J Todd Harris’ Post

The World Series is over (with the trophy in the right hands), college football is a snooze this year and there's not a heck of a lot left to be done about the election, so.... LAST CALL for this seminar diving into the fundamentals of independent film financing/production in the modern era from someone who's done it around 50 times. It's interesting to see the number of deeply experienced folks joining us - producers, managers, directors, and writers with many films to their credit. And several much newer filmmakers. The bottom line is that the smallest fraction of films are financed by studios and streamers; likely 95% of films are financed privately. I've done it with one investor and 100 investors. I've also done with a few donors or over 100 donors. And with tax credits, pre-sales, and debt. Credibility for your project - every step of the way - is key. How can you achieve credibility? How do you present it? To whom do you present it? And in what order do the pieces align? Join me or send your producer-oriented friends to join me Saturday - live or virtually - at UCLA. Yes, links will be available to the seminar afterward, but who doesn't like it live? https://lnkd.in/g-n7HSr3

Don't miss out on the 2024 Film Finance & Distribution Seminars - learn the insider secrets they don't teach you at Film School! Access funding, grants, and tax incentives before it's too late. Link in bio for more details and to get tickets. #FilmFinance #Distribution #HollywoodAccounting #Seminar #GetTicketsNow

There are a few leading types of #decorativewindowfilm to consider, and it's worthwhile to take the time to get the best one for your needs. ⌚ Here are three materials for films worth checking out.

This quote tells the truth about the exquisite tension between indie film funding models vs project duration. It informed my Harvard Shorenstein research, key takeaway #2: "The project by project funding model undermines long-term financial stability and drives burnout." For most producers, the project-funding model is untenable and creates fieldwide unsustainability. Thank you to uber-talented producer Jameka Autry for participating in my research. For more, watch 5 Key Takeaways here: https://lnkd.in/e-KKN5z2 #independentfilm #burnout #producing #funding #businessmodels

To the Film Community: I’ve noticed a growing trend that’s worth discussing. Why are producers often asking for significant upfront payments—anywhere from $100 to $1,500 per hour for advice or assistance—without even reviewing the project first? Some even require hefty retainers without showing any measurable progress. Has anyone else experienced this? How do we, as filmmakers, navigate this dynamic without risking exploitation? I’d love to hear your thoughts and solutions. Let’s discuss and help each other.

Today on my Youtube channel I am going over 7 key steps of story structure that you can use to bring your documentary films or narrative projects to the next level. Full video: https://lnkd.in/gUgrfRca

To those interested in short film >>>

Many many people talk about the difficulty in getting / understanding finance for features and feature docs. It's a 4 day online workshop with some very good speakers. It's £ 85 but you have to invest in yourself if you want to grow. And in terms of credibility - it doesn't get much better than Film London. See you there? ⏰ Our #shorts2features Networking is the day after. We can have drinks together after :) and discuss any thoughts... 🌍💡🎬🚀

Film 101: The New Rules for Distribution - mid-2024 edition- ten new rules and the state of the market, all of which could change by the time you read this, of course. New newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eF6eheT5

Here's a very good overview of the current film production situation in the UK. It mirrors my own thoughts, i.e. the 40% tax credit may well attract inward investment via international productions, but it probably won't do a lot to allay the concerns of UK investors considering UK productions. In other words, yes the 40% is great in terms of mitigating an investor's risk, but bizarrely investors actually care more about profit. Whilst the 40% tax credit is very welcome, it doesn't solve the problem of reduced revenues streams, which in turn leads to a lack of profit, which in turn ultimately leads to investor-apathy. So in summing up, the 40% may well be an asset to the the finance plan, but it probably isn't going to be the golden bullet that many UK producers hope it will be. https://lnkd.in/e2ri3iNZ