The Business of Independent Film

Leader: Robert Fingerman ’80
Guest Speaker: Patrick Morris

The “Business of the Independent Film Industry” changes daily. In order to survive and compete with the studios, indie filmmakers must learn how to package their films’ projects in new ways, as financing firms scale back investments, banks pull out, and states compete for production with complicated incentive credits and funding.

Now, more than ever, independent filmmakers need to have an artistic vision, coupled with a business strategy savvy enough to green-light their projects. Today’s successful indie filmmakers adhere to a well-thought-out business plan with sound budgets that make their projects appealing to film financiers, while engaging their target audience.

In this workshop, geared to both new and experienced filmmakers, producers, and those in finance looking to work in the entertainment business, you’ll learn the nuts and bolts of the business of independent film, including a case study of producing an actual film.

Fingerman will teach you how to play by the rules of the film business, identify opportunities and risks in order to put the right elements in place to maximize the success of your film to the audience and critics as well as investors. This part of the workshop will be an open forum of ideas, questions, and answers always of concern to today’s filmmaker community.