Intentional Filmmaking Class

4 Month Course Taught by Indie Film Funding Experts Carole Dean & Tom Malloy

Learn How To Get Your Film Funded

Do you know how to get your paperwork, pitch, and budget to a point where you can close donors and investors with confidence?

Do you know how to motivate people to support you and donate to or invest in your project?

Are you one of 15 filmmakers ready to take your film funding to the next level and learn from experts how to raise what you need to complete your film and win over distributors? 

Then join instructors Carole Dean and Tom Malloy who will guide and inspire you to get your film funded in their Intentional Filmmaking Class.  

Get Your Film Funded

The successful Intentional Filmmaking Class has helped many filmmakers, anxious and confused about how to finance their projects, get on track to have their films funded and completed!

It’s taught by:

Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions and author of The Art of Film Funding, 2nd Edition: Alternative Concepts in Film Funding.

Tom Malloy, indie film producer/director and distributor, as well as author of Bankroll, 2nd edition: A New Approach to Financing Feature Films.

Is This Class for You?

It is if you have a documentary, short film, feature, or web series that needs money to get made.

Together, Carole and Tom provide step-by-step guidance for filmmakers so they can create a detailed plan for funding their film.

Filmmakers are also taught how to use their power of intent to manifest their goals for funding and get their films made.

“Carole and Tom’s Intentional Filmmaking Class is a rare find. It is difficult in this industry to meet people willing to truly show you the ropes, that are as knowledgeable and honest as they are kind and supportive. These two instructors are gems, and really have your best interest at heart.” 

— Sheri Winkelmann, Screenwriter/Actress

You Can Take Class From Anywhere…Listen to It Anytime

Classes are twice each month and are conducted via scheduled conference calls.  No need to worry about missing a class.  All classes are recorded and available for listening for class members.

Limited Class Size 

The Intentional Filmmaking Class is limited to a maximum of just 15 students.  Carole and Tom want to be able to help each class member with their individual challenges and help create their success. 

Monthly Personal Consultations for Each Class Member

Tom and Carole want to make sure each class member stays focused and on track with the funding plan created.  Every class member receives 3 individual consultations with Carole Dean and Tom Malloy.    

Tom no longer gives private consultations.  They are only available through this class.  

You can personally pitch your project to Tom who is an active producer and co-owner of a distribution company. He can tell you what distributors want to hear and see when you pitch your film to a distributor.

You have Tom teach you how to write your deck for a feature.  He can give you input on your proposal for a documentary. 

About Your Instructors

Intentional Filmmaking Class Instructor – Carole Dean

She is the founder and President of From the Heart Productions, a top-rated 501(c)3 non-profit, dedicated to helping indie filmmakers learn how to fund their films. 

She established the Roy W. Dean Film Grants, is a winner of the WIFTS Lifetime Achievement Award, and an Indie Film Visionary Award.   

Over 30 years, she has helped indie filmmakers raise over millions for their films and helped them get their films made. 

“This class will empower you with knowledge.
Your mind is your greatest asset and our job is to teach you how to use it to make and fund your film.  

We start by teaching you how to create a captivating proposal, an engaging trailer, and help you create an action plan for funding success.  b

We will show you how to find and attract investors/donors then how to pitch them to get your film funded.”  

– Carole Dean

Intentional Filmmaking Class Co-Instructor – Tom Malloy

 Tom Malloy is a true Independent filmmaker.  He is an actor/writer/producer/director who has raised over $25 million in private equity for films. 

He has produced 20 films, written 30+ screenplays, 24 of which he optioned, sold, or made into movies . And he’s starred in a bunch of movies, including Love N’ Dancing and the Alphabet Killer. 

He’s also the President and co-owner of Glass House Distribution, a sales and distribution company, that now represents close to 100 films in their catalog and they recently opened a TV division.  He Co-Owns FilmmakingStuff, one of the most popular film blogs online.  

They are joined by experts in in film distribution, sound editing, entertainment law, and more will show you how to get the best deals and stretch the dollars you raise.

By the end of the class, you will be 115% confident that you will get your film funded!

“In the first week of the Intentional Filmmaking Class, Carole and her guests helped me clarify my goals, change my strategy and start an action-plan to make my film happen.”

— Weam Namou, Director/Writer/Producer

“From the Heart Production’s Intentional Filmmaking Class is a motivation and confidence builder to not just completing your film, but building the foundation to be able to reach the widest audience possible. This class had something to offer for filmmakers of all levels, from emerging to experienced filmmakers.

It’s inspiring to be in the same class with other filmmakers whose work you admire – a testimony of how valued this class is. Carole and Tom are bright lights along the arduous journey of making a film. They were so supportive by giving us the tools, advice and encouragement to have the confidence to achieve our goals.”

— Fuschia Lin, Filmmaker/Artist

You can be at any stage of production to take this class.  You set your own goals.

You can see the class outline here: Course Outline »

Limited Class Size – Now Accepting Enrollment for Spring 2025 Class

Special Offer – Are You a Graduate of the Intentional Class? 

You can take it over for a discounted fee.  Many times, the universe interrupts your best plans.  Did this happened to you and now you are back focused on your film?

