FIND Answers
FIND ANSWERS: Jonathan McCoy on Cutting Costs From Your Budget (2/01/2012)
Q: My producing partner and I are putting together a budget for our film. We were hoping it would come in under a certain amount, but it’s looking like it is going to climb way above that. What can we do? Jonathan McCoy, Line Producer: Maximizing -- continue reading →
FIND ANSWERS: A QUESTION ABOUT PRODUCTION ACCOUNTING (1/25/2012)
I’m producing a low-budget feature and putting together a preliminary budget. I don’t have much money to allocate to crew positions. Is it really necessary to hire a production accountant or can I do that myself? I’m always emphasizing that you need a good entertainment -- continue reading →
FIND ANSWERS: A QUESTION OR TWO ABOUT LLCs (1/18/2012)
The short answer is yes, you should form an LLC for each film project once it reaches a stage where production is imminent. Think of each film you make as a separate business that you will open and, eventually, close once you sell it to -- continue reading →
7 THINGS WE DID TO ENSURE A SUCCESFUL CROWD-FUNDING EXPERIENCE PART III (1/11/2012)
Read the first two parts of this 3 part series here and here. December 2, the Mulligan team launched a project on Kickstarter to raise $10,000 for post-production costs (color-correction, sound, and festival submissions chiefly). 10 days later, they reached that goal, and the project -- continue reading →
FIND ANSWERS: A QUESTION ABOUT LOAN OUT COMPANIES (1/11/2012)
What is a loan-out company, and how does it work? A loan-out is a personal company that is a legal business entity registered with the state in which it is established. There are many different forms this company can take – from an LLC (limited -- continue reading →
FIND ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT PRODUCERS AND OPTION AGREEMENTS (12/21/2011)
I’m a writer, and a producer has asked to option my screenplay. What should I keep in mind? First of all, whenever you make a deal, make sure you get everything in writing! If you have an agent or lawyer, they can help you negotiate -- continue reading →
FIND ANSWERS: YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT FISCAL SPONSORSHIP (12/14/2011)
What is fiscal sponsorship? In the broadest sense, fiscal sponsorship is a contractual arrangement in which an established 501(c)(3) non-profit lends its legal and tax-exempt status to groups whose activities are related to the sponsor’s missions. Non-profits representing a wide range of services – from, -- continue reading →
FIND ANSWERS: YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT BOOK OPTIONS (11/30/2011)
I want to write a screenplay based on a novel. How do I find who owns the rights? The first place to start is by contacting the publisher of the book. Direct your request to the individual publisher’s permissions department, not to the author. In -- continue reading →
FIND ANSWERS: YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL SALES AGENTS (11/02/2011)
Once you’re finished with your film, you want to get it out to the world. While it’s becoming more and more common for filmmakers to handle their own distribution domestically, it remains difficult to take a similar approach internationally. The sheer number of potential exhibitors -- continue reading →
FIND ANSWERS: YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 30 MILE ZONE (10/26/2011)
On Location: L.A. student permits and the 30-mile studio zone After last week’s posting on shooting permits in LA, many of you asked if short films are exempt from permit requirements. The unequivocal answer is that all filming activity, including short films and student films, -- continue reading →
