The Core Master Course "Intensive"
PRODUCING/FUNDING/DISTRIBUTION

May 11-18 and as needed 19-25 May

Without reservation, I highly recommend this course. "
from a writer/director 2006 attendee from Los Angeles, California
more attendee comments click>>>.

The Film Program Cannes is a private professional
training program for filmmakers by filmmakers

Film Production, Funding, Distribution and Producing with an Understanding
and Use of the Contemporary Film Marketplace

Note: 3 new sessions added for the 6th Film Program Cannes Master sessions:
Film Business Plans, Basic Breakdown & Scheduling and Basic Budgeting.
These are full powerpoint presentations complete with handout materials.
Sessions reflect a growing importance of the complete film business plan that goes with any offering to investors.

Course Objective
The core course of the Cannes Intensive Workshop is intended to
provide a working understanding of the contemporary film market
with an emphasis on how the film producer or executive functions
in the market place to optimize the recoupment of funds invested
in a film. The strategies and mechanics of successfully bringing
films to the market place and negotiating and closing distribution
contracts lies at the core of the course. We will also explore how
an independent producer or film company executive utilizes the
market to secure financing for future projects or slates of films.
The emphasis of the course is on narrative feature films, which is
the dominant focus of the Cannes Market. Documentary and short
films are marketed in similar ways but primarily at different markets
that are focused on these genres.

Course Design
The course is primarily designed for beginning producers and film production executives with a
working knowledge of film production who intend in the future to either bring completed
films to market or utilize the market to secure financial commitment
for future projects.
The course content can also be extremely useful for writers and
directors in understanding how content and packaging
will impact upon the potential funding and financial return
for a film project. The course will meet for
intensive day long sessions prior to the opening of the market.
During these sessions the emphasis will be on the acquisition of
knowledge necessary to understand the workings of the market. After the festival and market begin the course will meet in the
morning to examine the news and trends that are actually
developing in the market. An examination of daily market news
published in the trades will keep serve to develop market skills.
Precipitants will be expected to engage the market by meeting
with sellers and buyers to better understand the process and the success and
failures in the market place.

Course Outline
The first part of the core course is divided in to five basic modules
that will be delivered prior to the opening of the festival. Once the
festival begins the emphasis will shift to what is actually occurring
in the marketplace as events unfold. Most producing courses
begin with the finding of material, however this course begins with an
examination of how films recoup investment. If one begins
with this understanding one is much more likely to have success.

The course is based on the philosophy that if one has a good
script, a good cast will follow. If one has a good script and a good
cast, then the financing will follow, if the project is appropriately
budgeted for the value offered with the script and cast.
It really is that simple, but.....finding a good script and attaching
a good cast turns out to be far more difficult than actually securing
the financing. That is the trick.

2008 Core course Director is Robert Nickson
of New York University & Stern School of Business Graduate Film School

Register NOW FOR the Master
Producing/Funding/Distribution Class