Research Wrap

Creating and Maintaining a Clean Chain of Title for a Feature Film

2012-02-02T14:00:47+00:00

The phrase "chain of title" within the context of the film industry refers to a series of documents or agreements that establish proprietary (ownership) rights in a motion picture and all its parts. It is a collection of all of the documents that relate to the creation of and transfers of title to any property used in the making of the film.

Give Me Back My Rabbit Ears

2012-01-26T14:00:50+00:00

We recently moved into a sublet in New York for the winter; not an ideal time, but in cases like this there are usually no alternatives. Greater than the shock of the weather, though, was when I discovered that the apartment had no television.

Debt Versus Equity in Film Finance

2012-01-19T14:00:21+00:00

In my work with independent film producers in the area of film finance over the past twenty years or so I have often observed that many such filmmakers do not have strong opinions about what form of film finance to pursue. They just want the money to produce their films and don't really want to be bothered with the details.

Indie Box Office Beats the Odds with 3% Gain In 2011!

2012-01-11T14:00:53+00:00

The independent business is looking good. For those of you who want to write business plans and raise money from investors, it is the best news of the year.

Re-Selling Units of a Private Film Offering

2012-01-05T15:00:33+00:00

Independent producers seeking to raise funds to produce a motion picture and conducting a so-called exempt or private placement type offering in reliance on the SEC's Regulation D, often are asked the question by their prospective investors: "Can I resell these LLC units to someone else?" This brief article seeks to answer that question.

Three Books for Better Understanding Film Finance

2012-01-03T15:00:22+00:00

As my blogging at Baseline draws to a close, I leave you with three book recommendations. Regardless of whether you have just entered the movie business or are on the verge of exiting it, each one will expand your knowledge base, particularly as it relates to film financing.

Indie Film Box Office Springs Forward, as Clock Falls Back

2011-12-20T15:00:44+00:00

The independent film box office sprang forward, as the clock moved backs an hour. The annual numbers are looking good for business plans.

Film Offerings to Foreign Investors

2011-12-14T16:00:12+00:00

Since filmmaking is typically a business venture that seeks to generate revenues on a worldwide basis and an increasing percentage of such revenues for many films appear to be coming from the international markets as opposed to the domestic marketplace (U.S. and Canada), it is not uncommon for U.S. based filmmakers to seek out opportunities to raise money to develop, produce and/or distribute one or more motion pictures exclusively from investors who reside in other countries.

Federal Attempt to Encourage Entrepreneurial Access to Capital

2011-12-08T14:00:56+00:00

On November 8, 2011, the Senate read HR 2930 as passed by the House of Representatives for the 2nd time and placed the legislation on the Senate's calendar for further consideration. The bill, referred to as the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act, ostensibly seeks to amend the federal securities law to provide for registration exemptions for so-called "crowd funded" securities.

No Women Allowed

2011-12-07T14:00:32+00:00

I was recently introduced to a very rare and beautiful creature – a woman who works within the top echelons of an almost exclusively male below-the-line craft in both film and television.