Producer to Producer: A Step-by-Step Guide to Low-Budget Independent Film Producing

Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
What’s New About the 2nd Edition
How This Book Works and Whom it is for
1) Development
	Finding the Idea or Material
	Learning to Say No
	Study Scripts
	Development Process
	Rights Acquisition of Script and/or Underlying Material
	Screenplay Creation and Revision
	Screenwriting Software
	Getting Feedback on the Script
	Script Doctors
	Writers Guild of America
	Log Line—Don’t Leave Home Without It
	Log Line Creation
	Creating a Proposal
	Narrative Proposal Example
	Documentary Proposal Example
	IMDb.com
	Creating a Pitch
	Producing a Trailer
	Distribution Plan
	Marketing/Publicity Campaign
	Presales
	Sales Agents
	Deliverables
	Development Wrap Up
	Final Checklist Before Deciding to Produce the Film
2) Script Breakdown
	Nuts and Bolts
	Breakdown Details
	Filling In the Script Breakdown Sheet
	Schedule Analysis of Sundae
	Summary
	Using the Breakdown to Adjust Your Script
3) Budgeting
	Budgeting Overview
	When Should You Create a First Budget?
	Everything but the Kitchen Sink
	Budgeting Software
	Budget Breakdown
	Estimated Budget
	Spreadsheet Mechanics
	Geography of the Budget
	Top Sheet
	Creating the Estimated Budget
	Detailed Line Items
	Sundae Budgeting Case Study
	Sundae Budget Analysis
	Cash-Flow Schedule
	Locked Budget and Working Budget
	Padding and Contingency
	Budget Actualization
	Tax Resale Certificates
	Tax Incentives/Credits
4) Funding
	Presales
	Sales Agents
	Equity Investors
	Deferred Payment Deals
	Union Signatory Film Agreements
	Donations and Fiscal Sponsorship
	Reaching Out to Interested Communities
	How to Ask for Donations and Discounts
	Grants
	Creative Labs
	Fundraising Trailers
	Find a Mentor or Executive Producer
	Crowdfunding
	Beware of Credit Cards as a Way of Funding Your Project’s Budget
5) Casting
	Hiring a Casting Director
	Attaching an Actor or “Star” to Your Project
	Pay-or-Play Deal
	Attaching Talent and Casting Without a Casting Director
	The Casting Process
	Auditions/Casting Sessions
	Callbacks
	Labor Rules for Minors
	Extras/Background Actor Casting
	Casting Schedule and Backups
	To Be Union or Not to Be Union…
	SAG-AFTRA Bond/Escrow
	Union Paperwork/Station 12
6) Pre-Production
	Production Triangle
	Need to Get the Money in the Bank
	Pre-production Countdown
	Pre-production Countdown Explanations
7) Locations
	Create Location Lists
	The Specifics of Location Scouting
	Location Photo Folders
	Check with Local Film Commissions for Leads
	Alternatives to Hiring a Location Scout
	Finalizing Location Decisions
	Negotiating the Deal
	Back-up Locations
	Paperwork
	Location Release Form
	General Liability Insurance Certificate
	Co-ops and Condos
	Permits
	Police/Fire/Sheriff’s Departments
	Tech Scout
	Shoot-day Protocol
	Run Through with Owner
	Leave It Better Than You Found It
	Green Set Protocols
	Idiot Check
	The Day After the Location Shoot
	Tax Incentive Programs
8) Hiring Crew
	Crew Positions: Who Does What
	Finding Talented Crew
	Where to Find Crew
	Hiring Criteria
	Watch Demo Reels
	Check References
	On Hold/Confirm or Book/Release
	Salary Negotiation/Most Favored Nation
	Hiring Paperwork
9) Legal
	It’s All About Rights
	It’s All About Liability
	Breakdown of a Legal Document
	Legal Concepts
	List of Agreements During Each Phase
	Legal Corporate Entities
	Never Sign Anything Without Proper Legal Advice
	Your Lawyer Is an Extension of You
	Attorney as Financier/Executive Producer/Producer’s Rep
10) Insurance
	Why Do You Need Insurance?
