Producing A Film

SIDDHARTH ROY KAPUR

PRODUCING A FILM 101

ABOUT THE SPEAKER An eminent film producer, President of the Film and Television Producers Guild of India and the erstwhile Managing Director of the Walt Disney Company, Siddharth Roy Kapur needs no introduction in the Bollywood fraternity. Siddharth began his career with the Procter & Gamble Company in Mumbai in brand management. From P&G, Siddharth moved to STAR TV in the strategic planning division. In 2008, Siddharth took over as CEO of UTV Motion Pictures. It has been under Siddharth’s leadership that Disney emerged as one of India's leading media and entertainment companies where he led the studio to incredible commercial success and critical acclaim across a six year period, producing and releasing some of the most important and successful films of the decade such as, ‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’, ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, ‘Fashion’, ‘Dev D’, and ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’. His films have won numerous awards including the prestigious National Awards and Filmfare Awards.

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Siddharth has produced and released India's highest and second highest-grossing movies of all time, ‘Dangal’ and ‘PK’. He moved on from Disney in January, 2017 to set up his own production house ‘Roy Kapur Films’ which produces movies and digital video content across all scales and genres. Siddharth has been featured in ‘The Economic Times, Top 40 Indian Business Leaders Under 40’. ‘The Hollywood Reporter, Next Generation Asia Inaugural Class of Young Leaders’ is also one of his achievements amongst various other wins.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction to Production 2. Skills required to become a Producer 3. Training required to become a Producer 4. Role in Pre-Production 5. Role in Production 6. Post-Production Process 7. Marketing & Release of Film. 8. Revenue Exploitation of the Film. 9. Is Production a viable career option?

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01 Introduction to production Familiarize yourself with the vast and ever-growing world of production through this lesson.

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Introduction to production

Who is a Producer? The role of a director is to direct a film. Similarly, the role of an actor, musician, composer, and choreographer is obvious. However, people are either unaware or confused about the role of a producer. The job of a producer is fundamental to the creation of a film. A producer should be able to use his creative and commercial instincts to get to make a movie. He is the CEO of a film. Producer Credit There are different kinds of producers. A person with the producer credit raises the finances for a movie and gets the cast. He is responsible for putting all the factors of production together. Executive Producer An executive producer in India is responsible for the physical production of a film. They work with the director and cinematographer through the pre-production, production and post-production of the film. They are however not involved with the fundraising, marketing and distribution of the film. In the west, an executive producer can be the actor in the movie or the financier of the film. The role of an Executive Producer in India is remarkably different from an Executive Producer in the West.

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Introduction to production

Associate Producer An associate producer can be the representative of the film studio or the production company and is involved with various aspects of production such as the marketing and distribution or the fundraising of the film. An associate producer is involved in the production of a film in an unspecified way. Line Producer A line producer is present on set day-in and day-out to get a movie made. He is involved in the film from the pre-production to the entire production of the film. He may or may not be involved in the post production process of the movie. He ensures that the film is completed on time. He plays a key role in keepi+ng the movie on budget. He also makes sure that the crew members are paid on time and are happy with the filmmaking process.

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Introduction to production

Coordinating Producer A coordinating producer coordinates among the studio, production house and the actors. He acts as a conduit between the different people involved in the production of the film. Supervising Producer A supervising producer belongs to the creative development department of the film. He ensures that the creativity of the film is not compromised in any way. The assessment is done based on the script agreed upon by the director. This is the job of a supervising producer.

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02 Skills required to become a producer In this lesson, Siddharth talks about the important skill set that one must possess in order to become a producer.

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Skills required to become a producer

Emotional Quotient (EQ) Emotional quotient or EQ is a combination of left-brain and right brain used to empathize with the different situations and find solutions that are not binary but are actually productive and additive to the process. When you are dealing with a director or a writer, you need to understand that they are creative people who are in the business owing to their passion for storytelling. You need to adopt a nurturing and productive approach while dealing with them. Your feedback should be communicated in such a manner that it helps them to take the process forward. It is easy to belittle a director or a writer by giving brutal feedback. Even though it may be true, it may not be the best way to ensure that they are productive. When you are dealing with a financier, you need to be binary. This is because you are talking about their return on investment. In this case, you are trying to get them on board to be able get a significant return out of it. You need to be straightforward and direct in your communication. You need to convince them that you know what you are doing and that their money is in safe hands. You need to wear two different hats. If you do not have a high EQ, then you may not be able to be productive as a producer.

