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Preparing Pitch Materials to Secure Financing for Your Feature Script

 

Preparing Pitch Materials to Secure Financing for Your Feature Script

By: Grace Santos

September 6, 2024

 

Whether you’re a seasoned filmmaker or just starting out, creating the right pitch materials is crucial to securing financing for your feature film. 

 

With over 14 years of experience in the industry, working for finance companies, production companies, and distribution companies, and working across departments such as business affairs, legal, creative development, production, and operations, I’ve seen firsthand what works when pitching to studios and investors.

 

Below, I’ve broken down the essential materials you’ll need for two common scenarios:

  • Pitching to an established company that has a positive track record in producing films
  • Pitching to Investors/Financiers and you retain more control of your film



Scenario 1: Pitching to Established Production Companies

When pitching to established companies that have a proven track record in producing films, you need to make a strong first impression with polished materials. These companies typically handle all the heavy lifting once they option your project, so you don’t need to worry about providing a full financial breakdown. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Screenplay: Your script should be polished and reviewed multiple times. Consider hiring a professional script doctor to refine your work. Simple issues like typos, lack of structure, or one-dimensional characters can turn off a potential company. While some companies may have development funds to work on scripts with potential, most will only respond to high-quality, ready-to-shoot material.
  • Logline, Short Synopsis, and Character Descriptions 
  • Writer’s Bio: A brief introduction to your background and relevant experience.
  • Director’s Materials (if applicable): If you have a director attached who hasn’t yet helmed a successful feature, include:
    • Director’s reel
    • Director’s bio and resume
    • Director’s statement
    • Director’s lookbook (a visual guide showing how they envision the film).
  • Producer’s Bio and Resume (if applicable): If a producer is attached to the film, and the producer is still building a track record, include these.
  • Actor’s Reel and Bio (if applicable): If an actor is attached who is not A-list or B-list, provide their reel, bio, and resume.

You do not need to include a full analysis of the financials of comparable films, a business plan, pre-sales, a budget breakdown, etc. If the company likes your project, they will likely ask you to sign an Option Purchase Agreement and take over from there.

 

Side note on attachments

Be selective on who you attach to your project.  Some companies might be reluctant to take on a film with too many producers, a director who can’t attract A-list actors, or actors who don’t trigger pre-sales or negative pickup deals. 



Scenario 2: Pitching to Investors/Financiers and Retaining Control

When you’re pitching to private investors and you wish to maintain business and creative control over your film, the required materials are much more detailed. You’ll need to convince potential backers not only of your story but also of your film’s financial viability. Here’s what you should prepare:

