Courses
Online Webinars and In-Person Workshops
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Online Programs
Course sneak preview & testimonials
How to Write a TV Series To Budget
Negotiation of Art vs. Reality
Art: Your idea and your script. How do you best merge art with commerce?
Reality: Buyers and distributors must adhere to feasible budgets to achieve an ROI on the content they acquire and produce. How can writers support this development to get their project green-lit?
Let's talk about how writers can work on characters, locations, and scenes in a way that makes their project feasible, and how the "Trickle-Down-Effect" can impact the costs and expenses connected to your script.
State Of The Industry. Virtual Film Finance Summit
Expert Panel, moderated by Jeanette B. Milio
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One of the critical pieces needed to put together your film is the financing. Understanding how film funds have changed is important if you want to know how to finance your next project. So where does everything currently sit? How can you get your next film financed?
Stage32 brought bona fide experts in the world of film finance together for a FREE Film Finance Summit to give you the lowdown. Experts include producers and financiers of films like MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, GOOD WILL HUNTING, CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, THE CATCHER WAS A SPY, LOVING VINCENT, and CHICK FIGHT and continue to actively produce and finance new films as we move into this new era of our industry.
The global UCLAx Online initiative offers a new film finance online course, taught by Jeanette B. Milio, that covers every step in the value chain of development, financing, production, and distribution for globally viable content.
This course covers the financial aspects of each step of the motion picture value chain (from development through profit participation) and considers the implications of financial choices. Designed to give you a general understanding of how financial deals are structured, topics include how film financing is secured, connecting the production budget to the financing, when a completion guarantor is required, and the various types of domestic and international distribution arrangements. You also learn about third-party profit participation agreements and the practical aspects and procedures that underlie them; terms and definitions that impact bottom-line considerations, including contingent compensation; distribution fees and expenses; the producer's share of profit; distinctions between production, distribution, and marketing costs; and how these costs may significantly impact recoupment and profits.
UCLAx presents:
From First $ to Profit Distribution
How to finance a film in the $5MM - $10MM budget range
Audiences are starved for great original content, but studios are making fewer and fewer original, mid-budget level films.
The market has been deprived of these films, and it's on innovative producers like yourself to fill in the void and bring your unique perspective on storytelling to audiences.
It's never been more achievable to produce a theatrically-released mid-budget film on your own if you have the right tools and access to the ideal finance, production, and distribution strategy.
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Learn how to achieve the best $5 to $10 million budgeted film to reach the widest audience and the best revenue potential.
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How to finance a film in the $1MM - $3MM budget range
Not every genre and not every script works for distribution in the US and abroad. Knowing what kinds of stories sell is the essential first step. Securing and protecting the idea is as important as developing a strong script that can attract meaningful talent, distribution, and financing. It is critically important to know how to break down that script into a budget that delivers a high production quality as well as a commercial film. Watch the 6-part webinar on how to finance a movie in the $1MM-$3MM budget range and make a profit.
How to finance a film in the $5MM - $15MM budget range
We are in a great moment in the global entertainment industry to make your movie in the $5-$15 million budget range.
Films like CODA ($10MM), MOONLIGHT ($5MM), BRUISED ($10MM) and GET OUT ($5MM) have won Oscars, made huge financial returns and launched dozens of careers on all sides of the camera. This exclusive Stage 32 6-session class will teach you every step -- from the inception of an idea to generating profits – leading producers and investors toward the path of creating a film that can be profitable and creatively fulfilling. You'll learn how to pick or write the appropriate script to create the value proposition, how to understand the marketplace and your distribution options, and how to structure your finance sources so that you can optimize your returns through mitigation strategies to protect the project, the producer, and the investor(s). .Join our 6-part webinar to learn all about making films in the $5MM -15 MM range.
Step-by-Step guide on how you optimize your project to get a green-light
8-part--lab webinar
There has never been a time when more content is needed and more content is getting the green light into production.
