The Independent Producer's Manual
Table of Contents


FOREWORD

Your Career    1 
Long-Range Production Targets   2


SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT

Development Risk Factors     8
Optioning Literary Properties    10
Reader Report   13
Reader Rules     14
Option Sales Patter    15
Developing Literary Properties   18
Script Guidelines for a Low Budget Feature    19




PACKAGING

The Elements & Tools    23
Establishing New Connections   26
Packaging Program    33
Sample Letter of Interest     36


BUDGETING AND FINANCIAL PHILOSOPHY

Budget Procedure    37
Financial Philosophy      39
The Pro Rata System     42


SAMPLE BUDGET
Low Budget    53


FINANCING & DISTRIBUTION

Why Invest in a Movie?    54
Raising Money    67
What Studios Want    76
Establishing Distribution    78
Developing & Selling a Package    85
Studio "Look" Sequence    94
Video Cassette Licensing Rights    96







BUSINESS AFFAIRS

Hiring Legal Counsel   102
Legal Services Application    106
Legal Quality Control    113
Negotiating Tips    114
Financial Uptightness   119
Forgotten Agreements    120


JOB DESCRIPTIONS & ORGANIZATION

Job Descriptions in Brief   122
The Producer Unit    129
18-Day Feature Circle Board (film style video)    132
23-Day Low Budget Feature Circle Board    133
28-48 Day Feature Circle Board    134
Above Line Circle Board    135
Company Organizing Charts    136
The Posts of Filmmaking    138


OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

How to stay on top of Paperwork    142
Paper Routing    145
Personnel Filing    148
Getting Photo Copies     149
Cycle Sheets, Use of   153
Sample Cycle Sheet     155
Cycle Sheets in Use    156






TALENT & PERSONNEL

Resumes VS Real Interests   158
Career Orientation Survey for Filmmakers    159
Casting    161
Applications    168
Personnel Application    169
Writer Application     172
Talent Application    174
Angry People    176
Rejection Notices    177


PRODUCTION

Basic Program for Producing Features    179
    Experience Required   180
    Pre-Production    182
    Principal Photography   1201 
    Post Production     206
    Distribution     212
Rough Sequence of Manning a (Low Budget) Feature     216
Production Guidelines for a Feature Film     219
Producer Services Checklist    222
On Cinematography    223
Cameraman's Checksheet  230
Editing     232
Production Sound    233
Elements of an Action Scene    237
Completion Program with Simplified Sound Track    238


PHILOSOPHY

The Creation of "Reality"     240
Violent Movies     242
When A Feature is Valuable   244


THE MOVIE INDUSTRY

Overview    247  
The Theatrical Market   249
Cable TV Markets    250
Home Video Market   251
The Foreign Market   252
Other Markets & Syndication   253
Gross Proceeds of Distribution   254
Studios    256
Wall Street & Private Placements    259
The Platinum Age of Movies    264
Introducing The Movie Mogul Manual   270


GLOSSARY
Definitions     286


PRODUCER SERVICES    309














© 1999 by Movie Pubs All Rights Reserved