Film Education & Development
An Executive Approach To Film Financing
Film StartUp
About
FILM STARTUP IS A 10 STEP FEATURE FILM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Who Is Film StartUp for?
Film StartUp is for narrative filmmakers with a feature-length screenplay or tv series that they would like to take into development and create a full package for investment opportunities.
Goals / Objectives
After watching all the instructor driven video content, filmmakers will be able to create an investor-ready package through the Development Executive led process for their feature-length film or tv series in Development.
The Film StartUp process is designed to be goal-oriented with the overall objective towards moving projects forward through a specific fine-tuned step-by-step process.
This includes attaching team members in the Development Stage such as the Line Producer, Entertainment Attorney (Production Counsel), Casting Director, Location Manager and Creative Director.
Ultimately the filmmaker should have an investor-ready package in place after going through all the different Development, Packaging & Financing modules presented throughout the website and educational videos
Film StartUp Team
-
Kevin Christoffersen - Developing
20+ years of media-based positions held on an international scale. Co-producing a multitude of mixed genre narrative feature films and a docudrama TV series overseeing the process from development into distribution. This includes packaging, financing structures, investment negotiations and project coordination throughout Pre-Production, Production and Post-Production. Current main initiative of launching a venture capital agency that focuses on the marketing, investment sourcing and deal structures of features, TV series and new tech platforms through different strategic partners.
-
Javier Gonzalez - Producing
Javier is a Mexican, Brooklyn-based, Emmy-winning Producer whose films have been selected for the Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, South by Southwest, New York, Rotterdam, TriBeCa, Fantastic Fest, Morelia, Glasgow, Stockholm, Los Angeles, Sitges and Los Cabos Film Festivals. Javier has spent the last fifteen years working in various production capacities throughout the American and Mexican film industries.
-
Dan Thorens - Directing
Self-made Canadian-Swiss Filmmaker, Screenwriter, Producer and Actor. CEO / Founder of CW1 Films & Swiss Made Films. Writer of 5 very different feature length films scripts, from personal inner journeys to fighting your way across the land of the 'un-dead'. Shot a host of shorts films and teasers for 2 of his feature films: BLOODTYPE and SWISS-MADE. Shot a humanitarian doc on a local Haitian street children association, which became the inspirational basis of BLOODTYPE. Majored in Psychology at the Geneva University. Fluent in French. Voilà !
-
Development Services
Development Executive
Development Executive introduces and engages filmmaker with each one of the respective personnel below coordinating the full process keeping each phase on schedule throughout the entire development stage.
Creative Director
The Creative Director graphically designs all content associated with marketing materials for the feature or series including a pitch deck, proof-of-concept teaser and website. See the following samples below:
For more work samples, view CW1 Films Visuals
Line Producer
With the screenplay finalized, the Line Producer will create multiple budget & shooting schedule versions after doing a script breakdown with designated filming locations established.
Talent / Casting Agency
Filmmaker will work with either the Casting or Talent Agency on identifying and auditioning lead and minor actors for select roles. The package will be sent to their specific agents and managers at CAA, UTA, WME, etc. Luis Canete Casting
Legal (Production) Counsel
An Entertainment Attorney is brought on board to register the feature film as LLC, formulate operating (production) agreement amongst managing members along with executing cast and crew contracts.
Tax Credit / Cash Rebate
A qualified CPA is instrumental in determining what the precise return will be according to the state county film commission office requirements. We’ll guide your production to take advantage of the highest and most expedited returns for securing loan financing.
A.I. Driven Analysis
Accelerate your filmmaking
with AI-powered insights!
From content analysis and financial forecasts to character & casting analysis and packaging tools, our platform is designed to empower traditional content creation workflows and help producers, distributors, and studios make smarter, more informed decisions. Don’t miss out – try our tools and see the difference they can make for the success of your content!
Testimonials
Don’t take our word for it.
Here’s what our students and clients have to say.
