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
