Film Financing

How Filmmakers Can Beat the Recession

Nikki — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:02:06 -0500

As the recession continues to cast a shadow on the American economy, Hollywood studios are emerging as one of the few success stories. Audiences seeking an entertaining reprieve from layoffs and pay cuts are bringing theaters increased ticket sales and revenue and giving the film industry a "recession proof" reputation.

Filmmaker Q&A: "Con Artist" Director, Michael Sládek

Nikki — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:40:50 -0500

Brooklyn-based filmmaker Michael Sládek directed and produced, as well as shot and co-edited the film Con Artist. The riveting, hilarious portrait of '80s art star Mark Kostabi, whose addiction to fame hit its extreme with his kitschy public access TV show Title This, where contestants vie for the chance to title his paintings.

Grant Guidance: Government, State, and Private Funds for Filmmakers

michele — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:54:19 -0600

Although arts funding is not exactly at its peak, grants remain an essential source of financing for many independent filmmakers. Learning to navigate the grant research and application process, of course, can be quite a challenge. Some filmmakers jest that they spend more time fundraising than making their films.

ITVS: Has This Key Funding Partner Lost its Way?

mike — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:32:55 -0600

In 2007, filmmaker Joanna Rudnick learned that her application for funding from the Independent Television Service (ITVS) had been accepted. Rudnick, a first-time director, had applied for ITVS funding to finance the completion of her documentary In the Family, a look at women who are aware they carry a genetic predisposition to breast or ovarian cancer.

5 Contract Tips for Filmmakers

michele — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:45:14 -0600

1. Get professional help. Always have a recommended entertainment lawyer review any contract (broadcasting, funding, licensing) before signing. If you can't bring a lawyer, bring an advocate to negotiation meetings. Having an experienced producer on your side during a negotiation is the next best thing to having a lawyer with you (and in some cases may even work better).

10 Terms From ITVS Standard Contract Revealed

mike — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:43:32 -0600

At The Independent’s request, ITVS agreed to publish its standard contract details for the first time. Some of the terms are fixed across all projects. For example, because the ITVS mandate is for each film to air on public television, the contract prioritizes those broadcasts ahead of community screenings or film festivals.

Money Issues: Funding an Independent Film

Nikki — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 01:44:05 -0500

Long before filmmakers begin production, they face the daunting task of scraping together enough money to get their film off the ground. Choosing the right method of funding relies on many factors, including the type and subject of the film, and the experience behind the cast and crew involved in the project.

Of Finance and Fantasy: The Aviatrix Takes on Funding in Texas

Nikki — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:47:58 -0500

“Making a movie is like moving a mountain,” says Toddy Burton, the Austin-based filmmaker behind The Aviatrix, a film about a girl struggling with cancer who finds an escape from her troubles by becoming The Aviatrix, a superhero who rockets through outerspace.

The Doc Doctor's Anatomy of a Film: "Soy Andina"

Nikki — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:28:32 -0500

About this column: Many filmmakers ponder in anguish, How do other people—celebrated people—do it? Am I taking too long to make this documentary? Does everybody spend as much money as I am spending, or am I spending too little? And when filmmakers share their lessons learned in interviews in the glossy trade magazines, their tales seem to follow the arc of otherworldy heroes rather than real documentary makers, i.e. human beings like you and me. So each month, the Doc Doctor will go out into the world (this real world) of filmmakers who are successful and find out how they made it. The "Anatomy of a Film Column" is a chance to learn from filmmakers' hits and misses in real life examples. —Fernanda Rossi, story consultant a.k.a. the Documentary Doctor

The Doc Doctor's Anatomy of a Film: "Sync or Swim"

Nikki — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500