No you don't really have to do any of that, but if you stay with it. You will have to know a bunch of what the people who do those jobs talk about. At least if you walk this long walk. Some folks have other in's and others just want to do indie projects and then sell them to studio's to distribute or not.
I, am in this for the prize. The big 2500+ theater domestic box office release.
That kind of thing is the hardest to do, the most intimidating and the biggest challenge. Most indie people try it once or twice in a ten year chunk and then stick to the, safer but doable, but still hard "make it then sell" model. For me, and this is not necessarily slamming anybody it's me being honest about my own intent. For me, I have to know how to and be able to execute a film into theaters. I must get a film from thought to theaters globally. Indie is great, but it's just not enough. When I see a great film, I want everyone to see it and have a chance to watch it.
That said:
"Fish Tank" is great indie film. People who love film should watch it. I love it, but I have seen Guardians of the Galaxy way more times then Fish Tank. I can relate to the characters struggle in Fish Tank a ton more than going into space and fighting intergalactic titans...but the second one is a way better escape.
All of the following is for above $3M closer to $10M dollar film
Money People: Usually know nothing about investing in film. They get excited, then they get intimidated buy the dollar amount and THEY DO NOT CALL YOU BACK TO SAY NO...they just all the sudden get busy in a strange way that becomes a "soft pass" and usually wastes 1 to 2 weeks of you time.
I realize some of this is a repeat of an earlier post, that's ok, this is how much this stuff happens.
If your asking for these high dollar amounts you should have some sort of investment vehicle to protect and grow the money while your not actually using it in addition to making a smaller amount get to an amount you need while your in development(ideally).
How do I do that? You fairly ask, and the answer is. Associate with high finance people, take classes about financial products, but your banker, use google. Start watching the finance channels even if you don't understand most of it. Start to pay attention and begin to wire your mind to consider how big money really moves.
My dad told me a secret about teaching yourself stuff that I have never forgot an it has worked for me. He had many year of a subscription to Car and Driver magazine and it would always be laying around the house and bathroom. You read them and you learn car stuff. Dad read them cover to cover, all the time. Asked mechanic, gear head friends of his before doing anything(playing dumb so they talk more) and then trying to apply the knowledge. Testing it out on things that made sense, like a junker that he was fixing to sell.
Same idea here, how does money work? Who knows the answer to that? Where do they hang out?
((Most important question)) How can I get into a position to ask questions that will get real answers?
Entertainment attorneys often are connected to a myriad of these things so it's a good place to start, be warned they don't usually give up the info unless your a client.
Here are some basic rules when dealing with these money folks, they seem to all have the same set of rules they operate on.
1st Rule of High Finance: "Play your cards close to your vest".
Just like anything, get the relationship first with the person then ask the questions that get real answers.
There are many many investment vehicles(products) that can work for film finance people just don't talk about them to non-industry people. Just like car mechanics don't normally tell the lady coming in for an oil change how adjustments in timing can effect your overall horsepower. Certainly not in detail.
So sometimes its for practical reasons they don't talk plainly about the products, other times they are just a paranoid group of folks. You will learn as I did, that every, single high finance person has been ripped off in there business. Just like the film industry, people steal, and take advantage of what the other guy doesn't know.
2nd Rule of High Finance: "Find the part they are leaving out."
If you think film people exaggerate, inflate, or overstate things Wallstreet has Hollywood beat.
Spend the day with a broker, trader, filling agent, or even the clerks for investment firms.
Strategy NOTE:
These guys have made an entire culture out of being 14 still. Most of these people are white, male, English speaking in their 40's+. Don't misjudge the exterior, the quickest way to piss these guys off is to threaten the reputation of their intelligence. Especially about their knowledge with money. So any threat to their ego can be an interesting dance. The next generation of these finance folks are starting to make headway with women and ethnic minorities fighting the good fight all around. If your talking to one of those minorities in the financial world they for sure have stories about the all white boys clubs from when they got started, and even today.
The part everybody leaves out of there financial product is where the risk is. They may have to say it for SEC regulation reasons, but they usually don't get into details unless you ask. So ask if they have answers that don't makes sense or they skirt the question it's a yellow flag, come back to it later. If they refuse to answer it it's a red flag. Remember business is a two way street, you have to be in business with someone you can do business with. If you guys can't talk plainly in the pitch meeting and have a good honest dialog, it will only get worse later.
#1 Rule for you, if you don't understand something in a financial product and your there pitching ASK!!!!
Don't worry about everybody else in the room, they probably had the same question.
#2 Rule for you, Your appearance is the 1st half of the pitch kit!!!
If you can wear a suit. If you can't dress nice. Most importantly, what every your wearing, it should be clean and ironed. That said, knowing what your talking about is more important than what kind of shirt your wearing. I have an associate who has pitched and closed multi-million dollar investments in his shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. He says a suit can sometimes make you look too desperate.
#3 Rule for you, Judge the type of meeting!!
If it's the first time your meeting face to face and your at a bar or restaurant, no suit unless you wear one as a part of your regular day.
If it's at an office of any kind wear at least a polo and nice shoes, clean slacks. If Lawyers are in the room and your signing anything that comes with a check, a suit makes it look good for the picture your gonna take.
If your a director producer you can get away with no suit. Producer Producer, get used to wearing nice clothes.
#4 Rule for you, ALWAYS BE EARLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If your a producer on a film asking anybody for money, you had better be the first jamoke there. If your early it counts for your group, if your late, you instantly sink the groups entire business credibility, even if the investor is 5 minutes late, if your 6 minutes late it can be devastating. Yes there are exceptions to every rule, but do you really want to bank on that for getting a project funded?! Not worth it, leave early, on time is already late.
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