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Skills required to become a producer

Fundraising Fundraising is the most obvious skill that a producer should possess. It is important that you understand your film. You should have empirical evidence about the potential of that film. This will help convince your financers to invest in your film with a belief that their money will return to them. For instance, if you want to create a film such as Dev D, then, you need to be aware that it will cater to one particular segment of the audience. You may be in love with the script but need to maintain your rationale in the end. It depends on your analysis of the potential returns on the investment. You want the film to be a blockbuster and ensure that everyone gets his or her money back. Therefore, Siddharth realized that any budget beyond six crores will be risky because it is likely to appeal only to the youth audience and miss the large section of a family audience. Since the discussion happened within the studio, therefore, Siddharth and his team were able to convince themselves that a budget of six crores was feasible. However, a financier may not be aware of the intricacies of filmmaking or production. To ensure a long-term relationship with a financier, you should make every possible effort to get their money back. You should be a trouble-shooter and be clear about the possible returns from the movie.

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Skills required to become a producer

Management Skills   Management skills is one of the most crucial skills required to become a producer. You have to deal with the director who is the captain of the creative production. You have to deal with writers, choreographers, assistant directors, cinematographers, financiers, and post-production facilities. You have to ensure that everyone works in a way that is additive and productive. Put the right people as the first assistant director and the line producer. These two people have a crucial role to play in the film production. The line producer ensures that the film is on budget and within the right quality. The first assistant director coordinates between the direction and the production department to make sure that the workflow is smooth and seamless. Budgeting There is various software available today that will help you with the cost accounting and reporting. However, Siddharth believes that there is no better training ground than being on a film set and sitting with the production accountant, production assistant, associate director as well as assistant director and understanding the budgeting of a film.

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Skills required to become a producer

If you spend time on three different movie sets having various production budgets, ranging from lavish to mid-range to independent films, then, you will receive the most extensive and productive training required for budgeting a film. It is important to assume a proper contingency and include it in your budget. Often, the factors of production are not under your control. The weather conditions may be harsh or a crewmember may not have arrived on time. The director may take long time for a shot. Therefore, a significant contingency of around 7 to 10% below the line cost is essential for you to be able to green light a film. Problem Solving Abilities The first cut of your film is ready and the director is convinced that the film is going to be four hours long. How can you, as a producer solve this issue? You can either throw the contract on the face of the director and get into a protracted legal battle with him or you can have a productive discussion with the director understanding as to why he believes that the film need to be four hours long. The latter is definitely the better solution of the two. You as a producer, need to use your instincts to give productive feedback to the director while at the same time ensuring that the director understands the commercial hindrances of making a film for a long duration. On one of his projects, Siddharth had managed to cut 45 minutes of a movie that was probably going to be more than 4 hours. A Producer needs to empathize with a creative mind and give him the right perspective of commercial implications of the film.

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Skills required to become a producer

You can have another problem in the form of a cyclone at the shoot location. The entire set is destroyed in this natural calamity. What are you going to do now? You can do the most obvious thing i.e., claim for an insurance. The actor’s dates may go away or the actor may do another film. You can either make a change in the script that will ensure that you do not need the location or build a set as soon as possible and start the shoot once again. You cannot take time over these decisions. Have a discussion with your team and come up with alternatives. Choose the best available option because problems do not call for something optimal. Remember, if dealing with problems makes you paranoid, then production is not the right career for you. Multitasking Your day may start with a production meeting. You may have to discuss at length about the number of days required to shoot a film, keeping the budget and schedule in mind. Followed by this, you may need to evaluate different pieces of music at a music session with the director. You may have to meet the actor who is concerned about his role on screen. At the end of the day, you may have a meeting with the financier and reassure him that his money is in safe hands. During the course of the day, you may need to wear a financial, creative, problem solving and an ego-massaging hat. You need to change these hats in every meeting during the day. You should not be stressed about the five tasks that you had to solve in that day.

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Skills required to become a producer

Communication & Networking It is essential to build productive, long-term working relationships with people. You need to be reliable in tough situations. This is possible only if you are honest, transparent, and polite but firm in all your interactions with them. Open, clear and transparent communication is the most important thing when it comes to being a producer. Have a Thick Skin There are going to be more failures than success stories. This is the very nature of the creative world. Moreover, the media will magnify your failure. You may have a school friend who runs a steel factory. No one knows the financial status of his business including you. However, if your film flopped on the weekend, then, everyone will know that you had a failure. You should remember that you are doing something that interests everyone. The downside of it is that everyone has an opinion about it and will advise you on doing better. You need to learn to deal with failure such that you are not crippled by it.

