About FilmProposals
Right Place...Right Time...Sheer Luck
"I have the most amazing idea for movie and if I could just get [insert famous producer's] ear for 5 minutes, I know it would be a huge success!"
Not Even Close - that is NOT how it happens!
Believe me, I know from the painful experience of actually watching that scenario over and over. I'm Melissa, and I've lived in both New York (my hometown) and Los Angeles.
In LA, I worked at companies such as Fandango and Walt Disney, on the business side, constantly creating Business, Strategy and Operations plans and dealing with high level executives, financiers, investors and millions of dollars.
In NY, I went to school with brilliant people whose collective talent has created far too many films to mention, but they include:
American Gangster | Brokeback Mountain | Body of Lies Deception | Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Get Him to the Greek | Knocked Up | The 40-Year-Old Virgin Robin Hood | Sling Blade | Superbad |
Rent (Broadway and Movie) | Wicked (Broadway)
True Story
Steve Carrell's character, Andy Stitzer, in the 40-Year-Old-Virgin. That is a real name of someone with whom we attended school.
And NO, he was NOT a 40 year old virgin!!!!
Here I was, focused on my corporate job, but making social plans with some of the most famous and talented individuals on the planet.
Some of them include Judd Apatow, Michael Costigan, David Bushell, Adam Pascal and Idina Menzel. Go ahead, check IMDb and see they are all from the same home town..which, by the way, is also where Natalie Portman is from, but this crew is a different generation.
In Los Angeles, it takes about 5 minutes until you meet someone who wants to be a Film Maker. In all honesty, most of them aren't ready to meet people at such a high level, like the ones I knew.
Potential Film Makers may have great ideas, but don't know how to communicate them, pitch them, or what they would even do if they did have a face-to-face meeting with someone so accomplished.
I watched it happen dozens of times - I would introduce them to my friends, they'd pitch, but nothing came of it. They did not understand how the film industry works.
So, FilmProposals was born. It started with a series of seminars in Los Angeles where I taught Film Finance in detail for a few hours and we'd follow with guest speakers, most of whom were the people I mentioned above, along with Entertainment Attorneys, Studio Execs and TV Producers. The original Film Finance presentation is now the Film Proposals and Financing Manual.
The talented guest speakers were giving the same answers to the same questions at each seminar. Socially, my friends would always say to me, "you know what you should tell Indie Filmmakers..."
I took notes, paid attention, got feedback from dozens of successful Independent Film Makers and now, all of their sage advice is in the Business Plan Tools and on this site. Everything I can possibly convey to you from these film pros.
People became more interested in the Business Plan tools than the speakers, once they heard they would never be able to keep the ear of someone without this knowledge. So I was asked to just sell the materials without a seminar and the FilmProposals.com website was created.
This website is not just mine (hence the "WE" you see everywhere). It is the combined efforts of all the wonderful talent that has provided us these fabulous movies over the years.
I watched all my film maker friends go through their struggling phase - even today, the best of the best, still have to pitch and sell their ideas. It's a constant, evolving process in Hollywood.
But there is one theme everyone agrees on:
It's HARD. It's WORK. It's WORTH it!!!!
Be Motivated. Be PERSISTENT and always just know, you will succeed.
Hopefully, FilmProposals will help you do just that.
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Back to Film Proposals and Financing home
Independent Film Proposal and Financing Manual
Learn how to write a business plan, the definition of a business plan and creative ways to finance your film. Pair this Manual with our Financial Template and Business Plan Template for the ultimate Movie Making package.
Film Financial Projections Template
Show film investors why they should fund your movie with our Financial Template. Analyze your film, movie production costs and add financials directly into your Business Plan for Independent Film.
Business Plan Template for Independent Film
Our Business Plan Template is fully formatted with eight chapters and twenty three pages of sample text. Easily use this business plan example and customize it to your project.
How to Make a Movie
Our 15 minute program provides you the basics on How to Make a Movie. We've condensed the nuts and bolts for you and provided some of the best material on how to make your first film.
Find Film Investors
Film Investors do exist! Find out where they are and exactly what they want to hear from you.
Film Grants
The huge advantage to film grants is you do not have to reimburse the funds, unlike investors, who require their money back, plus a return on their investment.
Showcase Your Indie Film
Join our Independent Film Showcase and develop an online presence for your film in a few minutes - for FREE!!! Show the world your Independent Film and impress potential investors with more than just your logline.
Indie Film Distributors
Indie film distributors look for one thing only when they evaluate Indie Films - "Will this film be profitable for us?"
Free Film Downloads and Samples
Many free film tools and samples exist across the internet and here is a great starter list for the Independent Filmmaker.
Recommended Film Financing and Business Plan Guides
See FilmProposals top picks for Business Plan Books for Film. Film Funding and Financing, Low Budget, Business Plans and Budgets. See the best books on the market today, written by leading experts.
Best Independent Film Websites
FilmProposals top picks for the best Film Websites and Resources to help you find Investors for your Independent Movie, Film Financing Companies and Independent Film Funding.
