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.

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

Beware the fake “ANGEL INVESTORS” and Representatives

A filmmaker wrote me yesterday to report that he lost $250.00 to a
"representative" for "investors". After that lesson he was wondering if he should give 10% of the money to finance his film to give to someone else, who would arrange to finance the full film.

There are many legitimate agents and representatives. These people need to get paid. As a general rule these professionals will not ask for money upfront. That does not mean there could not be real expenses in promoting your project. However they are not compulsatory.

Isn’t it great when you are trying to raise money for your film project and people say, "I MIGHT give you a lot of money for your project if you give me a little money first!"

BE FOREWARNED: Angel groups NEVER charge a fee. By nature, these groups are looking for places to invest their money and they are very open to looking at what you have without any advance on your part.

If someone representing you to any group has to "approve" you by charging you money up front to cover due diligence, to make a presentation to the investors, to submit your application, to preview your project or for any other reasons, understand that without a contract that specifies what will happen and when, it is impossible to know what you are getting or if and when your project will ever move forward within any group.

If you insist on paying money up front, everything must be spelled out in a legal binding CONTRACT. If a contract or retainer agreement doesn't say what will happen and WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN, NEVER PAY MONEY to ANYONE UP FRONT whether they are a "reputable" attorney or not.

QUESTIONS about the AFM

Are you thinking about attending the American Film Market?

This November 2008, over 8,000 industry leaders will converge in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making, screenings, seminars, networking and parties.

Acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors, distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world's press and all those who provide services to the film industry will be in attendance.

Getting in is expensive and if you are considering paying the price, make certain that your pitch is perfect and that it will stand out over and above all others. Don’t leave anything to chance. Have ready answers to any and all questions that you might be asked.

If YOU can’t answer questions about YOUR project, who can?

Be prepared on all levels. Whether you are a screenwriter or an independent filmmaker, do not carry your screenplays, business plans or any other lengthy reading materials that could be construed as excess baggage.

The people attending AFM will be swamped with reading material and this is not the best time or place to give then another hundred or two hundred pages to carry. They are there to see what's out there, meet new people and find what is innovative and what will shape the future of this industry. They are there to make contacts and eventually, cut deals.

It's totally unreasonable for anyone to think that they will take the time to read your printed material no matter how good it is. AFM is the place to entice the people you meet, build a relationship and get their interest up so they will go home and contact you and ask for additional information if your project peaked their interest. And you can always follow up with a polite phone call to see if it did.

For information CLICK HERE: http://www.ifta-online.org/afm/home.asp

©2008, Stanley Lozowski. All Rights Reserved.

"Film will only became an art when its materials are as inexpensive as pencil and paper." -Jean Cocteau

Film Investment Meeting at St. John’s University

Film Synergy leaders Brian Zen, Donald Bertrand, and Tom Lassu (Chief Synergy Architect) are making themselves available TODAY at 3:30pm for an investment and Film Financing Talk/Networking event.

The discussion will be held at St. John’s University. Tom says admission is free, but security is tight on campus, and you must register at http://zenway.us/events.

According to Tom:

"The Film Industry segment starts around 3:30 PM. The presentation is titled 'Film Synergy and the Current State of the Motion Picture Industry'; it is an overview/summary of the insights that we gained last year during the course of organizing film financing seminars."

As for the crowd mix, he says:

"The group consists of mainly Asian investors, professionals, business students, financial advisors, some Wall Street people, and a few film industry folks as well."

For interested filmmakers looking for a serious talk about investing and financing, this would be a good opportunity to network in the New York area at an event where you will receive direct exposure to industry professionals who can get you legitimate information on your next step.

Time: 2 - 6 PM
Cost: FREE (You save $30!)

Place: St. John’s University
101 Murray Street, Room 118
New York, NY 10007

RSVP required via Zenway. Questions: 646-388-0887