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03 Training required to be a producer Find out about the various ways in which you can gain training and knowledge to become a producer, in this lesson.

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Training required to be a producer

Learning on the Job If you get the opportunity to be an intern in a production house or a production assistant on a film or the 6th Assistant Director, then, do it. This is because you can learn the most important lessons on ground zero. These lessons will be invaluable when it comes to a managerial and organizational role within a production company in later years. You may have to negotiate with the light man about the rate of equipment. You may need to learn as to what the DOP needs for a trolley or a crane shot. You have to learn as to how you can save up on money by ordering equipment on some days and not ordering on the others. These are just a few examples of the things that you going to learn on your job. The best way to get started really is to reach out to people that you know in the film business. Go ahead and take a job even if it is at the bottom of the production hierarchy. If you are able to demonstrate your ability in a few weeks, then, you are going to climb your way up pretty fast. Make good connections with the right people, irrespective of whether they are just an executive in a production house or a second assistant director on a film set. Tell them that you are willing to work at a nominal pay in return for the job experience.

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Training required to be a producer

Attend a Film School There are not many structured programs for production in film schools. Therefore, you need to make the best of the available options. You can take courses in direction, cinematography and editing to understand the filmmaking process. Learn to create short films, as they will be invaluable to understand the role of a producer. Take up an organisational on a production role when it comes to the making of the student films. These are roles which no one wants to play. Everyone wants to be the DOP, actors, and film directors. There may or may not be a specific course in production. Therefore, try to benefit from the courses that are offered at the film school. However, film schools tend to be expensive. If you have financial constraints, then the experience on a film set will be equally valuable. Produce Short Videos Today, you have the benefit of creating movies on mobile phones. There is no excuse regarding the equipment available to make short films. These films tend to be the training ground for technicians and they actually end with you being recognised for their work. Get a bunch of creative people on board, brainstorm ideas and create your own short films.

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04 Role in pre-production In this lesson, learn more about the concept of pre-production from a production point of view and the various processes that it entails

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Role in pre-production

Selecting a Great Script The first job of a producer is to select a great script. How can you find a great script? No writer is going to walk up to you with a great script. The script, therefore, has to be an idea developed by you or your team member. You, then, need to take the script to a writer and get it developed. The script is not finalised until you and your team are happy with the script. For instance, a girl in Siddharth’s creative team conceived the idea of “Dangal”. She was moved by the story of Phogat sisters. Siddharth loved the idea and asked Nitesh Tiwari whether he could write the script. Nitesh admired the idea and wrote a fabulous script. The idea that came from a junior production executive within the team led to a brilliant movie such as “Dangal”. Similarly, you can look for inspiration from newspaper articles, life experiences and so on. Fundraising for the Film The next task is to get financing for the film. Once you have a script, you can approach people to get the right financial backing. The financier can be a studio or an individual. After the funds for the movie are raised, you can go about seeking for a cast. You can also lock the lead cast and then go about raising your finances. In either case, the script has to speak for itself. Narrate the story to your financiers so that they can understand the film. You also give in your estimates of the budget of the film. If a financier agrees, then, get him on board or else find another financier.

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Role in pre-production

Getting the Cast An actor will agree to your film, provided he likes your script. Try to get a director on board before approaching the cast for the film. Siddharth took his idea to a writer-director and got the script ready. It was easy to narrate the story to Aamir Khan because the director of the movie was also the writer. When a writer narrates a story to an actor, he wants to understand the director’s point of view. In case your writer is not the director, then, ensure that the director shares his vision with the actor. Budgeting Estimate the budget of a film after your script is ready and your cast is locked.You need a great First Assistant Director to help you with the schedule and the estimated number of days required for the shoot. You will also need a line producer who will ensure the film is completed on time. The director is a crucial part of this process. Based on his creative brief, the first Assistant Director and the Line Producer will create the budget. Your estimated budget should be close to the actual budget. Build a healthy contingency and present that to your financer as the final budget of the film.

