HOLLYWOOD CHANGES AND ADAPTS

If there is such a thing as a Hollywood recession, the only recession appears to be with independent 2D filmmaking.

As the entire industry slowly shifts to 3D, at every turn we are reminded of how risky it is to invest in films. 3D films make money in their initial 2D release and they make even more when they are later released in 3D; they have two lives and can be released twice.

But, how much risk is there in making a 3D computer animated cartoon feature? We already know that (opening in 2500 theaters or more) these films have an average domestic gross of about $150 million dollars.
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=computeranimation.htm

But there are also revenues to be made overseas (which are usually far greater than the domestic revenues) and then there is revenue from cable TV, network TV, MOD, the DVD market and growing in popularity is the Internet download market. Of course, there are also revenues with licensing and so, it appears that overall, there is virtually no risk in the 3D marketplace.

The Rising Popularity of 3D Animated Cartoons - http://www.chillibreeze.com/articles_various/animated-cartoons.asp

Copyright © 2009, Stanley N. Lozowski. All Rights Reserved.

WRITERS Breaking into TV

Small Screen, Big Picture

Many aspiring writers and artists fail to break into the ever-changing TV industry. While they certainly do not lack talent or creativity, it's usually because they don’t fully understand the business they’re trying infiltrate.

With innovative storytelling formats like "24" and "LOST" to game-changing distribution models such as the Internet and Video-On-Demand, more than ever TV is exploding with opportunities. Yet, Hollywood is still a business and it follows specific rules.

The winners are not only those with talent, but those who understand its systems and its strategies. Thanks to new media technologies and artistic mediums, networks and studios are finally beginning to notice writers and creators outside of L.A.

They aren’t just looking for imagination and talent; they’re looking for producers who understand the rules of getting hired and succeeding.

READ MORE by Chad Gervich - http://www.writingclasses.com/Products/PubsDetail.php/publicationID/54

Copyright © 1997-2009 Gotham Writers' Workshop Inc.

When should I just shoot a project myself?

If your latest TV or film project excites you enough, you may be tempted to grab a camera or a videographer, gather some friends and shoot the whole project yourself!

Is there a right time to do this?

The answer is YES!

And there also are right times to not ever consider doing it yourself.

The truth and consequences behind shooting your own reels is that once you commit to doing a reel, you must have access to a professional staff and crew. Any shoddy-looking film and work may cost you credibility, while high and excellent production value can always boost it.

READ MORE - http://www.planetdma.com/blog/25-when-should-i-just-shoot-a-project-myself/

Movie channel to go live on Web before TV debut

A consortium of MGM, Paramount Pictures, and Lions Gate announced they will debut a premium movie channel as an on-demand Web site months before its traditional TV launch.

Called Epix (pronounced like the plural of epic) and featuring more than 15,000 movies from the three studios, the new channel is expected to launch as a subscription-only Web site in May that will stream its content on the Internet.

READ MORE - http://tech.yahoo.com/news/cnet/20090128/tc_cnet/8301102331015150693

Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.

Danny Boyle: 'I'm never gonna be a proper director'

In what may be the biggest surprise of the year, DARK KNIGHT was overlooked as an Oscar nominee for Best Film. And, in it's place an unknown SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE was...

The director of Oscar-tipped Slumdog Millionaire talks to Jason Solomons about his life and career, his bust-up with Ewan McGregor and his plans to make a musical...

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE - http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2009/jan/13/danny-boyle-slumdog-millionaire

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009

The Hitchhiker's Guide to Streaming Media: 3GP

As more and more mobile devices access streaming video, much of that video is being delivered in the 3GP format.

What is the 3GP format?

First-generation, analog cellular technology was introduced in the 1970s. Almost 20 years later. the second-generation (2G) digital cellular communications followed. To learn what's happening with 3GP and to take a look inside this format and see how it evolved, you can read more at the link below.

LEARN MORE by Onur Durak http://www.streamingmediaglobal.com/article.asp?id=10926

ROBERT REDFORD: TIMES ARE TOUGH FOR INDIE FILMMAKERS

Robert Redford has suggested that these are dire times for independent filmmakers.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal , the founder of the Sundance Film Festival said that the struggle to find financing for films has become more
"intense."

