Good ways to find a producer
by Tyle Renake
on
Jun 20, 2009 at 7:01:48 pm
Hi,
I just finished a feature sci-fi script and I'm starting to look to get some funding. I was never good at the whole pitching thing, so Im looking for a producer.
Anyone know a good way to go about this? How did you guys go about getting funding to make your first feature? Thanks for any advice.
Re: Good ways to find a producer by Richard Herd on Jun 21, 2009 at 1:27:14 am
You've asked an extremely complicated question. There's some serious details to wade through, but the bottom line is brand marketing. For example, a particular producer will make a particular kind of movie. The first real step is to watch movies in the genre, and contact those producers. It's a very tough racket, an entrepreneurial hustle.
What you can hope is the producer will have a reader write coverage, and they may send you the coverage or they may not. Coverage is a 5 page deconstruction of the script: (in general) one page each of synopsis, character, dialogue, structure, costs. Coverage is mostly a business memo. It is not a writing workshop. It is a thumbs-up or thumbs-down type thing. Each producer has his or her go-to coverage writers. Although it's a running gag that producers don't read scripts because their lips gets tired, in reality, they do. And coverage is a way to get a second opinion.
I used to write coverage for a couple of producers. What it really boils down to is "Can the costs be recuperated?" It's important to note that Producers are not necessarily financiers. Most often, producers themselves don't have a pile of dough sitting in the bank ready to make a movie. The deals are much more creative than "one person writes one big check." The business structure is very complicated! Say your movie will cost $100,000. Do you know 10 people who can risk $10,000? Errors and omissions, completion bonds, man, this is tough stuff!!
My first legitimate movie is currently being scored. I begged, borrowed, called in favors, and spent my own money for pretty much everything. The producer was the one who called all the local businesses seeing what locations were available, and when, and if we could shoot there for free or for a discount. The producer made a breakdown and budget of the entire movie. Scheduled when we needed to be where based on the cast's day out of days. The producer made sure all the other people signed their Memos of Understanding (MOUs). The producer had many fine points to add to the story, the schedule, the budget, but she did not invest a single dime.
It's almost a cliche, but if you want to get your movie made, only you have the passion to do it. Only you believe in it. Only you can see what the finished vision will do, so to a large extent you have to be your own pitchman and producer. I feel it's really important to eradicate the notion of an angel, a rich dupe who will throw you money.
Pitching a story. You have to practice it. You have to boil the whole thing down into one sentence. And you have to decide while you're pitching to whomever is listening if (during the pitch) you're going to spoil the story, or if you think the person listening would prefer to read the script, synopsis, one page, beat sheet...or what.
Having said all that, I would be more than happy to read the first ten pages of your story and offer my opinion. If the 10 pages are compelling, I might be interested in reading some more. I'm not sure there's a script forum on creativecow.net, but I'd certainly welcome one.
Re: Good ways to find a producer by Tyle Renake on Jun 21, 2009 at 1:55:13 am
Thanks for the feedback Richard,
That was very informative. Yeah, I always knew producers actually have to work for the money they find for the script, but the rest became a little hazy.
I'll try that suggestion of looking for the producers of films like mine. I know the initial process of getting everything together is always the hardest.
I would love your feedback on the script. Do you have an email address I can forward a copy too?
(A script form here is a good idea, they have forms for pretty much everything else...)