Our Partners
Since its founding in 1831, NYU has been an innovator in higher education, reaching out to an emerging middle class, embracing an urban identity and professional focus, and promoting a global vision that informs its 19 schools and colleges.
Today, that trailblazing spirit makes NYU one of the most prominent and respected research universities in the world, featuring top-ranked academic programs and accepting fewer than one-in-five undergraduates.
The Gotham celebrates and nurtures independent film and media creators, providing career-building resources, access to industry influencers, and pathways to wider recognition.
Brooklyn College is an innovative liberal arts institution with a history of more than 90 years of academic excellence. With more than 18,000 students enrolled in 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the humanities, social, behavioral and natural sciences, education, business and the arts, the college is renowned for its rigorous academics, diverse student body, award-winning faculty, and highly affordable tuition. Located on a beautifully landscaped 35-acre campus, Brooklyn College offers a rich student life within an urban environment.
The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival
The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival is a unique event that brings Brooklyn’s celebrated film and media makers together with their peers across the country and around the world. The award-winning AoBFF is a filmmaker-focused event, platform and showcase for exciting emerging creators and established voices. We partner with film distributors and media organizations, host world-class talkbacks, create innovative programming for networking and skill building, and screen in state-of-the-art theaters for enthusiastic audiences across Brooklyn.
Founded in 2009, Filmshop is a nonprofit collective of independent filmmakers committed to developing new work through peer support and collaboration. Chapters in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and New Orleans meet weekly to workshop projects, offer constructive critique, and incubate new ideas.
Filmshop’s Breakthrough Series showcases a curated selection of our members' films in an intimate setting with festival programmers, distributors, and executive producers. Facilitating discussions centered around development and distribution, Breakthrough provides a forum for filmmakers to explore the next stages of their careers.
Stage 32 is a US-based social network and educational site for creative professionals who work in film, television and theater. As of June 2015, the global web site had more than 400,000 members. Stage 32 links professionals in the entertainment industry including directors, writers, actors and entertainment staff.
Cineworks Independent Filmmakers Society is a non-profit Artist-Run Centre, supporting independent filmmakers, media artists and arts audiences through facilities and initiatives encompassing production, exhibition, consultation, outreach and advocacy.
Through programs that foster experimentation with motion-picture arts, in dialogue with their historic, current and future cultural contexts, we engage our membership and wider communities in the investigative, expressive and transformative powers of the moving image.
Only 2 hours away from NYC, Hunter Mountain is the perfect festival destination bringing in many industry representatives to make your selection to this festival an exciting premiere event. The insightful, thought-provoking films by these visionaries will be displayed throughout the three days, and awarded for the works of art that they are. Screening the best feature films, short films, web/new media, student films and music videos. A great way to network with other fellow indie filmmakers and industry representatives while attending panels, screenings, and parties.
ReadingFilmFEST was created by filmmakers for filmmakers and film lovers. We understand the importance of festivals in creating opportunities for filmmakers to meet their audiences, network with other professionals and promote their films. By supporting filmmakers, we’ve learned that our audience benefits by being able to engage in truly meaningful dialogue with the creators of film.
PRODUCE IOWA is the official state office of media production. Our mission is to promote and facilitate the media production industry in Iowa in order to build awareness and bring economic development to our state. Whatever your media platform, we hope you'll produce it right here in Iowa.
If you’re ready to build a meaningful and exhilarating career in music or film, LaSalle College Vancouver’s Audio and Film programs are the places to start. Our training provides students with the credentials and expertise to find work in these dynamic industries.
Hollywood Radio & Television Society (HRTS)
Since 1947, the Hollywood Radio & Television Society (HRTS) has been recognized as our industry’s premier information and networking forum. Led by a Board of Directors comprising TV, media, and entertainment’s most distinguished leaders and incorporating participation from the top companies across the landscape, HRTS maintains our 70-year tradition of providing an unparalleled forum for fostering conversation and community through regularly scheduled member events, a thriving mentorship program and other initiatives in Los Angeles, New York City and around the world.
