totbo Archives - Biz Books https://www.bizbooks.net/blog/tag/totbo Sun, 06 Jan 2019 04:16:24 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 Guest Post: “Jon Reiss’ TOTBO Tip of the Day 25 – Budgeting Continued” https://www.bizbooks.net/blog/guest-post-jon-reiss-totbo-tip-of-the-day-25-budgeting-continued Tue, 25 May 2010 05:41:07 +0000 http://novacurrent.com/bizbooks/?p=342 To conclude 2 weeks of crew tips – a reminder that it is best to be able to pay these crew people. While sales agents should work on commission, lawyers, web designers, PMDs etc most likely will not. You should create a budget that is...

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]]> To conclude 2 weeks of crew tips – a reminder that it is best to be able to pay these crew people. While sales agents should work on commission, lawyers, web designers, PMDs etc most likely will not. You should create a budget that is as detailed as a production budget. In Think Outside the Box Office I created such a budget with detailed explanation, using my budget and several others as examples. Raising the money at inception will help avoid potentially costly P&A finance rates and last in’s first out requirements. If you have a tax rebate due you, don’t bank it, use it as a large portion (or all) of your distribution and marketing budget.

Here’s a list of what you will need to include in your budget:

-Distribution Crew including those who I have discussed and whoever else you need for your specific release: bookers, publicists, community engagement consultants, social media strategists, graphic designers.

-Marketing creative and materials: including trailer, poster/key art, press kit.

-Print and other delivery materials: Various masters, authoring, replication, digital cinema files etc.

-Media buys from print to Google

-Travel expenses.

-General office supplies – especially shipping.

And anything else your release needs – the above is a very quick summary.

Let me know what you think! Follow me @Jon_Reiss on twitter, or on the TOTBO Facebook page. Check out the book and workshops here. I look forward to hearing from you.

Recommended Reading Producing for Profit Click a cover for more details Directors Tell the Story The Cheerful Subversive's Guide
to Independent Filmmaking

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]]> Guest Post: “Jon Reiss’ TOTBO Tip of the Day 24 – Webdesigners Part 2” https://www.bizbooks.net/blog/guest-post-jon-reiss-totbo-tip-of-the-day-24-webdesigners-part-2 Thu, 20 May 2010 05:39:10 +0000 http://novacurrent.com/bizbooks/?p=340 Oftentimes the best designer is not the best programmer, and vice versa. You may need two separate people: one for the look of the site (which hopefully is integrated with your key art), another to do the actual programming. If you have to choose to...

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]]> Oftentimes the best designer is not the best programmer, and vice versa. You may need two separate people: one for the look of the site (which hopefully is integrated with your key art), another to do the actual programming. If you have to choose to pay one or the other, go for the programmer. It is easier to find good designers for a reasonable rate (i.e., someone needing to build their portfolio) than programmers.

Let me know what you think! Follow me @Jon_Reiss on twitter, or on the TOTBO Facebook page. Check out the book and workshops here. I look forward to hearing from you.

Recommended Reading Producing for Profit Click a cover for more details Directors Tell the Story The Cheerful Subversive's Guide
to Independent Filmmaking

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]]> Guest Post: “Jon Reiss’ TOTBO Tip of the Day 23 – Web Designers Part 1” https://www.bizbooks.net/blog/guest-post-jon-reiss-totbo-tip-of-the-day-23-web-designers-part-1 Wed, 19 May 2010 05:37:09 +0000 http://novacurrent.com/bizbooks/?p=338 If you are not a technically-oriented person, you need an IT person to set up your website. Chances are they will know a lot more about search engine optimization (SEO) than you do. Ask them to set up a site that you can regularly modify...

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]]> If you are not a technically-oriented person, you need an IT person to set up your website. Chances are they will know a lot more about search engine optimization (SEO) than you do. Ask them to set up a site that you can regularly modify on your own, so that you are not spending thousands of dollars over the course of your film’s life. If you can get a qualified person to do it for free, great — but you should be able to find someone to set up a simple site for $500 to $1,000 ($2,000 tops!). Maintain your relationship with this person so you can ask them to come back from to time to time to tweak your site (like when you want to sell DVDs, merchandise, etc.).

Let me know what you think! Follow me @Jon_Reiss on twitter, or on the TOTBO Facebook page. Check out the book and workshops here. I look forward to hearing from you.

Recommended Reading Producing for Profit Click a cover for more details Directors Tell the Story The Cheerful Subversive's Guide
to Independent Filmmaking

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]]> Guest Post: “Jon Reiss’ TOTBO Tip of the Day 22 – Create a Grid of Rights” https://www.bizbooks.net/blog/guest-post-jon-reiss-totbo-tip-of-the-day-22-create-a-grid-of-rights Wed, 19 May 2010 05:33:59 +0000 http://novacurrent.com/bizbooks/?p=336 It is important that you or someone on your team keep track of who has the rights to what. Most lawyers will never have the time to do this for you. You should create a grid and track it, because it can get confusing. Orly...

