very long shot - film funding

very long shot - film funding

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Billsnemesis

Original Poster:

817 posts

244 months

Tuesday 26th April 2005
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A friend of mine has been developing a film project and we are going to the States in June to pitch it.

I don't suppose anyone has any contacts with money to back a feature film in case the the studios fail to recognise the genius in our work?

Budget is $10-15m but we are flexible

My friend describes it as the illegimate offspring of Agatha Christie and Wes Craven!

Fingers crossed, more in hope than expectation...

srebbe64

13,021 posts

244 months

Tuesday 26th April 2005
quotequote all
After giving it serious consideration, I've decided to decline your offer!

steviebee

13,609 posts

262 months

Tuesday 26th April 2005
quotequote all
Start at the Arts Council. They'll guide you towards companies who invest in the arts.

However, it would be more prudent to get an agent who'd do the pitching for you (and probably far more professionaly too!). Check the Artists and Writer's Handbook for contacts.

There's also no need to travel to the US to pitch it as all the major studios have representation in London (start at one end of Wardour Street and work your way down!!). Pitch to them first and they will determine if it's worth you going stateside.

steviebee

13,609 posts

262 months

Tuesday 26th April 2005
quotequote all
It's also worth mentioning that both the BBC and Channel 4 have very active and very recpetive new talent initiatives running at present.

Both also have close ties with major Hollywood studios (HBO and Miramax respectively) so going that route may get you more clout.



This is of course assuming that the script is any good and more importantly; marketable!

Good luck.

srebbe64

13,021 posts

244 months

Tuesday 26th April 2005
quotequote all
steviebee said:
This is of course assuming that the script is any good and more importantly; marketable!

Good luck.

"An offspring of Agatha Christie and Wes Craven"

Is it about a mild mannered crime solver by day who has a lusting for human blood at night?

insurance_jon

4,069 posts

253 months

Tuesday 26th April 2005
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Virgin films are throwing money about too at the moment.

johnfm

13,668 posts

257 months

Wednesday 27th April 2005
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Of course, though Stevie Bee mentions Channel4 and BBC's new talent initiatives, I would point out that they aren't looking for £15m feature film projects.

Not wanting to piss on your parade, I wish the very best of luck to you and your friend. It is a really tough business - TV drama is hard enough and the risks are a lot less than cinema projects in my view.

johnfm

13,668 posts

257 months

Wednesday 27th April 2005
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Oi, Wardell!! How are you? Are you still in Edinburgh - or back in LA?

Billsnemesis

Original Poster:

817 posts

244 months

Friday 13th May 2005
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A couple of weeks tied up on a major deal got in the way of picking up replies but this but thanks for the responses

I didn't realise there were so many PH connections with the film industry. I thought I might be the only one

By way of additional background the writer has a reasonable cv with one film made and another in production with a serious backer. It's worth crowing about but we are sworn to secrecy until the production company start spreading the word. We also have promises (for what they are worth) from a couple of "names" - not A list but big enough to carry this sort of project

We are hitting existing contacts in the States and are mainly aiming at production companies with funding streams from the major studios - hence the reason that pitching in London does not cover all the ground

Thankfully this film stuff is not my day job so the mortgage is not riding on it but if it comes off maybe there won't be a mortgage

We fly out on the 3rd of June so thanks for all the comments. Having found such a positive response I will post back with the results.

Hollywood or bust!

johnfm

13,668 posts

257 months

Monday 16th May 2005
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Best of British luck Bill - its a bloody complicated business if you want to get a movie actually made - VERY VERY competitive. But you can probably make a tidy living having scripts 'in development'.

Let us know how it gets on