If you’re looking to get money for movies, it’s helpful to be pragmatic. While your story may be similar to other stories, nobody else is work with the same script and the same actors and the same locations and the same music… Nobody has ever made your movie exactly the way you plan on making it. And as a result, only the market will tell you if your film is going to be a blockbuster or not.
Even if you have a distribution agreement, it’s impossible to know if your film will be profitable, let alone breakeven. And if you’re working without distribution in place, many investors will not regard your film to be a worthwhile venture. If you’re going to make your movie, you need to fill the gaps so you can make your project more valuable and less risky.
Get Money For Movies
An independent film business plan allows you to fully understand the business aspects of your project. You will want to outline your budget and show how the money will be spent. You will also highlight your team, your objectives and importantly, your marketing, sales and distribution strategy. Completing an independent film business plan can help you get money for movies, but this is not the only step.
In the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission was set up to protect uninformed investors from scams. With the creation of the SEC, several laws, regulations and guidelines have been put in place to protect the innocent. In order to stay compliant you will need to talk with a qualified entertainment attorney who focuses on securities law.
The reason for this is simple. You want your movie project to be taken seriously.
Plan Your Project Like A Pro
With your attorney’s help, building off the information outlined in your business plan, you will create a set of documents called a private placement memorandum. Your PPM will outline the goals for your film. It will explain the possible upside to your project, but more importantly, it will help prospective investors understand the inherent risks. When it comes time to get money for movies, the name of the game is compliance, transparency and trust.
In addition to creating a PPM, your attorney will probably advise you to set up a legal business entity such as a corporation or limited liability company. While most anybody can bring litigation against you at any time, it is important that you find ways to keep your film business separate from your personally assets. Taking this step may be worth far more than the price you pay for the paperwork.
With all of this said, writing an independent film business can help you in your goal to get money for movies. This film business plan template may help get you started with something to evaluate with your attorney.
