4. SECURING FINANCE
-Can be complex and very lengthy
-Must attract potential investors
-Generate confidence in film’s ability to create revenue
-Returns can be enormous
-But very risky
-The higher the film’s profile, the more likely to attract
investors
-Blockbusters attract more than low budget
-Only one in ten films make significant financial return
5. The package
A script treatment - ten or more pages
concerning storylines, characters and
locations.
Generic profile of film - help investors to
“place” film in marketplace (potential
audience)
Proposed budget - rough guide to price
6. The package continued
Visual representation of key narrative
moments
Key personnel - stars, director, DOP, etc
Potential spin-offs, merchandising and tieins - all its money making potential.
7. FINANCE
100%
financing - a studio or other
backer gives 100% of the film’s budget in
return for full ownership of the film.
Multi-party
financing - the independent
producer typically raises finance from a
host of sources.
13. Stages (brief)
STAGES
Development
Pre-production
Production
Post-production
-ideas for the film
-legal issues (ownership/music etc)
-rights to books/plays are bought (if borrowed)
-screenplay is written
-Preparations are made for the shoot
-cast and film crew are hired
-locations are selected
-sets are built
-The raw elements for the finished film are recorded.
(filmed using cameras/mics etc)
-The film is edited
-production sound (dialogue) is concurrently (but
separately) edited
-music tracks (and songs) are composed, performed
and recorded
-if a film is sought to have a score; sound effects are
designed and recorded;
-any other computer-graphic 'visual' effects are
digitally added, all sound elements are mixed into
"stems" then the stems are mixed then married to
picture
14. DISTRIBUTION
Launching a film in the marketplace
Distributor acquires rights to film
Could invest in film at beginning
Buy rights after film made
Part of larger company and automatically
distribute film
$60 billion global film entertainment
business
15. RELEASE CYCLES
0 months
Theatrical release
3 months
Airline
4-6 months Hotel pay-per-view
6 months
PPV/Video-on-demand
6 months
DVD rental
6-12 months DVD sale
18 months
Pay-TV (eg FilmFour, Sky)
36 months
Free-TV (eg BBC1)
Further revenues are available from soundtracks,
merchandise, sponsorship and long term library sales.
16. POSITIONING
How and when to release a film - a crucial
decision. Want to avoid slow times or
event films. Cinema release date
important for DVD release.
Target right audience - test screenings,
p&a campaign.
17. CIRCULATION AND RELEASE
How many copies of film to circulate?
Saturation 700-1000 prints
Arthouse 20 prints
Timing - school holidays for blockbusters,
Jan-March for potential award winners
Competition - too many blockbusters, too
crowded
18. MARKETING
Can cost as much as the film
Must create the “must see” factor - word of
mouth
Marketing mix - posters, trailers, media
ads, internet, promotions, merchandising,
premieres, press junkets, previews and
festivals