Studios who previously backed independent filmmakers have "become more of a clearing house now." Instead, he said, they have brought in "all kinds of outside investors ... [who] tend to be these unsophisticated non-film people." Often, he suggested, "they'll pull out at the last minute because of their lack of sophistication and leave the filmmaker high and dry.

So as all these investors pull away, and distribution moves online, one has to wonder, "Where is the money going to come from? And I just don't know."

©2008, Contactmusic.com Ltd. All rights reserved.

HOW TO Improve Video Quality

VIDEO DESCRIPTION: This is an overview of inexpensive video equipment that will help improve your production quality.

WHAT SELLS? WHAT DOESN'T?

New media films are making a splash!

Independent documentary films that inform usually sell, especially on TV. Documentary films that inform and entertain sell even better. Some have done very well in theatrical release.

Entertaining films (fiction) or narrative films are harder to sell. They usually require a name actor, a famous story or great special effects. A well known "name" actor makes it easier to advertise these films and draw a large audience, but it has been shown that even the best names alone do NOT guarantee box-office success.

"Art" films are always a difficult sell. Most artists make them for themselves. With millions of free films on youTube, anything that stands out and is different will usually attract attention, but selling it for money is another story.

Films with a "gimmick" might attract an audience, but they would not generally maintain interest for very long. It would depend on how well they were made, how visually interesting and how entertaining they were and whether they could sustain interest for a lenghty period of time. It's easy to get an audience for a few minutes but very hard to keep them for much longer than that.

Today's audience is accustomed to channel surfing. You can gain their attention for a moment, but sustaining it is another matter. One click and they're gone!


Copyright ©2009, Stanley N. Lozowski. All Rights Reserved.

SAY SOMETHING WITH YOUR CAMERA

Occupied Kuwait, 1990. Two dead bodies lie in the street. Day after day, everyone passes them by, afraid to stop. Except one man.

Even with an inexpensive camcorder, we can all express our views and say something meaningful.

"To Rest In Peace" finds the extraordinary in an ordinary man. Likewise, the visuals reflect the interior struggle of Malek through deliberate, ponderous compositions and lighting reminiscent of classical personal epic films such as Lawrence of Arabia.

Eschewing the prevalent photographic approach of modern desert war films, "To Rest in Peace" instead strives for a more calculated and controlled lighting style, rich with saturation and vibrant contrast. Finding the beauty in the ordinary and embracing these cinematic moments further intensifies the heroic story of Malek. -Sean Conaty / director of photography

And thanks to the Internet, today our messages can travel around the world.

READ ABOUT "To Rest in Peace" - http://www.restinpeacefilm.com/Main.html

FINANCING YOUR INDIE FILM

CATCH 22: Without NO contract and NO offer in place, it's highly unlikely any "A" list actor would ever be attached to any project. If an "A" list actor was attached to a project, the project’s producer would likely already have all his funding.

The majority of new media films are still funded through friends, relatives or a wealthy patron familiar with the director, actor or screenwriter’s work and potential. The source of the venture capital is usually willing to lose whatever money he advances and has enough in reserve so that he will not be affected by its loss. He knows that well over 95% of all independent new media digital films made lose money and cannot find distribution.

When writing a business plan for your film its wise to mention films like El Mariachi, Napoleon Dynamite, Saw, The Blair Witch Project, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding as examples of independent films that hit the box office jackpot.

READ MORE - http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/film-studies-the-az-of-how-to-lose-money-in-hollywood-587570.html

©2009, Stanley N. Lozowski. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2008 Independent News and Media Limited

2009 Trends: JOBS FOR FILMMAKERS

DIGITAL SIGNAGE: Growth in Proven Applications

I remember visiting Tokyo, Japan in the 1990's and how amazed I was at the Tokyo subway system seeing flat screen TVs in the subway trains with moving images. What a contrast this was to the antiquated NY subway cars with advertising cardboard inserts in their cars.

As more and more passengers use public transit during this economic recession, growth of transportation-related digital signage will increase more and more in 2009 and so will the fantastic ways these signs are employed.

On a Fjord1 bus in Norway, Omnivex software links to a GPS system that triggers specific content based upon location of the bus. Unheard of technology, now drives targeted advertising to the masses who do not all see the same advertisments.

Content is king and that really seems to be the trend. There is no doubt that there will be many jobs and countless opportunites for filmmakers in this newly developing realm of advertising.