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]]> It is important that you or someone on your team keep track of who has the rights to what. Most lawyers will never have the time to do this for you. You should create a grid and track it, because it can get confusing. Orly Ravid of The Film Collaborative who handles the legal on my deals has created such a grid for the rights on Bomb It. She will be posting it on The Film Collaborative’s site soon – so stay tuned.

Let me know what you think! Follow me @Jon_Reiss on twitter, or on the TOTBO Facebook page. Check out the book and workshops here. I look forward to hearing from you.

Recommended Reading Producing for Profit Click a cover for more details Directors Tell the Story The Cheerful Subversive's Guide
to Independent Filmmaking

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]]> Guest Post: “Jon Reiss’ TOTBO Tip of the Day 21 – Lawyers” https://www.bizbooks.net/blog/guest-post-jon-reiss-totbo-tip-of-the-day-21-lawyers Wed, 19 May 2010 05:29:34 +0000 http://novacurrent.com/bizbooks/?p=334 A good lawyer who is familiar with split rights scenarios and the vagaries of new distribution models is essential, although hard to find. If you cannot find one, I suggest using a consultant in tandem with a lawyer. The consultant negotiates, the lawyer goes over...

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]]> A good lawyer who is familiar with split rights scenarios and the vagaries of new distribution models is essential, although hard to find. If you cannot find one, I suggest using a consultant in tandem with a lawyer. The consultant negotiates, the lawyer goes over the language. Find someone who is open to working in new ways. Lawyers will either work on a per-hour fee ($175 and up) or for a percentage of the deal(s) (5 to 7 percent). Since the field is changing so rapidly, you may have to train your lawyer regarding certain items that you will demand. One new alternative is The Film Collaborative – a non profit entity that can go over your agreements for a very reasonable fee and are very knowledgeable.

Comment here or on my blog, or @Jon_Reiss on twitter, or on the TOTBO Facebook page. Check out the book and workshops here. I look forward to hearing from you.

Recommended Reading Producing for Profit Click a cover for more details Directors Tell the Story The Cheerful Subversive's Guide
to Independent Filmmaking

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]]> Guest Post: “Jon Reiss’ TOTBO Tip of the Day 20 – Television Sales Reps” https://www.bizbooks.net/blog/guest-post-jon-reiss-totbo-tip-of-the-day-20-television-sales-reps Tue, 18 May 2010 05:27:58 +0000 http://novacurrent.com/bizbooks/?p=332 Television is a market that is hard to monetize if you DIY. You should get yourself a TV sales agent if you can. These agents/reps deal with television buyers all the time; they also go to specific television sales markets throughout the world. Like foreign...

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]]> Television is a market that is hard to monetize if you DIY. You should get yourself a TV sales agent if you can. These agents/reps deal with television buyers all the time; they also go to specific television sales markets throughout the world.

Like foreign sales reps, foreign television sales reps typically take 25 percent of the sale as a fee, less expenses. Make sure you limit the foreign or TV rep’s expenses in your agreement. At most, you should be paying a percentage of their market expenses (split with the other films they represent on a proportional basis). At best, you should not be required to reimburse them for market expenses, since they attend these markets with a large slate of films.

Recommended Reading Producing for Profit Click a cover for more details Directors Tell the Story The Cheerful Subversive's Guide
to Independent Filmmaking

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]]> Guest Post: “Jon Reiss’ TOTBO Tip of the Day 19 – Foreign Sales Reps” https://www.bizbooks.net/blog/guest-post-jon-reiss-totbo-tip-of-the-day-19-foreign-sales-reps Thu, 13 May 2010 05:24:06 +0000 http://novacurrent.com/bizbooks/?p=330 These are reps/agents that are relatively established in the split rights world and specialize in the sales of foreign rights. Generally they take a higher percentage (25 percent) than producer’s reps for domestic deals and many of them charge expenses as well. However, it is...

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]]> These are reps/agents that are relatively established in the split rights world and specialize in the sales of foreign rights. Generally they take a higher percentage (25 percent) than producer’s reps for domestic deals and many of them charge expenses as well. However, it is much harder to get a foreign sales advance because overall deals in foreign territories are diminishing, just like overall deals in the United States. The reasons for this decline in overall deals are the same as well. Television sales however remain the strongest of the traditional rights sales in foreign territories. Tomorrow we will address television sales reps.

Join me in Cannes on May 15th at the Producer’s Network Breakfast at 9am and on May 16th where Liz Rosenthal and I will be doing a presentation at the Short Film Corner from 4pm to 5pm. Comment here or on my blog, or @Jon_Reiss on twitter, or on the TOTBO Facebook page. Check out the book and workshops here. I look forward to hearing from you.

