Producing
Indie Films
Become the producer you’ve been looking for.
with Ela Thier
Producing
All images and clips in the video above are alumni of Producing Indie Films: Ekwa Msangi, Neal Hemphill, Jamie Canobbio, Nabil Viñas, Dylan Rogers, Rocio Mendez, Cary Patrick Martin, Isabelle Pierre, Nazli Sarpkaya, Richard Joseph, Nadhege Ptah, Alexis Holloway, Nina Gielen, Prashant Sehgal, Pallavi Rohatgi
Are any of these you?
YOU’RE A WRITER …one of those shy introverts who gets a rash when you hear the word “networking”.
YOU’RE A DIRECTOR …or you would be one, if someone gave you that chance.
YOU’RE AN ACTOR …tired of booking “Cop 2” and want roles that do you justice.
YOU’RE A TRIPLE THREAT …one of those hyphenated creatives who does all of the above depending on the day.
I know my peeps. We’re the creative sort. Budgets, contracts, marketing: these words send us into a catatonic coma.
Please don’t kill the messenger, but successful artists become producers and produce their own work.
Did you try some of these?
- Paid pitch fests, coverage notes, evaluations.
- Websites and contests that promise industry exposure.
- Queried reps or producers and heard crickets.
- Boring networking events - or the shame of not going to them.
- Courses on producing that were maddeningly dry and impossible to follow or retain.
- Went to film school, but you're still not creating films, and have student debts to show for it.
- Books, free stuff online, podcasts, all. the. things...
But you still haven’t made a film! Or you tried, wasted a ton of money, and it’s collecting dust on a hard drive with an outdated cable connector.
What if…
What if you understood the steps to creating the films or shows that you’d like to create, with the resources that you already have (no using credit cards!)
What if you had the support of a community as you took those scary steps, and you didn’t go it alone?
What if you had the tools to reach audiences, and build an ever-growing, loyal fan base that follows your work and tells everyone about it?
What if you never again relied on industry gatekeepers to determine whether your work sees the light of day?
Your work is too significant to be left up to luck and gatekeepers.
Introducing:
Producing
Indie Films
- Create your next film or show – right now. No more waiting.
- Make industry gatekeepers irrelevant to your career.
- Find the resources that you need, and spend them wisely.
- Avoid expensive mistakes that cost time and money.
- Become part of a community that supports rather than competes.
- Reach your audience. Even Hollywood's infinite marketing money can't compete with a genuine and personal voice.
Ready to receive the guidance you need and not go it alone?
30-day money back guarantee
If you watch at least 20% but not more than 50% of either course, and you're not happy, ask and we'll refund you in full. No questions.
lifetime, on-demand access
Work through the course at your pace and on your schedule. Binge watch now or take your time. Refer back to the course as many times as you need. Many alumni go through it with every production. When I get stuck, I still go back to it myself and use the exercises in my own productions.
If opportunities don't knock
you knock out opportunities
you knock out opportunities
I spent 20+ years in Hollywood, working for Disney, 20th Century Fox, NBC and most other studios and networks, but hadn't created any of my own projects. Since taking Ela's online course, I shot my first passion project which I wrote and directed. Ela helped me pitch myself and my film. Thanks to this course, I raised the money I needed rather than spend my own.
TW MILLER
As a recovering film school alum, I learned hands-on information on how to create my film right now ...I wish I'd taken this class earlier, I would have avoided all of the mistakes and the wasted time and money.
MERCEDES BRAZIER
This course could save a lot of people a lot of heartaches. I’ve seen train wrecks before in other productions, and this course validated my instincts, and gave me the confidence to know that my next film would not be that train wreck. I found a mentor who showed me the ropes, I love the film that I created, and I look forward to my next project, now that I know even more.
CAROL WRIGHT
This course has gotten me back to filmmaking. I used to shoot every weekend and I stopped as I got older. As a parent I have other priorities, but this course has brought me back!