READ MORE By John W. DeWitt - http://svconline.com/digitalsignage/features/2009_trends_0113/

© 2009 Penton Media, Inc.

Just in time for Obama's inauguration...

Just in time for Obama's inauguration...

CLICK HERE - http://www.stormfrontfilms.com/MVZftH_Trailer_1M_Prog.mov

ONES and ZEROES: The Future of Video

In the future, most of your video work will be stored on bits of ones and zeros.

What you do with that bittage WHEN YOU STORE IT will determine how you'll find it later.

READ MORE by Robert G. Nulph, Ph.D. -
http://www.videomaker.com/article/14289/?utm_source=enews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews2008_12_3

©2009 Videomaker, Inc.

Jodi Sandler on Creating an Animated Music Video

Creating an animated music video in your spare time can be enlightening. For Jodi Sandler, it began through a connection on MySpace, involved a trip to Paris and took over a year working on it in her spare time.

Jodi put her graphic design and animation talent to the test creating an entire animated music video for the band Uh Huh Her’s song “Explode” completing it working nights and weekends.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE STORY by Matt Armstrong - http://www.studiodaily.com/main/topstory/10326.html



STUDIO DAILY © 2009 Access Intelligence LLC. All Rights Reserved.

3D MOVIES HIT TV with SUPERBOWL "ALIENS"

Super Bowl is "the most valuable piece of advertising real-estate that exists in television in the world," and the NFL and its corporate partners are very protective of that real-estate.

With Lionsgate's 3-D shocker "My Bloody Valentine" displaying in-your-face 3-D ads featuring many images of flames and weapons flying off the screen, DreamWorks Animation, NBC, Pepsico and the NFL are working on a massive 3-D promo to air during the Super Bowl.

"This is not your grandfather's 3-D," but as the long-promised wave of next-gen 3-D features is about to hit theaters, studios and distribs face a problem: how to promote 3-D movies on a 2-D TV screen.

READ MORE By DAVID S. COHEN - http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117998277.html?categoryid=1019&cs=1

MOBILE PHONES for high speed movie download

SONY Ericsson and PlayNow content delivery service will accelerate the download of full-length movies, TV series, games and music to mobile handsets and phones.

Movies available on the same day as their local DVD release include Will Smith-starring blockbuster "Hancock," the hit Adam Sandler comedy, "You Don't Mess with the Zohan," and gambling thriller "21."

TV series will include popular dramas such as "Cashmere Mafia" and "The Tudors." Mobile games will include the "Quantum of Solace" and "Spider-Man 3" derivatives.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE - by Patrick Frater - http://varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/7850/53/

© Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Lost Horror Cinema

The genre of horror films is officially lost!

Remakes have taken over any creative thought that exists in the field, excluding the indie market which does not have the monies.

Excluding all the franchises of Dracula, Frankenstein, Mummy, Godzilla and the Wolf man, the genre is suffering and that is not good. Horror is and has always been the staple of cinema ever since it was raised in 1896 with Le Manoir du diable.

READ MORE by Baron Craze - http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/997370/the_lost_horror_cinema.html?cat=40

© 2009 Associated Content, Inc.

The collision of entertainment, media & pop culture

Sony Pictures Classics keeps making money because it resolutely, sometimes to a fault, never overspends on a film. In any bidding war, you can always find SPC running in the other direction. The same is true for Fox Searchlight, an equally disciplined, incredibly well-run company that only acquires movies it knows how to sell.

The indie film business isn't going to get any better until filmmakers and studio executives stop their spending sprees and start making indie movies for a true indie price.

"Of the 5,000 films submitted to Sundance each year -- generally with budgets under $10 million -- maybe 100 of them got a U.S. theatrical release three years ago. And it used to be that 20 of those would make money. Now maybe five do. That's one-tenth of 1%. Put another way, if you decide to make a movie budgeted under $10 million on your own tomorrow, you have a 99.9% chance of failure." - Film Department chief Mark Gill (past president of Miramax), L.A. Film Festival Financing Conference

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE - http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2008/06/the-sky-is-fall.html

Copyright 2009 Los Angeles Times

Nobody beats "The Drum"

Editing film today is no longer a boring job where you simply piece together different scenes to create sequences. Editing with digital technology demands that today's new media editor become a digital artist and use his knowledge and expertise of programs to create and to make every scene rock.

