FilmSpecific.com

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03/23/11--02:17: Establishing Realistic Revenue Projections For Your Film: A Virtual Seminar (chan 1858538)

Most filmmakers approach making their films with a 'build it and they will come mentality.' And they raise money with this mentality as well -- raising money with a lack of understanding of how much revenue films are earning in the marketplace. They underestimate (or don't even consider) how important it is to research and understand realistic revenue projections for their films so they can back into their films budget and raise funds. Not only is this approach responsible fundraising but it can also exponentially increase the chances of your investors seeing a return on their investment (and potentially investing in a future project).


03/23/11--02:17: What If You Didn't Get Into Sundance?: MicroMajor Podcast 2 (chan 1858538)

In the second in a series of podcasts for the micro major film producer, with Sundance in full swing, Stacey Parks and Thomas Mai discuss what independents should do if they're film wasn't accepted into Sundance.


03/23/11--02:17: Distribution In Reverse 2.0: A Virtual Group Intensive (chan 1858538)

Back for 2011! Our Wildly Popular 5-Part Virtual Group Coaching Intensive Teaching You How To Get Your Projects Off The Ground & Plan For Distribution At Every Stage Of The Production Process - Newly Revamped and kicking off March 22, 2011
ONLY 30 SPOTS AVAILABLE!




03/23/11--02:17: Grow Your Audience, Sustain Your Career -- A Virtual Seminar (chan 1858538)

Filmmakers often underestimate the power of the audience and fail to realize that a filmmaker's audience can be their biggest asset. Savvy filmmakers are reaching out and engaging their audience, building a powerful community of loyal followers not just for their current films, but their future films as well. In this virtual seminar, we explore he practical tools for engaging and building your audience, how you can leverage a solid fan base to inspire confidence in your projects and get better deals, how growing your audience gives you tremendous freedom is getting your projects out into the marketplace and we'll take a look at the filmmakers to are successfully engaging and growing their audiences.


03/23/11--02:17: Sample VOD Agreement Between Digital Aggregator and Producer (chan 1858538)

So what does a VOD contract look like between a digital aggregator and producer? What are typical deal terms? Revenue splits? Terms of length? This sample contract gives producers a first-hand look at what they might be looking at when it comes time to sign a deal with a digital aggregator.


03/23/11--02:17: DIY Theatrical Release Sample Budget (chan 1858538)

So how much does it cost to mount a self-theatrical release? What are the considerations involved? This sample budget examines four scenarios for a self-theatrical release, taking the most common costs into consideration, and lays it out.


03/23/11--02:17: The Art of the Theatrical Release: An Expert Series Seminar with Dylan Marchetti of Variance Films (chan 1858538)

In this expert series interview with Dylan Marchetti of theatrical distributor Variance Films, Dylan discusses the art of the theatrical release including what types of films work for a theatrical release and which ones don't, why festivals matter, the kind of marketing that works best for an indie theatrical release, which films end up doing the best in theaters, how much to budget for a theatrical release and much, much more!


03/29/11--22:05: Budgeting For Non-Production Expenses: VIdeo Training (chan 1858538)

Most filmmakers have no problem thinking about their production budget, but never consider their essential non-production expenses. In this training video we examine which non-production expenses filmmakers need to budget for as well as tips for keeping those expenses as low as possible.


04/06/11--02:41: Business Plan 2.0 Building Basics: A Virtual Intensive Bootcamp (chan 1858538)

A 5 Part Virtual Intensive Bootcamp focused on how to formulate a business plan appropriate for the current marketplace and how to integrate new revenue streams into the traditional business plan structure. KICKING OFF IN APRIL 2011. Only 20 spots available.


04/07/11--00:19: Sample All-Rigths Distribution Agreement Between Producer & Distributor (chan 1858538)

So what does an all-rights contract look like between a producer and distributor? This sample contract gives producers a first-hand look at what they might be looking at when it comes time to sign an all-rights distribution deal with a distributor.


04/16/11--16:12: FILM BUSINESS PLANS: THE BUSINESS PLAN 2.0 VIDEO SERIES (chan 1858538)

Planning on making a film? Using private equity to finance it? Then you need a business plan. This video series explores the tenets of a good business plan, the necessities you may have forgotten, and the biggest mistakes filmmakers make. Whether you're thinking about putting together a business plan for your film or already have one completed, this video series is a must-see.


