Film Financing and Budget Forms

If you're a struggling filmmaker trying to make your movie on a shoestring budget, try the deferred compensation approach.

• This Deferred Compensation Agreement is between the producer, investors and other stakeholders in the motion picture.
• The Agreement outlines the cast, crew, budget, and production schedule of the film.
• The Agreement breaks down how revenues received by the producer from the film will be applied: first, to payment of outstanding payables, secondly to repaying the investors, and then to the other principal stakeholders.
• A Deferred Compensation Agreement allows you to reduce your upfront costs during production of the film by deferring payment until the film is generating revenues.

Raise the money you need to develop and shoot a feature-length documentary with this fully editable Documentary Film Business Plan template.

• The Plan can be used by either a start-up or an existing film production company.
• The purpose of the Plan is to entice private investors to fund the production costs.
• The Business Plan template includes:
  • production plan,
  • distribution plan,
  • financial plan setting out the use of the proceeds, income projections, and a set of assumptions on which the projections are based,
  • instructions to help you pull your Business Plan together, and
  • a Confidentiality Agreement to protect against disclosure of your proprietary information.
• Impress would-be investors for your next documentary film with a well thought-out Business Plan. Buy and download the template to get you started.

Would-be investors will need to see a well thought-out plan before they commit any money to your film project. Write yours with this fully editable Feature Film Business Plan template.

• The Plan includes:
  • a financial plan section, describing how the money will be raised for the project, how the funds will be used, and the assumptions on which the revenue model is based;
  • a summary of how revenues are disbursed;
  • a determination of ROI (return on investment);
  • potential income projections;
  • instructions to help you complete each section;
  • a Confidentiality Agreement to protect against disclosure of your proprietary information.
  • a disclaimer of liability regarding the accuracy and completeness of the financial information and projections contained in the Plan.
• Available in MS Word format.
• Buy and download the Feature Film Business Plan template and get started on your plan today.

Draw up a production budget summary for a feature film using this 39-page Excel spreadsheet which includes sections for:

• above the line expenses (story rights, producer, director, cast, travel and living expenses);
• production expenses (production staff, camera, set design, construction, striking, set operations, electrical, set dressing, props, special effects, mechanical effects, make-up, hair, wardrobe, locations, transportation, atmosphere, tests);
• post production expenses (picture editing, sound editing, lab, music);
• miscellaneous other expenses (overhead, insurance, publicity, etc).

The Feature Film Production Budget Summary will calculate your totals as you enter your figures. How easy is that? And the template can be re-used for future projects.

Deliver this Film Completion Agreement to the guarantor underwriting the completion and delivery of the film to secure financing for your motion picture.

• The guarantor has the right to recoup any secured sums from gross receipts of the film, subject to the prior rights of the financier under the Financing Agreement, and subject to any prior rights of the distributors, and the screen actor's guild.
• In return for payment of the guarantor's fee by the producer, the guarantor agrees to issue a completion guaranty to the financier.
• The template includes (i) a set of standard terms, (ii) warranties and representations of the producer, and (ii) provisions with respect to insurance that must be obtained by the producer.
• Available in MS Word format, customizable and reusable.
• This is a generic legal form which can be used in many jurisdictions.

A Film Completion Guaranty must be provided by the producer and guarantor as part of the financing process for most independent motion pictures. Use this downloadable template to prepare the document you need.

• The guarantor is guaranteeing completion and delivery of the film to the lender (financier).
• If the producer fails to complete and deliver the film in accordance with the terms, the guarantor will take over production.
• The guarantor is under no obligation under the Guaranty until the strike price (production financing) has been advanced.
• The guarantor is not responsible for obtaining any rating for the film, or to deliver any materials other than the delivery materials, or for the quality of the film itself.
• If the guarantor fails to complete and deliver the film, it will repay the financier in full for all sums advanced.
• The guarantor subordinates any claims it may have against the producer to the repayment of the financier and all of the financier's rights and security interests.
• The template includes a Notice Cure and Arbitration Agreement.
• Before you can get your funding, make sure your paperwork is in order, including this Film Completion Guaranty.

Issue a letter of credit for a loan to fund the production of a motion picture with this template Letter of Credit for Film Production.

