The Art of Film Funding: Alternative Financing Concepts: Second Edition

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Buy the book From The Heart Productions order page book by November 1, 2012, you will receive a 50% discount on a one hour consultation with the author. Just email caroleedean@att.net after you place the order to schedule an appointment.

The Art of Film Funding has 12 new chapters and has been completely rewritten. It contains ways to raise money and how to prevent over spending in areas like music rights, fair use, insurance, and the other traps out there for filmmakers.

About the Author: Carole Dean runs From the Heart Productions, one of the most popular nonprofit granting organizations in the country. For twenty years, she has been reading documentary proposals, feature outlines, watching trailers and working as a consultant for filmmakers.

She is executive producer for Women Behind the Lens, BAM 6.6, Step Away from the Stone and American Chain Gang. Her expertise is in knowing what investors/funders want. In this book she gives you

  • Detailed information on how to improve your pitch
  • How to create a visual description of your film
  • How to find donors/investors and to finance your film

“Dean has years of experience both as a producer and a funder and her new second edition is full of nuts-and-bolts information from both sides of the fence, told in a conversational and heart-felt manner. A great new addition to the filmmaker’s lexicon. — Morrie Warshawski, consultant and author of Shaking the Money Tree

Click here to buy the book

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 COMMIT OR BE COMMITTED

Secrets to Success

The Journey

The Power of Sound and Words

A Conversation with Filmmaker Xackery Irving

Chapter 2 THE PERFECT PITCH

Visually Describe Your Film

A Sticky Story Pitch

The Winning Pitch by John McKeel 

Know Who’s Who

Become the Film 

The Wind-up and Delivery
 
Perfecting Your Pitch

Chapter 3 THE PROPOSAL

Tips from a Grantor

More Information to Include

Understanding Proposal Writing

Proposal Outline

Log Line Examples

Log Line Construction by Rodney Vance

Introduction/Synopsis

Approach, Structure & Style

Theme, Audience Marketing & Budget

Chapter 4 FROM AN IDEA TO A TRAILER
  
Opening Your Bank Account

Fiscal Sponsor Benefits Docs & Features

Mailing Lists

What’s in it for me?

Money to Make the Trailer

Development Money

Chapter 5 BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR
FUNDRAISING TRAILERS:

A conversation with story consultant Fernanda Rossi

Filmmaking is a Collaborative Art

List Your Top 10 Scenes to Start Your Trailer Edit

Chapter 6  CREATING YOUR TRAILER 

By Bill Woolery, Editor of ET and The Usual Suspects

Tricks to Trailer Editing

Fundraising Trailers – Things to Consider

Different Types of Trailers

Three Act Structure

Music for Trailers

Chapter 7    LOADING THE BASES

 

Rules of the Game 

There’s no Crying in Baseball

Scouting the Majors: Researching Funders

Organizing Your Search

Chapter 8     WINNING THE MIND GAME

 Releasing a Potential

First Law in Manifesting

Daydreaming is in!

Chapter 9 THE FEATURE FILM GAME 
With Actor, Producer, Writer Tom Malloy of BANKROLL

Closing the Deal

Finding Vested Investors

First Money in Bonus

Using the 5 Percent Consulting Fee

Tips on Financing

Make Films

Two Page Synopsis for Feature films

Chapter 10 THE ROAR OF CROWD FUNDING
Interview with Danea Ringelmann, a Co Founder of IndieGoGo 

Crowd Funding for Cash

Tips for Success

Average Contributions

Crowd Funding for Features

Creating a successful campaign Outlined by Carole Dean

Networking

Money

Crowdfunding Trailer

Are You Ready to Receive?

