A Real ShiftAn Independent Filmmaking Workshop

Hosted by Lawrence Whitesideand Antonio Bonilla

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CINEMASETFREEPresents

What is a Producer?And what the hell do they

do?

ExecutiveCo-AssociateLineSegmentClassic?

It hassomethingto dowith moneyand selling?

Indie producers bring elements to a project

SIMPLY PUT

Research

Scout

Communicate

Book

If you’ve ever ordered a pizza, you can produce a film

MusicArt

DirectionExtras

Wardrobe

CrewLocations

Vehicles

FX

Cast

Common Elements

FoodContracts Props

You don’t worry that the pizza guy doesn’t think you know enough about pizza to order some.

ResearchFor someone who's never done it before.

Not even once. Not even on Craigslist.

Say you’re looking for a Pizza Shop location

Make a list of locations that may meet the needs of your production. Scouts often happen en media res.

So, what does a scout look like?

Producers are detectives

• Nobody knows before they’ve found it.

• Google, Craigslist, OregonFilm are places to start.

• Bookmark resources you find useful for later.

• Share them freely with your team and community.

• P.A.'s jump in the car & hope.• Producers call around first & confirm.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PRODUCER & A PRODUCTION ASSISTANT? Pre-Scout on Google Streetview.

ScoutingA Location Scout example

Information to record• Owner/Agent Contact Info• Draw floor plan• Bathroom availability• Possible Staging areas• Nearby food, medical, hardware• Available parking• Breaker Box Amperages• Sun movement in windows• Natural sounds (that you can’t avoid)

What to bring• Camera/Camera-phone• Location Agreement• Insurance Company Info.• Business card• Soft shoot dates• A good attitude• An answer to the question of a fee.

($100/day, $50/half-day)• The script, just in case.

What they can expect

• Production may take up 3+ more rooms than the Picture rooms.

• Complete silence is required during shooting.

• Professional/courteous load in & strike.• Leave it as you find it.• They will be kept updated on changes.

Overhead layout

Reaching Out, Connecting & Following UpGet the "no." Make progress. Ask again.

RepeatProducer

Hello. My name is Antonio. I am producing a film and would love to use Pizza-A-Gogo in a scene. Do you have a minute this week to discuss?

ProducerYeah, I’ll see you on Thursday. 2pm work? The film is a comedy about a young man who wants to change the world. We’d only need the shop during it’s closed hours. More on Thursday.

Owner/AgentHey Antonio. I’m a little busy this week. Can We do next? What’s the movie about? How long would you be filming? I’m at the shop this Thursday if you’d like to just stop in.

SUPER HAPPY

Owner/AgentI know my place looks awesome but I can’t have an indie crew messing stuff up. Maybe if Nick Cage is the Pizza Guy. How much money do you have? I’m really just all about money.

ProducerNo problem. It’s not a big budget film. We make artistic, thoughtful projects for the love of it. Thanks for getting back to me. Let me know if you change your mind.

THE NO GO

Owner/AgentHey Antonio. I’ve had bad experiences with filmmakers, especially indie ones in the past. Do you have a budget for a location fee and insurance? How long do you need to shoot?

ProducerYes. We’ve budgeted a certain amount per day for locations. And production insurance will be through Gales Creek Insurance. We’d be looking at 2 days of work, all during hours you’re closed.

Owner/AgentAlright, well you sound more professional than the last jokers. I’m in the shop on Thursday if you’d like to talk in person. 2-3pm are usually slow enough for a 20 minute meeting. Doable?

ProducerAbsolutely! Thank you. I can assure you we are a professional crew. I’ll be in at 2pm on Thursday to talk further.

THE TOUGH SELL

Production Meetings: AKA MomentumBut I never have any time! But I

have a day job! But I live across the country!

What to cover on first meeting• Give everyone a draft of the script to work from.

(Even if it’s not “done/perfect/whatever”)

• Set rough shooting dates. 1-4 months out.

• Make lists of Cast, Crew & Locations needed.

• Set dates for an initial audition.

• Someone writes the character descriptions for agencies, open calls.

• Someone agrees to scout/book an audition space

• Start an email chain or private facebook/google group.

• Everyone call each other. Confirm Invites.

• Establish a workable day/time each week for future quick meetings.

Then be done! We’re all busy people. E-mail or group post any followups, random thoughts, brain

dumps. Team can read them at leisure.

The Quick Meeting - When you’re in it

1. What you've accomplished last week. Even if it’s just attempts. At least you covered that ground.

2. Make decisions based on what you have. Keep scouting, book and move on.

3. New assignments. Divide & Conquer. Obvious blocks? The group may have leads. Stay positive, specific & constructive.

4. Agree to work on it and have results next week.

Everyone takes a turn briefing the group.

google.com/hangouts

Questions?Comments?

• 15 minute break.

• Say Hi to those around you.

• Grab another drink, smoke.

• We’ll be back with a Revenue Share Business Model for Indie Film.

Break Time

THESE FOLKS ARE ALL LOOKING FOR WORK

THESE FOLKS ARE ALL LOOKING FOR WORK

The Competition Culture

Film/Drama School Admissions

Short Script/Film Contests

Audtioning/Job hunt

Get your first big break

Reality Shows

Pitching to Studios/Networks

Writer’s Rooms/Film Festivals/Markets

IMDB/HSX Ranking/# Followers

Pilot Season/Get Discovered

Academy Awards/Best Dressed

Achieve Spielberg Status

Limited jobs and the perceived ladder

What's different about Spielberg?