• The Letter of Credit (LOC) sets out the procedure the filmmaker must follow to make a draw against the production loan funds.
• The LOC will be effective for a specified number of days following the commencement of principal photography, and may be renewed and extended for an additional period if required.
• The LOC is irrevocable.
• The form also includes a letter to be signed by the completion guarantors confirming delivery of the film and/or digital materials.
• Available in MS Word format. Fully customizable.

Are you financing a motion picture project? Make sure you get repaid - have the filmmakers sign this Film Production Promissory Note with Guarantee.

• If the producers default in repaying the loan, the entire amount of principal and interest secured by the Note will become immediately due.
• Interest on any overdue amounts will increase to a higher rate, or to the maximum legal rate (If higher).
• The guarantor executing the Note guarantees repayment of the full amount of the outstanding debt if the maker of the Note defaults.
• The Film Production Promissory Note with Guarantee is a fully editable film industry form which is easy to customize.

Before anyone lends you money to complete your film project, they're going to want to see a financial plan. Use this downloadable template to prepare yours.

The Financial Plan template discloses information about the film production, including:

• a summary of the script,
• an overview of the nature of the project, shooting schedule, post-production, and planned release dates;
• information about the producers, the distributors and international sales agent;
• a list of key creative personnel (director, screenwriter, editor, performers, composer, etc.);
• budget and financing information as of the date of the plan, listing sources of support and amounts or percentages.

You'll have to convince your potential investors that your project is a winner. This template Film Production Financial Plan can help you put together a winning proposal.

Indie filmmakers can hire an agent to help find funding for their motion picture projects with this Finder's Fee Agreement to Obtain Film Financing.

• The agent will use best efforts to introduce the producer to parties interested in investing in or lending money for the development of the motion picture project.
• The agent's services are limited to identifying prospective investors or lenders, and do not include negotiating or providing advice.
• If the producer enters into an agreement with any potential investor introduced by the agent within 2 years of the Agreement, the agent will be paid a finder's fee.
• The finder's fee is based on the amount of funds raised. The more funds raised, the higher the percentage paid to the agent as a finder's fee.
• If the agent obtains 90% or more of the total financing necessary, the agent will get an executive producer credit.
• The agent agrees not to offer or sell any securities in connection with the financing, including stocks, partnership units, etc.
• The producer agrees to keep confidential and not disclose any information it receives from the agent about any potential investor.
• The producer indemnifies and holds the agent harmless against any claims, damages, liabilities or loss.

As a filmmaker, you know how difficult it is to find investors. Buy the Finder's Fee Agreement template, sign up an agent and let the agent identify funding sources for you, so you can concentrate on making your movie.

Have you found an investor to put production money into your feature film? Put it in writing with this Motion Picture Investor Financing Agreement.

• The investment funds will be paid into an escrow fund, to be released to the production company only after certain conditions have been met, including execution of the film completion guaranty.
• The investor will be repaid its investment amount, plus interest, from net profits of the film's domestic theatrical release. The investor will also participate in the net profits over and above its investment, up to a specified percentage.
• The investor will have approval rights with respect to the budget, casting, producer, director, and distribution of the film.

A movie will never get off the ground if you don't have the money to make it. Download the Motion Picture Investor Financing Agreement for your contracts library.

Once filming's done, it's time to get rid of all the props, set dressing, furniture, equipment and other items bought or rented for the shoot. Use this Excel worksheet to prepare a Recoverable Asset Disposition Report for a movie or television production.

• details of each item purchased for the production;
• name of the supplier or vendor of each item;
• purchase price;
• method of disposition;
• amount recovered from sale or disposition of the item after shooting has wrapped.

Save time, money and aggravation with the ready-made Recoverable Asset Report spreadsheet.

This package contains budget and set-up sheets for a set decorating department on a movie or television production.

• You can use the budget form to track the projected and actual costs of purchases and rentals of set decoration for the duration of the shoot.
• The set-up sheet tracks the costs for each set and location.
• Available in MS Word format.
• Tracking costs is essential on every film shoot, especially those with very little cash. Keep the set decorating department budget on track with these downloadable templates.