Working in film is a wonderful experience. It’s one of the
few professions where you can make your wildest imaginations come to life.
Content is king. That has been drilled into me since day one of film school.
This is very true. Without good content you’re dead in the water. So this is
usually the focus that a lot of directors such as myself lean towards.
However
there is another side that a lot of tend to ignore. That side is the business
side. It’s essential because you can have great content but if you don’t have a
well put together business plan it may never see the light of day. Kevin Geiger talks on this subject about indie film and business plans for indie films.
Kevin has worked on several films including Reign of Fire, Species, and Chicken
Little. His view is that you need to have an effective business plan in concert
with your creative pitch.
Let’s face it your film is going to need investors to
get it out there on the big screen and later on in the home market via DVD, Blu
Ray, or digital download avenues. Kevin feels you should focus on answering
questions such as how investors will make their money back, and cash flow
projections. This is all solid advice that is backed up by the second greatest
producer in the industry Kathleen Kennedy. If you consider yourself a filmmaker
you have to know who Kathleen Kennedy is. If not here is a quick rundown for
you.
She has been a producer on such films as Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. The
Extra Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, and most recently The War Horse. She got he
start as a production assistant on Steven Spielberg’s 1941. She is currently co-chairwoman of Lucasfilm and will take over once George Lucas finishes his obligations and retires. She doesn’t go as in depth on the business side of
things but from the information that I gleaned from reading interviews with her
she affirms what Kevin said. It’s something that I keep in mind (as well as you
if you have similar aspirations) as I continue my journey in the industry.
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