Producing : Asked with my writer/producer hat firmly on my head. by Geoffrey Rowe

Some resources about funding will demonstrate your level of involvement with the process.

I probably should have made this point, I have studied entertainment finance at UCLA. In theory only at this point, I know my senior loans and sales agent estimates from my mezzanine. Naturally doing the finance part is a whole different game to the theory. I was looking for a little real world knowledge on the pitching side of the business. I take your point about talent attached counting towards those sales estimates. When talking about casting suggestions this was something we were taught in producer classes. You might be asked for casting ideas in a pitch session so you’d better have some ideas. My thinking is that job is best left to those who are expert in it.

Yep, the collateral, the loans, equity structures and the repayment waterfall. It all looks so easy...

I’m currently thinking TV pilot as that is what I’m writing now. So maybe the question is what resources do you as writer/producer need to bring Netflix, Amazon, Apple or a cable network (like the Sy-Fy channel) to adequately pitch your project. I’ve heard that you can’t just rock up to Netflix as you need to work with a producer who already has a working relationship with them, don’t know how true that is. I also have a feature idea in development so I guess there are two possible answers to my question depending on whether it’s a feature project or TV.

just that at the initial stage otherwise its info overload

Taraq, thanks!!!

Damian Lloyd Thank you!!! It is what I suspected but having it confirmed means no wasted effort down that rabbit hole! Independent production it is. Oh, I do need to dust off that copy of Entertainment Finance Today!

I need a drink! :)

Great question, Geoffrey Rowe! I would add to the list a budget breakdown - how much money and how it would be allocated - and this can address your suggested cast, although it might be better to just use original imagery. As Damian Lloyd said, it could look like you're trying to make directorial decisions and could be a turnoff. But maybe you could include where you were intending to shoot as part of the budget, as the location is often a concern.

Honestly, the big part that seems to be missing is your pitch. A written pitch that you can also deliver verbally that wouldn't be more than 2 pages or 5 minutes delivered verbally. Nothing you've listed is your "nutshell" information, and your pitch would be exactly that. A lookbook is something you'd leave behind after you've pitched, but you'll want something short and sweet that you can either deliver on the day or send ahead of time. We're actually doing quite a bit of pitch prep in the Writer's Room: https://www.stage32.com/writersroom

I'd highly suggest reaching out to our Director of Script Services, Jason Mirch, who could give you more insight about next steps for this series: J.Mirch@stage32.com

Hey, Geoffrey Rowe, based on your last comment (Jeanette's book is a seminal resource, BTW), the first and foremost thing you need is a business plan. If you're looking to indie finance a feature film (or a TV pilot), the biz plan is key. And not a blue sky one, but with real numbers and prelim commitments attached. This is your pitch. The lookbook, cast wishlist, verbal pitch, etc., are all useful, but investors will want to see how they're getting their money back. Entertainment Finance Today is a great resource for that exact thing.

Meg Stone I reserve the right to ask the dumb questions here! :) But what is your question?

John Ellis John, I'm currently studying The Business of Entertainment taught by Jeanette's husband. As soon as I read your comment I immediately asked for an office hours session with James to discuss how you put that business plan together. We should be talking Friday and apparently week 4 of the class will cover some of that material.

I'm a very firm believe in the adage that you learn best through doing, but I also adhere to the ol' chestnut that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. So doing it poorly or unprofessionally might never be forgotten!

Karen "Kay" Ross I did a written pitch via Stage 32 a few weeks ago. The results were, for me, encouraging but a pass. The 5th draft which I'm working on now will hopefully address the issues raised in the notes.

Since the script isn't really ready yet, soon maybe, another suggestion that I've heard that sounds feasible is to look for sales agents to talk to. So I'm researching a list right now via Cinando (and a small piece of trivia to illustrate my sense of humor, whenever I hear Cinando I think of Conan O'Brien and his Conando persona)!

A lot of executives are asking for audio pitches, that way they can listen to your pitch while stuck in LA traffic. We've produced 2 so far, with professional VO actors, sound design, etc. Well worth it.

You bring up a good point, Geoffrey Rowe - what leaves that lasting "first impression", your work or your attitude? I've found that the "first impression" is more about your approach and less about the results of your work. We're all at different levels of ability when it comes to what we produce and how well we can produce it, so I am forgiving (as I have learned from my own mentors who are also forgiving) of people not yet at a certain "level" so long as they have a receptive and amiable attitude. If they are willing to receive feedback and get better, then it doesn't matter how they start, it only matters how they finish. #NotaSermonJustaThought ;-)

Also, this is a GREAT idea for a new post! Would you start a post here in the Producing Lounge (https://www.stage32.com/lounge/producing) about first impressions and what people may not share in order to make the best first impressions? Maybe people have some good stories (or good examples of what NOT to do) about first impressions and how they panned out.

Umm Diego Cantu, that's BRILLIANT! Thank you so much for this idea! Would you be willing to share that audio pitch in a post as an example?

Meg, here's a link that gives you an idea of what a show bible is, with examples:

https://nofilmschool.com/how-write-tv-show-bible-free-template

Karen "Kay" Ross Yeah, I thought your idea great so... I went and did it!

Meg Stone My understanding is that a Lookbook gives a general idea of the aesthetic of the project. The pitch deck is more a business tool and includes things like budget projections, targeted audience, format, etc.

OMG, thanks for that, John Ellis! GREAT find!

Meg Stone We actually do a lot of pitch-prep as part of the Writer's Room: https://www.stage32.com/writersroom

But there are also a TON of webinars on Stage32 that help you to build each, including this one TOMORROW: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/How-to-Design-and-Build-a-Professional-... Ooo, I gotta get on that one!

TV Series Bible - https://www.stage32.com/webinars/How-To-Write-a-TV-Series-Bible

Pitch Document/ Pitch Deck - https://www.stage32.com/webinars/How-to-Write-a-Professional-TV-Pitch-Do...

Pitch Deck for Streaming Platforms - https://www.stage32.com/webinars/How-to-Create-a-TV-Series-Pitch-Deck-fo...

John Ellis Karen "Kay" Ross Meg Stone Peter Russell is teaching the Story Development Workshop class I'm currently taking at UCLA Ex.

Hey, Meg Stone! Good work tagging! So glad you're learning so much! I would suggest starting with the Producers Guild of America's definition, and then let the other YouTube videos fill in the gaps. Depending on the industry, the titles can be granted for different things (e.g. 1st Asst. Director is credited as Associate Producer in true crime TV). https://www.producersguild.org/page/faq#:~:text=other%20general%20questi....

Geoffrey Rowe Oh, cool! Have him reach out if he wants to do any education for us: k.ross@stage32.com

Karen "Kay" Ross I'll try!

Stage 32 Blog has several great articles about being a producer.