"Hollywood is going to implode in 2015"

- Steven Spielberg & George Lucas, June 11th 2013

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Those that seem to have made it, have usually just started their own companies

Move to Hollywood

Unpaid Internships

Those that wait for other people to accept them may eventually tire out.

An Entrepreneurial PathUnlimited jobs. We are the job creators!

Meet weekly. Research/Scout/Book

Raise Money for production costs.

Show your progress, Keep asking for help

Produce/edit your project. Pay your crew

Self-Distribute. Pay out per the schedule

Earn a living doing what you love

Learn by doing/Teach by example

Contribute to a knowledge base

Apprentice/Work on a Project

Gather your team

Start your own project

Offer yourself to your community

Stay where you areMove to Hollywood

Make it?

Film/Drama School Admissions

Short Script/Film Contests

Audtioning/Job hunt

Get your first big break

Reality Shows

Pitching to Studios/Networks

Writer’s Rooms/Film Festivals/Markets

IMDB/HSX Ranking/# Followers

Pilot Season/Get Discovered

Academy Awards/Best Dressed

Achieve Speilberg Status

Unpaid Internships

The technology for truly independent filmmaking is here.It’s time we developed the culture/business practices for it as well.

An Overview of ConceptsDefining the terms of entrepreneurship

RevenueMonetary Income from the sales of products produced by the company. The movie, etc.

Member of Company

A person who has agreed to work for a company and forgo their usual wages for a percentage of revenue in the future.

Schedule of Payment

A document that details how the revenue from a particular market will be delegated in the future amongst debt, investors and members.

InvestmentAn agreement to fund a company at their own risk for an agreed upon repayment percentage (150%). To be included in the schedule.

An AgreementA contract signed by the member and an officer of the company that details the expectations for both parties.

DebtExpenses accrued over the course of the production that are tied to an interest baring account. To be included in the schedule.

Pre-Sales/Crowd-fundingInterest or Repayment-free income before the completion of the product that is used exclusively for paying production costs. Offset more costly investment & debt.

An AddendumAn amendment to the agreement that brings the schedule or other terms current as the project progresses.

Rev Share ExamplePercent of North American Online Distribution

Revenue

Revenue Online Sales$10 per Unit6,500 Fans Buy It$65,000 in Y1

Investment/Debt$0 (to keep it simple)

RevShare % for 6 Producers

(Members)

Pre-Sales/Crowdfunding

$30,000 (total cost)

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total

$16,800 $11,200 $5,600 $2,800 $36,400

$6,000 $4,000 $2,000 $1,000 $13,000

$3,000 $20,000 $1,000 $500 $6,500

$2,400 $1,600 $800 $400 $5,200

$1,200 $800 $400 $200 $2,600

$600 $400 $200 $100 $1,300

$30,000 $20,000 $10,000 $5,000 $65,00056%

20%

10%

8%

4%

2%

Payment Schedule ExampleStriking a balance so we can all eat, attract

investment & rights acquisition, payoff debt and earn residuals long term.

To Payout

CC Debt $20,000 ($5k Interest 1st year) $25,000

Investment $20,000 (150% Return) $35,000

Rev Share $22,000 (Q1-4) $54,000 (Q5-8)

Example Cost BreakdownFundraising/Pre-sales $30,000Total Cost to Produce $70,000

Total Earnings (2 Years) $134,000

Foreign Rights AcquisitionFestival LaurelsOther Press

Foreign Rights AcquisitionFestival LaurelsOther Press

The AgreementA discussion of expectations

LLC Your Project

• LLC's are $300 on LegalZoom for State of Oregon.

• Members can be added after incorporating.

• Rev Share is taxed as individual income. Added to regular income tax.

• The LLC’s taxes are $0 if RevShare takes all the profits.

• Signed Agreements are binding, even plainly worded ones. Lawyer fees shouldn’t be a roadblock to industry.

• Members aren’t legally required to make at least minimum wage. Non-members are.

• Equity or Common Stock in a company are taxed on perceived value. Not ideal for a film.

• Shares can still be sold to investors in a traditional way. Return on investment may be put before Rev Share or during. Per the schedule of payment.

• Rev Share can be structured however both parties agree. % of revenue for hours worked seems like the fairest way for new comers.

• RevShare is tied to a particular market or markets. So rights acquisition is still possible.

• Online distribution is guaranteed, so we can work with that first.

• Other distribution methods. (Foreign/DVD/TV/Airline) can be negotiated for producers who work at the tail end of production on securing these deals or for schedules with less upfront RevShare

What the project expects• Producer will be a contributing member and

assume a share of the workload throughout.

• Producer will stay on the project as needed until exhibition.

• Producer will not jeopardize project by abruptly leaving or otherwise. Risk losing rev share.

• The RevShare for Pre-pro work is for North American Online sales.

• Other RevShare can be available for help distributing.

What a member expects• Agrees to join as member of LLC for % rev share

without wages or less wages.• Agrees to the schedule of payout and to sign

addendum's as needed.• That project will be completed for paid exhibition.• They will receive their portion simultaneously

with all other members. • The project will keep accurate records and make

them available to all members of the team. (AKA transparency).

Other stuff I learned along the way

Thank You!

There are filmmakers all around you.

Stick around and say hello.

We are Lawrence Whitesideand Antonio Bonilla

If you’d like to produce on upcoming projects,

get in touch!

Please leave a positive comment on our meetup page afterwards. It really helps.

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