However, not every idea sells. In fact, most don’t.
That's why Stage 32 is bringing in a financier and producer of dozens of films and television shows to work with a small group of creatives over eight interactive sessions to get your project's pitch elements into professional shape, so you can get the green light from a studio, distributor or financier that you're looking for. No matter if you are an experienced writer or producer, or if you are at the beginning of your career looking to sell your first project, the rules are the same for everyone. Today’s competitive marketplace is looking for fresh, unique, and edgy content with multifaceted characters and unpredictable plots. Theatrical distributors, network stations, and streamers today want projects that have strong creative and talent elements and are green-light-ready when they walk in the door.
The best way to make a profit in today's market place
An independent film is not just a creative endeavor; it’s also a business. You’re sourcing financing and bringing in investors, building a team, and creating a property that will (hopefully) ultimately make money.
To operate successfully in the world of independent film and continue to make films that you’re proud of, you need to be able to understand the dynamics and the relationship between financing, distribution, and recoupment of film investments so you and your investors can both end up with a profit.
The business side of films is often especially difficult for filmmakers and creative producers, but it's actually more possible than you might think. No matter how big or small your film is, there are multiple ways you can find funding and multiple ways you can ultimately create profitability. And while it might not be second nature for creatives, once you get a handle on how to make this process work for you, you will also be able to create a business model that you can apply to your future projects, and eventually a portfolio of profitable assets (or films) that will serve as an effective and undeniable calling card as you continue to grow in the industry.
How to produce a film between $15MM & $30 MM
The opportunities for financing and producing a film between $15-$30MM have never been better, so long as you know exactly where to look and what the path for it is.
You'll need to know how to pick the right script, break down every aspect of your budget through distribution, understand distribution options, and how you should structure your finance sources to optimize your returns.
In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, we will discuss the various options available today for financing and producing a film for $15 to $30 million.
Step-by-Step guide to financing content for television
The surge of television platforms, networks, and streamers in recent years has drastically opened up the world of television content production, spelling good news for aspiring content creators around the world.
Networks and Streamers are actively building their slates and looking for new content. With these opportunities, it’s more than possible to create, sell and be profitable on your own independent TV series. Yet, this does not mean it’s easy. Financing and recouping costs for independent television production require a firm understanding of the constantly changing TV landscape and opportunities available to secure funding.
How to financing a $1MM - $3MM film today
With numerous financing options and distribution platforms, there's never been a better time for $3 million and under films from great new talent.
Is your desire for your script to be a commercial film holding you back from producing it yourself? Are you overwhelmed by the thought of coming up with those big numbers, and convinced only a big studio could bring your project to life?
Whether you're making an intimate character study or a high-concept comedy, there's no need to wait to produce your film.
While films in the $1 to $3 million range are often very risky, the returns have the most significant rewards if you produce them correctly. Learn what to watch when making low-budget films between $1MM to $ 3MM.
6-part hands-on Green light lab with established producers Jeanette and Jim Milio
This 6-part workshop is limited to 15 participants, presenting fiction and non-fiction projects. Only pre-selected projects will be accepted to the workshop.
Over the course of six half-day weekend meetings, your project idea will be developed into a salable concept that is ready to be introduced to an investor and/or a distributor, with a high probability to be green-lit. Additionally, Jeanette and Jim will assist with related agreements with investors, distributors, rights holders, managers, and agents, to line up important agreements in a way common pitfalls are avoided.
This workshop is ongoing, and you will be provided with the next available spot when you apply for your project.
For more information, email us with a logline of your project and use the subject line "Green light Lab".
Consultation
Private Consultation & Project Evaluation
Project Evaluation
$850
Feel free to send us your script and/or pitch deck/business plans. My team and I review it and prepare feedback for your story/genre, talent packaging, budget range, finance, production, and distribution strategies. The evaluation includes written feedback and a 45-minute Zoom session.
