Investing in Film: Mitigating Risk and ROI Red Flags

DATE: 9/30/2018
TIME: 1:30pm - 5:30pm
LOCATION: Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center
PRICE: $100 for Non-Members / $80 for GPP and ATLFS Members / $50 for DeKalb County Residents

Sponsored in part by the new DeKalb Entertainment Commission to help educate DeKalb County residents, as well as the general film investing public, this 4 hour workshop is part classroom conversation, part panel discussion.

This course is only open to investors or those seriously considering investment in film projects. This workshop is not open to filmmakers, producers, content creators or anyone looking for investors.

This program is geared toward the smaller Georgia-based financier, who may not have solid experience investing in film projects or a strong understanding of how the business works. Someone with a financial investment between $10,000 and $250,000 is the ideal participant. This class is meant to arm the investor with information to help mitigate risk. Although film investment will always be high risk and subjective, just like investing in art - some works of art appreciate, while others don't - that doesn't mean potential investors can't increase their chance of success with additional knowledge in both the creative and business side of filmmaking.

The first half of this class discusses the art of the business - what to look for when assessing the potential of a project, from the screenplay and the production team to the potential cast and distribution strategy. We look at what should be in a business plan, the difference between a general proposal and a detailed strategic plan, and how to spot red flags that could indicate a challenge not just to your investment, but to your ROI.

The second half of the event will be a panel discussion and Q&A, which includes a domestic and international sales agent, lawyers who handle intellectual property and operating agreements, and a tax incentive consultant among others. The focus is not on financing deals, but how sales and distribution work, the often misunderstood timeline for tax incentives, common mistakes filmmakers make in their distribution and sales contracts, and operating agreement contract deal points to consider to protect your ROI.

ONCE REGISTERED, WAIT FOR CONFIRMATION FOR THIS WORKSHOP AND PANEL DISCUSSION.

ARE YOU A DEKALB COUNTY RESIDENT?
The new DeKalb County Digital Entertainment Commission is partially sponsoring 20 RESIDENTS. These slots are first come, first served and you must provide proof of residency. To qualify, send a copy of your Driver's License showing your DeKalb County residency (OR current mortgage statement OR current rental contract) AND a current utility OR phone bill showing that address and your name to: LindaB@AtlantaFilmSociety.org, and once verified, a code will be provided to you to receive the reduced rate.