by Richard La Motte
Making a film has never been easier. With all the advances in digital cameras and editing programs, virtually anyone can make a film with limited resources, but making a film is only one-fourth of the problem. So what are the other three fourths?
(1.) Come up with a saleable idea and put it on paper.
This includes a script (with a short synopsis and long treatment), schedule and budget, and maybe some sketches and/or storyboards, as well as a marketing plan. Why the marketing plan? Well, first of all, I don’t mean that you have to design the one sheet for the film, but ask yourself this: “If someone asked you for money to make a film, wouldn’t you want to know how the Producer planned to pay you back?” In other words: What audience do you have in mind? How is the project to be released? The answers to these two questions will have a tremendous effect on your script.
First: Who is your audience? To answer this, search out attendance demographics for your genre. Who and why will anyone pay money to see your finished project? What’s the hook, or selling points?
Second: How will you take this to Market? What Market will you take it to? Theaters, television, foreign sales, digital release on computer, direct DVD sales? Your eventual releasing venue will have an impact on your method of shooting, editing and scoring, and the cost thereof.
If you don’t do your homework on sales, then your filmmaking is a hobby project and harder to raise money for.
(2.) Find an Investor.
Remember the words of an old Producer, “Anyone who funds their own project has a fool for an Investor.” That might be a little harsh, but the point is that getting someone else to believe in your project enough to put up some money means that your package has been well thought out – and – it means that you have reached the level of maturity where you can sell your idea. If you raise money, you will have to sell that idea many times over to Actors, Technicians, Location Owners, Exhibitors, etc. You might as well start selling it early.
(3.) Make the Film.
Two things that can help are: Location Scouting and Storyboards. Locations can give you ideas that you didn’t have while writing your piece, and storyboards can help you get the shots you will need in editing that you might not think of when facing the pressure of shooting. The other thing is planning the days work and sticking to it.
(4.) Sell the finished project or market it yourself.
Selling the project means just that: selling it to a releasing/distributing company and getting some kind of return based on a percentage of sales income. The traditional drawback with a sale is that all distribution expenses are put against your release as is the split with the theatre before you see any profit. Remember the words of an old Exhibitor, “If the Producer leaves with any money, I haven’t been doing my job.”
Big movie makers used to look to the U.S. theatrical release as a way to break even, and the sale to foreign markets and T.V. as where they would finally make money. Less money would be made with showings in Hotels, Airlines and Military venues, and the final bump would come from video sales (now DVD).
There is a new market in on-line “pay-for-view” cable and computer outlets, but you will have to do your research in finding them, then negotiating with them.
Remember the words of the old technician, “Anything worth doing is worth doing for money.”
Richard La Motte, a 35-year veteran of the business, has worked on numerous movies, serving as Property Master, Production Designer, Military Costume Technical Advisor (“Last of the Mohicans,” “Pearl Harbor”), and Costume Designer (“Gods and Generals,” “Crazy Horse,” “Tecumseh,” “Rambo III,” “Goonies,” “The Island of Doctor Moreau”). He is the author of the book, “Costume Design 101,” published by MWP. Richard’s website is www. richardlamotte.com.
