The Film Producer’s Podcast

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Welcome to episode Eleven. In this episode (26:59) we’re speaking with John Truby, Hollywood’s premiere story consultant, and founder of Truby’s Writers Studio. Through his seminars, his Blockbuster software and now his new book, ‘The Anatomy of Story’, he gives some of the most valuable screenwriting instruction available. He has served as a story consultant for major studios and production companies and acted as a “script doctor” on more than 1,000 movies, sit-coms and television dramas.

*** John Truby’s Masterclass, ‘The Anatomy of Scriptwriting’, in Paris, February 4th, 5th and 6th 2009 ***

Episode Eleven Contents:

00:00 Introduction
00:38 What was your first major opportunity?
03:10 Your new book, “The Anatomy of Story”.
04:30 Do writers or producers normally hire you, and what is the working process?
06:22 Big mistakes made between writers and producers.
08:12 What is your process of analyzing a script?
10:45 Who to speak to for finding the market potential of a script?
12:00 How to stay in control of such a intricate document (the script)?
14:43 Most important story or script considerations for selling to a studio?
17:20 Creative writing for a first draft, or structure and planning?
21:26 Predicting the market?
23:08 Who should a producer meet with if he has a promising project?
24:10 22-Step Screenwriting Seminars and the upcoming Paris dates.

For more information about the sponsor of The Film Producer’s Podcast, Yoga Maya Films, or the host, Matthew Morreale, please see: www.yogamayafilms.com.

For sending us comments, questions or suggestions, please write to: podcast@yogamayafilms.com.

Stay tuned for more valuable information on the development, finance, producing, selling and distribution of profitable feature films.

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Welcome to episode ten. In this episode (26:46) we’re speaking with writer, director and producer Gordy Hoffman. In 2001, Gordy was chosen for Fox Searchlab, a director development program at Fox Searchlight, where he wrote and directed three digital shorts. Then, in 2002 he won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival for his script, Love Liza. He made his feature directorial debut with his own script, A Coat of Snow, which had it’s world premier at the 2005 Locarno International Film Festival. He’s the founder of the BlueCat Screenplay Competition, now in it’s 10th year, and also teaches screenwriting at USC School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles California.

Episode Ten Contents:

00:00 Introduction to Gordy Hoffman
00:35 What is the BlueCat Screenplay Competition all about?
04:15 What elements help a screenplay get financed and made?
07:25 What other skills should a writer have to be successful in the industry?
08:55 Where can producers find good writers?
12:55 Are producer contacts a benefit for entering a screenplay competition?
14:45 Did winning the screenplay award at Sundance help bring better opportunities?
17:00 How was balancing the practical and creative sides of producing and directing ‘A Coat of Snow’?
19:30 Do you have plans to direct more features?
19:55 What’s the atmosphere like at USC?
21:35 How important is it to be in Hollywood for creating a successful career?
25:20 Where to get more information about yourself and the BlueCat Screenplay Competition?

For more information about the sponsor of The Film Producer’s Podcast, Yoga Maya Films, or the host, Matthew Morreale, please see: www.yogamayafilms.com.

For sending us comments, questions or suggestions, please write to: podcast@yogamayafilms.com.

Stay tuned for more valuable information on the development, finance, producing, selling and distribution of profitable feature films.

Click here to download this episode

Welcome to episode nine. In this episode (33.09) we’re revisiting with Chris Jones (Living Spirit Pictures), from episode 3, to hear the latest on what he’s doing, and to get some insight into the topics he’ll be speaking on in an upcoming course he’s running in London.

Episode Nine Contents:

00:00 Introduction to Chris Jones
00:45 What is your next course going to be about (running March 16, 2008)?
05:20 Why did you make ‘Gone Fishing’, a 35mm short film?
08:05 What are the career stages you describe in your course?
15:00 What are the mistakes people make when getting into features?
19:20 How much is script development stressed in your course?
23:30 What were some differences between making ‘Gone Fishing’ and your previous features?
31:10 Any news about ‘Rocket Boy’, your feature script?
32:00 Where can people get more information about Living Spirit?

For more information about the sponsor of The Film Producer’s Podcast, Yoga Maya Films, or the host, Matthew Morreale, please see: www.yogamayafilms.com.

For sending us comments, questions or suggestions, please write to: podcast@yogamayafilms.com.