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Role in pre-production

Scheduling The scheduling process is usually in accord with the budget of the film. You will have an idea of the weather patterns, number of shooting days and a general idea for scheduling. You will have to incorporate the actor’s dates into your schedule. The actors may have certain considerations depending on their level of seniority and shooting preferences. You may have outdoor shoots within the country or overseas. You have to account for travel and build all those things into your schedule. In the end, you should have a locked in schedule in terms of number of days and months in which the shoot is going to take place. Choosing a Location Choosing a location is a crucial part of the filmmaking process. You will need a good location manager to assess each location of your shoot. He should do scouts or location recces on your behalf. Siddharth recommends everyone to try to move beyond the tried and tested locations. It is always great to display new locations in your movies as long as it is relevant to the script. Getting the Crew You need to get directors, DOP, writer, line producers, first assistant director, location manager and the ones who have a crucial role in the film. Then, you need to get the supporting cast, editors, architect, production designer and other key members of the crew on board. Ensure that everyone is working together on a timeline to be able to meet the shoot dates.

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05 Role in Production Learn more about the various tasks carried out by the production team and the different types of producers that exist in the industry in this next lesson.

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Role in Production

Type 1 Producer Producers have different ways of looking at the shooting process of a film. Some producers choose not to visit the set at all because they want the director to be the captain of the ship on the set. A Producer has Line Producers, Supervising Producers and Executive Producers working under him who report on a daily basis. They report on the schedule, budget and creatives of the film to a producer. Type 2 Producers The other type of producer is the one who prefers to be on the set every single day. You, as a producer, need to take a backseat in this process. You need to allow the director and the actors to make the movie in the way it was envisioned. As a producer, you are a facilitator who ensures that everything is happening as per the plan without interfering in the creative process. Tasks Performed by the Production Team One of the important tasks that a production team performs during the course of the shooting of the film is that everything happens on schedule and within budget.

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Role in Production

It also ensures that everything that was agreed on the script level is being executed on a creative level. The production team also raises any red flags with the producer in case things are not going as per the agenda. A producer should be able to intervene at the right time and communicate with the director in the best productive possible way. Creative people are often spontaneous and try to change things around the set. It may work well for a film but at times, it can turn out to be wrong. A line producer ensures that everything goes by clockwork. He ensures that the permissions that were taken are being fulfilled. He makes sure that the equipment that is ordered and the cast and crew reach the location on time. The line producer also works in close association with the first assistant director to ensure that the production and the direction departments are functioning seamlessly. Being a Problem Solver A producer has to be a problem solver in the wake of unanticipated events. The Workers’ Union can raise a problem for the workers can go up in arms for something that was said or done to them. There could be a problem at the desired location where the cast and crew may not be allowed entry despite all the necessary permissions. An actor may injure himself during the filmmaking process and you as a producer need to figure out the possibilities of reschedule to be able to solve the unforeseen situation. To be able to take action swiftly, you need a responsive team with great communication levels. You need to work with the director and other creative people to come up with innovative solutions to problems that arise.

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06 Role in Post-production Siddharth introduces you to the concept of post-production and the essential tips to remember while working with the director.

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Role in Post-production

Introduction to Post-Production Post- production process involves the technical aspect of the filmmaking process. The technical aspects include sound mixing, background scoring and VFX. There are numerous things involved in taking a script and converting it into a two to three-hour film. You as a producer need to ensure that the production and the direction teams are working closely with each other to be able to meet the timeline. You need to keep a close eye on the first cut of the movie. Understanding the First Cut of the Movie In this process, the director should be given an opportunity to present the first cut of the movie to the producer. The process can either be smooth as silk or rough from this point onwards. The producer may think differently about the final cut of the movie about duration, structure and other aspects. Do as many focus groups as possible with the cut of the film. This process gives the producer and the director opportunity to get real feedback from real people. You can gauge the reaction of people to the film and ensure that all the things that you strongly believe are being communicated properly in the film. Use this information to get the final cut of the movie in place.

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Role in Post-production

Working with the Director It is extremely important for you to stay calm and exhibit patience while dealing with someone like the director. You need to wear a more rational hat when it comes to the post-production process. This is because people who are involved creatively with the film content may not always able to see the bigger picture. At the same time, you need to understand and empathize with the director’s point of view. Sometimes, the director’s opinion may actually be the right one. There is no secret formula to be able to manage this process. However, it is crucial for a great final cut of the movie.

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07 Marketing of a film In this lesson, you will learn about the various innovative strategies to market your film

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Marketing of a film

Four Steps of Marketing The marketing and release of the film can be broken down into two or three aspects. From the time of the announcement, the film needs to be in a slow burn in the public imagination. The idea is to make the audience curious without revealing too much of the film and making it obvious to the audience. However, a couple of months before the release, the PR activities need to rave up. Find suitable pegs around the movie to be able to communicate it to the audience. Do not talk too much about aspects of the film that are only interesting to you. Figure out three or four themes that you want to communicate around the film and then focus on them. The second Marketing strategy should be the audio-visual promotion of the film. It includes the trailers, TV promos and the web promo that is created using the film footage. The third marketing strategy is paid advertising and it includes the print, outdoor promotions, city visits and so on. The fourth marketing strategy is the static publicity i.e. the creatives used to communicate the film to the audience.  All these processes need to happen simultaneously and you need a strong marketing and PR team of a few members to be able to ensure that it is carried out in its intended way.