Robots and explosions dominate an independent music video by Dutch electronic act "nobody beats the drum" directed by Rogier van der Zwaag. It's billed as a 100% Halal production and demonstrates what you can do with a small budget especially if know how to edit and work with effects in post.

www.100procenthalal.nl
www.nobodybeatsthedrum.com
www.myspace.com/nobodybeatsthedrum



AND SEE HOW THE FILM WAS MADE...

Blockbuster's Disappointing $99 video box

Blockbuster recently launched the MediaPoint player, selling it for $99 from its Web site. With it, your first 25 movie rentals are free.

The slim box made by 2Wire Inc. connects to your TV and your home broadband line. Using the included remote control to order a movie, it downloads so you can begin watching after a few minutes.

Blockbuster and others realize the days of the movie rental store are numbered, but Blockbuster's first box for playing Internet video on your TV doesn't measure up to the existing devices. The present line up:

http://www.blockbuster.com/ondemand

http://www.netflix.com

http://www.apple.com/appletv

http://www.vudu.com

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE - http://www.physorg.com/news151262219.html

©2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

TIMECRIMES & the Indie Distribution Problem

A very clever independent Science Fiction film titled TIMECRIMES (aka LOS CRONOCRIMENES, CRONOCRIMES) opened last month theatrically and had to compete with these entries:

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL with Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly
DOUBT with Meryl Streep, Phillip Seymour Hoffman
GRAN TORINO with Clint Eastwood
READER with Kate Winslet and Ralph Fienes
WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU with Mark Ruffalo and Ethan Hawke
DELGO - Big names voiced this indie 3D animated film

Going up against big names like Clint, Keanu, Meryl, Ethan, Kate, Ralph and others? Good luck with any low-budget film! In a situation like this, it's easy for even a GREAT indie to get lost in the crowd. According to boxofficemojo.com, TIMECRIMES took in $23,389. and it's widest release was in seven theaters. Luckily it made $413,308. worldwide.

This example illustrates the plight of all independent film in competing theatrically with Hollywood films. Even with big names, DELGO was slaughtered at the box office earning $694,782. with a Wide Release in 2,160 theaters. One of the WORST openings EVER.

THE WEBSITE THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD

FANCAST streams all the old TV shows to you (and also new ones) and this is the future: video on demand, where ever you are when you want it. Old shows and new shows, side by side with no more TV guides and no more waiting for the show to air; just video on demand. It's a feast and it's "all you can eat" at every sitting.

Although some of you may not be Star Trek fans or may not be familiar with the original series, you now have a chance to see the show that started it all.

"Menagerie" was the first Star Trek show Gene Roddenberry produced. Roddenberry, not William Shatner, changed the world with his writing and his visions. Shatner, a mediocre actor, was just lucky enough to be the star of the series and to outlive Roddenberry. The critics of the day called him a "ham" but Shatner's real skill was that he survived every time and kept re-inventing himself. Most actors in a role such as this are type-cast and the public remembers them only in their most famous role; they can never find work in any other genre.

Star Trek is terribly "dated" since it was conceived and made in the early to mid 1960's. Entering production with a very small "TV budget" for the small screen when most people still had B&W TV sets, it has many flaws that make it seem silly by today's standards. Much of the dialogue, the computers, the props and the sets seem second and third rate. They are unconvincing to our eyes because our reality is so far advanced, but you cannot deny the intelligent thoughts and concepts that went into the majority of the screenplays.

While I was never a "Trekker" or a "Trekkie", I was a dealer who made a good living traveling the country and selling to the fans. I was lucky enough to meet Gene and his wife, Majel, several times. I had seen Star Trek episodes before when they first aired, but I could never comprehend why his fans considered Gene a living God. Not until I looked at the episodes again years later with no expectations and with new eyes...

CLICK HERE TO GO WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE:
http://www.fancast.com/tv/Star-Trek/96413/619833476/Star-Trek%3A---The-Menagerie---Part-1/videos

CLICK HERE TO GO WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE - Part 2: http://www.fancast.com/tv/Star-Trek/96413/619835365/Star-Trek%3A----The-Menagerie---Part-2/videos

©2009, Stanley N. Lozowski. All Rights Reserved.