Launch Date Check List

Chapter 11 INTERNET MARKETING
Interview with Peter Broderick on “Hybrid Distribution” 

Creating a Distribution Strategy

Distribution Pitfalls

Theatrical Distribution

Digital Revenue

Internet Distribution Tips

Chapter 12 RAISING FUNDS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES

Raising Funds from Individuals

Popping the Big Question

Funding Parties, Instant Cash

Funding Extravaganza Outline

Your Fundraising Toolbox

 Chapter 13    ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE
A conversation with Archivist Rosemary Rotondi

Personal experiences

Saving Money With an Archivist

Archival Footage for Low Budgets

Chapter 14   FOUNDATIONS & GRANTS

Fiscal Sponsorship

Finding the Grantor to Match Your Film

Contacting Your Potential Grantor

Chapter 15   TENACITY PAYS OFF: Interview with

Jilann Spitzmiller of Philomath Films

ITVS Grant Winning Tips

Winning Sundance Grants

BBC License Fees

ITVS Winning Documentary Proposal

Chapter 16 TRANSMEDIA PROPOSAL

By Sara Marmoorie & Jesse Deeter (Who Killed the Electric Car?) 

Chapter 17 MUSIC LICENSES & PERMITS
By Maureen Ryan, author Producer to Producer

Plan for Success

Creating a Music Soundtrack

What Rights Do You need?

Putting in the License Request

Music Rights Request Letter Format

Negotiating the Music Rights

Most Favored Nation

Chapter 18 FINANCING INDEPENDENT FILMS:
A conversation with Entertainment Attorney Mark Litwak

Financing Features

Releases & Copyright

Private Placement Memorandums (PPM)

Gap Financing

Benefits of an LLC

Independent Film Financing by Mark Litwak

Chapter 19 DISTRIBUTION 
What Distributors want by David Vasile, Pres. of Dazzle Entertainment

When to Contact a Distributor?

Electronic Film Marketing

The Value of a Trailer

Documentary Distribution

Self Distribution

Working with ITVS & PBS

Chapter 20 THE MONEY MAZE OF PUBLIC FUNDING:   

Working with ITVS & PBS

Producing for Public Broadcasting (PBS)

American Public Television (APT)

ITVS 

Independent Lens 

WNET and Wide Angle 

Arthur Dong 

Chapter 21  MISSION, VISION AND VALUES: 
A Conversation with Morrie Warshawski

Five Year Projections

Creating a Mission statement

Proposal for a Documentary

Testing Your Film Idea

Donations from Small Businesses

Rasing Money from Corporations

Chapter 22 BUDGETS by Norman Berns

The Problem

The Crux of it All

The Bridge Collapses

You’re in Charge of Your Film

Stars. Props. Locations. Action. Talent. Schedules.

The Cost of Things

Budgeting Programs are Financial Management Tools

Chapter 23 LEGAL   
FILM FINANCING By Hal (Corky) Kessler

Conditional Pay or Play

Funding Sources

Chain of Title

CONTRACTS & RELEASES by Paige Gold

Contract Basics

Coproduction Deals

What to Look for in Contracts

Chapter 24 STRETCHING PRODUCTION DOLLARS THROUGH FAIR USE
By Michael C. Donaldson

Fair Use can save production dollars

The U.S. Copyright Act
One Plaintiff – 3 Cases – Same result
The Grateful Dead Breaking New Ground      
One outline
Safe Harbor
Insurance to the Rescue

Chapter 25 INSURANCE by Kent Hamilton      
 
General Liability

Workers Compensation

Errors & Omissions

Production Package

Chapter 26 LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! 
Studio and lighting information with Britt Penrod, Vice President of Business
Development Raleigh Film and Television Studios

Economic Incentives for Productions

Negotiating with a Studio for Stage and Lights

Saving Money on Stage and Lighting Rentals

Camera Equipment Advice with Maia Kaufman, AbelCine Tech

Camera Trends

Economical Cameras

Savings on Rental Costs

Student Discounts & Training

APPENDIX

Production Resources for Public Television

Internet Search Tools

Databases, Resources & Tools

Organizations

Funders

Production List