Richard Lalonde
Let's get your movies made
curriculum
PRODUCING INDIE FILMS
Set up for success
10 units (1.5hr)
Networking & Community
- Things you DON'T need to make movies
- Networking: how to be popular
- The Independent Film School community
- Exercises
Pipe Dream to Action
- Identifying YOUR next step
- Pipe dream to action, part 1
- Pipe dream to action, part 2
- Exercises
Packaging & funding
25 units (4.5hr)
Your Audience
- Choosing and reaching your audience
- Exercises
The Package
- The package
- Producing partners
- The script
- Casting
- The director
- Your presentation: the one-sheet
- Exercises
Raising Money
- The 4 no's
- Common fundraising mistakes
- Raising $500 - $2K
- Raising $5-$20K
- Raising $20-$100K
- Fundraising emails, best practices
- Fundraising videos, best practices
- How to approach large donors
- When and how to go non-profit
- Exercises
The Business Plan
- Film financing, $100K-$300K and $1M-$5M
- How to write a business plan
REACHING YOUR AUDIENCE
8 units (2.5hr)
Film Publicity
- Publicity demystified
- The festival circuit
- Trailers, best practices
- Stills & posters, best practices
- Creating press kits
- Websites & social media
Lessons in Distribution
Peek under the hood, as I share distribution stories of 3 of my films, and what I learned from marketing my film school. In these stories I openly share:
- Successes
- Good decisions
- Mistakes
- What I would do now
I end by sharing my distribution plan for my upcoming self-produced series.
Physical production A TO Z
Production & post production
24 units (2.5hr)
The Company
- Bird's eye view of a film set
- Crew motivations on low/no budget shoots
- How to produce when you're directing
- Production unit
- Assistant director's unit
- Art department
- Camera department
- Sound department
- Crew sizes: when and how
- Roadmap to post production
- All crew job descriptions
- Contracts demystified
- Exercise
Film Budgeting
- Intro to film budgeting
- The $80K feature
- How to treat everyone like they're union
- Expense reports & tax incentives
- How to stay on budget
- Sample budgets $500 to $5M
- Exercise
Scheduling
- Choosing an assistant director
- How to break down a script
- Film scheduling principles
- Production documents
- The production bible
Post Production
- Editing, sound, color, and delivery: the stages of post production.
BONUS VAULT
Downloadables & Resources
Template agreements
- Material release (use of logos, art, etc.)
- Location release, with pay
- Location release, no pay
- Finder's (introducer's) agreement
- Script optioning agreement
- Writer-director for hire
- Producer for hire agreement
- Actor's agreement
- Talent release form
- Crew member agreement
- Performer-composer agreement
- Music synchronization & master license
Blank templates
- Blank budget template
- Blank expense report template
- Script breakdown sheet
- Template call sheet
- Production masterdoc
Additional resources
- Script registration & copyrights
- Finding cast & crew
- Film permits
- Insurance
- Covid protocols
Let's get your movies made – and seen!
Meet Pallavi Rohatgi
When Pallavi joined Producing Indie Films, she had, at that point, created one short film.
Months later: Pallavi let me know that she was attending the premiere of her first feature film, Greater Elephant.
Years later? Pallavi finished shooting her third feature. Her YouTube channel, HumaraMovie, has over 1.17 million subscribers. Among many highlights, her short film, LIFT, has over 29 million views. One of her favorite shorts, the award-winning film Pressure Cooker, in which she also performs, has over 3 million views.
Community & Support
IFS STUDIO MEMBERSHIP
Work in our virtual coffee shop
ONE YEAR FREE MEMBERSHIP WHEN YOU PAY IN FULL.
Procrastinations have no chance with us.
Our co-working format will keep you focused and working, but without the isolation. Even our shiest members end up with connections.
Facilitated work sessions weekly. 24-7 member run collective so you can work with peers around your schedule – and mood!
LIVE MONTHLY SESSIONS
Join our producers’ roundtable
Meet with an experienced producer every month to ask questions, receive guidance, and connect with peers.
Whether you’re in the throes of post-production on an epic film, or you haven’t gotten started: we got you.
Our production coaches are trained to get you out of potholes and over any humps by offering support, connection, and encouragement when that’s what’s needed; and offering challenges and a hearty push when that’s what’s needed.
