This fall, we're offering two different series of three classes each for producers, independent filmmakers, and content creators - The Producing Track and The Budgeting Track.

Interested in understanding the job of a Producer? Looking to raise funds for a project or manage yours effectively and efficiently? Producing, production managing, or working as a 1st AD on an indie short, feature, or series? 

These two series of workshops will cover the basics - what does a producer do, crew positions, definitions, responsibilities, and hierarchy, what is development, what it entails, and why it’s the most important part of the process, how to breakdown, schedule, and budget your movie, what should be included in a business proposal and why. We’ll discuss the basics from concept to completion to give you a leg up on your next project. If you don’t have a current project to workshop in the Budgeting Track, one will be provided. 

It is highly recommended that you take all three classes in each series, and taking both series will greatly expand your knowledge of the business of production. Each class lays the foundation for the next. 

For example, you can’t schedule your movie without a breakdown and you can’t budget your movie without a schedule. And if you don’t understand the role of a producer and the development process, it’s highly unlikely that you will craft a business proposal with the elements needed to raise the funds for your project or ultimately get distribution that is favorable to investor ROI.

The Producing Track

Producing 101 (September 16, 2017) 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Whether you’re looking to make a no/low budget feature, raise money to get your film made, or just want a solid overview of what producers do, this class is for you. We discuss production - from development to distribution. The basics of pre-production, production, and post will be explored for both the novice and the more experienced looking to gain knowledge to advance their career. This workshop will leave you with a basic understanding of the process, allowing you to build upon that knowledge as we move from development and business proposals to break downs, scheduling, and budgeting your next project.

Location: The Lovett School (4075 Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30327)

Producing 101 - $65 NON-MEMBERS / $50 GPP - ATLFS MEMBERS

Development 102  (October 14, 2017) 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Development is more than just rewrites. Development is the stage between idea and execution - execution beginning in pre-production. While it does include developing your idea, fleshing out your characters, and the inevitable rewrites, it’s also the stage when you determine who your audience is, how to reach that audience, the best casting choices for the genre/audience, who distributes or broadcasts these types of shows, how to get them on board or “invested” in your idea, what a marketing campaign or lookbook should look like, what can the market bear from a budget standpoint, how to build an audience before you begin filming, is a film market or festival strategy best, among other things. Proper development can make or break your chances of raising funds, finding a recognizable cast, getting the best crew and equipment necessary, and finding distribution. Proper development is crucial to success.

Location: The Lovett School (4075 Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30327)

Development 102 - $100 NON-MEMBERS / $80 GPP - ATLFS MEMBERS

Business Proposal 103 (December 2, 2017) 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Business Proposals are essentially business contracts with your investors, and must be treated and crafted accordingly. While they do not take the place of a contract, they outline the plan you as a filmmaker have for the production as well as the sale of your movie - the ROI, or return on investment, that your financier will expect. This class will walk you through the basic content necessary to create a proper plan for your film from team bios and your dream cast to your top sheet budget and distribution plan. We take what you’ve researched from the development process and created from the breakdown, schedule and budgeting process, to start crafting a solid business plan complete with risks and how you plan to mitigate them. This workshop will show you what is needed and how to avoid fraudulent claims and misrepresentations so commonly found in business plans.

Location: The Lovett School (4075 Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30327)

Business Proposal 103 - $150 NON-MEMBERS / $120 GPP - ATLFS MEMBERS

TAKE ALL 3 FOR $300 NON-MEMBERS  / $220 GPP - ATLFS MEMBERS

The Budgeting Track

Breaking Down a Script 201 (September 16, 2017) 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Paying someone to breakdown your script elements properly can be very expensive. Using the tagging function in Final Draft and importing it without doing the actual breakdown work keeps you from an intimate understanding of the work at hand. Plus it never captures everything your breakdown needs, doesn’t allow for finding all the mistakes in script continuity, nor seeing the holes in your story as you dig deeper into the minutia. If you want to be a good producer, assistant director, or production manager, it all starts with understanding this process.

In order to eventually schedule and properly budget your film, you need to break down each scene in your script by its elements. From actors and extras to sets and wardrobe to blood FX and lighting gags, anything and everything you will need on set must be accounted for. This class will teach you how to breakdown a script by hand. No expensive programs or laptops needed. I’ll bring the breakdown sheets, you bring the pens and paper for notes. Those with software programs are more than welcome to bring their laptops. You can work on your own script or one will be provided.

Location: The Lovett School (4075 Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30327)

Breaking Down a Script 201 - $150 NON-MEMBERS / $120 GPP - ATLFS MEMBERS

Scheduling a Script 202 (October 14, 2017)  1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Once your film has been properly broken down, you can create a rough schedule to help determine how long your film will take to shoot, how long you’ll need to book actors and crew, rent equipment, materials, and services, how many locations you’ll need to find, etc. Attendees from the Breaking Down a Script class will take their breakdowns and learn to schedule efficiently, as well as effectively. There are many ways to schedule a project, and they all depend on a number of variables. You’ll learn what to look for and how to create a solid schedule from which to budget.

Once again, no computer software is necessary. You bring your breakdown from the previous class, a straight edge ruler, sharpened pencils, an eraser, scissors or a box cutter, and a sheet of white poster board. That is all you’ll need to successfully translate your breakdown into a schedule for your film. Doing this by hand is no more labor intensive than learning to use and input the same information into MovieMagic or Gorilla software. It’s all the same process and the foundation you’ll need for using any software program. Those with laptops and software programs are welcome to bring them. You can work on your own script or one will be provided.

Scheduling a Script 202 - $150 NON-MEMBERS / $120 GPP - ATLFS MEMBERS

Location: TBA

Budgeting a Script 203 (December 2, 2017)  1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Budgeting isn’t a formula. Each project is different, but some basics do apply. You start with a complete breakdown and a rough schedule. Without doing that work, you can’t properly estimate the cost of your production. How long will it take to prep, shoot, and wrap? How many days will you need the actors and extras? How many days do you need at each location? How many wardrobe changes per actor plus duplicates will you need? What about props and set dressing rentals? All these budgeting questions and more will be covered in this class.

Again, no budgeting program is needed. A sample blank budget will be provided to discuss the line by line needs of a typical indie production. Using the day out of days and element reports generated from movie magic software examples, this class will show you how to use information generated during breakdown and scheduling to help you craft the right budget for your project. Those with laptops and budgeting software may once again bring them. 

Location: The Lovett School (4075 Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30327)

Budgeting a Script  203 - $150 NON-MEMBERS / $120 GPP - ATLFS MEMBERS

TAKE ALL 3 FOR $ $435 NON-MEMBERS / $330 GPP - ATLFS MEMBERS