05/05/11--12:27: Comprehensive Distribution.: A 90-Day Private Consulting Program For Filmmakers (chan 1858538)

Comprehensive Distribution: A 90-Day Private Consulting Program For Filmmakers


05/05/11--12:27: 10 Essential Film Specific Resources (chan 1858538)

With all the hours of Virtual Seminars and Expert Series Seminars over the last couple of years, here's 10 resources on Film Specific we think are absolutely essential for independent filmmakers


05/13/11--01:19: China Co-Productions, Other Funding Sources, & Legal Q+A: A Virtual Seminar With Entertainment A (chan 1858538)

Currently, there's over $1 billion in China that wants to work with U.S. producers on Co-Productions and Corky is going to be giving participants the low-down on these funds, how to access them, how to do co-productions in China, and the legal ramifications of everything.


05/13/11--01:19: China Co-Productions, Other Funding Sources, & Legal Q+A: A Virtual Seminar With Entertainment A (chan 1858538)

Currently, there's over $1 billion in China that wants to work with U.S. on Co-Productions and Corky is going to be giving participants the low-down on these funds, how to access them, how to do co-productions in China, and the legal ramifications of everything.


05/19/11--10:19: Cannes Report 2011: 22 Indie-Friendly Sales Agents (chan 1858538)

Fresh from the 2011 Cannes Film Market, our hand-picked list of 22 indie-friendly sales agents.


06/16/11--21:26: PART 4: Independent Producers Jen Dubin & Cora Olson on leveraging festival premieres for theatr (chan 1858538)

Successful indie producers JEN DUBIN & CORA OLSON discuss how they leveraged festival premieres at Toronto & Sundance to release their films theatrically.


06/16/11--21:26: PART 3: Entertainment Attorney Gordon Firemark presents "10 Things To Watch Out For In Distribu (chan 1858538)

Entertainment Attorney Gordon Firemark discusses how to avoid pitfalls when negotiating a distribution deals and dealing with reps


06/16/11--21:26: PART 2: Producer Suzanne Lyons presents "10 Ways To Get Investors & How To Keep Them" (chan 1858538)

Independent Producer and Financing Expert SUZANNE LYONS discusses how to find investors for indie films and how to keep them coming back for more.


06/16/11--21:26: PART 1: Foreign sales agent Sean Haley and producer Ryan Harper on foreign sales and distribution (chan 1858538)

Foreign sales agent Sean Haley and Producer Ryan Harper debate global sales and distribution


06/16/11--21:26: Video Tutorial: Working With Reps For Your Film (chan 1858538)

To use a rep or not to use a rep? It's a conundrum of many the independent filmmaker. They want the access a rep can bring but not the cost involved in adding a middleman to the film sales equation. In this tutorial we discuss the ins and outs of working with reps for your film, including both the advantages and disadvantages, how and when to approach them, and how much you should expect the process to cost when all is said and done.


06/16/11--21:26: GOING GLOBAL ON-DEMAND: ESSENTIAL SELECTIONS (chan 1858538)

Essential selections from Film Specific's live two-day Going Global Bootcamp covering foreign sales, legal issues in distribution, getting and keeping investors, and leveraging festivals for theatrical.


06/16/11--21:26: The $1 Million Indie Film Blueprint: Best Practices From Writer/Director Adam Cultraro (chan 1858538)

In this filmmaker-to-filmmaker seminar, Adam answers the question: "Knowing what you know now, how would you go about producing a $1MM indie film? Pretend you're starting from scratch. You're a filmmaker living outside of Hollywood and you want to get into the indie film business, but you want to do it in a smart way."


06/16/11--21:26: The $1 Million Indie Film Blueprint: Best Practices From Writer/Director Adam Cultraro (chan 1858538)

In this filmmaker-to-filmmaker seminar, Adam answers the question: "Knowing what you know now, how would you go about producing a $1MM indie film? Pretend you're starting from scratch. You're a filmmaker living outside of Hollywood and you want to get into the indie film business, but you want to do it in a smart way."


06/23/11--18:20: The $1 Million Indie Film Blueprint: Best Practices From Writer/Director Adam Cultraro (Part 2) (chan 1858538)

In part two of this "filmmaker-to-filmmaker" seminar, Adam continues answering the question: "Knowing what you know now, how would you go about producing a $1MM indie film? Pretend you're starting from scratch. You're a filmmaker living outside of Hollywood and you want to get into the indie film business, but you want to do it in a smart way."


06/23/11--18:20: The $1 Million Indie Film Blueprint: Best Practices From Writer/Director Adam Cultraro (Part 2) (chan 1858538)

In part two of this "filmmaker-to-filmmaker" seminar, Adam answers the question: "Knowing what you know now, how would you go about producing a $1MM indie film? Pretend you're starting from scratch. You're a filmmaker living outside of Hollywood and you want to get into the indie film business, but you want to do it in a smart way."


07/05/11--17:09: From Development to Sundance to Distribution: Unconventional Wisdom & Doing It "The Hard Wa (chan 1858538)

Daniel Meisel, producer of All She Can, which premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the Sundance 2011, is proof positive that is is possible to get into Sundance and get picked up for an all rights deal despite being a small film, a drama, with no name cast, and first time director. In this seminar Daniel discusses how he took the hard road and how it paid off.


