IIFF/LA Film Financing Workshop With Business Plan GuruGetting the Money:
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*** Fast-track your fundraising progress at IIFF's networking-oriented Film Financing Townhall on July 29 in Beverly Hills *** |
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Abstract"A properly drafted business plan minimizes the filmmaker as the source of risk in a film investment. This seminar delivers comprehensive guidelines for drafting and using such a document, with a heavy focus on financials." — Jeremy Juuso The business plan is among the most important documents that filmmakers use to approach financiers. Too often, both sides are ill-prepared to turn this key document into a solid foundation for film financing success. Our tour-de-force seminar distills the most essential elements of film business plan creation and use, with a heavy emphasis on the financial projections that underlie any sound business plan. The foremost objective is to help both new & seasoned producers avoid surprisingly widespread mistakes. These mistakes can lead to serious questions regarding the filmmakers' competence or, worse still, to legal costs from violations of the law. At the same time, we intend to empower investors to more easily spot red flags in the movie proposals they receive. By the end of the day, Workshop attendees will have acquired the skills and knowledge necessary to confidently start on a film business plan that communicates passion, integrity & competence. ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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IntroductionThe Los Angeles chapter of the Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) continues its acclaimed education & networking events at the junction of film & finance with a special Film Financing Workshop for Southern California's community of filmmakers, entrepreneurs and financiers. IIFF's friends at the L.A. Film Studies Center are making their centrally located facilities on the Miracle Mile available for our daylong seminar. This intensive, hands-on learning experience forms an integral part of IIFF's unrivaled series of in-depth seminars with such iconic instructors as Hollywood film financing legend Lew Horwitz (April '08 San Francisco Workshop), IFP founder Sandra Schulberg (April '08 Los Angeles Workshop | February '08 San Francisco Workshop & February '08 Los Angeles Workshop | January '08 Los Angeles Workshop), and Silicon Valley venture capitalist Dr. Frank Greene (July '08 San Francisco Workshop | June '08 Los Angeles Workshop | June '08 Silicon Valley Workshop | May '08 Los Angeles Workshop | March '08 San Francisco Workshop & March '08 Los Angeles Workshop). The upcoming Workshop builds on the exceptional popularity of IIFF's monthly Townhall Meetings —originally launched in the S.F. Bay Area during the spring of 2005— and features a highly topical program taught by an in-the-trenches expert with a track record of success. Our goal with this and future events is not only to provide unbiased insight & education about the business of film but also to foster & inform productive relationships between attending professionals. Over the past years, the landscape of film financing has changed considerably and continues to be in flux. The ongoing democratization of the means of film production has loosed an avalanche of competition in independent film, making it more difficult for even the most talented filmmakers to stand out. On the other hand, film is attracting a wider range of financing sources than ever, including a large and diverse group of private equity investors (e.g., so-called angels). In this environment of change, many of the old rules no longer apply. While content remains king, it is more critical than ever that filmmakers take a proactive, methodical and business-savvy approach to getting their films funded – be they fictional narratives or nonfiction documentaries, features or shorts, or experimental work. To thrive on the challenges ahead, filmmakers need to transform themselves from creative masterminds and technical mavens into holistic film entrepreneurs who can navigate the waters of business, finance & law as competently and confidently as they tackle the creative and technical side of movie production. (After all, the complex and wonderful process of filmmaking starts and ends with the money.) There is no better place to start than the film business plan, the film entrepreneur's systematic roadmap for success and the single most important document any serious film investor needs to see, evaluate and understand. Without a well thought-out business plan, even the most promising movie venture runs the risk of turning into a protracted odyssey and may be doomed to fail – or, at least, fail to live up to its full potential. Key components of a business plan include:
Nontrivial considerations & implications permeate most, if not all, aspects of a film business plan and its practical, day-to-day implementation. Getting these issues right is not just a point of professional pride. The choices made (e.g., distribution strategy) have a profound and lasting impact on the financing, production & success of your movie. ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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Seminar DescriptionNearly all low-budget, English-language independent films that achieve a U.S. theatrical release open in 1,000 or fewer theaters. ("Low budget" meaning $10 million and below.) Of those that did in 2009, an estimated 74% had cash from individual investors or their representatives as the driving force in their financing (raw data listed here). The people providing this money seldom do so before reviewing documentation that highlights the pluses and minuses of investing in film. One of the most commonly used documents for approaching film investors is the business plan. Unfortunately for most filmmakers as well as financiers, this document is often prepared in a hasty manner that leads to more questions than answers. False assumptions about the nature of the industry, incomplete descriptions concerning the return of revenues and a host of other issues point to the real risk in such an investment: an uninformed filmmaker. Even worse, the nature in which most business plans are handed out (as well as the content of the plans themselves) can leave the filmmaker open to serious legal action from investors and securities regulators. This highly instructive Workshop condenses the core knowledge for writing a solid film business plan into six intensive hours (plus two hours total for breaks and networking). The daylong program begins with such issues as:
It expands to cover financial topics including:
