Filmmakers Workshop

Supporting the work of independent filmmakers

Filmmakers Workshop is a program of the Center for Independent Documentary that offers independent media artists a non-competitive, supportive community to strengthen their work.

This weeks featured blog: "All These Wonderful Things"

Not You David Ansen, Not You! Newsweek's Critic Par Excellance Join the Doc Depression Bandwagon

One of favorite film writers and critics, David Ansen of Newsweek, has an article up declaring "THE END OF THE DOCUMENTARY FILM MARKET". Lord-eye-lou, really? Isn't that soooo 2007? "(After the success of docs in 2003-2005), (d)istributors gobbled up docs...

The Renew Media Blog

IFC Media Lab Studios

Lots of chatter this week about the dire straits of indie film, so it was refreshing to be contacted by IFC Media Lab Studios, who want to cultivate new talent through contests and development deals. From their website: Media Lab Studios, an independent film studio focusing on web and on-air content development and financing, is offering [...]

The Independent Magazine

Documentary 2.0: Making Media That Matters

Each June, The Media That Matters Film Festival selects a group of 12 shorts by independent filmmakers designed to spark action and debate in twelve minutes or less. Unlike other festivals, MTM works to promote its selections year-round through online streaming, broadcasts and community screenings.

read more

Filmmaker's Journal: So Much for Taking a Break

In 2007, an article in the New York Times hailed Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, as “the next Prague.” Soon thereafter, every footloose hipster in the West seemed to home in on the place. But the city they found was a far cry from “the next Prague.” It is still too alien to most Western sensibilities, and it is at times dismayingly dark, violent, and desperate.

read more

For Inspiration, Judd Ehrlich Looked to the Subject of His New Film, "Run For Your Life"

While vampires made a big splash at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, a documentary about a son of Transylvania carved out a decidedly different niche for itself.

read more

FEATURED MEMBER BLOG: DAVID TAMES

Viacom will soon know what you watch on YouTube

A recent BBC news story, “Google must divulge YouTube log,” reports on the latest phase in the Viacom case against Google’s YouTube: A U.S. court ordered Google to disclose the viewing logs of each and every YouTube user. This gives Viacom access to over 12 terabytes of data so they can prove their dubious claim [...]

Visit the Kino-Eye.com web site for the full article and more.

Filmmakers Workshop

DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL FILM FINANCING TUTORIAL- SPECIAL 2 NIGHT FILMMAKERS WORKSHOP

Domestic & International Film Financing Tutorial
June 18 & 19 from 6-10 pm BOTH NIGHTS
Location: 93 Border Street, West Newton MA 02465
(The NEW temporary space of the Center for Independent Documentary and the Filmmakers Workshop)


This tutorial will be taught by Sandra Schulberg (sschulberg@aol.com), one of the pioneers of international financing for independent movies. Ms. Schulberg has been active in raising money for independent productions and nurturing indie filmmakers for more than 20 years. From 1998 to 2001, Ms. Schulberg worked as Executive Producer for the private German media fund, Hollywood Partners, and structured its financing in a slate of films (including the Oscar-nominated movie QUILLS, starring Geoffrey Rush and Kate Winslet), all of which involved multiple international production partners. From 1989 to 1996, she served as a senior executive of "American Playhouse," the PBS drama series, charged with raising funds from abroad. During the last three years, she served as Senior Vice President of its movie production subsidiary, Playhouse International Pictures. Her production credits include SHADOW MAGIC, UNDISPUTED, THE LAST YELLOW, WAITING FOR THE MOON (Sundance Grand Prize winner), I'LL TAKE YOU THERE, SHIMMER, ROOSTERS, WILDROSE, BELIZAIRE THE CAJUN, NORTHERN LIGHTS, ALAMBRISTA. Additionally, she was involved in the financing and marketing of more than a dozen Playhouse films, including SAFE, I SHOT ANDY WARHOLL, ANGELS & INSECTS, THE MUSIC OF CHANCE, AMATEUR, SIMPLE MEN, etc., and she helped Barbara Kopple to raising finishing funds for her non-fiction feature, MY GENERATION. She has been a key figure in helping to create worldwide markets for independent films as founder and former president of the Independent Feature Project (IFP) and as creator of the IFP Market. In 1980, Ms. Schulberg co-founded the niche film distribution company, First Run Features, which is also still operating today. She was one of the first nominators to the Sundance Institute's Filmmakers Lab, and served on the Sundance Festival Advisory Committee for 5 years. She also served on the Board of ITVS (Independent Television Service) for 3 years, during which it created a new world affairs satellite channel, Link-TV, in cooperation with Internews. She served as a founding director of the New York Documentary Center and its Docfest film festival. In 1994, Ms. Schulberg received the IFP Spirit Award for her contributions to independent cinema. Her movies have been showcased and have won awards at film festivals throughout the world. She does a limited amount of private consulting to assist both experienced and fledgling producers.
Sandra Schulberg