  • Pitch Deck:
    • Short Synopsis
    • Summary Page (logline, a brief casting summary, and an overview of the financial plan) (1 pg)
    • Target Audience
    • Character Descriptions, Attached Cast
    • Director’s Bio and Links to the Director’s Reels
    • Director’s Statement
    • Director’s lookbook (a visual guide showing how they envision the film)
    • Bios of Key Team Members (producers, writers, key crew)
    • Timeline for financing, casting, pre-production, production, post-production, delivery, and distribution
    • Financial Plan:
      • How much funding are you raising?
      • What will the funds cover? Are the funds only for production or also for marketing and other costs? 
      • What’s the minimum investment required for each investor?
      • What are the investor’s returns (premium, backend split, etc.)?
      • The Waterfall (Detail how and when investors will get paid. The “Waterfall” refers to the order in which profits are distributed among stakeholders).
    • Distribution Plan
    • Marketing Plan
    • Are there pre-sales or a negative pickup deal already in place? 
  • Screenplay: Ensure your script is polished and ready for production.
  • Production Schedule and DOODs: Investors that have invested in films have an eye for making sure the production schedule makes sense. 
  • Line Item Budget: Investors that have invested in films have an eye for making sure the budget can actually deliver a quality film; they also want to see that the budget is not top heavy (i.e. have the budget going to one producer rather than for the whole film) 
  • Phase II Documents:
    • Once you attracted serious interest from accredited investors, you’ll need to prepare legal documents such as a more detailed Business Plan, Private Placement Memorandum (PPM), Operating Agreement, and Subscription Agreement.
    • Be prepared for the costs associated with these legal documents—initial preparation can cost a minimum of $20,000.  Then additional legal fees (the time it takes for attorneys to attend investor meetings with you, send documents to investors, obtain signatures, etc) can range from $500 to $1,500 per hour. 
    • Business Plan:  This document expands the pitch deck, offering more detail about the film’s concept, audience, market analysis, financial projections, and risk mitigation. It details how much money is needed, how the funds will be spent, and how investors will potentially profit. The goal is to present the film as a viable investment opportunity, explaining how it will be made, marketed, and monetized.
    • Private Placement Memorandum (PPM):  A PPM is a legal document given to potential investors that provides detailed information about the investment opportunity, including the risks involved. It outlines the terms of the investment, the rights of the investors, and the potential return on investment. The PPM protects both the filmmakers and the investors by clearly defining these terms and ensuring transparency.
    • Operating Agreement:  This document governs the relationships between the investors involved in the film project. It outlines roles, responsibilities, and financial rights (such as profit distribution) within the production company or LLC formed for the film. It’s crucial when multiple parties are involved in the financing and production of a film.
    • Subscription Agreement:  A legal contract between the film production company and an investor. It’s signed when an investor decides to invest in the film, confirming the amount of their investment and the terms outlined in the PPM. It essentially binds the investor to their commitment and confirms their understanding of the risks and rewards.

 

Please note that there are other materials needed if you’re raising funds for a slate of films, rather than just one film, or if you’re raising funds for a company, rather than just one film. 

 

By tailoring your materials to your audience—whether it’s a large studio or a private investor—you’ll increase your chances of success. Well prepared materials not only demonstrate professionalism but also give potential backers confidence in your ability to deliver on your vision.

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Guest on Influence Women

 

Thank you Kathleen Cook for having me as a guest speak on the Influence Women Podcast.

http://InfluenceWomen.org

Influence Women’s Vision is to empower global women who are engaged in media, entertainment, music, leadership, and all areas of the arts whose foundations are based on a Biblical worldview to collaborate, flourish, and create a radical cultural change.

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My mom’s obituary

On August 11, 2022, Cristina Santos, loving wife, mother, and Lola, passed away. 

Cristina was born on March 9, 1946, in Atlag, Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines, to Eduardo and Evangelina Silva-netto. One of two girls and five boys, she moved with her parents to Valenzuela, Philippines at age 16. It was there, at Caloocan Unida Church where her father was pastor, that Cristina met her future husband, Arturo Santos. Cristina and Arturo graduated from Philippine Christian University in 1966 and married in Washington, D.C. United States on September 4, 1971.

Cristina and Arturo were “church planters”, establishing Bible study and prayer meeting groups along the East Coast from New Jersey to Florida, many of which grew into Filipino-American churches. The couple helped people feel comfortable learning about God’s love by incorporating the Filipino language and customs into church services and activities – and especially Filipino food, which Cristina loved to cook and prepared for the weekly gatherings. 

She was also an entrepreneur, owner and operator of five laundromats with snack shops in Tampa from 1986 to 1997 before moving on to Associated Marine Institute / AMI Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping youth develop into responsible and productive citizens. She remained there until her ‘retirement’ – which lasted only a year before her energetic nature called her back to work as a caregiver.  Proud of and committed to her community, Cristina was a dedicated fundraiser for the Philippine Cultural Foundation in Tampa.

In her last Facebook post, on July 29, 2022 Cristina wrote: “I can fully serve the Lord to the fullest until the day He takes me home to His Glory! ‘ONLY ONE LIFE will SOON PASS, but what’s done for CHRIST will LAST.’ I encourage everyone to serve, commit our life to Him alone! He will never leave us or forsake us.”