Stay tuned for more valuable information on the development, finance, producing, selling and distribution of profitable feature films.

Part 1

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Welcome to episode eight. In this episode, we are speaking with Colin Sorrell Head of Development for The London Script Consultancy.

LSC provide a range of script consultancy services to help in the development of Film and TV projects. They work with writers, directors, producers, funding bodies and sales agents on a wide range of feature projects in the UK and the US. In addition, they run weekly writers’ seminars, and weekend courses.

For more information go to www.londonscriptconsultancy.com

Episode Eight Contents:

Part 1 (50.41):

02:45 What is The London Script Consultancy?
05:40 What is a typical development process?
11:25 In-built selling point, and leaving personal sensitivities aside.
16:50 Opinions or relevant advise from script consultancies?
19:30 Criteria for success.
25:33 Genre in the current market place.
37:15 Is there a place in the market for the unexpected?
38:20 What are some of the mistakes producers make during development?
41:30 Studio films or independent films; and marketing.
45:20 What percentage of produced scripts have gone through a script consultancy?
47:10 Final words.

Part 2 (10.44):

The way The London Script Consultancy works with clients.

Part 3 (1.46):

General resources for developing scripts.

For more information about the sponsor of The Film Producer’s Podcast, Yoga Maya Films, or the host, Matthew Morreale, please see: www.yogamayafilms.com.

For sending us comments, questions or suggestions, please write to: podcast@yogamayafilms.com.

Stay tuned for more valuable information on the development, finance, producing, selling and distribution of profitable feature films.

Part 3

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For the full description of Episode 8 (parts 1 - 3), please see blog post above: Part 1. (The reason for the separate posts are so that all three audio files show up in iTunes.)

Part 2

Click here to download part two of this episode

For the full description of Episode 8 (parts 1 - 3), please see blog post above: Part 1. (The reason for the separate posts are so that all three audio files show up in iTunes.)

Click here to download this episode

Welcome to episode seven. In this episode (40.16) we’re speaking with Luke Randolph. Luke is the Managing Director of the London office for International Film Guarantors, a company that provides completion guaranties for filmmakers. He’s been managing director at IFG in London since 1999.

Episode Seven Contents:

00:20 Introduction to Luke Randolph
00:45 Clarification on what services IFG provides
02:35 What is negative insurance?
03:15 What is cast insurance?
04:05 What is errors and omissionas insurance?
05:55 Where to go in London for these insurances?
06:30 What is a completion guarantee?
09:30 What is the process for obtaining a completion guarantee?
11:15 Is there a budget that is too low for a completion guarantee?
13:30 Why would a person be refused a completion bond?
15:15 Can a newer talent be bonded if there’s a strong supporting team?
18:05 If problems arise who takes the lead for resolution?
20:40 Where is the finance coming from currently for indie films?
25:45 At what point would the completion bond company take over a film?
30:35 Do banks make production loans without a completion bond?
32:05 Is it only the independents that need completion bonds?
33:30 Do films restructure their finance plans after coming to you?
34:55 Do you suggest cast and crew to producers?
37:25 What type of producers do you like to work with?

For more information about the sponsor of The Film Producer’s Podcast, Yoga Maya Films, or the host, Matthew Morreale, please see: www.yogamayafilms.com.

For sending us comments, questions or suggestions, please write to: podcast@yogamayafilms.com.

Stay tuned for more valuable information on the development, finance, producing, selling and distribution of profitable feature films.

Click here to download this episode

Welcome to Episode Six. In this episode (26.31) we’re speaking with Greg Bernstein, an entertainment lawyer who specializes in the area of film finance and distribution for independent films. His company is ‘The Law Offices of Greg Bernstein‘ and they provide legal or producer representative services to dozens of indie films every year. He also shares his insights into the nature of the indie film business through a UCLA Extension course he teaches called ‘From Packaging to Delivery’. His clients include major motion picture producers, distributors and sales agents, independent film producers and production companies, banks and financiers. He’s also a frequent lecturer, panel moderator and author for many well know organizations and at many of the major industry events.

