Praise for the Producer’s Business Handbook
FOURTH EDITION
“ This is the single best work on financing independent films. Mr. Lee presents an overall structure clearly and efficiently. This is not a ‘war stories’ book. The landscape of the film business is changing rapidly and this is one of the only producing books about real producing. Mr. Lee and Ms. Gillen address one of the most difficult aspects of producing—financing—in a direct way that lays out the tasks and challenges an independent producer needs to know; they do not sugar-coat the business—it’s all business; they explain the intricacies of financing while making it understandable. There is more to financing a film than developing a business plan and this book shows why.
While there are a few, very few, books that are no-nonsense for producers, this is the only producing book that addresses financing with practical, in-depth information geared toward working producers that is efficiently written and presented. You can count on me to continue to use it. ”
—Don Smith, Associate Chair & Associate Professor,Film & Video Department, Columbia College
“ This is a timely book, detailing a proven method for success and providing relevant data for both investors and filmmakers, especially now that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission recently approved trading of film box office performance futures by Cantor Exchange and media derivatives by Trend Exchange. ”
—Jillian Alexander, MBA, CM&AA, CHRC, Managing Director, Corporate Development & Strategy, Conduit Consulting LLC, Former VP-Corporate Development, SONY Pictures Entertainment, and member SONY US Ventures team
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the business of entertainment and learn to successfully engage in all aspects of global production with the revised and updated Producer's Business Handbook. Learn how to cultivate relationships with key industry players including domestic and foreign studios, agencies, attorneys, talent, completion guarantors, banks, and private investors.
This edition has been updated to include the latest opportunities presented by changing technology and their impact on the producer’s ability to brand, monetize, finance and globally release content. Also included is new information on audience, earning, distribution and funding opportunities created by the explosive growth of VR, AR, 360 and gaming, as well as the rapid conversion to OTT.
Additional features include:
- Completely updated production financing worksheets – an essential tool for producers.
- Expanded information for low-budget independent producers, internationally-based producers, producers using government funding, and film school students alike.
- Coverage of China’s changing entertainment landscape, including their entertainment consumption, their commitment to produce content for the big global territories, and more.
- New, full-color illustrations, symbols, and other graphics that provide a visual representation of complex topics.
John J. Lee, Jr. successfully led the vision, launch and expansion of several entertainment and media entities and provided business, funding and distribution services for scores of major studio-released motion pictures, television network series and specials, with combined production costs of over $470 million and global rights earnings exceeding $4 billion.
Anne Marie Gillen is an independent producer who has developed, financed, and produced films ranging from studio fare, like Fried Green Tomatoes, to passion projects to low budget indies. As an executive, she served as COO for actor Morgan Freeman’s company, Revelations Entertainment. Gillen Group’s consulting division offers business planning, script analysis, worldwide distribution consultation, and cash flow projections.