Jesse Kozel's Lounge Discussions

@Melanie - Thanks for noticing what we were trying to accomplish with this film. Jeff Fong is an amazing storyteller and his vision is that there will be no difference between races in lead roles. I am proud to be a part of his vision. At the moment, 'Ru' does not have an L.A. screening date. The minute it does, I will post it on my page here and on my FB, Twitter & website. Connect with me here to stay up-to-date and feel free to connect with me on any of the other sites as well. THANK YOU!

Agents outside of LA and NY are easy to get. In the smaller markets they usually have open auditions that you can go to and audition. If you have talent you get in. If you don't have talent take some acting classes and get good at it. In your acting classes ask other students who their agent is get a referral from them. Once you have a referrel and training try again. Make sure its a good agency though. There are some that just try to sell headshots, or acting classes or charge up front fee's. A good talent agency should take a percentage.

Have you ever produced anything? That will be your lead in. It's incredibly hard to get an agent or manager to consider a new client who has no existing work behind them. I have a friend who has an amazing literary agent, she acquired him through a play of her's being produced locally in a small FL town where his sister lived. Oddly enough, it lead to her living in LA and now working on Script re-writes for studios, while she waits on her first major film to start production. It's worth considering to produce a small film/short film or play. Get your work seen, then the rest will fall into place. Best of Luck.

From experience... agents are different at different times in your career. When starting out, they will do little for you. They will just check over your contracts and collect royalties from the projects you were involved with. If you get more famous and can command more money they will actively pursue work for you b/c they are getting 15%. Think like this...put all the energy you would into getting a rep into getting new projects made. When one of them gets noticed, the agency will seek you out. The other option is to get cast in something that pays, tell the producer you will get the contract back to them asap. Then call an agency, tell them you need someone to rep you and look over your contract asap. Agents (and most people) love getting paid for doing practically nothing. I know two people who have gotten signed doing it that way. Also, when you call a major agency, don't call a major agent unless you are getting paid like an a list talent. Call a lesser known agent. The most important thing when talking to an agent or agency is to remember, they are looking for the next best thing. That and they take craps, too. They are just people like any of us.

you may want to check out my "online" book then...yolandarae.com...."Chusa" it's a call for the spiritual especially once the material is taken from us.

Make sure your presentation package is absolutely perfect. Write a friendly, concise, specific letter to every agent you think could possibly be interested in EXACTLY what you do. Don't write a single form letter--this is the sort of letter that gets an immediate rejection. Have a look at agents who represent writers you admire, with whom you have some artistic resonance. And then edit, re-edit and re-edit a piece of writing that others have suggested is strong...and send it forward. You'll probably need to do this about 40-60 times before you get a response.

Thanks all for your comments. I'm coming to a turning point in my life and would like to open up some options going forward.

I suggest befriending people who have production companies. You should really only do this if you think you have enough resources---people who'll collaborate with you (without remuneration at first), some working resources (equipment, etc), connections to venues who'll be interested in supporting your work....The most important thing you need though, is a business plan. How are you going to make money? How long will it take you to make money? How will you protect your Intellectual Property? Who is your audience? Be ruthless in your construction of this...no one will want to help you if you haven't got a vision for execution. Best of Luck. Yasmine

I own a concert/festival production company, where I myself fund concerts & events. Early in 2015, I will be holding a seminar for beginning production company owners/staff. Believe me, there's a lot to learn. I was away for 10 years; and coming back, a lot had changed (for the worse I think). The seminar will be held in Medford, Oregon. If some want to be production company rep's, I might even use a couple (with pay) to learn better on tours I'm producing in 2015/2016.

You don't have any money. You don't have a script. You don't really have any experience. Please find a production company that is already in existence and start there. Learn from Professionals, and then look to starting it after you have some sense of it. And yes, Rona Edwards and Monika Skerbelis have an excellent course, and have been in the business for a long time (don't tell them I said that though).

Work on projects and with people that ignite your passion. Don't waste money on seminars, instead make your own short films or option a script. Go for it, give yourself permission to make mistakes (but remember to get insurance, be safe, be honest, get permission, golden rule and all that.)

Starting a production company can be cheap, on paper. Just do a search for ready-made-companies or something, and register online. But, then you'll have to do paperwork.

There are books out there on making a short film, or making a microbudget film. Rent one from the library, most will tell you all about release forms and what you need to do to stay safe and legal. Seriously, just go for it.

shoot on private property

Come to Riverside County - you have to get the permits but they are ALL FREE OF CHARGE!

If you shoot in L.A., Film LA is all there is, by design; one stop shopping. Before they were formed it was a disaster trying to get permits- now it's very simple, you just fill out everything missing no details, pay $ and provide insurance. Cake.

And FYI in L.A. you need a permit on private property. While it is unlikely, you can be shut down for filming an indie in your own home without permits.. just piss off your neighbors and you'll find out. Not pretty. Parking Enforcement shows up with LAPD and any vehicles associated with production are towed. Get a permit.

Thanks everyone! Got our permit, shot, and wrapped. I guess the trick is to talk to someone (@FilmLA) who doesn't have crappy disposition over there. Riverside? Next time, I just might...

Create a story u want to produce. Then try to purchase all the equipment u need or at least rent it! So now u have the equipment or are renting it. Start looking for those interested in your project. You are in school perfect place to find all the players. Do not be nervous in asking your professors to come on board. They should have contacts. Being a producer just means you are able to pull the team together! My mantra in life don't be afraid to ask, the only thing that can happen is they say no! Great place to get equipment is B &H in NYC. Voila! Your a producer!

... and the more you learn (the less you'll seem to know), the more you must become to passing that knowledge on.

Nicholas - Out of curiosity, where are you going to school?

Breaking into production requires a multitude of talents, several of which I struggle to achieve. I've bitten the bullet and broken a few teeth on it. The hardest for me is Management (I can only just manage myself). I would suggest that you assume you have the creative clout to recognise a script worthy of several years of your life. Without that script you can call yourself what you like but it'll just be a name. If you've been successful in any other business, ask yourself what qualities you brought to it and be honest about what you lack. Study business but especially the art of selling because that's the bottom line to what a producer does. If you're not a salesman even the best script in the world won't get funded (there's just too much competition). But also bear in mind that many bad films get made. They were made because someone believed that they were better than they were (or convinced others to believe it). Go to lots of movies and analyse them for yourself, not what others say about them but what you see in them. Much of the rest you'll be making up as you go along; you'll need to be very good at bluff and have far more than your natural dose of good luck. Oh! And thanks for the question. Its always worth peering into your own mind to find out why we do what we do.

Best place is on the job. Work on as many film shoots as possible, as a producer you need to really know everyone's job well to be able to produce on a tight budget, which is always.