Private forum
Lifetime access
Use our private forum to share wins, goals, rely on peers and moderators for accountability, or ask questions as you work through the course.
It works like a Facebook group, but it’s not on Facebook.
Our world would be a better place if your films got made.
6 monthly payments of
$
197
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Producing Indie Films (lifetime access)
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Physical Production (lifetime access)
-
Resource vault (lifetime access)
-
Private forum (indefinitely)
-
Monthly live sessions (indefinitely)
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The IFS Studio (ONE MONTH FREE)
JOIN WAITLIST
This is not a subscription. You'll be expected to complete all 6 monthly payments. Price is listed in USD.
one payment of
$
997
-
Producing Indie Films (lifetime access)
-
Physical Production (lifetime access)
-
Resource vault (lifetime access)
-
Private forum (indefinitely)
-
Monthly live sessions (indefinitely)
-
The IFS Studio (ONE YEAR FREE)
-
Pay in full and SAVE $363
JOIN WAITLIST
Price is listed in USD.
Save $363
30-day money back guarantee
If you watch at least 20% but not more than 50% of either course, and you're not happy, ask and we'll refund you in full. No questions.
lifetime, on-demand access
Work through the course at your pace and on your schedule. Binge watch now or take your time. Refer back to the course as many times as you need. Many alumni go through it with every production. When I get stuck, I still go back to it myself and use the exercises in my own productions.
For over 20 years, I've worked on roughly 50 feature films (Silence of the Lambs, Thirteen Days, Wonder Boys, Mona Lisa Smile). Since taking Ela's producing course, I finally shot the first feature film that I wrote and directed.
JAMES SCHNEIDER
There are dozens of film producers and directors online that offer classes and consultations. But few as passionate about your work as Ela. She is a mentor, a guide, and a future fan of the people she coaches. For years I scoured the internet, asked friends in the industry and bought books. I became disheartened and almost quit. I feel like I finally found real help.
TYRONE ROSS
My sister and I took Ela's Producing Workshop and our lives have been changed forever. We have completed three of our own short films in less than 10 months, and produced numerous others in the Columbia, South Carolina area. In addition, we have given back by starting a film networking group in our area. Ela's workshops are worth every penny - and more.
SHAREE WASHINGTON
I've gotten more done in making my dreams come true since I took your workshop, than in the last 10 years combined.
JACK DIAMOND
BEST REASONS NOT TO JOIN THIS COURSE
No Time!
Spend 10 minutes a week (or 10 minutes a month!) with this course, and a year from now I’ll be hearing about your premiere.
You don’t have to go at an all-or-nothing pace.
Too Expensive!
- Two semesters of film school at The University of Southern California cost $55,320 (not including room and board).
- The American film institute costs $35,000.
- The average state college program costs $6,185 for residents and $16,640 for non-residents.
These prices are per year, as of 2019. Multiply these numbers by 4 to figure out what a degree would cost.
- Or spend $997 on lifetime access to this course and community support.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
My name is Ela Thier and I’ve wanted to make movies all my life. I can hardly believe that that’s what I actually do. None of it came by luck, and I’ve never had money or industry connections. Like, none.
My work was the result of decades of learning, trying, failing, giving up, trying again, giving up again, learning some more, making embarrassingly unwatchable films, getting better with time, and eventually arriving at producing, writing, directing, and acting in films that I’m absolutely in love with. You can find me on IMDB if you spell my name right (i before e).
In 2009 I began teaching screenwriting, but as I wisened up to the necessity of producing my work, I began to encourage and guide my students to do that same.
All these writers, actors, and directors, put those query letters down and began to their own work. The results shocked me. The initiatives taken of producing one’s own work, was ultimately the catalyst that led my students to building careers.
Here’s to creating films we love with people we enjoy. Go us.
FAQs
The course is delivered as a series of on-demand videos, organized into short, bite-size but comprehensive units so you can learn it all – fast.
The course allows you to skip around and reference the topics that are relevant to you at any given time. One person may need to learn how to budget a $300 short, while another needs a business plan template because they’re approaching investors.