07/05/11--17:09: From Development to Sundance to Distribution: Unconventional Wisdom & Doing It "The Hard Wa (chan 1858538)

Daniel Meisel, producer of All She Can, which premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the Sundance 2011, is proof positive that is is possible to get into Sundance and get picked up for an all rights deal despite being a small film, a drama, with no name cast, and first time director. In this seminar Daniel discusses how he took the hard road and how it paid off.


07/24/11--17:08: Debt Financing for the $1 to $5 Million Indie Film Blueprint (chan 1858538)

Debt-financing is a often misunderstood part of low-budget indie film financing. In this seminar with Adrian Ward of the National Bank of California, Adrian discusses the ins-and-outs of debt financing in the $1 to $5 million range and how filmmakers can most intelligently and effectively make use of it.


08/12/11--01:30: Distributing Your Film the Right Way (And In The Right Order!): An Interactive Virtual Seminar (chan 1858538)

So there are tons of options for distributing your film. But how do you make sense of them all? It's a huge issue facing filmmakers. What's the deal with domestic vs. international? Should you split your rights or not? Where do you carve out rights for yourself and when can you do this? Where do festivals fit into the mix? Is DVD, TV, VOD first second or third? Does premiering on one platform 'ruin' deal possibilities for the other platforms? IN this virtual seminar we discuss these issues to help filmmakers get on track about how they can make use of these distribution opportunities most effectively.


08/12/11--01:30: Distributing Your Film the Right Way (And In The Right Order!): A Virtual Seminar (chan 1858538)

So there are tons of options for distributing your film. But how do you make sense of them all? It's a huge issue facing filmmakers. What's the deal with domestic vs. international? Should you split your rights or not? Where do you carve out rights for yourself and when can you do this? Where do festivals fit into the mix? Is DVD, TV, VOD first second or third? Does premiering on one platform 'ruin' deal possibilities for the other platforms? In this virtual seminar with Film Specific founder Stacey Parks we discuss these issues to help filmmakers get on track about how they can make use of these distribution opportunities most effectively.


08/21/11--02:33: Distribution In Reverse 2.0 On-Demand Virtual Intensive (chan 1858538)

Our Wildly Popular 5-Part Virtual Intensive Teaching You How To Get Your Projects Off The Ground & Plan For Distribution At Every Stage Of The Production Process is now available on-demand


09/11/11--04:42: THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTION: From DIY to the Mini-Majors -- A Virtual Seminar (September 15, 2011) (chan 1858538)

After everything that's been written and spoken about ad nauseam, Theatrical Distribution is still an elusive mystery to most producers. Join us on Thursday, September 15 at 11am PDT/ 2pm EDT for this live, *interactive* virtual seminar as we demystify Theatrical Distribution and help you answer all these questions and any others you have. We'll talk costs, revenue, rewards, benefits, advantages, and disadvantages and get to the bottom of this elusive topic and figure out if it's right for you and your film!


10/19/11--08:04: THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTION: From DIY to the Mini-Majors -- A Virtual Seminar (chan 1858538)

After everything that's been written and spoken about ad nauseam, Theatrical Distribution is still an elusive mystery to most producers. In this virtual seminar we demystify Theatrical Distribution. We talk costs, revenue, rewards, benefits, advantages, and disadvantages and get to the bottom of this elusive topic and figure out if it's right for you and your film!


10/19/11--08:04: Business Plan 2.0 Building Basics Virtual Intensive Bootcamp (chan 1858538)

An accelerated virtual intensive bootcamp focused on how to formulate an independent film business plan appropriate for the current marketplace and how to integrate new revenue streams into the traditional business plan structure. Get your business plan ready in time for the upcoming markets. STARTS SEPTEMBER 26!


10/19/11--08:04: DVD Distribution For Narratives and Docs: A Virtual Seminar (chan 1858538)

DVD distribution used to be the main revenue source for independent films. While it's true DVD sales have declined in recent years, DVD is still a significant source of revenue for indies. In fact, it's still the biggest source of revenue. In this virtual seminar we discuss DVD distribution for narratives and docs.


10/19/11--08:04: SAMPLE: DVD DISTRIBUTION CONTRACT (chan 1858538)

Wonder about all the legalese you'll be faced with when a distributor hands you a contract? This sample contract between a producer and DVD distributor gives a birdseye view of deal terms, deliverables and more.


