Recent content by Michael

Adam, I agree. There’s another side to this that I’ve seen quite a few filmmakers struggle with: what if the project is simply too early for a sales agent? A script, a deck and a rough budget can actually be enough to start a conversation. What matters more to me is whether the filmmaker...

One question I haven’t seen addressed yet is what the €35,000 completion investor would actually receive in return. Would the investment be recouped first, followed by a share of revenues, or would there be some form of participation in the underlying IP? I’m also curious about the economics of...

Interesting premise, Hicham. Marrakech could give the film a very distinctive identity. Since you’re looking for producers and potentially international partners, I’d be interested to know how you see BACKPACK positioned internationally. Do you have any comparable films in mind in terms of...

Another part of the equation may be production certainty. Even if Virtual Production doesn’t reduce the budget on paper, it could still make financial sense if it reduces the risk of losing shooting time to weather, daylight, location availability or company moves. For an indie production with...

You’re very welcome, Ali. Glad I could help. One small piece of advice don’t feel pressured to accept the first option simply because it’s the first. Take the time to look at who’s behind the offer, the terms, and whether they’re genuinely the right partner for the project. And be patient with...

Ali, ECHO PROTOCOL feels like the kind of project where finding the right genre producer could make a real difference. A few companies that may be worth researching are Local Motion Pictures, Alpha Star Productions and Black Mandala. I don’t know them personally, but I know of them through the...

Barry, the $375K version feels much more focused now. One other avenue that might be worth exploring is the genre sales side. I know Raven Banner works extensively with horror and genre films, and Black Mandala is involved in both genre production and international sales. Companies operating in...

Barry, the contained setup and defined budget range are strong selling points for a project like this. I’d probably lead with those when approaching producers and use the awards as supporting validation. Are you looking to package STEVEN with a producer first, or are you already having financing...

I think the edit is the real test. You can generate ten beautiful shots, but if they don’t cut together naturally, you don’t have a scene. That’s where filmmaking experience still matters, regardless of the tools you use.

That makes sense, Isla. A strong package gets you through the door, but finding the right producer is probably where the real matchmaking begins just with more PDFs and fewer cocktails. :) How much does a producer’s track record in that specific genre or market matter to you when deciding who...

That could be a valuable connection for the project, Isla. At this stage, having the right materials ready before approaching producers can make a real difference. From your experience, what are the first two or three things you would want to see before deciding a project is ready to put in...

I completely agree. At this stage, I’d focus on building a smaller but very strong core team rather than trying to fill too many positions at once. For a project of this scale, the right Producer and Line Producer should not only understand production, but also be able to realistically assess...

This is a very ambitious project, Ikenna. I like that you’re looking to bring in a Producer and Line Producer at this stage, before expanding the wider production team. With a project of this scale, I’d be interested to know what you see as the biggest challenge right now financing, building...

Absolutely, Ikenna. A lot of the most important decisions are made long before production actually begins. From your experience, what part of pre-production do you think is most often underestimated?

I completely agree. In my opinion, AFM isn't the kind of market where everything is decided in a single week. It's where conversations begin conversations that can lead to financing agreements, international sales, co-production partnerships, or distribution deals months later. That's why I...