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As a feature film producer, you are creating a new intellectual property , a complex process that can easily lead to misunderstandings and competing priorities. You will need sound legal advice and help to negotiate many of the business issues that will arise throughout the process.

Finding a Screenwriter User Rating: / 7 So you’ve optioned a novel, or maybe you came up with a great concept, and now you’ve got to find a writer to bring it to fruition.  But it’s not just about finding a writer.  It’s about finding the right writer for the project.  If the screenplay doesn’t work, the film won’t work, so hiring a writer is a big decision.  How do you figure out who that right person is, and where do you find candidates?  Here are a few steps and ideas that will help. Read more...   Negotiating a Screenwriter Contract User Rating: / 2 If you plan to produce a film based on a screenplay, you must make sure that you either own the copyright in the screenplay or have acquired the necessary rights from the copyright owner of the screenplay.  If you need to acquire the rights, you will have to negotiate and enter into a written contract with the screenwriter who holds them. Read more...   Phases of Script Development User Rating: / 4 Three key organizations determine the phases of script development in Canada: Writer’s Guild of Canada, Telefilm Canada and The Harold Greenberg Fund (HG Fund). Read more...   Working with a Story Editor User Rating: / 4 So what's a story editor, really? A story editor works with the producer, writer and (sometimes) director to guide the script through a clear, well planned development process, resulting in an improved and more marketable screenplay. They can come on at any stage in development, but generally the sooner the better. Read more...   Why You Need a Lawyer User Rating: / 4 Numerous legal issues arise during the development process, especially around acquiring rights and formalizing relationships. It is important to find and retain a lawyer as soon as you start entering into agreements (either oral or written) to address these matters. Trying to fix them when things go wrong can be time consuming, distracting and costly. Read more...   Formalizing Relationships User Rating: / 1 A producer is a creator of a new intellectual property. This is a complex process that can easily lead to misunderstandings and competing priorities. The business agreement between partners involved in a production venture must be written down in a clear and concise document that is prepared, or at least reviewed, by your lawyer. This step is crucial: it will prevent subsequent disputes about who is entitled to what, or who was responsible for which aspects of the production. Read more...   Protecting Your Ideas User Rating: / 2 If you have a great idea for a film, you can’t keep it to yourself. You’ll inevitably have to tell people about it, whether you’re looking for a co-producer, pitching a distributor or interviewing writers. When you do, you might be worried about someone stealing your great idea. Read more...   Rights Acquisition & Optioning User Rating: / 2 At the same time as you formalize relationships with co-producers and suppliers, you need to ensure that you acquire all the intellectual property rights and options necessary to proceed with the project. Intellectual property rights are, very briefly, the ownership rights that allow you to develop, produce and exploit your production. Read more...   Elements of the Pitch Package User Rating: / 12 When you’re looking for production financing, your pitch package is your most important sales tool. It represents both your project and you as a producer to your potential buyers, so it’s important that it be dynamic, smart and complete. How do you put together a pitch package that makes a compelling sales case for your project? Read more...   A Winning One Page User Rating: / 5 A one-page is a sales document you use to promote your film to prospective buyers before it has been produced. Typically, you would hand out your one-page at festivals or you would include it with your pitch package.  It’s intended to create an appetite for your project, showcasing the most saleable and compelling images as well as creative and business information. Not every producer looking for production financing will create a one-page, but it’s an extra tool that supplies a great summary for buyers and gives some polish to a pitch package. Read more...   Synopses, Outlines and Treatments User Rating: / 4 Every time you submit a package for financing, you’ll have to include a synopsis and either an outline or treatment, depending on what financing you are looking for. Each document has different requirements and writing formats. Read more...   Understanding Your Target Audience User Rating: / 8 No film is for everyone.  Each film has a target audience.  It’s your job to know – specifically – who they are. Your film can’t communicate effectively or succeed at the box office unless you know the group of people for whom you are making it. Read more...   Three Steps to a Winning Pitch User Rating: / 6 Filmmakers can pitch their projects in two ways: on paper or orally in person. Paper pitches -- packages submitted to various buyers and funders in hopes of securing development or production funding – are addressed elsewhere on this website. This article focuses on verbal pitches. Read more...   Who, Where & When to Pitch User Rating: / 1 The first step in figuring out who to pitch is assessing the right medium for your project. Is it best suited for theatrical release, straight-to-DVD or broadcast? If your script is really best suited to be a television movie, don’t pitch theatrical distributors. If it’s art house theatrical product, don’t pitch a genre label. The buyers know what works for their market, and if you pitch them product that is not suitable for them, your reputation as a producer suffers. Read more...   Special Pitching Opportunities User Rating: / 2 It’s smart to target your buyers and approach them as appropriate throughout the year.  However, there are additional opportunities to pitch that can advance your project or enhance awareness of you and your company. Read more...   Follow-up: Keeping Your Project Top-of-Mind User Rating: / 6 "Hi. I just wanted to see how you're doing, and to see if you've read my project yet." Sigh. This is how most follow-up phone calls begin, and it's not ideal. Read more...   Creating Lasting Relationships User Rating: / 3 Creating and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships is all about long-term thinking. It is not about being liked, although that’s great too.  It is about consistently delivering great work, and being pleasant and principled in your dealings. Read more...   Development Funding User Rating: / 2 The money required to develop a screenplay to a production ready-state is known as development funding. This funding can come from the producer, or from a third party willing to support the development on condition of repayment when the project is produced.  These third-party development funds are forgivable loans: if the project does not go ahead, they do not have to be repaid. Unfortunately, there are limited development funds of this kind available for feature films in Canada and they are difficult to obtain because demand far exceeds supply.  That said, it is always worth applying, and re-applying if necessary, to develop a project you believe in. Read more...   Producer's Fees, Investments and Deferrals User Rating: / 0 This article under construction