	Common Insurance Policies
	Completion Bond/Guaranty
	How Do You Obtain Insurance?
	How Insurance Brokers Work
	Certificate Issuance
	Insurance Audits
	What to Do When You Have a Claim
	Things You Should Know
	Never Go into Production Without Insurance
11) Scheduling
	Overview
	Script Breakdown
	Element Sheet Creation
	Scheduling Principles
	Scheduling Steps
	Sundae Shooting Schedule Analysis
	Shooting Stripboard Creation
	Day-Out-of-Days Schedule
	Scheduling each shoot day—how do you know how long something will take to shoot?
	Feeding your crew every 6 hours and other union regulations that affect the day’s schedule
	Portrait of a 1st Assistant Director
	Locking the Schedule
12) Production
	The Night Before Your First Day of Principal Photography
	First Day of Principal Photography
	Wrap Checklist
	Second Day Disasters
	Enemy of the Production
	Actualized Budget
	Cigars and Fine Chocolates
13) Safety
	Safety for All
	Preparing for Safety in Pre-production
	Location Permissions and Planning
	On-Set Precautions and Protocols
	Speaking Up
	Security for Post Production and Deliverables
	Equipment Monitoring and Protection
	Safety Protocols for Equipment and Special Conditions
	Global Safety Issues
14) Wrap
	Wrapping Out
	Loss & Damaged/Missing & Damaged
	Deposit Checks and Credit Card Authorizations
	Actualized Budget
	Petty Cash
	Budget Analysis
	Wrap Paperwork
	Wrap Party
15) Post Production
	Workflow
	Picking a Format
	Camera Test/Workflow Test
	Tech Specs Sheet
	How to Put Together a Post Production Team
	Planning for Post
	Digital Workflow Example
	Post Finishing Information (film only)
	Film Negative and Match Back (film only)
	Deliverables
	Work-in-Progress Screenings
16) Audio
	Sound Recording During Principal Photography
	How to Get the Best Sound on Set
	Tech Scouts
	Room Tone
	Wild Sound
	Audio Post Production
	Building Audio Tracks/Sound Design
	Adding Sound Effects
	Creating and Recording Foley
	Recording ADR
	Laying in Music Tracks
	Sound Mixing
	Layback
	Dolby Digital, DTS, and THX
17) Music
	Obtaining Music Rights
	What Rights Do You Need?
	Putting in the License Request
	Music Rights Request Letter Format
	Negotiating for the Music Rights
	Most Favored Nation
	Out-of-Copyright/Public Domain Music
	Fair Use
	E&O Insurance
	Blanket TV Agreements
	Music Cue Sheet
	Cease and Desist
	What Happens if You Can’t Find the Copyright Holder?
	Music Rights Clearance Person/Company
	Original Music Compositions for Your Project
	Music Libraries and Royalty-Free Music
	Music Supervisors
18) Archive Materials
	Archive and Research
	Steps to Acquire and Use Archive Materials in Your Project
	Archive Researcher
	Archive Libraries
	National Archives and Records Administration
	Fair Use
	Archival Usage and Negotiation
	License Paperwork
	Cease and Desist
19) Marketing/Publicity
	Producer of Marketing and Distribution
	Social Media
	Website
	Press Kit
	Production Stills and Publicity Photos
	Crowdfunding
	IMDb.com
	Screeners
	Social Action Campaigns (SAC)
	Key Artwork
	How to Hire a Publicist
20) Film Festivals
	Fee Waivers and Screening Fees
	Film Festival Strategy—A, B, C and Niche
	Film Markets
	Film Festival Premieres
	Oscar Eligibility
	Other Awards
	In or Out of Competition
	Jury and Audience Awards
	What to Expect from a Film Festival
	Posters, Postcards, and Photos
	Technical Issues at Festivals
	Tech Test
21) Distribution/Sales
	Sales Agents
	International Sales
	Theatrical/Television Sales
	DVD/VOD/Digital Sales
	Deliverables
	Self Distribution
	Pick of the Week/Contests
	Future Distribution Models
22) What’s Next?
Index
About the Author