Recommended Reading Producing for Profit Click a cover for more details Directors Tell the Story The Cheerful Subversive's Guide
to Independent Filmmaking

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]]> Guest Post: “Jon Reiss’ TOTBO Tip of the Day 18 – Don’t Despair” https://www.bizbooks.net/blog/guest-post-jon-reiss-totbo-tip-of-the-day-18-dont-despair Thu, 13 May 2010 05:22:24 +0000 http://novacurrent.com/bizbooks/?p=328 Since sales reps generally work on commission, they will be choosier about the films that they select. Hence more and more films will end up not being represented by a sales rep or will not have a sales rep for each right. So don’t despair...

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]]> Since sales reps generally work on commission, they will be choosier about the films that they select. Hence more and more films will end up not being represented by a sales rep or will not have a sales rep for each right. So don’t despair if you don’t have one. If a sales rep is helping you obtain and negotiate split rights deals, they are helpful, but you can function without them. If a sales rep requests a large up front fee to represent your film, I strongly recommend doing your research before paying large up front fees to a representative. You must talk to filmmakers the rep has worked with to make sure that it was worth it.

Join me in Cannes on May 15th at the Producer’s Network Breakfast at 9am and on May 16th where Liz Rosenthal and I will be doing a presentation at the Short Film Corner from 4pm to 5pm. Comment here or on my blog, or @Jon_Reiss on twitter, or on the TOTBO Facebook page. Check out the book and workshops here. I look forward to hearing from you.

Recommended Reading Producing for Profit Click a cover for more details Directors Tell the Story The Cheerful Subversive's Guide
to Independent Filmmaking

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]]> Guest Post: “Jon Reiss’ TOTBO Tip of the Day 17 – Before Bringing on Principal Crew” https://www.bizbooks.net/blog/guest-post-jon-reiss-totbo-tip-of-the-day-17-before-bringing-on-principal-crew Tue, 11 May 2010 05:20:19 +0000 http://novacurrent.com/bizbooks/?p=326 If you have one or more sales representatives interested in your film, certainly talk to them. But have your distribution and marketing strategy ready before even talking to sales reps, then present it to them to determine to see whether or not they feel that...

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]]> If you have one or more sales representatives interested in your film, certainly talk to them. But have your distribution and marketing strategy ready before even talking to sales reps, then present it to them to determine to see whether or not they feel that they can help implement that strategy. This is so that you can put their recommendations into context for your film. Remember, your strategy will evolve, so at least have the first draft before you take these meetings. In general you should go to any meeting with the following:

1. Knowing what you want from the meeting or person.

2. Having researched the person you are meeting with so that you know what they want, or can provide for you.

Leaving for Amsterdam tomorrow. Then to Cannes. Check out the TOTBO site for more information. Comment here or on my blog, or @Jon_Reiss on twitter, or on the TOTBO Facebook page. Check out the book and workshops here. I look forward to hearing from you.

Recommended Reading Producing for Profit Click a cover for more details Directors Tell the Story The Cheerful Subversive's Guide
to Independent Filmmaking

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]]> Guest Post: “Jon Reiss’ TOTBO Tip of the Day 16 – Producer’s Reps Pt 1” https://www.bizbooks.net/blog/guest-post-jon-reiss-totbo-tip-of-the-day-16-producers-reps-pt-1 Tue, 11 May 2010 05:16:32 +0000 http://novacurrent.com/bizbooks/?p=324 In honor of the upcoming Cannes Film Festival – I will take this opportunity to explore other crew people that you might want to engage on your film and whether or not they are right for your project. There are several types of sales representatives/sales...

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]]> In honor of the upcoming Cannes Film Festival – I will take this opportunity to explore other crew people that you might want to engage on your film and whether or not they are right for your project. There are several types of sales representatives/sales agents. Today the topic is Producer’s Representatives. A classic sales representative or producer’s representative, as has been known to the independent film world for the past 20-30 years, is someone who will broker your film to the various distribution entities, generally in search of an overall deal. The main advantage of sales reps is their relationships with the various companies that buy films, from full-service distributors to DVD companies to cable companies, etc. In the old model, it was almost taken for granted that an unsold independent film would engage a sales rep. Not anymore. Whether or not to engage a sales rep is one of the first decisions you need to make in the execution of your overall distribution strategy.

The London TOTBO Workshop went amazingly well. Onto Amsterdam this week. Then to Cannes. Check out the TOTBO site for more information. Comment here or on my blog, or @Jon_Reiss on twitter, or on the TOTBO Facebook page. Check out the book and workshops here. I look forward to hearing from you.

Recommended Reading Producing for Profit Click a cover for more details Directors Tell the Story The Cheerful Subversive's Guide
to Independent Filmmaking

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