Led by director-producer-screenwriter Dan Thorens, CW1 films is a US based specialized production company with strong working partnerships in Belgium, China, France, Canada and Switzerland. Working closely with Writers, Producers and Directors allows them to creatively foster quality narrative and documentary projects on an international scale.
Javier Gonzalez is a Mexican, Brooklyn-based, Emmy winning Producer whose films have been selected for the Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, South by Southwest, New York, Rotterdam, TriBeCa, Fantastic Fest, Morelia, Glasgow, Stockholm, Los Angeles, Sitges and Los Cabos Film Festivals. Javier has spent the last fifteen years working in various production capacities throughout the American and Mexican film industries. Javier is fluent in Spanish, English and German.
Champions inclusion in Film, TV, and Media by connecting underrepresented creators with influential networks, valuable resources, and career-changing opportunities to impact meaningful change in the industry.
From content analysis and financial forecasts to character & casting analysis and packaging tools, our platform is designed to empower traditional content creation workflows and help producers, distributors, and studios make smarter, more informed decisions. Don’t miss out – try our tools and see the difference they can make for the success of your content!
Course Topics
Feature Film Development
Film Financing
Film Packaging
Line Producing
International Financing
Marketing and Distribution
And more!
10 Step Process
Welcome
WHAT TO LEARN FROM THE 10 STEP PROCESS AHEAD
The 10 outlined Stages below serve as a Checklist Road Map Guide for Filmmakers to tick each box that they complete throughout the 3 Modules of Development, Packaging and Financing coinciding with all the learnings and Key Take-Aways coming out of the Webinars and Video Presentations. Some boxes will be ticked more immediately during early-stage Development, while others will take longer to achieve.
Real case study feature films series and documentaries are presented within the Packaging Module along with coinciding short form proof of concept videos, websites, sample budget, shooting schedule, look books/pitch decks and prospectus. The heart of this platform is to provide as many viable working templates as possible that can be used as a guide throughout your film's development process and beyond...
Project Implementation Stage
Use the Feature or Series you are currently developing as a Case Study.
Determine what Package Elements are missing per the Checklist below.
Identify Development Department Heads (Key Personnel).
Make sure each person is truly qualified and dedicated to executing the responsibilities of their respective role and not just there by name alone.
Favors from friends, bartering exchange and pro bono offerings ultimately end up damaging friendships and business relationships.
Be sure to have a Development Budget in place first before retaining any of the Development Department Heads. This is essential.
STEP 1
Appointing a Development Executive
The Development Executive is the most essential position that coordinates and facilitates the entire packaging process of your feature film project.
The role is initially defined to work with the Writer on finalizing the screenplay by providing their notes in the form of a script coverage report.
Quite often the Development Executive’s creative notes will work in conjunction with the Line Producer's script coverage notes that focus on budget and shooting schedule requirements.
The Development Executive remains engaged with filmmakers throughout the entire development stage and is responsible for coordinating all the below personnel keeping the packaging process on schedule.
Development Package Elements > Checklist:
❏ Script (coverage / re-writes / analysis)
❏ Line Producer: (budgets / shooting schedules)
❏ Locations Secured: Manager / Scout
❏ Presentations (look book / business plan / proof of concept video)
❏ Production Counsel / Entertainment Attorney (cast & crew contracts)
❏ Casting Director > Talent Attachments
❏ Investor Outreach > Private Equity Raise / Debt Financing (Loans)
❏ Tax Credit Return / Incentives / Subsidies
❏ Sales Agent (Pre-Sales Estimates / Minimum Guarantee)
❏ Domestic and Foreign Distribution
STEP 2
Finalizing Your Script > Introduce Your Project > Script Coverage
The Development Executive will provide script coverage notes that are used towards finalizing the final draft of the screenplay so the development (packaging) stage can begin.
