Film Finance:
Building a Basis for Independent Film

(1.5 hours California MCLE credit available; Food and drinks will be provided)

With Elsa Ramo Esq., Caroline Raufi, Esq., Stephen Zager, Esq., and Ali Jazayeri

Film finance is an important early step in the development of motion picture production, and often the most legally vexing. This comprehensive MCLE event explores the mysterious world of film finance law, including such topics as:

• corporate forms and/or determining entity formation of your entity that controls the motion picture
  
• financing via pre-sales
  
• handling debt
  
• negotiating tactics with financiers and other key players at the packaging/financing stage
  
• typical contract terms in finance agreements
  
• preparation of appropriate agreements, materials depending on type of financing sought (i.e. equity versus debt versus co-productions)
  

The event includes a handout with a distribution contract, forms related to independent film finance, independent film financing checklist and other materials and resources. 

Other topics include: 

• criteria for selecting a distributor
  
• what is negotiable and what is not
  
• compliance with state and federal laws when seeking investors; and 
  
• retaining an attorney or producer's representation
  

Join veteran finance and production attorneys in learning the complexities and the intricacies of this integral step in filmmaking.