How to Write a Business Plan for an Independent, Narrative, Feature Film : Case: "Get Up, Get Out”
Kutrzeba, Jan (2017)
Kutrzeba, Jan
Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu
2017
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2017060512430
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2017060512430
Tiivistelmä
The author of the thesis has worked in film industry in the United States in various positions since his graduation from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, New York, in 2012. Researching business planning in independent feature filmmaking was a natural extension to what the author already does in his professional life, and the commissioned work was a perfect match for the thesis.
The purpose of the thesis was to find out how to write a business plan for an independent feature film to be produced in the Unites States, and whether business planning in independent feature filmmaking in the United States was a common practice. The author took a deductive approach, using both QUAL and QUAN research methods, and used case study as his strategy. Data was primarily collected via conducting a survey that was sent out to 250 independent feature film producers based in the United States. Secondary data was collected from literature and online sources, as per the reference list.
Based on both the survey and secondary sources, the author concluded that business planning is crucial and widely used in independent feature filmmaking in the United States – especially when the main funding source is other than the filmmaker him/herself.
As a by-product, as commissioned by tinygiant (“the Commissioner”), the author has created a comprehensive business plan for the case film Get Up, Get Out. The business plan was written using leading industry literature and online sources as guidelines. The business plan will be used as a tool to attract investors to finance the film that has an estimated production cost (“negative cost”) of $1.5MM. The business plan will be classified, and not available to the public, as per the commissioner's request.
For further studies, the author recommends using a much larger focus group when conducting a questionnaire, as the response rate was only 4%. The author would find further studies on independent film profitability correlating with the quality of business planning very interesting and useful. However, these findings are out of the scope of this thesis.
The purpose of the thesis was to find out how to write a business plan for an independent feature film to be produced in the Unites States, and whether business planning in independent feature filmmaking in the United States was a common practice. The author took a deductive approach, using both QUAL and QUAN research methods, and used case study as his strategy. Data was primarily collected via conducting a survey that was sent out to 250 independent feature film producers based in the United States. Secondary data was collected from literature and online sources, as per the reference list.
Based on both the survey and secondary sources, the author concluded that business planning is crucial and widely used in independent feature filmmaking in the United States – especially when the main funding source is other than the filmmaker him/herself.
As a by-product, as commissioned by tinygiant (“the Commissioner”), the author has created a comprehensive business plan for the case film Get Up, Get Out. The business plan was written using leading industry literature and online sources as guidelines. The business plan will be used as a tool to attract investors to finance the film that has an estimated production cost (“negative cost”) of $1.5MM. The business plan will be classified, and not available to the public, as per the commissioner's request.
For further studies, the author recommends using a much larger focus group when conducting a questionnaire, as the response rate was only 4%. The author would find further studies on independent film profitability correlating with the quality of business planning very interesting and useful. However, these findings are out of the scope of this thesis.