Film Production Letter of Credit

If you're a struggling filmmaker trying to make your movie on a shoestring budget, try the deferred compensation approach.

• This Deferred Compensation Agreement is between the producer, investors and other stakeholders in the motion picture.
• The Agreement outlines the cast, crew, budget, and production schedule of the film.
• The Agreement breaks down how revenues received by the producer from the film will be applied: first, to payment of outstanding payables, secondly to repaying the investors, and then to the other principal stakeholders.
• A Deferred Compensation Agreement allows you to reduce your upfront costs during production of the film by deferring payment until the film is generating revenues.

Have you found an investor to put production money into your feature film? Put it in writing with this Motion Picture Investor Financing Agreement.

• The investment funds will be paid into an escrow fund, to be released to the production company only after certain conditions have been met, including execution of the film completion guaranty.
• The investor will be repaid its investment amount, plus interest, from net profits of the film's domestic theatrical release. The investor will also participate in the net profits over and above its investment, up to a specified percentage.
• The investor will have approval rights with respect to the budget, casting, producer, director, and distribution of the film.

A movie will never get off the ground if you don't have the money to make it. Download the Motion Picture Investor Financing Agreement for your contracts library.

Screenwriters, before you submit a script for evaluation, get this Script Nondisclosure Agreement signed to protect your rights and guard against disclosure of details of the script to third parties.

• The Nondisclosure Agreement (or "NDA") should be signed by any potential producers with whom you have discussions with respect to developing and producing the script.
• The producers agree to keep all information strictly confidential and not disclose it to any third party.
• The writer is disclosing the information to the producer solely for the purpose of allowing the producer to evaluate the script for development into a film project.
• The confidential information is not to be disclosed to any party except those employees of the producer who have a need to know, and such employees must be bound by a confidentiality agreement with the producer.
• If the producer determines the script is suitable for development, the parties will commence negotiations in that regard.

Don't let unscrupulous producers rip off your story ideas. Get a signed Script Nondisclosure Agreement.

Would-be investors will need to see a well thought-out plan before they commit any money to your film project. Write yours with this fully editable Feature Film Business Plan template.

• The Plan includes:
  • a financial plan section, describing how the money will be raised for the project, how the funds will be used, and the assumptions on which the revenue model is based;
  • a summary of how revenues are disbursed;
  • a determination of ROI (return on investment);
  • potential income projections;
  • instructions to help you complete each section;
  • a Confidentiality Agreement to protect against disclosure of your proprietary information.
  • a disclaimer of liability regarding the accuracy and completeness of the financial information and projections contained in the Plan.
• Available in MS Word format.
• Buy and download the Feature Film Business Plan template and get started on your plan today.

Draw up a production budget summary for a feature film using this 39-page Excel spreadsheet which includes sections for:

• above the line expenses (story rights, producer, director, cast, travel and living expenses);
• production expenses (production staff, camera, set design, construction, striking, set operations, electrical, set dressing, props, special effects, mechanical effects, make-up, hair, wardrobe, locations, transportation, atmosphere, tests);
• post production expenses (picture editing, sound editing, lab, music);
• miscellaneous other expenses (overhead, insurance, publicity, etc).

The Feature Film Production Budget Summary will calculate your totals as you enter your figures. How easy is that? And the template can be re-used for future projects.