subsidies. A few years back savvy film lobbyists created
subsidies for the film industry. As they outlined the dangers of runaway film production to Canada,
Eastern Europe and Australia, Congress passed legislation that resulted in Section 181 of the IRS Tax
Code.
Put simply, Section 181 states that investment in a motion picture shot in the US is 100% tax
deductable for the investor in the same year invested.
Under Section 181 an investor may deduct the money which is invested in a film or television
production from his or her passive income earned in the same year.
If the investor is actively involved in the operation of the production, he or she may deduct the amount
of investment from all active income earned in the same year. Productions with budgets below
$15,000,000 (up to $20,000,000) which have at least seventy-five percent 75% of its production
completed within the United States qualify under Section 181. Investors can be either individuals or
businesses.
• Here are some Investor broad strokes for the Section 181 Tax Deduction:
-100% of the motion picture costs are deductible in the same year of investment.
- 75% of the motion picture must be shot in the US to qualify for Section 181.
- There is a 15 to 20 million dollar budget cap.
- There is no minimum film production budget cost.
- TV pilots, TV episodes (up to 44), short films, music videos and feature films all qualify
for Section 181.
- Section 181 can be applied to active income or passive income.
- Investors can be either individuals or businesses.
- Section 181 is retroactive.
- There is no expectation for film distribution or film completion.
- The motion picture’s corporation issues Schedule K-1’s to the investors so they can take
advantage of Section 181.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR INVESTORS:
Tax rebates and incentives for money spent on film or television production within a particular state
combined with the benefits of Section 181 allow an investor (working with cooperative film producers)
to greatly minimize his or her risk on what would ordinarily be considered a risky investment. For
example, if a tax payer is in the thirty-five percent (35%) tax bracket and a qualifying film is shot in
Michigan which has a tax credit up to forty percent (40%), an investor will be eligible to recapture
seventy five percent (75%) of their investment in a qualifying production. This recapture can be realized
before the film is released and/or makes its first dollar. In today’s economy this type of investment
assurance is hard to come by.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
35. A House Divided
Contact Information
WEBSITE: http://www.elderpictures.com
Daniel Elder
847.722.133
Daniel@Elderpictures.com
George Elder
312498.4555
George@Elderpictures.com
Thank you for taking a read, if you have any
questions, please contact George or Daniel for
more information.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC
36. A House Divided
Risk Factors
An Investment in the Pictures involves a high degree of risk and should be considered only by
persons who can afford the loss of their entire investment. In addition to the other
information contained in the Agreement, prospective participants should carefully consider
the following risk factors before investing in the Pictures. There are significant risks involved
in the development, financing, production, and exploitation of a motion picture, and the
motion picture business is highly competitive. Success is largely dependent on public taste
which is both unpredictable and subject to change. Accordingly, the commercial potential of
the Pictures cannot be accurately predicted. Furthermore, many motion pictures do not
recover their development, production and exploitation costs from traditional streams of
distribution alone and may never generate proceeds payable to investors, even after
exploitation in other markets and media.
@ 2014 Elder Pictures, LLC