JeffT Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 I'm planning on producing a low-budget ($15-30k) independent thriller. A straight to DVD 90min feature, filmed with an XL2. I'm trying to get a business plan together in order to get the financing for this project, but to finish this plan, I need to know what to reasonably expect the financial return will be. I don't really want to make a profit, but I do need to be able to pay back my financiers. Can anyone help give this newbie a clue? How much have other people sold their movies for? Who should I talk to? What's the best way to find out this information? Anybody here done it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preston Herrick Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 IMO, it's 100% pure speculation at this point. If you already had a committment from a distributor you might be able to make a better guesstimate. There also tends to be a general bias from distributors against video originated films - whether justified or not. Scoring a distributor is probably the single most important and often overlooked things in a film project from a business standpoint. There are things you can do to improve your odds in obtaining one but, unfortunately, no magic, sure-fire techniques. If there was, we'd all be rich. So, from the standpoint of a business plan all you can really do explain how you plan to sell you film (go about getting a distributor) and (if successful) what you think you can get for it. You can use other similar films as examples. Getting useful data on other films takes time, research, and money. Check out a book like "Filmmakers & Financing" by Louise Levison. I think it and other books like it will point you in the right direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Bill Totolo Posted September 14, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 14, 2004 Unfortunately there is a glut of completed films with no distribution right now. You don't even want to think about going into production without a few "elements" attached, something that lends perceived value to your distributor. Established Directors, Producers or Talent fall into this pool. Also owning the rights to something well known is very valuable whether it is a script, a novel or someone's life rights. Your best bet at this point would be to sell a connected producer, manager or casting agent on the idea and see what they can make happen. Until then you can work on polishing that script, then write another one. I know it sounds like a downer but we're all in the same boat. Maybe you can figure out a way to break out of the mold. Best of luck, we'll be watching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Neary Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 I don't really want to make a profit, Don't tell your investors that!!! I can only add that I'm sure many of us here have been involved with indy features that never left the shelf in the producer's coat closet. I've shot features ranging from $0 to $150k that have never been seen outside the telecine or edit room, and I personally know of one $3.5-mil feature, with name talent, that died on the vine. But then you never know 'till you try it, eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hayes Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 In the film ?Treasure of the Sierra Madre? or heroes work hard to get their gold out of the mountains. And do so very successfully. Like many independent film makers they think their job is done only to find out the hardest part is getting the gold from the mountain to the buyers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffT Posted September 15, 2004 Author Share Posted September 15, 2004 Thank you for your posts, I appreciate it. This, at least, gives me the next stepping stone I have to cross. Talk to distributors and find out (somehow) the return on similar movies. I'll keep you posted on what I find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Jayson Crothers Posted September 15, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 15, 2004 In the film ?Treasure of the Sierra Madre? or heroes work hard to get their gold out of the mountains. And do so very successfully. Like many independent film makers they think their job is done only to find out the hardest part is getting the gold from the mountain to the buyers. That's great; I'm going to remember this and use it often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Gross Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 The Independent Feature Film Market (IFFM) starts in New York next week. This is the Mecca for people in the same boat as you. This is where many of these small films are purchased by distributors and there are many seminars devoted to helping filmmakers find production money or find distribution after production and so forth. It is administered by the Independent Feature Project (IFP). I'll actually be speaking on a panel discussing Super-16 production on Tuesday afternon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffT Posted September 16, 2004 Author Share Posted September 16, 2004 Unfortunately, next week is too soon for me to plan to get there. Is this a yearly thing? I don't anticipate being ready to distribute till next fall anyway. All I was after in this thread was a ballpark figure on the return of a low budget feature. Seems that the 'ballpark' is vast and varied. As I said, I'll keep you appraised as to what I find out. I found http://www.ifp.org/ and that is helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate Downes Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 Any business plan has to show best case, normal case, and worst case scenarios. Best case, your little $40k feature gets picked up for $10 million, 1000 screen theatrical release, and nets hundreds of millions. Normal case, you'll get a few thousand, hopefully enough to repay everyone, and some home video and possibly TV release. Worst case, no distributor picks it up, so you have the option of either letting it die, or self-distributing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Phil Rhodes Posted September 16, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 16, 2004 Hi, You're not trying to say that getting any kind of distribution deal at all is "normal"? I'd contend that it's more normal for 90% of independent features to go absolutely nowhere. Any kind of paying deal is gold dust. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate Downes Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 I'm not talking normal from a movie sence, but normal from a "what kind of deal will you get" sence. It is normal that, if you get a deal, it will be a crappy one. A good entrepeneur however will not let a simple case of a distributors saying "no' get in the way. You can still turn a movie that no distributor will touch into a money earning venture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Mercer Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Say I made my first feature and it was actually good. How would I go about getting distribution or making money from it somehow? Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zrszach Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 ahh...... film making :D don't stop trying but Never expect profits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Mercer Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 I didnt think I would make anything from it. But would it be possible? Come on who doesnt like a stupid funny movie with lots of boobies. Also I have noticed that there arent a lot of straight to DVD comedies. They are mostly horrors and serious movies is this true or are there a lot of comedies straight to DVD. Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Brad Grimmett Posted October 4, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted October 4, 2004 Come on who doesnt like a stupid funny movie with lots of boobies. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Go pitch that to a studio. I'm sure you'll have a deal in days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Luke Prendergast Posted October 5, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted October 5, 2004 I don't like stupid movies, or funny movies, or movies with lots of boobies. Put them all together though...and I still don't like them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Mercer Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 Well Im only 17 so I guess thats all I know how to write. Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffT Posted October 5, 2004 Author Share Posted October 5, 2004 Actually, I do like lots of boobies... :wub: Stupid funny movies are ok too. ... Well, have been finding out some pretty good stuff, once I compile it all, I'll post here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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