Forming a Production Company
Learn how to choose the right corporate structure, set up a company, open the proper accounts, establish the legal framework for the production, work with an attorney, and set-up the production office.Forming a Production Company
Developed by Jason Tomaric, FilmSkillsABOUT THIS LESSON
Film productions have lots of moving parts – people are hired, equipment is rented, money is managed, contracts and paperwork are drawn up, and ultimately, a product is produced that is designed to make money. In order to help manage these resources, large studios create a separate company to keep the management of these resources contained within one company.
In this module learn how to choose the right corporate structure, set up a company, open the proper accounts, establish the legal framework for the production, work with an attorney, and set-up the production office.
Begin your production on the right foundation, protect your assets and investment, and avoid future problems by setting your company the right way.
- 32:54 video that walks you through every step of creating a production company
- Illustrated Companion Guide
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- The various types of corporate structures and the next one to use for a film production
- How to hire an attorney and what an entertainment attorney has to offer
- What a deal memo is and how to use one
- How to set up a production office
ABOUT THE LESSON AUTHOR
Jason Tomaric
Director, Cinematographer Los Angeles, CaliforniaJason J. Tomaric is an Emmy, Telly, and CINE Award-winning director and cinematographer of four internationally-distributed feature films, dozens of national television commercials, music videos, and the largest film training content library in the world, published author of 8 books - used in many top universities, and creator of AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform.
Jason has worked in Los Angeles and around the world in over 20 countries. His clients include Disney, NBC/Universal, National Geographic, McDonald’s, Toyota, Scion, Microsoft, and Paul Mitchell, with narrative work screened at Sundance, Slamdance, and South by Southwest film festivals as well as on Netflix and on all broadcast networks.
Jason has taught and/or guest lectured at some of the nation's most prestigious film schools including UCLA, Columbia College, John Carroll University, Kent State University, San Francisco State, University of Notre Dame, and numerous film festivals.
Jason has written eight industry-defining books, all sold in bookstores, and used in film schools around the world. The American Society of Cinematographers hails Jason's books - "There are no wasted words in Tomaric's tome, which concisely summarizes each facet of the director's craft. It's difficult to think of a step in the process that Tomaric fails to address."
Jason’s DVD training series on Hollywood film production have trained filmmakers in over 40 countries, with distributors in Europe, Hong Kong, New York and Australia.
In 2010, Jason launched FilmSkills, which combines the world’s largest film training video library with his proprietary learning management system. Adopted by 47 universities within the first year, FilmSkills is now the leading industry-standard training solution for motion picture and television production.
In 2015, Jason launched AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform that bridges the gap between academia and industry.
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS LESSON
Cristen Carr Strubbe
Line Producer, UPM, "Catch Me if you Can," "Charile Wilson's War," "Ali," and "The Prestige"Through her company, Pimpernel Productions Inc, Cristen Carr Strubbe provides breakdowns, board and budgeting services for independent and studio majors alike. As a Production Manager Mrs. Carr Strubbe collaborates some of Hollywoods best directors, writers and financiers. Since 2001 she has worked along side Sam Remi, Aaron Sorkin, Christopher Nolan, Sam Mendes, Mike Nicols, Michael Mann and Steven Spielberg. Mrs. Carr Stubbe's credits include: AMERICAN BEAUTY, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, ALI, CHARLIE' WILSON'S WAR, and THE PRESTIGE.
Jerry Magaña
Producer, "Fred and Vinnie," and "Falsehood" A native Southern Californian, Jerry P. Magaña graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA in 2000 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Film with Honors. Mr. Magaña’s student portfolio includes clients like Coca-Cola, Swatch, Diehard Batteries, 1-800-DENTIST, Anheuser Busch, Labatt Brewing Co., SONY & Panasonic Electronics to name a few.
His career highlights as Producer include the short film, Falsehood, a multi-award winning short film that was featured in the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. Additionally, he was awarded a Silver Clio for his work as Producer on Director Vee Vitanza’s Adopt-A-Pet (entitled, “Companionship”) speculative spot. In 2003, Mr. Magaña completed production on his first independent feature film, Firecracker, directed by Steven Balderson. Firecracker was selected by several major festivals and has gone on to receive critical acclaim worldwide and from such notable critics as Roger Ebert.
Mr. Magaña has worked in post-production as a Visual Effects Producer and Coordinator with Stargate Films in Pasadena, CA and Ghost Machine VFX in Torrance, CA. His VFX production credits include season one of Desperate Housewives, the pilot episode for Eyes, Director Mike Judge’s second feature film Idiocracy by Twentieth Century Fox and The Untitled Onion Movie also by Fox. Additional clients include Toyota Motors Sales, CALTY Design Research, Inc. in Newport Beach, CA and the Lockheed Martin Corporation. Since 2008, Mr. Magaña has completed producing his second independent feature film, Fred and Vinnie with Director and Executive Producer, Steve Skrovan (Everyone Loves Raymond) written by and starring actor/comedian, Fred Stoller (Seinfeld).
