This comprehensive, entertaining and accessible seminar covers the topics below as they pertain
to live-action, fiction films, ranging from the no-budget "exercise short" to the under-mil feature. Workshop is
interactive, and ample time is allotted for participants to ask questions and receive advice about their own projects. Filmmakers
may wish to attend with a project in mind, at any stage of its development, but this is not required. A 100+ page handbook
with sample schedules, budgets, contracts, and much more, is included. No prior
experience in film production is assumed.
SATURDAY
10-12Pm ABOVE-THE-LINE: PACKAGING A FILM
•
Networking Tools
• Goal-setting: joining big dreams with realistic
planning
• ABOVE-THE-LINE: Choosing the Script, the Director,
a Producing Partner
• Casting
Lunch: 12-1pm
1PM-3PM FUNDRAISING
• Effective pitching
• For-profit vs. non-profit
• Creative fundraising: donations, grants,
in-kind contributions
• Writing
a business plan; approaching investors
3PM-4:30pm SCHEDULING
• Script
Breakdown
• Scheduling
• The Timed Shot List
5pm-6pm BELOW-THE-LINE: CREWING UP
• Overview
of the film crew and each role
• Choosing crew size: which corners can
and can't be cut
• Contracts: the three points of negotiations, the four forms of compensation
SUNDAY
10-12pm
FILM BUDGETING
• The no-budget exercise short
• The professional calling-card short (5K-50K)
• No-budget features (under 150K)
• Under-mil features
•
Tips to staying on budget
Lunch:
12-1pm
1pm-3pm PHYSICAL PRODUCTION
• The Complete
Production Check-List
• On Set: Protocols
& their purpose, Call sheets, Production reports
3pm-4pm POST-PRODUCTION
• The Edit
• Sound / Music
•
Final Delivery
4:30-6pm DISTRIBUTION
• Festival strategies
• Distribution & Self-Distribution
• Publicity & Marketing
ACCLAIMED FEATURE FILMS PRODUCED FOR UNDER $100K
IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS (15K)
AUGUST EVENING (40K)
BLOOD CAR (25K)
CRASHING (10K)
THE
DEATH OF MICHAEL SMITH ($541)
BANGKOK (20k)
THE
DOGWALKER (100K)
LOVE
AND SUICIDE (Cost of tape)
COLIN ($70)
FORGIVING THE FRANKLINS (100K)
CHALK (Under 100K)
MUTUAL
APPRECIATION (50K)
THE
PUFFY CHAIR (15K)
ROOM
(Under 100K)
CAVITE (Two
plane tickets)
SLEEPING DOGS
LIE (Under 100K)
IN BETWEEN
DAYS (60K)
THE TALENT
GIVEN US (30K)
DEAR PILLOW
($3,800)
FOLLOWING (12K)
Produced for under $150K, budgets unknown:
BAGHEAD
MOMMA'S MAN
TRIGGER MAN
SEVERED WAYS
OWL AND THE SPARROW
LOW AND
BEHOLD
GREAT WORLD OF SOUND
THE SIGNAL
SHOTGUN STORIES
CONVENTIONEERS