Cristina was preceded in death by her father, Eduardo, her mother, Evangelina, and her brother, Danny. She is survived by her husband, Arturo, daughters Grace and Joy, son-in-law Ricky, grandchildren Ciara Faith and America, sister Abigail, and brothers Benoni, Ephraim, Gomer and Bobby.

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BFFfestival2016

I hope you have as much fun watching our videos at the 2016 Bentonville Film Festival (BFF) as we had attending / working at the fest.

Xo,

GS (1/2 of Grace Squared)

Disclaimer:  Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer (or past employers or future employers) 

 

What is BFF?

The Bentonville Film Festival’s mission is to provide a commercial platfbff-2016-poster-2orm for female and diverse voices.  It’s the only festival that I know of that guarantees distribution to the winners on all platforms – theatrical (through AMC), digital and television (through ARC, Anchorbay/Starz, TV1, or Lifetime), and home video (through BFF’s founding sponsor Walmart and the other sponsors previously mentioned).  It was co-founded last year by Academy Award Winner Geena Davis and Hollywood Exec Trevor Drinkwater.

 

Why is it in Bentonville, Arkansas?

We work most of the year out of Los Angeles but last month was my first time visiting Arkansas in my life! Geena Davis explains on Jimmie Kimmel:

 

 

Awesome Panels!

BFF offers tons of awesome educational panels.

For example:  “In Control Of Her Own Destiny.  Friday, May 6, 11:30am, Crystal Bridges Museum.  Moderator bff-2016-panel-geena-meg-ryanAlex Cohen (NPR); Panelists: Geena Davis, Kimberly Paisley, Nia Vardalos, and Meg Ryan.  For an industry that offers so few opportunities for women and minorities, increasing numbers of talented women are pushing back by taking control of their own interests rather than depending on the powerful commercial studios. This panel will feature celebrities who have taken control of their destiny by starting their own production companies and making their own films.”

There are a lot more panels, but I had to mention this one.  Being a female and minority and coming from a middle-low income immigrant family with no family connections in the entertainment industry, it’s been a bit challenging to obtain acting and directing roles.  So I decided to attend law school and obtained production certifications in order to produce my own work.  I am thankful to also be working for a company that helps others like me in the industry! #ILoveBFF

 

Who/What is Grace Squared?

Grace Chong (GC) heads Finance and Grace Santos (GS) heads Business & Legal Affairs.  Together we are GRACE SQUARED.  GC: “We’re both Asian and have a selfie stick” 🙂

 

We visited Jared (who is BFF’s Volunteer Coordinator), introduced a few films, and walked around downtown:

 

 

How we negotiated our terms with a television executive to get a tv show for us:

 

 

Brian was supposed to be our Crystal Bridges Museum tour guide:

 

 

GC explained to Brian and I what NWA means and it is not with attitude:

 

 

And of course we had to visit Walmart, BFF’s founding sponsor:

 

 

I’m trying to work on last minute contracts for the fest but GC and her snapchat:

 

We don’t just have videos, we also took lots of photos!

bff-2016-g2-sun bff-2016-crystal-bridges-1 bff-2016-crystal-bridges-2 bff-2016-g2-love

 

 

Shopping!

Lots of great places to shop in Arkansas too (according to GC, she’s the fashionista and shopper of this duo and I just follow around with a cam):

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The Films!

We met Joey Lawrence (“whoa!”), Catalina Rodriguez, and Candice Barley of “Saved By Grace” at 21C:

bff-2016-grace-squared-saved-by-grace

And also got to hang with wonderful Geena Davis Institute’s Social Media Manager Christy Lee Hughs and filmmaker Anna Elizabeth James of BFF’s showcase film “Emma’s Chance”:

bff-2016-chrissy-el-grace

 

 

A League of Their Own Reunion Game!

BFF’s co-founder Geena Davis starred in the awesome “A League Of Their Own” so BFF has a reunion game every year with the actors of ALOTO and the original real life players.

Geena Davis and Rosie O’Donnel at last year’s fest.

Geena Davis and Rosie O’Donnel at last year’s fest.