Kevin Geiger on indie film business plans

Excerpt 2 of 4 from Kevin Geiger's informal presentation on independent film business planning, delivered at the Griffith University Film School in Brisbane, May 2008. Kevin discusses indie film development funding and business plans, with specific attention to development & advisory teams, and investor presentations.

A Crash Course in Streaming For Video Pros

If you need answers to your streaming questions that include the best encoding practices to the H.264 codec, you can continue this discussion and others at Digital Content Producer’s and millimeter’s Crosstalk forums.

Streaming for Video Pros: Flash vs. Silverlight

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE -
http://forums.digitalcontentproducer.com/forumdisplay.php?f=41

© 2008 Penton Media, Inc.

24P Lightning in a little bottle

CANON DOES IT AGAIN!

A First Look at Canon's Vixia HF S10

Staying ahead of the competition, the Canon Vixia HF S10 both captures and records full HD 1920x1080 24p. Unique among camcorder manufacturers with its roots in optics instead of electronics, Canon has always followed a singular path.

Read full story By D. W. Leitner - http://digitalcontentproducer.com/hdhdv/depth/canon_vixia_hf_0109/

© 2009 Penton Media, Inc.

Canon also knows the market and it also understands what ALL "new media" filmmakers seek-the best image quality camera at the best price! Advertised as low as $379.00 (http://shopdigitaldirect.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=7698), with the light, compact Canon VIXIA HF10, you can have stunning AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) format recording with the ease and numerous benefits of flash memory. It's used in some of the world's most innovative electronic products such as laptop computers, MP3 players, PDAs and cell phones.

http://www.diduprice.com/stores.asp?productid=2573B001#description

© 2004 - 2007 DiduPrice.com

Digital payoffs are scarce

Young folks dig digital but money's hard to find.

The frustrated majority at a Variety-sponsored panel at the Consumer Electronic Show agreed that young consumers overwhelmingly view all their digital devices as outlets for entertainment. Unfortunately, show business’ ability to make money off these new platforms is lagging far behind the quick changes in consumer’s behavior.

According to a survey, titled "State of the Media Democracy," almost two thirds of American consumers view their PC as a more important entertainment device than the TV and almost a third use their phone as a mobile device. In five surveyed nations the numbers are roughly the same in the U.K., Germany and Japan, but Brazil is the only country where digital engagement is significantly higher.

READ MORE by BEN FRITZ - http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117998350.html?categoryid=1009&cs=1

© 2008 Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

WGA unveils screenplay noms

Winners of last year's WGA Award for best adapted screenplay, Joel and Ethan Coen for "No Country for Old Men," were nominated this year in the original category Wednesday for their CIA comedy "Burn After Reading."

The WGA unveiled screenplay nominations in the original category going to Dustin Lance Black for "Milk," Woody Allen for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," Tom McCarthy for "The Visitor" and Robert Siegel for "The Wrestler."

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE By Gregg Kilday and Jay A. Fernandez - http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i8e621449d41d95c1ad8c9c0c8d7bbf7b

© 2008 Nielsen Business Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Need Money? Follow The Formula

Investors are all looking for just one thing, money…

Ironically, filmmakers are also all after that same thing - but they need it a bit earlier in the cycle.

Money serves only as the means to an end.

READ MORE by John Dugan - http://blog.sceneclips.com/film-investing/need-money-follow-the-formula

Sceneclips, Inc. © 2008 · All rights reserved

Marry Me

Directed by Michelle Lehman, last year's Tropfest Australia winning film, Marry Me, tells a little love story about "a little girl who likes a little boy and a little boy who likes his BMX bike".

The film was inspired by a true story when director, Michelle, at 5 years of age, would chase Jason Mahooney around the school in a pretend wedding dress (her mother's nightie).

SAVE THE BIZ

We merely urge plead for an immediate resolution so that the industry can get back to work.

Lionsgate Abandons Horror

Is North American horror dying, or will someone rise up to step in?

Industry politics are not always of interest to anyone not directly involved in the industry. However, over the past year a shake-up at Lionsgate has become not only the biggest horror story of 2008 but also one likely to extend into 2009 and beyond. How so? Two words: Joe Drake.