Each module includes PDF cheat sheets outlining the bullet points of each lecture, and actionable exercises to get you on your way.
This course is definitely for you. I don’t use industry jargon without explaining it, I leave nothing a mystery, and I assume no prior experience.
By the time you complete the first 2 modules, you’ll be in development on your next production, even if you have no script or even no idea about what you’d like to create.
The only idea you need to get started is that you’d like to create a film.
I went to film school too. If you’re fortunate, you met a really great teacher. But in truth, everything I teach in this course is something I’ve picked up since film school. This course is the real-life stuff that you’ll need when rubber hits the road.
There have been experienced producers who have taken this course and told me that it was invaluable. The overall approach might be useful, or you might find that one tip that will be the difference between getting that investor on board or not. And of course, the community and support are alone worth the price of admission.
All that said, you have 30 days to check out the course before you make a commitment. If you work through modules 1-3 at minimum (but not more than half the course), you are free to request a full refund and receive it – no questions asked.
The lectures add up to roughly 10 hours. If you do even some of the exercises, it’s a lot more than that. And if you use the course as intended: a guide to help you throughout the process of creating your films, it will become a lifetime companion.
I’m afraid the course is available only as a whole.
If you learn even a few things about production before diving in to write a script, you’ll write material that can be 1) self-produced, and 2) reach audiences.
I’ve written many scripts before I learned to produce, and they’re still sitting on shelf. Once I learned how to think like a producer, the scripts I wrote came to life on the screen.
If you can’t afford the course, then I don’t think you should enroll. However, if you plan to spend more than $1K making a film, then I say with confidence that this course is likely to help you avoid making mistakes that might cost you thousands or more. The course will also guide you in how to successfully raise the money you need to create your films, whatever your budget is.
Then there’s bringing your talents out of the dusty closet and into the world – that part can’t be measured in dollars.
As a micro-budget producer who’s had to make pennies stretch far, I know all about putting every last dollar on the screen and nowhere else. I speak with integrity when I say that the price of this course is a fraction of its value.
Let’s get your movies made.
WHAT FILMMAKERS HAVE TO SAY
I know that ten years from now I’ll look back and see this workshop as the turning point.
GEOFF CULBERTSON
If I had spent 5 times more, the money would still be worth all the knowledge and resources that I received.
STEFAN APOSTOLOV
Even with so much information covered, it never felt overwhelming.
TONY MACY-PEREZ
Without Ela and her workshops, I would not be making movies.
JENNA PAYNE
Not only do you teach but you empower, a much rarer thing.
DENIS MEADOWS
I learned more about producing than I could imagine, and this is coming from someone who has produced 10-million-dollar films with Academy Award Winners.
JOHNNY SANCHEZ
If you had not done this, I would still be inventing excuses not to move forward. You also gave me a platform that enabled me to connect with old friends, some of whom I had not spoken to in some time, and realize that they believe in me and are willing to take concrete action to support me. My heart is full from all of the wonderful conversations I’ve been having. If you hadn’t led me down this path, I might still be ignorant of just how blessed I am. I have you to thank for helping me realize this.
MARK DISPENZA
I thank you for getting me back into the world of filmmaking. I thought of giving it up after working on films for the past fifteen years, never thinking it’s going to go anywhere. After taking your workshop I feel confident again. Thank you Ela!
MATT PARTON
Working on a pitch deck, this course takes the guesswork out of it so I can focus on the creative work.
AMBER MYERS
I love the way you’ve laid everything out into clear manageable chunks and action steps, and that you begin at the beginning, with the soft skills. I haven’t come across this in the books I’ve read. I’m really happy I bought this course. It’s exactly what I need.
DYLAN GARY
Everything is spelled out in an organized manner so that I’ll be able to easily go back and reference any of the information at any point.
ZANIBA BRITT
A very organized overview of what it takes to produce a film, delivered in an accessible way …It demystified a lot of the complexities …that I encountered in other forums and books.
KATHY BAYER
I took Ela’s Producing Workshop in November. By January I shot my first short.
MEMO
Worth ten times the money I paid.
GLORIA EMEAGWALI
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