Now is the time to join us again for 8 incredible sessions and 3 personal consultations on your film with Carole and Tom.

Just the 3 consults normally cost nearly $4,000.  You can take this class over for 50% off or $315, however, we are limiting this to 3 graduates. 

Just send an email to CaroleLeeDean@gmail.com to reserve your space.

Create a Strong Fundraising Foundation

• One-on-one meetings to discuss your strengths and how to improve your project.   Each class member gets a private consultation with Carole Dean and Tom once a month.
• Create 6 month funding goals. Each filmmaker lists what they want to achieve and Carole will help them create an action list to reach those goals.
• Perfect your pitch.  Tom and Carole will help you create a pitch that works to get you funded.  People make decisions in under 60 seconds. They will assist you in crafting a pitch that grabs an investor’s attention.
• If your trailer is not bringing in money, Carole will help you fix it so it does.  She has seen
  thousands over the years judging the Roy W. Dean Grant and knows which ones work and which ones don’t.
• Your proposal is analyzed, fine tuned, or reconstructed. Does it have what is needed to win grants, get donations, secure investors?  Don’t have a proposal? Carole will create one with you.
• You will be given a 10 page outline of all 11 windows of distribution.  We cover each window in class.  During the 5 months, you work on one page at a time until this is completed.  This is what you need to win grants, collect individual donations and for corporate donations.

Learn How to Get the Funding and Financing You Need

• Closing your donors.
• Finding strategic partners.  Who they are, where to find them, how to approach them.  What benefits you have from them.
• Review and improve your film’s web site.  Work on key words, Google searches for your market, outlining your market/audience for the film.  Where to find them and how to connect to them.  Building your data base while making your film is a major issue today.
• Learn successful crowdfunding.   From the Heart was one of Indiegogo’s first partners and we’ve helped raised over $4 million for independent filmmakers through crowdfunding.
• We teach funding parties, how to do it and be successful. 
• We teach setting up one on one meetings.
• We teach successful letter writing campaigns.
• You will learn how to manifest your success.  The works of great writers and philosophers will be shared and you will be shown how to intend for your success. Your mind set will change and you will be confident and sure that nothing can stop you from raising money for your film.

Guest Instructors

Getting your film funded means knowing how to save money as well as getting the most and best you can within your budget. Get tips and advice from our experts.

Karen Everett – Editor is one of the world’s leading documentary story consultants, a pioneer in the emerging genre of transformational films and a powerful voice in the movement for conscious filmmaking. As the guiding force behind New Doc Editing, LLC, she has advised hundreds of filmmakers. Her visionary leadership and deep understanding of narrative structure has helped many filmmakers get their documentaries screened at Sundance, PBS, HBO, and other top documentary venues. 

Jerry Deaton – Sound.  Jerry is owner of AUDIOKUT; is a full-service affordable audio post production company specializing in small and medium-sized independent films, commercials, web content and T.V. productions. Services include: ADR, Digital Foley, Music Editing, Dialog Editing, Sound Effects Design, 5.1 Mixing, Audio Restoration, M&E mixing, Audio Layback, Music Production, Score Composition, and access to a large in-house source library.

Tony Pannaccio – Film Financing. Tony Panaccio is a 35-year media veteran. In the mid-90s he was a VP at New York City’s TSI/The Weber Group, where he worked with major tech clients like Microsoft, AOL, IBM, Sony, Warner Bros. and more than a dozen early Internet startups. In 1999, he moved to Hill & Knowlton, where he represented Stan Lee, Marvel Comics founder and pop culture icon. As Senior Vice President of CrossGen Entertainment, Tony developed motion picture and TV projects based on CrossGen’s properties with Bob Zemeckis, Wes Craven, Larry Kasanoff and Chuck Russell. Tony continued to work as a marketing consultant with film producer Michael Uslan (of Batman, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Constantine, National Treasure fame).

Today, he splits his time as a senior counselor for Wilson Media (working alongside his old friend John Wilson), a producer with Lonesome Pine Pictures and acts in a pro bono capacity as VP of Communications for The Parsonage Project, a 501(c)3 whose aim is to help restore the faith-based safety net for the poverty-stricken.

Robert L. Siegel – Entertainment Attorney.  Robert has over 20 years’ experience with independent feature and documentary filmmakers. He has negotiated contracts with HBO, PBS, and most all streamers. Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Not Sure if Class is Right for You?

Call Carole.  She will answer any questions you may have.  805-984-0098.  You can also email her at caroleleedean@gmail.com

Next Class 

Class starts February 24th, 2025

Cost

$730 for 8 classes and 4 personal consultations.

Early Enrollment Discount:

$630 if purchased by February 3rd.

Additional Discounts:

Fiscally Sponsored Filmmakers get a 15% discount. Please email info@fromtheheartproductions.com if you need the coupon code.

Can’t Pay All at Once? 

You can enroll for a down payment of $150. After payment, please contact Carole Dean at carole@fromtheheartproductions.com to set up a payment plan for the balance.

Class Schedule

All classes will be at 9AM PT or PDT.   They are every other week.  Each class is approximately 1 hour 30 min in length.

• 2/24
• 3/10
• 3/24
• 4/7
• 4/21
• 5/5
• 5/20  
• 6/2