Drake is the guy Lionsgate hired to oversee a transition away from the horror genre fare. Horror is how the label first began making money -- and despite the business still being hugely profitable for them, Lionsgate is definitely distancing itself from the horror game. Drake has been doing this in a way that is has been nothing short of brutal. The most public examples of his brutality coming in the form of Midnight Meat Train and Repo: The Genetic Opera.

For the uninitiated, Midnight Meat Train is the Midnight Meat Train and Repo: The Genetic Opera-starring adaptation of a short story by Clive Barker, the first English language film from Japan's Ryuhei Kitamura.

According to industry insider Nikke Finke the movie's trailer "tested higher than any film in Lionsgate history."

READ MORE - http://blogs.amctv.com/horror-hacker/2008/12/lionsgate-horror-movies.php

Copyright 2008 American Movie Classics Company LLC. All rights reserved.

The 2009 CEO Filmmaker

It is most importance that filmmakers have a better understanding of film investors’ needs.

All filmmakers, especially those actively seeking investment, should keep a close eye on what is happening in the economy and the financial markets. Though we are not all Wall Street traders, we are all impacted by the economic downturn and the performance of the stock market. During 2008, most investors experienced substantial losses in their net-worth. Film, often viewed as a recession resistant investment class, was unable to escape the recession of 2008.

2009 will be a far better year for new media filmmakers than 2008 although we are not in for a quick recovery. Unemployment remains high, wages and prices continue to drop and we will see further deterioration in consumer spending and business investment. Risk tolerance will remain low, presenting speculative investment classes (like film) with an uphill battle.

Keep your spirits high and focus undeterred. Sentiment has been overwhelmingly negative during the past few months, but is important to note that today's economy is nowhere near that of the Great Depression.

Sceneclips, Inc. © 2008 · All rights reserved

DISTRIBUTING YOUR INDEPENDENT FILMS

Strategies for distributing your independent film must take into consideration the fact that traditional distribution is completely changing with the emergence of digital "new media" production.

With an abundance of great product flooding the marketplace, all the time-tested methods no longer apply. Digital outlets see the rise of digital aggregators, reversed windows, collapsed windows, and DIY options. We have a whole new ballgame with an entirely new set of rules, especially for the most lucrative plum of all: theatrical release.

And proper theatrical release will GUARANTEE a film's credibility and profitability today more than ever before. One has only to look at WALL-E and DARK KNIGHT for testimony of the remarkable potential of what is possible for any well-made film in today's market.

As the people in charge scramble to figure out what to do, Picturehouse (a venture of New Line Cinema and HBO Films) and Warner Independent is no more. Massive layoffs plague New Line Cinema and Paramount Vantage along with the financial crisis at ThinkFilm. The field opens wide to innovation and new technology with solutions that few understand as the future of traditional feature film distribution changes forever.

In an effort to stay afloat, every company jumps on the same tired horse only to find that there can be but one rider. Even great well-made films with star power have difficulty in today's marketplace as Mark Gill recently observed in his recent address at the L.A. Film Festival Financing Conference, “Yes, The Sky Really Is Falling”.

READ MORE by Mark Gill at http://www.indiewire.com/biz/2008/06/irst_person_fil.html


©2008, Stanley N. Lozowski. All Rights Reserved.

OPTIONING A SCREENPLAY

One of my ex-students read a great screenplay recently. He thinks it could make a fantastic ultra low budget independent new media film (for under 400k). He asked about the process of showing the script to two potential backers but he’s afraid he might get cut out of the loop.

He wants to try to produce the script himself. He plans to option the script before he shows it to his potential backers. He then plans to give them the general idea about the story but when it comes to optioning scripts, he doesn’t really know how to go about it.

The writer of the screenplay is non WGA and she has not sold anything prior to this. My ex-student wants to be fair to the writer, but also doesn't want to tie up much of his own money if the deal fails to go through.

To maintain control of the project before he shows it to his backers, he will option the script for six months by paying a nominal fee of one dollar. The option for the script (for this or any other price) will be a contract stating the purchase price the writer will accept as the price for the screenplay.

With a planned budget of 400k, if the deal is acceptable and if he obtains the financing, the usual fee to purchase a script is 5% of the budget. Because he wants to pay as little as possible, he plans to try to get the script for 2.5% or 10K but this agreement will be subject to bargaining with the writer.

©2008, Stanley N. Lozowski. All Rights Reserved.