Our expert instructor will focus on business plans used to raise 100% of a budget from individual investors, since the underlying principles in this financing scenario can also be applied to more complex ones. ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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Learning OutcomesThis course conveys valuable skills & knowledge that any film entrepreneur will find useful. SkillsYou will develop important hands-on skills such as:
KnowledgeYou will be exposed to many mission-critical topics including:
Be sure to review our detailed Workshop program for additional information! » ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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Recommended Reading^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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Featured Instructor
Jeremy is a Harvard-educated author, researcher and consultant in the field of motion picture finance. He specializes in creating film business plans and advising both movie producers and investors on the financing of multi-million-dollar films as well as projects in the sub-million dollar budget range. Jeremy authored the acclaimed book "Getting the Money: A Step-by-Step Guide for Writing Business Plans for Film," writes "The A.K.A. Report," the only regular analysis of specialty films and their funding traits, and blogs frequently on the topic of film finance. He also serves as financial advisor to Fly High Films, an independent production company with seven feature films to its credit. Earlier in his career, Jeremy performed investor database construction and treasury analysis for MGM. » ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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AttendeesWho should attend?Established and aspiring filmmakers looking to raise capital for their independent films, production companies, movie slates, film funds or other film-related ventures are well advised to participate in this high-value yet low-cost learning experience. Entrepreneurs, consultants, attorneys, bankers, investment managers, venture capitalists, angel investors and other professionals with an interest in the business of film will also find the Workshop useful & worthwhile. Why attend?Whether you are new to the subject of film finance, need to brush up your relevant skills or want to deepen and expand your topical knowledge, this seminar is right for you! Don't miss the rare opportunity to gain crucial insights from a top expert in his field. Connect with like-minded peers and potential collaborators in the process. ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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Workshop VenueL.A. Film Studies Center5455 Wilshire Boulevard Map: Get a map of 5455 Wilshire Blvd from Ask, Bing, Google, MapQuest or Yahoo. Directions: Find an overview of driving directions to 5455 Wilshire Blvd here. Parking: $4 visitor parking (flat fee) is available in the building. ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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Our Host
Special thanks go to Rebecca Ver Straten-McSparran, the Director of the L.A. Film Studies Center, for making this event possible! ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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Schedule
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Program DetailsSession I(2 hours) with Jeremy Juuso
Session II(2 hours) with Jeremy Juuso
Session III(2 hours) with Jeremy Juuso
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Speaker BiosJeremy Juuso
In addition to his work as an author and researcher, Jeremy creates extensive business plans for the financing of multi-million-dollar films. He also serves as financial advisor to Fly High Films, an independent production company with seven feature films to its credit, mostly in the sub-million dollar budget range. His responsibilities at Fly High range from distribution negotiations to the drafting of film business plans. Jeremy further advises movie producers & investors through his consulting firm Jeremy Juuso Consulting; through his guest blogging for Baseline Intelligence, a division of The New York Times Company; and through articles written for The A.K.A. Indie Film Blog and Blogger News Network. Jeremy has provided advisory services to Executive MBA candidates at the UCLA Anderson School of Business; lectured at California Institute of the Arts (guest of Jon Reiss), Los Angeles Film School (guest of Gabrielle Kelly), the Havardwood Salon Series and WordFest-Houston; and appeared as a guest on "Connie Martinson Talks Books" (past guest Barack Obama) and Jen Grisanti's "Feature Film Financing Podcast." Jeremy graduated cum laude in Economics from Harvard College. Upon graduation, he accepted a Harvard fellowship and taught economics at a prestigious British boarding school to students applying to Oxford and Cambridge. Since his return from England, Jeremy has worked at MGM's treasury & investor relations departments (performing investor database construction and treasury analysis), the financial markets research firm Bigdough.com (now part of Ipreo Holdings) and Fly High Films. » ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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RegistrationFilmmaker-friendly, affordable online registration is available at the top of this page.
Register now to secure the best available price!^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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Need Help?Direct all your questions and inquiries about this event to IIFF's online forum at Having trouble with Eventbrite, PayPal or Google Checkout? Get help in IIFF's online forum. (You can also notify us by email well in advance of the event and register on-site.) ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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| Workshop contents are Copyright © 2010 Jeremy Juuso & Thomas Trenker. All other content is Copyright © 2010 Institute for Int'l Film Financing (IIFF). All rights reserved. |
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The Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) is an innovative, independent social-impact organization that endeavors to bridge the gap between the worlds of filmmaking and finance for the benefit of all stakeholders – including the public at large.
Founded by Thomas Trenker in 2003 and headquartered in San Francisco, IIFF has chapters in the Bay Area, New York City, New England, Florida, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, London, the Pacific Northwest and the Lower Midwest.
Help launch or run an IIFF chapter in your area! We make it easy and worthwhile. Email the chapter development team and tell us about yourself. Or join our online community at http://forum.filmfinancing.org to keep in touch with a growing number of filmmakers and financiers.
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