Would be soooo great if Rosie and Madonna attend next year!!! Talk about amazing entertainers!

Would be soooo great if Rosie and Madonna attend next year!!! Talk about amazing entertainers!

I’m posing with BFF Co-Founder Trevor Drinkwater. Grace Chong left the day before so only half of Grace Squared this time.

I’m posing with BFF Co-Founder Trevor Drinkwater. Grace Chong left the day before so only half of Grace Squared this time.

If you ever need an amazing operations leader, hire Dave West!

If you ever need an amazing operations leader, hire Dave West!

Amazing local BFF team Courtney and Brad Lawless. We were trying to get a jumping photo hahaha

And amazing local BFF team Courtney and Brad Lawless. We were **TRYING** to get a jumping photo while they were clearing the field hahaha

 

Entertainment!

 

Either I’m a loser with no friends or I am super VIP showing up to the Darius Rucker concert in this by myself:

 

 

Sold out show!

bff-2016-darius-rucker-ad-1

 

When we went to BFF’s music events at The Meteor, we caught ARC Entertainment’s General Manager, Scott Moesta working on his laptop lol:

 

Meet Scott and Vinko of ARC Entertainment and also Rodney – BFF’s Director of Research:

bff-2016-g2-scott-rod-vinko-the-meteor bff-2016-g2-vinko-the-meteor

 

Artist Patrick Hunter is so talented!  He paints a portrait to clips of music and it is timed perfectly!  This time, he chose to paint Prince to Prince music at the Opening Party of the Festival.  I cried.  #RIPPrince

 

 

I also met jazz musician Marcus Johnson at BFF’s Opening Party.  He’s like me – not just an artist, but also has a law degree and attended the University of Miami!  We’re posing with M&M’s (one of BFF’s sponsors is Mars) and on the white carpet (one of BFF’s sponsors is Clorox … get it white instead of red carpet?)

bff-2016-opening-1

 

The Box Office!

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Awesome supporters!

David Lightfoot and Pam Lightfoot are so freaking cool!  Always supporting BFF in so many ways!  The day after the festival, they invited a few people still left to yummy barbecue at their place.  Here’s a pic I took of David, Paul Prado (BFF’s awesome Director of Filmmaker Relations), and you know Brian.

 

How I became both staff and filmmaker at BFF

Thank you Olivia Lerner for hiring me!  Our Alchemy LLC was the largest independent distribution company in the United States and managed legal and accounting for BFF.  Last October 2015, she hired me and here’s a picture of some of the business and legal affairs department at the company holiday party: Olivia, Aaron, Trevor Morishita, and me.  It’s unfortunate that companies go out of business, but I’m thankful for the friendships I made at Alchemy and for that company bringing me to my BFF family.

Also thank you Catherine Dent and Tessa Blake for bringing me into the AFI DWW family!  More about that program here.  I produced Silk (link here) and Election Night (link here) and Election Night screened at BFF 2016 so I got to be both a BFF Staff Member and BFF Filmmaker!  🙂

bff-2016-grace-santos-staff-filmmaker

 

Thanks for reading/watching my journey!  Hope to see you at the festival next year and also at our smaller events throughout the year in Los Angeles, New York City, and Bentonville (probably more cities soon!)

The professional videos and pictures of the VIP are here:

http://www.BentonvilleFilmFestival.com – http://www.BentonvilleFilmFestival.com

http://www.facebook.com/BFFfestival – http://www.facebook.com/BFFfestival

http://www.twitter.com/BFFfestival – http://www.twitter.com/BFFfestival

http://www.instagram.com/BFFfestival – http://www.instagram.com/BFFfestival

Posing at our Los Angeles office when I first joined BFF in 2015, with Wendy Guerrero (head of Programming), Gina (head of Sponsorships and Marketing), Courtney Lawless (Gina’s right hand pal & wonderful BFF social media!), GC (head of Accounting/Finance and ½ of #GraceSquared)

bff-2016-la-office-1