Proof of concept works! Whether they are photo stills or a short film. Making a feature film is expensive and time-consuming. So break it down to the bare minimum. Can’t afford a proof of concept video yet? Or a short film? Start off with a photo shoot! What better way to start envisioning your film than doing a photo session that reflects the mood of your screenplay? Last year I got hired to do a Read more…
Film Budget Red Flags! Here are some major red flags on your script and film budget that can really affect your indie film! If your script has more than 25 major speaking roles that’s a red flag! For every actor you have, you must pay SAG Health and Pension, Per Diem, Lodging, Travel, and Payroll taxes. So keep that in mind when writing your script. Keep your lead and supporting roles to a minimum. Shooting Read more…
Hey Crew! Honored to be invited to film distribution Producer Rep. Ben Yennie’s new podcast! We discuss film budgets, pitching to film investors, and distribution! It goes live today at 3 PM central! If you need a film pitching package that includes; a film budget, pitch deck, shooting schedule, and temp poster send me an email immediately at filmproducertx@gmail.com
Very promising future for indie film producers. Mark Ruffalo recently stated that more notable actors should take a bigger risk and work on indie films during the SAG Strike. SAG defines an indie film under $2 million ($3 million with a diverse cast). Most films in that range can only afford one Schedule F (flat rate of $65,000.00 for a notable actor). Actors like filmmakers have to adapt to the market! If notable actors and Read more…
What if, the studios said F_CK IT and end their contract with the WGA? I’m going to play devil’s advocate for a second. What if the studios cut their losses and end their deal with the WGA? I’m already seeing clever and conniving strategies. I first caught wind of it when HBO started taking films and series out of their library. Residuals hurt their bottom line! Now with the invention of AI, ChatGPT, Deep Fake, Read more…
How a $4,000.00 proof of concept trailer got a $100,000.00 investment! 15 years ago my key crew and I hit a huge milestone. My director/DP friend Daniel Maldonado had an idea for a Texas Zombie movie. At the time I owned the Panasonic HVX 200. To pull it off he needed some high-end lenses, an amazing SFX Makeup crew, and a wicked location! An underrated zombie film produced and shot before The Walking Dead and Read more…
What’s your film producer personality type? As film producers, we need to be honest with ourselves. Ask yourself what I am great at and what comes naturally to me. How is your personality affecting your film funding goals? Do you need to partner with someone who can elevate your weaknesses? Are you a social butterfly, a calculated planner, an introspective creative, or a closer? There are numerous personality tests out there but one I came Read more…
What are you more afraid of? Pitching film investors or not having your film made? It’s a serious question… No one wants their screenplay to go into obscurity. So you have to make a choice. Do I raise the money myself or pitch it to an established film producer? Regardless of what route you choose, there are a few mandatory things you will need to increase your chances. 1. Film Budget – How much do Read more…
WHY YOUR INDIE FILM SHOULD BE BETWEEN $150k to $300k Most indie films, especially dramas, crime thrillers, horror, faith-based, and some action films, can be produced within a budget range of $150,000 to $300,000. When writing, we often don’t have the budget in mind. However, if you’re serious and realistic about making a film, you should aim for this budget range. As a first-time or second-time filmmaker, it’s unlikely that anyone will give you a Read more…
Should you pay for script coverage? The short answer is YES! There are two versions of script coverage. The traditional one is paying for a script consultant to analyze your script based on characters, arcs, dialogue, pacing, structure, and themes. My version is from a producer’s perspective. How will your script do in the film market? Will it get distribution? Budget range? What caliber of actors would it attract? What films are comparable to your Read more…