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Marketing of a film

PR strategy for Rang De Basanti Rang De Basanti is a story of five boys. Siddharth took a conscious decision that at no point in time will Aamir Khan be alone on stage in all. He made sure that all the five actors are together on stage. Siddharth did not want to bring the relationship with the freedom fighters during the PR activities. He projected it as a film meant for the youth of India. The audience was left surprised when they found the correlation with the freedom movement of India. Three Crucial Factors Siddharth believes that there are three things crucial to the opening day of a film. It includes the trailer, the promo that runs on TV and the web and music of the movie. If you are able to get these three factors right along with obviously a great release date, then, half the battle in terms of marketing is already won. Everything else is just the noise and hype that helps you achieve your objective. If you get any of these wrong, then, unfortunately, the film will suffer. Therefore, put a lot of effort and hard work into your trailers. Trailer Making Process Show your movie trailers to people. Gauge their reactions and calibrate it to the best extent possible. In the trailer making process, the director briefs an agency about the message that is to be communicated. The producer gives his briefs and a final creative brief goes to the trailer-cutting agency. The agency, then, presents various options that are scrutinized before everyone agrees upon the final cut of the trailer.

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Marketing of a film

Picking a Release Date Picking a great release date and a distribution outfit to release the film. More than 250 Hindi movies are released every year. It implies that around 4-5 films are released every week. Therefore, it is very crucial to pick the right release date for your film. You need to be pragmatic about the type and scale of the film that you have created. This will help you determine whether you should try a standalone date or a holiday. If you are unable to fix a date, then, get a distributor on board to help you out with the release date. You need to study release dates for the next 6 months prior to release the film. You need to analyse the release dates of other films, the potential audience and the movies that are being targeted. Make sure that your film does not overlap with the other films on that day in terms of the audience. You may release your film on a day with three other releases. It will not harm your box-office collections, provided the audience is different in each. However, you may have a solo release on a Friday but your film may not sustain in the upcoming week in light of a big release. Therefore, you should be sensible and rational before finalising your release date.

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Marketing of a film

Film Distribution It is important to find a great, all-India movie distributor. India is a large country. If you have individual distributors in different states, then you will need a great understanding of different market. You will also need to do a lot of coordination. Instead, if you have one good all-India distributor, then, he is likely to help you distribute your movie extensively to your target audience. People sometimes believe that film distribution is about getting your movie viewed extensively in as many screens possible. For instance, “Barfi” was released on just 600 screens even though it was a huge Ranbir Kapoor - Priyanka Chopra film. Siddharth knew that the audience had to have an acquired taste for the film. He wanted to keep the occupancy levels high in every screening. He wanted people to have the collective experience of not being able to get tickets for the next show. If the movie were screened in a hall with just 20% occupancy, then, people would not have had the same collective experience of watching the movie. On the other hand, Siddharth wanted the film “Tiger Zinda Hai” to be available in every potential screen in the country. Therefore, the trick lies in understanding the nature of your film.

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Marketing of a film

Film Certification Process The film certification process has been maligned over the last few years. You do not have any option but to certify your film. This tends to become a sensitive process with filmmakers. You, as a producer, need to wear a pragmatic hat during the course of this process. If you have made a film that you believe will suffer because of the modifications recommended by the CBFC, then, you can appeal to a revising committee, followed by a tribunal and finally to a court. However, if you believe that the modifications suggested are not going to make any significant impact, then, you should make that compromise and get your release date. For Udta Punjab, the team was clear that the modifications recommended by CBFC would take away the authenticity and the realism of the film. Therefore, they went ahead and protested against the decision. The film was released with a few cuts. On the other hand, if you have a benign film that is not revolutionary in which you are asked to change a couple of things, then, Siddharth believes that compromise is a better solution than protesting against the decision.

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08 Revenue exploitation of the film In this lesson, discover the various aspects in which a film can garner its revenue.