10/19/11--08:04: "Distribution Economics: How Does Revenue Flow From Distributor to Producer?" - A Virtual (chan 1858538)

We discuss both traditional and non-traditional distribution platforms, and how the revenue trickles down to the producer from each, in this Virtual Seminar


10/19/11--08:04: VOD Distribution: The Truth About Multiple Platforms & Potential Revenue - A Virtual Seminar (Oc (chan 1858538)

With DVD sales in serious decline over the past several years, VOD is considered the great hope for independent film. But how much revenue is it really producing at this point in time? How about online VOD vs. cable VOD? What about all those platforms out there? In this live, interactive virtual seminar we take a look at VOD from all sides: from platforms to revenue and everything in between.


10/19/11--08:04: VOD Distribution: The Truth About Multiple Platforms & Potential Revenue -- A Virtual Seminar (O (chan 1858538)

With DVD sales in serious decline over the past several years, VOD is considered the great hope for independent film. But how much revenue is it really producing at this point in time? How about online VOD vs. cable VOD? What about all those platforms out there? In this live, interactive virtual seminar we take a look at VOD from all sides: from platforms to revenue and everything in between.


10/19/11--08:04: Last Call for Section 181: A Virtual Seminar with Entertainment Attorney Corky Kessler (October 27) (chan 1858538)

Section 181, the 'runaway production' incentive, is due to sunset at the end of 2011. And the word is...it's not getting renewed. So for now it looks like 2011 is the last chance to take advantage of Section 181. If you've been waiting to move on this incentive, you cannot afford to wait any longer. Entertainment Attorney Corky Kessler will be joining us for this virtual seminar to let filmmakers know how to take advantage before it sunsets. Corky is an expert in Section 181...in fact, he helped write the legislation so if you have questions, this is your man.


10/19/11--08:04: Last Call for Section 181: A Virtual Seminar with Entertainment Attorney Corky Kessler (October 27) (chan 1858538)

Section 181 is due to sunset at the end of 2011. And the word is...it's not getting renewed. So for now it looks like 2011 is the last chance to take advantage of Section 181, the 'runaway production' incentive. If you've been waiting to move on this, you cannot afford to wait any longer. Entertainment Attorney Corky Kessler will be joining us for this virtual seminar to let filmmakers know how to take advantage of Section 1818 before it sunsets.


11/08/11--06:45: Working AFM®: A Filmmaker's Guide to Maximizing the Market (chan 1858538)

In this live, interactive virtual seminar, we're discussing AFM® from all sides and how filmmakers can maximize the market.


11/08/11--06:45: THE PRODUCER'S INCUBATOR: Financing, Packaging & Pitching Virtual Intensive (chan 1858538)

The Producer's Incubator is a FOUR MONTH GROUP COACHING PROGRAM created for producers who are looking to decisively move their projects from development to packaging to funding and into production...but don't know how to get there.


11/08/11--06:45: AFM Wrap Up: Take-Aways & Trends -- A Virtual Seminar (chan 1858538)

In this live, interactive virtual seminar we discuss the take-aways and trends from the 2011 American Film Market® including: what buyers are looking for, what financiers are looking for, the types of deals being made, current budget sweet spots for indies, what filmmakers who attended the market are saying, how filmmakers can take the trends from AFM and use them to move their projects forward in 2012, and much more.


11/08/11--06:45: Film Market Resource Guide (chan 1858538)

With AFM® just around the corner, we've compiled a list of great resources for independent filmmakers to make the best possible use of the upcoming American Film Market®.


12/14/11--13:30: Foreign Sales Strategies: A Virtual Seminar (chan 1858538)

Foreign sales has always been an important component of an overall distribution strategy, but as the once-coveted US deals becomes more and more rare, and as US box office returns decline, foreign sales are absolutely critical. So there's no surprise there's a lot of interest in this area. Along with that comes much confusion though.


12/18/11--01:44: Business Plan 2.0 Building Basics Virtual Intensive Bootcamp (chan 1858538)

Kick off the new year with a virtual intensive bootcamp focused on how to formulate an independent film business plan for today's marketplace that raises money responsibly and incorporates new revenue streams. STARTS JANUARY 12, 2012


12/22/11--08:21: Sales Agency Expenses: A Guide to the Usual and Customary (chan 1858538)

The dreaded "recoupable expenses" of sales agents -- often misunderstood and thought unnecessary by filmmakers. However, it can cost big money to sell a movie and sales agents can incur significant expenses while trying to do so. To shed some light on just what a "recoupable expense" is we've outlined some typical and standard sales agency recoupable expenses.


01/03/12--18:57: Steps To Getting Your Micro-Budget Film Off The Ground (Part 1): A Virtual Seminar (January 11) (chan 1858538)

In part 1 of this two part virtual seminar, we explore the first steps for getting your micro-budget film off the ground including the legal and administrative issues, the importance of genre and concept, and the process for casting and packaging.