For New Filmmakers & Producers
Can you really help a new filmmaker for free or a percentage?
For new filmmakers or producers, we never take on a consulting arrangement on spec.
Before you contact us, please make sure you have an available budget to engage us for our services which can range from an initial engagement fee of $7500.00 - $25,000 for a standard film financing consulting package to certain services that can exceed six figures for complex slate film fund deals or territorial cross border film co-productions, A-level cast and director attachments, etc. We only take on clients that have the liquidity to hire us soon after making contact. We are very firm on this and want to state clearly what we can and cannot do.
What do your consulting services entail?
This depends on what you bring us. It can include anything from drafting a business plan and PPM (Reg. D-504/505/506) for single picture financing or a large film fund, providing risk minimization strategies for your investors, financial pro-formas, tax credit monetization, attaching actors through our relationships you never thought in a million years you could get, or setting you up with an ethical foreign sales agent, other producers, distributors, etc.
I have been advised that its unethical to charge for raising money.
We will not raise money for you or set up any type of co-production or co-financing, unless you are an A-lister. The horror stories you hear are based on people being promised financing for their films if they pay, and subsequent failure to deliver by the counter-party. We simply advise and prepare you for success with closing your investors. It’s best that you identify a strong list of probable investors before engaging us.
What if I already have the financing closed? Why would I ever need you?
Pick up the phone and call your dream actor's agent at a top 3 agency. See if they return your call. Or better yet, if they do, see what kind of ludicrously high quote they give you for their actor that a lot of first time filmmakers fall for.
The other concern here is attaining a proper cast. A lot of filmmakers simply aren't aware that wanting an actor who is a 3rd lead on a hit television series or the former porn star turned legit actress on a reality show will kill your film's sales prospects faster than you wished you could go back in time and not hire them.
Lastly, even if you have your financing locked in, we may advise you to amend your investor agreements to show your investor your understanding of risk minimization..
Do you take on anyone who pays you?
Many of the filmmakers who contact us we never respond to for a variety of reasons including unoriginal story lines or unrealistic expectations about cast or distribution.
Our client selection ensures that whether you have a $500,000 budget or a $5,000,000 one, you have a story that we believe is commercial enough to generate you and your investors a return, while maintaining expectations that are genuine, realistic, and sincere.
What if I only have half the budget in my corporate bank account?
If you have verifiable hard equity in your own or your Company's name for half the budget of a $5-$15 mil film and a project that we absolutely love, we may consider getting involved in co-financing the rest.
