The Producer's Business Handbook, 2nd Edition

The Producer's Business Handbook, 2nd Edition

by John J. Lee Jr., Rob Holt
Released November 2012
Publisher(s): Focal Press
ISBN: 9781136050497

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Book description

The Producer's Business Handbook provides a model for making a successful business of independent filmmaking. It will give you a comprehensive understanding of the business of entertainment and supply you with the information and tools you'll need to successfully engage all related aspects of global production and exploitation.

The handbook also provides a global orientation to the relationships that the most successful producers have with the various participants in the motion picture industry. This includes how producers direct their relationships with domestic and foreign studios, agencies, attorneys, talent, completion guarantors, banks, and private investors. It provides a thorough orientation to operating production development and single purpose production companies, from solicitation of literary properties through direct rights sales, and the management of global distribution relationships. Also presented is an in-depth discussion of the team roles needed to operate these companies, as well as how to attach and direct them. For those outside of the US, this book also includes information about how to produce successful films without government funding.

This edition has been updated to include comprehensive information on the internal greenlighting process, government financing, and determining actual cost-of-money. It includes new simplified project evaluation tools, expediting funding and distribution.

Together with its companion CD-ROM, which contains valuable forms and spreadsheets; tutorials; and samples, this handbook presents both instruction and worksheet support to independent producers at all levels of experience.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Halftitle
  3. Title
  4. Copyright
  5. Contents
  6. Foreword
  7. Introduction
  8. Chapter 1 / How the Motion Picture Industry Functions
    1. Major Participant Categories and Their Functions
    2. Chapter Postscript
  9. Chapter 2 / U.S. Theatrical Distributors
    1. The Major and Minor Distributors
    2. Studio Integrity
    3. The Three Studio Arenas
    4. Studio Relationships with Independent Producers
    5. Producer Relationship Comparisons
    6. Share Analysis Review
    7. Split Negative Pickup Relationships
    8. Studio Acquisition of a Renegade Picture
    9. Chapter Postscript
    10. The Critical Effect of U.S. Studio Attachment
  10. Chapter 3 / International Territories
    1. The Global Popularity of American Motion Pictures
    2. Producer Relationships with International Distributors
    3. Establishing New International Distribution Relationships
    4. Nurturing the Relationship
    5. International Territory License Timing
    6. License Documentation
    7. Managing Global Relationships
    8. International Trends
    9. Chapter Postscript
  11. Chapter 4 / Ancillary Markets and Rights
    1. The Effect of Theatrically Released Motion Pictures on Other Windows
    2. Audience Sizes in Major Windows
    3. Ancillary Audience Characteristics
    4. Producers Rely on Ancillary Earnings
    5. The First Ancillary Window: Video Distribution
    6. The Second Ancillary Window: Premium Cable Television
    7. The Third Ancillary Window: Network or Cable Television Premiere
    8. The Fourth Ancillary Window: Free Television Syndication
    9. Other Ancillary Rights
    10. Chapter Postscript
  12. Chapter 5 / Entertainment Banking
    1. The Banking Business
    2. Basis of Lending Decisions
    3. The Loan Approval Process
    4. Production Financing Worksheet
    5. Types of Loans
    6. Gap Financing
    7. When to Approach the Bank
    8. Chapter Postscript
  13. Chapter 6 / Completion Guarantors
    1. What Completion Guarantees Do
    2. Producers’ Perceived and Real Value of Completion Guarantors
    3. Completion Insurance Relationships
    4. The Completion Bond Package
    5. Completion Insurance Cost
    6. Chapter Postscript
  14. Chapter 7 / Attorneys, Negotiations, and Entertainment Law
    1. Attorneys and Their Firms
    2. Producers Performing as Attorneys
    3. Negotiating
    4. Vital Legal Aspects Relating to the Story
    5. Deal Memos, Letter Agreements, and Long Form Contracts
    6. The Benefits Associated with the Producer Preparing Deal Documentation
    7. Deal Reviews
    8. The Attorney as Counsel
    9. Dispute Resolutions
    10. Chapter Postscript
  15. Chapter 8 / Talent, Agents, and Agencies
    1. The Relationship Evolution
    2. Meetings with Talent and Agents
    3. Attorneys as Agents
    4. Planning the Deal
    5. Development Negotiation
    6. Points Participation
    7. Preparation of a Fair Deal
    8. Agents as Creative Resources
    9. Talent Reserve
    10. The Participation of the Producer’s Attorney
    11. Chapter Postscript
  16. Chapter 9 / Development, Production, and Producing Company Structures
    1. The Power of Company Structure
    2. The Companies
    3. Company Interrelationships
    4. Development Company Financing
    5. Securities
    6. Forms of Companies
    7. Chapter Postscript
  17. Chapter 10 / Development Financing
    1. The Essential Power of Funded Development
    2. Development Funding Sources
    3. The Process of Securing Development Financing
    4. Chapter Postscript
  18. Chapter 11 / The Team
    1. The Complete Team
    2. Company Structure
    3. The Production Company’s Team
    4. The Development Company’s Team
    5. Optimizing the Teams
    6. Discovering, Negotiating, and Compensating
    7. Chapter Postscript
  19. Chapter 12 / Production Company Operation
    1. Defining and Establishing the Production Company
    2. The Story Search
    3. Development Company Emphasis
    4. Preparing the Investment Offering
    5. Assembling the Team
    6. Producing the Investment Memorandum
    7. Raising the Development Financing
    8. Investment Partner Communications
    9. Working the Development Plan
    10. Story Selection and Initial Greenlights
    11. Predirector Picture Development
    12. Director Attachment
    13. The Producer/Director Relationship
    14. Shooting Script
    15. Lead Cast Attachment
    16. Preparing for Physical Production
    17. Maturing Marketing Materials
    18. Preparing the Production Bank Financing Facility
    19. The U.S. Studio Distribution Agreement
    20. The Presales
    21. Engaging the Completion Bond
    22. Engaging the Production Bank Loan
    23. Final Preproduction
    24. Principal Photography
    25. Post-Production
    26. The Picture’s U.S. Branding
    27. The Global Territories and Ancillary Markets
    28. Chapter Postscript
  20. Chapter 13 / The Producer’s Business
    1. Multiple Picture Management
    2. Time and Budget Economies
    3. Establishing the Production Company Brand Presence
    4. Sustaining Business, Artistic, and Personal Objective Balance
    5. Managing Library Pictures
    6. Advancing Team Vitality and Allegiance
    7. Chapter Postscript
  21. Chapter 14 / Reports, Data, and Producer’s Principles
    1. Entertainment Industry Statistics and Reports
    2. Information Sources
    3. Producer Success Principles
  22. Index

Product information

  • Title: The Producer's Business Handbook, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s): John J. Lee Jr., Rob Holt
  • Release date: November 2012
  • Publisher(s): Focal Press
  • ISBN: 9781136050497