WANT TO PRODUCE OR DIRECT? (Be Realistic)

Want to Produce or Direct a profitable Feature Film?

I’m sure the answer is “Yes”.

Then here are the odds-of-success with either a No-Budget, Micro-Budget, Ultra Low-Budget, Low-Budget, Medium-Budget or Mega-Budget Feature Film.

However, to succeed, you must be “realistic” and select a “realistic budget” that you can “realistically-finance” with a script that is “realistic-to-make” for money that you “realistically”

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THE “BIG 6” HOLLYWOOD AGENCIES:

Yes you need an agent…an agent that gets phone calls returned, that believes in you, loves your ideas and specializes in the craft that you or your projects are in, such as… Talent, Literary, Packaging, Movie, TV, Non-Scripted, Music, Culinary, Sport, Speaker, Comics, Lectures, Commercials, VOs, Editing, Cinematography, Visual Effects, etc.

(The “Big 6” agencies, totaling over 1,500 agents, are WME, ICM, CAA, APA,

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SELL YOUR SCRIPT… BUT TO WHO?

Want to Produce a Movie, Sell your Script or Finance your Idea/Treatment?

Then, stop calling Movie Studios. Stop pitching bullsh*tters at cocktail parties. Stop thinking you’re about to get an agent-who-believes-in-you.

Stop hustling Bankers and Venture Capitalists. Stop buying $25 tickets for 10-minute pitches at pitchathons to secretaries.

Stop spending hard earned money fantasizing Crowd Funding with Kickstarter or IndieGoGo..

Stop.

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THE 7 MOVIE BUDGETS

Want to Produce, Write or Direct a Feature Film that actually gets made?

If “Yes” then you must realize, once having the screenplay, that when preparing a budget, what is realistic and what is unrealistic… that is…for you… as a first-timer.

By unrealistic I mean you can believe you are doing proper method by hiring a Production Manager (PM) or an Assistant Director (AD) to prepare a budget the “right way”

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MOVIE MONEY: RUNAWAY PRODUCTIONS

In 1997 Canada, specifically Toronto (which doubles for USA cities), opted to compete for Hollywood Money by offering 25% rebates/refunds to any production that was to-be-shot in cities like New York, Chicago, or Boston, or Philadelphia, or Baltimore, etc.

And, if a production company instead of shooting in an East Coast USA city opts to (A) shoot in Toronto, (B) take the 25% rebate ($10M production is a $2,500,000 refund),

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YOUR SCREENPLAY: It is Either GREAT or It SUCKS

Your script is the key to opening the doors… And, let’s cut-to-the-chase.

For a first-timer you only have one shot, don’t waste it and your script better be GREAT… Nothing short of great will do.

Always remember, “Hollywood can get away with mediocrity but first-timers, someone like you, good is not good enough and only GREAT will do”.

(Your script is either Great or it Sucks…

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CANNES: MARKET OR FESTIVAL

First, a Festival is where you attend, with your finished film, to screen for buyers (aka: Acquisition Executives) for them to see that your film sells out (it is marketable), has a clearly defined demographics (who bought tickets) and that when the Rear Credits roll the audience doesn’t just politely applaud but stands, yells & screams “Bravo, Bravo, Bravo” (word of mouth).

If this occurs and you have achieved getting 12-15 Acquisition Executives into the screening who see that this “Bravo,

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FILM FESTIVAL CIRCUIT (What is the Festival Route?)

You are an independent filmmaker. You have made your Feature Film and, as an independent, you’ve made it with your own money, friends money or relatives money and now desire to get everyone, the investors, money back with a profit.

(“Sundance had 13,000 film submitted last year and accepted 104.”)

Now, what do you do?

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UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS & 25 HOLLYWOOD LITERARY AGENCIES

Have a script? Need an agent? Allow me to help and if you’re a graduate of my “2-Day Film School” you will ignore the commonly opined phrase “We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts” and know exactly what to do.

First the agents.

Below, other than the powerful Big 6 Agencies (WME, ICM, CAA, APA, UTA & Paradigm), is a list of 25 Medium Sized and Boutique Agencies who are (A) licensed,

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THE HOLLYWOOD AGENTS: THE BIG 6

Yes you need an agent…an agent that gets phone calls returned, that believes in you, loves your ideas and specializes in the craft that you or your projects are in, such as… Talent, Literary, Packaging, Movie, TV, Non-Scripted, Music, Culinary, Sport, Speaker, Comics, Lectures, Commercials, VOs, Editing, Cinematography, Visual Effects, etc.

(The “Big 6” agencies, totaling over 1,500 agents, are WME, ICM, CAA,

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