From Book News, Inc.
A step-by-step approach to creating a complete film company business plan to present to potential investors. Discusses projects outlines, industry overview, marketing, distribution, financial planning, loans, and partnerships. Includes a complete sample business plan. Requires no previous financial experience. Lacks a bibliography. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.


Review
"Thank you so much for all your help from the business plan to the emails and introductions. You have helped this film become what it is today." Robin Cowie, Producer, The Blair Witch Project

"Levison's book gives filmmakers an inspiring and coherent merger of plain English, film lingo, and traditional business-speak. It helped me create a straightforward and thorough business plan that ultimately raised $2 million for my new project." --- Stu Pollard, Producer/Director,
Keep Your Distance

"Buying this book is the first step to becoming a successful, independent filmmaker. It helped me launch my company."
- Rick Pamplin, The Pamplin film Company

"If Louise Levison's Filmmakers & Financing were only about business plans it would be worth more than its cover price. In addition, Levison gives sage, savvy and clear introductions to every important aspect of film business - marketing, distribution, varieties of investors, financing options - it's all here, including a sample business plan. This book is a "must have" for any filmmaker's
bookshelf." --Morrie Warshawski, Consultant, and author of Shaking the Money Tree: How to Get Grants and Donations for Film and Video-2nd Edition

"A 'must have' educational and reference tool to help you conquer current industry practices regarding finance, production and distribution. Louise has consistently delivered a plethora of information that is easy for a beginning filmmaker to understand, while at the same time very useful to the entertainment veteran. No filmmaker's library would be complete without it. -J. David Williams, Distributor, Shiloh and The Omega Code

"Need money for a movie? Here's the road map every indie filmmaker needs to find it. It worked for me!" -Paul Sirmons, Director/Producer, The First of May and Forevermore Films

"Why is this film financing book different than all other film financing books? It's pretty simple. No one tackles the dilemma of screenwriters who design to turn their script into independent features as succinctly and logically as Levison does. If you want to make an independent feature you need money, which means you need a business plan, which means you need Levison." - Jeffrey M. Freedman, Script Magazine


Review
"Thank you so much for all your help from the business plan to the emails and introductions. You have helped this film become what it is today." Robin Cowie, Producer, The Blair Witch Project

"Levison's book gives filmmakers an inspiring and coherent merger of plain English, film lingo, and traditional business-speak. It helped me create a straightforward and thorough business plan that ultimately raised $2 million for my new project." --- Stu Pollard, Producer/Director,
Keep Your Distance

"Buying this book is the first step to becoming a successful, independent filmmaker. It helped me launch my company."
- Rick Pamplin, The Pamplin film Company

"If Louise Levison's Filmmakers & Financing were only about business plans it would be worth more than its cover price. In addition, Levison gives sage, savvy and clear introductions to every important aspect of film business - marketing, distribution, varieties of investors, financing options - it's all here, including a sample business plan. This book is a "must have" for any filmmaker's
bookshelf." --Morrie Warshawski, Consultant, and author of Shaking the Money Tree: How to Get Grants and Donations for Film and Video-2nd Edition

"A ‘must have’ educational and reference tool to help you conquer current industry practices regarding finance, production and distribution. Louise has consistently delivered a plethora of information that is easy for a beginning filmmaker to understand, while at the same time very useful to the entertainment veteran. No filmmaker's library would be complete without it. -J. David Williams, Distributor, Shiloh and The Omega Code

"Need money for a movie? Here's the road map every indie filmmaker needs to find it. It worked for me!" -Paul Sirmons, Director/Producer, The First of May and Forevermore Films


Book Description
The first, most crucial step in making a film is finding the funds to do it. This unique guide bridges the gap between the filmmaker and the business by teaching you how to create a business plan that can be presented to a potential investor. In clear, jargon-free terms, the author leads you through every step. Each chapter concentrates on a different section of the business plan, with supplementary exercises on the CD workbook.

The fourth edition contains completely revised and updated industry data, along with a new CD workbook for hands-on practice.

* A step-by-step approach to creating a business plan that will attract investor financing
* New CD-ROM includes hands-on exercises and spreadsheets for practice
* New chapter on short films


From the Publisher
Each chapter concentrates on a specific section of the business plan, such as the executive summary, industry, market, distribution financial planning, etc. A sample business plan provides readers with a reference as they write their own plans. This book provides information needed for approaching potential investors, including: defining goals and objectives, describing proposed films, researching markets and distribution systems, developing complete financial projections, applying the plan to the management of one's company. The third edition includes a new chapter on the growing use of the internet as an outlet for film.

ANNOTATION

Audience: Independent filmmakers, producers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Filmmakers and Financing: Business Plans for Independents, Third Edition provides completely updated financial and industry data as well as the addition of a new chapter focusing on creating a business plan for an entertainment-based dot-com. Investors want fact, not fiction. This filmmaker's classic, with its easy-to-follow format and step-by-step approach, offers a unique guide to writing an investor-winning plan. Whether you are seeking financing for one film or multiple films, or starting an Internet-based project, read this book before you start." "Each chapter concentrates on a specific section of the business plan, such as the executive summary, industry, markets, distribution, and financial planning. A sample film business plan provides you with a helpful reference for writing your own."--BOOK JACKET.

SYNOPSIS

The only book devoted exclusively to a specialized business plan for filmmakers. Includes a sample business plan as well as examples in each chapter. Presents a step-by-step approach to create a compelling business plan to attract investor financing for a project. The Second Edition of Filmmakers and Financing: Business Plans for Independents contains completely revised and updated financial and industry data. The book will teach the reader how to create a business plan to present to a potential investor. With its easy-to-follow format and its step-by-step approach, this unique guide will bridge the gap between the filmmaker and business, whether you are looking to create a plan for one film or multiple films.

Each chapter concentrates on a specific section of the business plan, such as the executive summary, industry, market, distribution financial planning, etc. There is also a sample business plan for reference as you write your own. Ms. Levision provides you with the information you need to approach potential investors, including: defining your goals and objectives; describing your proposed films; researching your markets and distribution systems; developing complete financial projections; applying the plan to the management of your company. Even if you have no previous financial experience, the book will give you the tools necessary to write a direct, dynamic business plan that will attract investors to your projects.

FROM THE CRITICS

Booknews

A step-by-step approach to creating a complete film company business plan to present to potential investors. Discusses projects outlines, industry overview, marketing, distribution, financial planning, loans, and partnerships. Includes a complete sample business plan. Requires no previous financial experience. Lacks a bibliography. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

AUTHOR DESCRIPTION

Louise Levison is president and founder of Business Strategies, a ten-year old business plan/venture capital financing consulting firm.

ACCREDITATION