Session I: Domestic Film Financing

Combining For-Profit and Nonprofit Monies
▪ How a movie qualifies for tax-deductible contributions
▪ Understanding the notion of "mission" under non-profit law
▪ Appropriate use of a fiscal agent
▪ Obtaining a PRI, a Program-Related Investment, from a foundation
▪ Development loans from private individuals
Key Elements of a U.S. Investor Offering
▪ Determining the right financial instrument and when to form it
▪ What your offering plan tells investors
▪ Synopsis
▪ Cast/Crew Bios
▪ Chain of Title
▪ Summary of Talent Agreements (producer/writer/director)
▪ Production Budget & Schedule
▪ Financing Plan
▪ Deal Structure (description of investment units for sale and ROI)
▪ Marketing & Distribution Plan
▪ Risk Factors & Disclaimers
Session II: Foreign Film Financing
International Co-Production
▪ Official "treaty" co-productions
▪ Non-treaty co-financing
▪ Tax-driven funds
▪ Regional economic funds
▪ The key Co-Production Markets
Foreign Sales & Distribution
▪ Principles of pre-sale financing
▪ Selecting and contracting with a foreign sales company
▪ Structuring foreign sales and foreign distribution agreements
▪ The role of collection agencies

Session III: Project-specific guidance from Sandra Schulberg
During the final session, on the second night, Ms. Schulberg provides specific financing guidance for each participant's current feature project (whether fiction or non-fiction), applying her sense of the domestic and international opportunities and illustrating how they might be combined where appropriate. This aspect of the Tutorial has proved to be extremely useful and popular. It is conducted publicly, so each participant gets customized guidance but also learns from the discussion of the other projects.



REGISTRATION BY POSTAL MAIL:

Domestic and International Film Financing Tutorial
June 18 and 19 from 6-10pm both nights

Please fill out the form carefully and make sure your phone number and e-mail are correct, it is very important that we be able to contact you.
First Name
Last Name
Company or Organization
Email
Phone
Address
City, State
Zip
What is your primary role? (Producer, Director, editor etc….)

Are you a member of any of these organizations? (check all that apply) If so, you receive the discounted registration price ($40)
( ) Center for Independent Documentary (CID)
( ) MPC (Massachusetts Production Coalition)
( ) AIMM*
If you checked AIMM, specify which AIMM member:

*AIMM consists of Filmmakers Collaborative, Center for Independent Documentary, Central Productions, The Color of Film Collaborative, the LEF Foundation and WGBH Boston Media Productions. If you are a producer with CID, simply check the CID box above.

Registration fees:

$60 (regular)
$40 (discounted- member of one of the sponsoring organizations)
Please return this form along with your check payable to:
THE CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY
And mail to:
680 South Main Street
Sharon, MA 02067

THIS WORKSHOP IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY SUPPORT FROM:
Massachusetts Cultural Council
 

Blog Posts

ELEVEN DOCS SCREENING IN 4 THEATERS THIS WEEK! WOW!

If you're around, hope you can go and support some of these wonderful films and also the theaters. There would be a big void in the Boston film going experience without them. There are links to the theaters and films on the Connect the Docs 'Doc Screenings and Events Around Town' page: http://www.connectthedocsboston.org. Happy 4th and happy movie-going!