To date, Mr. Magaña has and continues to develop a number of alternative program concepts as well as scripted episodic treatments. In addition to concepts in development, Mr. Magaña continues to work in Visual Effects and as a freelance Production Manager or Line Producer for various commercial, narrative and industrial productions.
Laurence Ducceschi
Producer, Feature Films, Lifetime Network, "Beauty & the Briefcase," "Left To Die," and "Revenge Of The Bridesmaids."Since 2002 Laurence Ducceschi has impressively produced over 30 different projects, including three full season television shows and over 2 dozen made-for-TV movie. His extensive credits include: BIOGRAPHY, LEFT TO DIE, REVENGE OF THE BRIDESMAIDS, CATEGORY 7: THE END OF THE WORLD, and BEAUTY AND THE BRIEFCASE.
Noel Bermudez
Production Accountant, "Tin Cup," "Dangerous Minds," "Switched at Birth," "The Nine Lives of Chloe King," "Greek," Huge," and "10 Things I Hate About You"Currently working on the hit ABC Family show, SWITCHED AT BIRTH, Noel Bermudez has been the production accountant an several notable projects. His credits include: Golden Globe-nominated TIN CUP, DANGEROUS MINDS, WASTELAND, LINCOLN HEIGHTS, and the Emmy-winning mini-series THE PACIFIC.
Ricky Margolis
Financier, Future Films USA, "Cracks,” “Veronika Decides To Die,” and “Last Passenger”Ricky joined Future Films USA, the Los Angeles-based branch of the film and production company Future Films, in 2007 initially as a Production Executive, and is currently the company's Vice President. His responsibilities include overseeing both the financing and production of projects, both in-house and with external producing partners. Ricky has been involved in a number of the company's high-profile films over the last few years, including CRACKS (starring Eva Green), VERONIKA DECIDES TO DIE (starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Melissa Leo), and LAST PASSENGER (starring Dougray Scott). Additionally, he has been involved in the construction and financing of a number of investments covering elements such as pre-sales and Gap financing, as well as the cash-flowing of tax incentives in various states including New York and Louisiana. He is frequently invited to speak at film panels and events, and has been a member of the jury for the Woods Hole Film Festival for the past two years.
Prior to joining Future Films USA, Ricky worked for nearly three years at Filmax International in Barcelona, Spain, one of the country's leading audiovisual companies, where he spearheaded various marketing campaigns in the international sales divison. As part of a European "mini-studio", he gained etensive experience working directly with producers, directors, writers, talent, agents and financiers across the world, as well as attending markets including Cannes, the AFM, Berlin, MIPCOM and MIPTV, where Ricky was involved in the packaging and marketing of high-profile films such as FRAGILE (starring Calista Flockhart), THE KOVAK BOX (starring Timothy Hutton) and THE BACKWOODS (starring Gary Oldman).
Ricky's first experiences in film production came at the age of 17 when he worked on the set of hit British comedy WAKING NED DEVINE, which was followed by further on-set and post-production experience on several projects.
Aside from films, Ricky has spent time working in Germany for sportswear giant adidas, and also as a teacher in northern France.
Ricky holds a Bachelor's Degree (with honours) from the University of Leeds in English and French, and a Masters Degree from the University of Manchester in Modern European Cinema. He is fluent in English, French, Spanish and German.
Prior to joining Future Films USA, Ricky worked for nearly three years at Filmax International in Barcelona, Spain, one of the country's leading audiovisual companies, where he spearheaded various marketing campaigns in the international sales divison. As part of a European "mini-studio", he gained etensive experience working directly with producers, directors, writers, talent, agents and financiers across the world, as well as attending markets including Cannes, the AFM, Berlin, MIPCOM and MIPTV, where Ricky was involved in the packaging and marketing of high-profile films such as FRAGILE (starring Calista Flockhart), THE KOVAK BOX (starring Timothy Hutton) and THE BACKWOODS (starring Gary Oldman).
Ricky's first experiences in film production came at the age of 17 when he worked on the set of hit British comedy WAKING NED DEVINE, which was followed by further on-set and post-production experience on several projects.
Aside from films, Ricky has spent time working in Germany for sportswear giant adidas, and also as a teacher in northern France.
Ricky holds a Bachelor's Degree (with honours) from the University of Leeds in English and French, and a Masters Degree from the University of Manchester in Modern European Cinema. He is fluent in English, French, Spanish and German.