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Revenue exploitation of the film

Introduction Today, there are various modes of revenue available to producers. Each stream of revenue needs to be mined in the best possible way to optimise your success around the film. You will have to stay within the budget when it comes to the cost of production as well as the marketing budget of your film. If both of these things are in check, then, you need to recover your investment and provide returns to whoever has invested into the movie. Theatrical Revenue You need to have a great distributor in place to be able to maximize the revenue and keep your film in theatres for as long as possible. Ensure that your marketing activities are going on throughout the run of your film in cinemas. If your film required an expenditure of Rs 100 (Rs 80 for production and Rs 20 for marketing), then, you need to earn Rs 120 to be able to generate a 20% return on Investment. 40-50% of Rs 120 will be generated from the Indian theatres and around 20% from the overseas. 10- 15% of the revenue can be generated from music and other rights.The remaining can be made from the satellite rights.

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Revenue exploitation of the film

If you are paying Rs 100 for a theatre ticket, then, around 30% of the ticket price goes in tax. The remaining amount is usually split equally or at a share of 45-55% between the exhibiter and the producer. Therefore, if you consider an even split between the producer and the exhibiter, then, the producer makes Rs 35 per ticket. If you look at a gross box office of 300 cross, then, a producer makes about 35% of that revenue. The producer has to find a great overseas distributor who can take the film to the 30 million South Asian countries around the world. Television & Digital Rights You need to be careful about your television and digital rights. Ensure that you give only the television rights to your broadcaster and not the digital rights. Keep the digital rights exclusive for digital platforms because it is a lucrative source of revenue. Other Rights The other rights include that of pre-sold music, airline rights for playing the film, shipping rights etc. You need to have a strong revenue expectation team to be able to ensure that you are optimising your revenue on all the different types of rights available.

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Revenue exploitation of the film

Movie-Based Approach The mode of revenue differs widely across movies. Some movies are theatre-oriented and generate most of the revenue through theatre collections. These movies may not be able to make enough money through satellite collections. Some movies do better on digital and satellite media and less in theatre. In the end, it all boils down to the type of film that you make. Role of a Producer The role of producer is crucial in the revenue exploitation because he has to drive that process. If you are working with a studio, then they will take up the role of revenue exploitation. However, you need to oversee the process and at least have a say if not the final call in this process.

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09 Is production a viable career option? In this final lesson, explore the scope of film production as a career option and some key tips to begin a career in this field.

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Is production a viable career option?

Settle down in Mumbai There is no structured way to get into Film and Television production in India.However, it is important to settle down in Mumbai. The city is the entertainment capital of the country. Mumbai has the highest number of production houses and is the hub for creativity in the audio-visual space. The city will give you the impetus and the added opportunities to become a producer. Having said that, it does not mean that you cannot become a producer if you are not based out of Mumbai. Getting an Internship at a Production House Since there are no structured courses in production, therefore, you need to try for an internship or an entry-level position within a production house or a studio. This will serve as the training ground for you to become a producer. Parents fund their children’s education when the latter wants to pursue a career. Similarly, parents should realize that the entry-level job or the internship that their children have in a production house is not enough to pay all their bills. They will require financial support from their parents during their early phase of their job. However, the children will learn valuable skills in this process that will help them become a producer in later years.

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Is production a viable career option?

Put a Timeline to the Learning Phase It is not easy to get an internship or a job even at entry level in a production house. It is difficult to grab the position of a 5th assistant director or a production assistant. Give yourself a definite period of time and work hard to be able to get a foot into a production house or a studio involved in making audio-visual content. Find out the key decision makers in these facilities, even if they are not at a senior position in the company. Try to get in touch with them through emails and call. Send out a copy of your resume and portfolio to them. Be clear in your message that you are not looking at it as a full-time job but as an opportunity to learn in this process. Since there are no structured hierarchy or rules for people at that level, therefore, you may have to multitask across multiple jobs and gain valuable experience on the set. Build Relationships You should try building relationships with the cast, writers, and directors. Try building a reputation of credibility, honesty, transparency and creativity. If you are able to maintain that reputation over a period, then, people will be keen on working with you. They will be interested in collaborating with you in any form of creative work and you can easily work your way up to become a producer.

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Is production a viable career option?

Is Production a viable career option? Despite the unstructured environment, Production is a very viable career option for anyone who enjoys people management, creativity, organizational skills, leadership and making movies. It will be difficult financially at the beginning of your career. However, once you build your credibility, you will be able to go places that no other field within the film sector gives you the opportunity to.Unfortunately, the success ratio is not great within this industry. However, if you are able to demonstrate that you have the creative and the commercial instincts to be a good producer, then the sky is the limit.

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