Professional coverage of your Final Draft script is essential to implement notes into the Final version to officially move into the Development stage. Coverage notes should be creative, production and editorial oriented.
We recommend up to 6 different objective script coverage reports from multiple sources including Stage 32, The Black List, Jill Chamberlain and Slated in addition to other development and acquisitions personnel at respective production companies.
STEP 3
Casting > Attaching Talent > Casting Director
❏ Casting process led by Casting Director
❏ Making a cast wish lists (top 5 actors per role)
❏ Sends package to Agents and Managers at CAA, UTA, WME, etc.
❏ Outreach strategy to actor’s representation: agents / managers
❏ Official Offer sent at Scale / Double Scale / Schedule F rates
Casting Agency - Caroline Sinclair
STEP 4
Location Manager - Scouting
Location Scout or Manager assigned to secure locations and determine property rental fees, availability and logistics of filming specific scenes in each location. The key factor here is also to consolidate as many locations with a closest radius as possible to limit the amount of company moves to reduce shooting days.
STEP 5
Shooting Schedule & Budgeting
❏ One Hour Line Producer consultation
❏ Production script notes breakdown
❏ Accurate Budget & Shooting Schedule created
❏ Identifying scenes via Location Manager / Scouting
❏ Adherence to all SAG Rules
Line Producer or First Assistant Director creates realistic budget & shooting schedule using SAG-AFTRA Tier Guidelines.
SAG-AFTRA
Ultra-Low Budget Project Agreement (“UPA”)
Maximum budget of $300,000 or less
Moderate Low Budget Project Agreement (“MPA”)
A total budget of less than $700,000
Qualifying for the Diversity-in-Casting Incentive increases total production cost maximum to $950,000
Low Budget Agreement
Total budget of less than $2,000,000
Qualifying for the Diversity-in-Casting Incentive increases total production cost maximum to $3,000,000
Source: https://www.sagaftra.org/production-center/contract/819/getting-startedSample Budget: https://adobe.ly/2uuKO5ASample Shooting Schedule: http://adobe.ly/2bGhdNWLine Producer Javier Gonzalez (Line Producer) - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327696/
STEP 6
Film Financing Overview
Establishment of Investor Kit
Private Equity / Debt / Tax Credits / Minimum Guarantee (Pre-Sales)
Financing Components:
❏ Private Equity
❏ Debt (Bridge / Gap Loans)
❏ Pre-Sales (Minimum Guarantee via Sales Agent / Distributor)
❏ Tax Credit (Loan Against State % Return)
❏ Donation based funding (tax write-off purposes)
❏ Film Fund Project Submission (Slate Financing)
❏ Crowdfunding
Analysis
STEP 7
Marketing Materials Overview
Graphic Designer / Creative Director
Creates Look-Book (Pitch Deck) / Business Plan / Proof Of Concept Video (Marketing Materials).
The POC video is optional and would require a separate team - unless internal resources are available.
❏ Look Book (Pitch Deck)
❏ Proof of Concept: Short Pre-Teaser / Trailer
❏ Developing Visual Prospectus (Investor Presentation)
STEP 8
Further Shaping Your Team
❏ Assemble your Co-Producing team
❏ Determine collaborative working experience you want to create
❏ Production Department Heads
STEP 9
Legal: Production Counsel (Business Affairs)
❏ Register your film as an LLC via Legal (Production) Counsel
❏ Formulating operating agreement & contracts with cast and crew
❏ Hiring an Entertainment Attorney or Business Affairs
Entertainment Attorney (Production) Legal Counsel
● Andrew Barcello -https://creativlaw.com/andrew-barcello/
STEP 10
Presenting Your Work
❏ Presenting your projects for the investor meetings
❏ Final preparations for pitches
❏ Two-Sheet (derived from LookBook) + Top-Line Budget Sheet
Contact
kevin@filmstartup.net