A key component of any business plan is something called “revenue.” Maybe that’s why so many filmmakers avoid the whole concept when beginning a project. However, if your plan is to break even or more ambitiously, come out ahead on the financial side of filmmaking, a small business-style plan can help to understand what the opportunities and realities are while there is still a chance to cash in.
Here are some resources to get you started. There are also consultants who can help you to create a successful plan for your film, incorporating elements like sponsorship, partnership, crowdfunding, presales, marketing and distribution. In my experience, the more specific and realistic filmmakers are in the planning process, the more they find appropriate partners and supporters.
If you have experience writing a business plan or want to recommend someone who has helped you in the past, please do.
Another great resource is the national organization SCORE. They offer small business counseling for free and affordable classes on how to make a business plan.
Kevin Geiger of Animation Options discusses the Film Business Plan (1/4):
A number of new venues have popped up around Brooklyn that show film some or all of the time. These can be great places to screen for a local or younger crowd or for a special event screening.
indiescreen – 285 Kent St in Williamsburg. Offers a full menu as well as first run indie movies.
Brooklyn Lyceum – shows occasional films and hosts Flicker NYC Super 8 nights.
The Bell House – Located in the Gowanus, hosts special events including screenings.
Galapagos- this lovely space in DUMBO (relocated from Williamsburg) hosts screenings as well as performance, music and other events.
reRun Gastropub Theater- in DUMBO, this small theater in the back of a bar offers a small menu and indie screenings.
Brooklyn Bowl – pair your premeire with some pins at Brooklyn Bowl’s screening space.
Zora Art Space – Has occasional screening series in the heart of Park Slope.
The Knitting Factory – Mostly a music venue, the Brooklyn outpost of the minichain does show films from time to time.
Brooklyn Historical Society – 128 Pierrepont St. If your film is of Brooklynish historical relevance, this might be an option.
It’s also probably that many of the music venues around Brooklyn would be able to accomodate a 4-Wall type booking as most do have fairly robust A/V situations. Other options, if appropriate, are the library, churches, or community centres.
Reaching the niche market of independent film fans has been a goal for a number of online film platforms. Fandor is the newest entry in the contest. Launched late last year by Jonathan Marlow from GreenCine and ‘serial entrepreneur’ Dan Aronson, Fandor is getting buzz for offering a large selection of curated titles at a $10/month subscription fee. Unlike Netflix, which pays a fee based on a contracted license period, Fandor offers a per-use model in which 20% of revenues are divided among the filmmakers regardless of plays and 30% are split based on an “attention algorithm” which presumably measures the amount of time people spend watching each film, perhaps accounting somehow for how long each film is. In any case, what that means, if we were considering gross revenues (which perhaps is not the case), if Fandor has 50,000 subscribers, you would be looking at a base of $33/month for your film to be on the service.
Netflix has 20 million members, so perhaps Fandor has room to grow. On the other hand, MUBI, formerly The Auteurs, seems to have stalled a bit and sites like IndieFlix have never really caught on in the mainstream. Fandor is betting on a specialty audience and a editorial viewpoint to draw people to the site.
There is no reason not to place a film on Fandor if you are selling to Netflix, and even if you don’t make a Netflix sale, Fandor touts that they will carry a wide selection of films Netflix doesn’t have. Will independent film fans pony up? And will there be enough cinephiles to make it worth it?
It’s SXSW! I’m sitting in the sun! Here are some great looking panels that will suck me into fluorescence and A/C.
3/12 11 AM Broadband Matters for Content Makers – My “conversation” with John Bergmayer of Public Knowledge will give creative people the chance to talk about issues in broadband access, monopolies, net neutrality, and more.
I’ve put the site so now it’s your turn. Filmfwd Beta is live. Please give me your feedback. What information do independent media makers need about the business side of filmmaking? What would you like to see covered? What links are broken? All is in your hands now.
Lance Weiler brought his popular free new media and film conference DIY Days back to NYC today, with discussion of Transmedia, Net Neutrality, monetization and freedom. What has changed from last year? Not much, it seems, other than more familiarity and comfort with the issues at hand. I’ll be posting some brief snippets and longer clips as they emerge.
Eugene Hernandez might need to clone himself. The indieWIRE chief, already known for his ability to be nearly everywhere at the right time in independent and arthouse film, will now take over the newly created role of Director of Digital Strategy for the Film Society of Lincoln Center and will give up his editorial duties, while maintaining “a link” to the online indie trade.
This can only be a good thing for FSLC, who have been refining their digital presence over the last year but face a challenge to reconcile an old school audience with new tools of engagement.
x + x connect provides marketing and distribution services to filmmakers, digital media entrepreneurs and other businesses. Started by Laure Parsons, filmfwd's founder, in 2006, x + x connect can help you find your audience and engage them innovatively and effectively.