Posted by rhonda moskowitz on July 3rd, 2008 at 4:30pm — No Comments (Add)

A Video Interview w/ Filmmaker Katrina Browne (Traces of the Trade)

We had a chance to sit down recently and chat with Katrina Browne, WGBH Filmmaker in Residence from 2003… Continue

Posted by WGBH Lab on July 1st, 2008 at 2:30pm — No Comments (Add)

GREAT ANECDOTES TO SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS!

Hi Filmmaker Friends, Some terrific doc films screening at The Coolidge, the MFA, the Harvard Film Archive and the West Newton Cinema this week. Some screenings have filmmakers present. Check out the CONNECT THE DOCS 'SCREENINGS AND EVENTS AROUND TOWN PAGE' for links to films and venues: http://www.connectthedocsboston.org. Happy movie-going!

Posted by rhonda moskowitz on June 26th, 2008 at 10:00pm — No Comments (Add)

THANK YOU SUSI WALSH AND SANDRA SCHULBERG FOR AN INFORMATIVE TWO NIGHTS!

I just want to thank Susi Walsh and Sandra Schulberg for the amazing two night workshop on global non profit and for profit film financing for indie filmmakers. The workshop was packed with information and really expanded my thinking about financing indie films. Thank you Susi and those who helped you for making this affordable workshop happen (and also the wonderful food!) and thank you Sandra for being so generous with your information and thinking so creatively and out of the box. It's intere… Continue

Posted by rhonda moskowitz on June 20th, 2008 at 12:00pm — 1 Comment (Add)

“THE GAY MARRIAGE THING” Headlines Panel Discussion at Peabody Essex Museum

SALEM, MA – The Gay Marriage Thing film will lead a chorus of voices, including State Rep. Byron Rushing, discussing gay marriage at the Peabody Essex Museum on Thursday, June 26, 2008 with the film beginning at 6:30pm followed by a panel discussion at 8:00pm. Director Stephanie Higgins hosts a Q&A following the film, which presents the politics, the piety and the people embroiled in and affected by the heated debate over same-sex marriage. Discussion will focus on how traditional notions o… Continue

Posted by Stephanie Higgins on June 18th, 2008 at 10:00am — No Comments (Add)

Network Improvements Under Way

Welcome to our newest members!
Sometime soon, NING will be adding a calendar feature to this site. Until then, we have created a google calendar which we can all share.


For more widgets please visit www.yourminis.com



To enter events onto the calendar just log in to google calendar with the log in name:
member@filmmakersworkshop.org
and use the password: calendar

You can also subscribe to this calendar:

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Center for Independent Documentary blog

SPECIAL 2 NIGHT FILMMAKERS WORKSHOP ON DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL FILM FINACING

Domestic & International Film Financing Tutorial June 18 & 19 from 6-10 pm BOTH NIGHTS Location: 93 Border Street, West Newton MA 02465 (The NEW temporary space of the Center for Independent Documentary and the Filmmakers Workshop) This tutorial will be taught by Sandra Schulberg (sschulberg@aol.com), one of the pioneers of international financing for independent movies. Ms. Schulberg has [...]

The 2008 Kopkind/CID Filmmakers Retreat Seminars- Applications Are Now Being Accepted!

Invitation to filmmakers: We are pleased to announce a call to independent documentary filmmakers who would like to participate in a weeklong seminar and retreat in southern Vermont. Sunday August 3rd-August 10th Tree Frog Farm, Guilford Vermont The Center for Independent Documentary (CID) and the Kopkind Center are sponsoring this week-long retreat limited to ten filmmakers along with [...]

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About Filmmakers Workshop

Notes

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Welcome to Filmmakers Workshop!

Created by Susi Walsh/Center for Independent Documentary May 31, 2008 at 10:39pm. Last updated by Susi Walsh/Center for Independent Documentary Jun 1.

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How you can help support FILMMAKERS WORKSHOP

Your help is greatly appreciated! Click below to make a tax deductible credit card contribution to the Center for Independent Documentary (CID) to support FILMMAKERS WORKSHOP and this online forum. CID would like to thank the LEF Foundation and the Massachusetts Cultural Council for their support. CID is a partner in the Alliance for Independent Motion Media , and the Massachusetts Production coalition which also support the workshops.

Every donation amount helps! And thank you!
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