Filmmakers and Financing, 8th EditionBusiness Plans for IndependentsBy Louise Levison
290 Pages
In this new and updated ultimate filmmaker’s guide, Louise Levison gives you easy-to-use steps for writing an investor-winning business plan for a feature film, including:
- A comprehensive explanations for each of the eight sections of a plan
- Full financial section with text and tables
- A sample business plan
- A companion website with additional information for various chapters and detailed financial instructions ― advanced math not needed
- An explanation on how feature documentary, animated and large-format films differ
- A guide to pitching to investors: who they are, what they want and what to tell them
- Words of advice: Filmmakers share their experiences raising money from equity investors
Table of ContentsChapter 1 - The Executive Summary: A Short Version of Everything
Chapter 2 - The Company: Who, What, When, Where and Why
Chapter 3 - The Film: The Investor Needs to Know the Whole Story
Chapter 4 - The Industry: The Facts and Nothing But
Chapter 5 - The Markets: The Spin
Chapter 6 - Distribution: Theatrical and the Changing Landscape
Chapter 7 - Distribution: Nontheatrical and the Wild West
Chapter 8 - Risk Factors: Truth in Advertising
Chapter 9 - The Financial Plan: How it Works
Chapter 10 - The Financials: Forecasting Without Fear
Chapter 11 - Sample Business Plan
Chapter 12 - Breaking the Rules: Documentary, Animation and Large Format
Chapter 13 - Other People’s Money: Them That Has the Gold Makes Some of the Rules
BiographyLouise Levison (
www.moviemoney.com) has a 28-year track record creating business plans for films (both single and slates) and other entertainment companies. She teaches in the Extension Program at UCLA and is publisher and editor of The Film Entrepreneur: A Newsletter for the Independent Filmmaker and Investor. Her clients have raised money for individual films with budgets from $100,000 to $30 million and slates with budgets totalling up to $300 million. She regularly conducts workshops on financing for organizations and at film festivals. Levison holds an MA in Asian Area Studies and an MBA in finance.
Reviews "How to raise funds for independent films was the best-kept secret in Hollywood until Levison’s book was published."
—Rick Pamplin, Producer/Director, The Pamplin Film Company
"An excellent, insightful guide to attracting financing for indie films.”
―Danny Glover, actor/Director/Producer
"Filmmakers and Financing is an indispensable navigational guide to successful financing, production and release of independent films. Louise Levison has synthesized her years of professional experience into an invaluable roadmap for the filmmaking community."
—William Nix, Executive Producer, Kahlil Gibran’s "The Prophet"
"Thank you so much for all your help from the business plan to the emails and introductions. You have helped this film become what it is today."
—Rob Cowie, Producer, The Blair Witch Project