Episode Six Contents:

00:20 Introduction to our guest, Greg Bernstein
00:15 How did you get into entertainment law?
03:05 How do you define an indie film?
04:10 Can you explain ‘Chain of Title’
06:55 Should producers attend industry events with their attorney?
08:10 How much for having professional legal services on a feature film?
10:55 What are the sources of finance in indie filmmaking at the moment?
13:35 Is a completion bond needed for taking advantage of presales?
14:20 Can the producer represent the film to buyers?
21:10 How many producers have distribution secured before production?
22:20 How many indie producers are making profit on their films?
23:25 Do you read scripts before you get involved?
23:45 What type of producers do you like to work with the most?

For more information about the sponsor of The Film Producer’s Podcast, Yoga Maya Films, or the host, Matthew Morreale, please see: www.yogamayafilms.com.

For sending us comments, questions or suggestions, please write to: podcast@yogamayafilms.com.

Stay tuned for more valuable information on the development, finance, producing, selling and distribution of profitable feature films.

Click here to download this episode

Welcome to Episode Five. In this episode (26.09) we’re speaking with Stuart Cornfeld, a highly experienced Hollywood producer whose credits span thirty years. He’s produced 25 features, currently has 4 in development and 3 more in different stages of production. He’s produced pictures with directors such as Mel Brooks and Steven Soderberg, as well as producing David Lynch’s first studio picture, ‘The Elephant Man’. More recently, he’s known for the highly successful comedies he’s making with business partner, and top comedy actor, Ben Stiller. Films such as Zoolander, Starsky and Hutch, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and his latest, Blades of Glory.

Episode Five Contents:

00.20 - Introduction to our guest, Stuart Cornfeld
01.10 - How did you get into the film business and producing?
03.10 - Is growing up in Hollywood a major factor for success?
05.15 - What are you looking for in a script?
06.35 - How did the ‘Blands of Glory’ script surface?
08.15 - How much time is spent on story compared with business?
09.45 - Do you project possible income to decide what to develop?
10.30 - How to control every detail within a script when making it?
12.40 - What characteristics do you look for in a director?
15.00 - How to secure distribution before production?
16.25 - Are advertised budgets the real cost, or are they inflated?
17.40 - What are the tasks you’d do personally rather than delegate?
18.15 - Did you see anything in Lynch and Soderberg when working on their second films that was suggestive of the quality of their future work?
19.35 - How do top producers get their assistants and are they willing to act as mentors?
21.40 - What’s the most important advice you can give?

For more information about the sponsor of The Film Producer’s Podcast, Yoga Maya Films, or the host, Matthew Morreale, please see: www.yogamayafilms.com.

For sending us comments, questions or suggestions, please write to: podcast@yogamayafilms.com.

Stay tuned for more valuable information on the development, finance, producing, selling and distribution of profitable feature films.

Click here to download this episode

Welcome to Episode Four. In this episode (36.24) we’re speaking with Ralph Winter, a highly successful producer who’s work includes X-Men, X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand. He’s also the producer of the ‘Fantastic Four’ series - the latest of which (Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer) is playing in cinemas worldwide right now with current box office takings reaching over the $200 million mark and growing. His feature film work began with Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, and continued on through the Star Trek film series, and also includes a number of other successful pictures as well.

Episode Four Contents:

00.20 - Introduction to our guest, Ralph Winter
01.10 - How did you get into the film business?
04.30 - What were the major factors for advancement in your career?
07.30 - What experience is needed to be hired on a studio picture?
10.25 - Are there particular skills for producing big effects films?
13.00 - What would you say about compromising your ideals or morals to get into the business?
14.45 - How to move from the independent world into the studio realm?
19.25 - Do producers ever act as mentors to newcomers?
21.15 - What do you look for in a script?
22.40 - What are the first steps you take once you like a script?
23.30 - How to deliver a message through a film without being preachy?
26.00 - What’s the scope of responsibility on your latest film (people, time and money)?
27.20 - How did you develop the skills to manage such large projects?
28.05 - Is high level producing more about leadership or management?
28.40 - How do your lower budget projects differ from the larger ones, in terms of investment and studio involvement?
31.45 - How could someone get an assistant role with an experienced producer?
32.50 - What is the largest factor for long-term success?

For more information about the sponsor of The Film Producer’s Podcast, Yoga Maya Films, or the host, Matthew Morreale, please see: www.yogamayafilms.com.

For sending us comments, questions or suggestions, please write to: podcast@yogamayafilms.com.

Stay tuned for more valuable information on the development, finance, producing, selling and distribution of profitable feature films.