Practical Seminar: Film Finance – How much money for how much film?
Juliane Thevissen, Claudia Droste-Deselaers, Jutta Krug
As soon as her film has been conceived, whether as a fiction feature or as a documentary, the film-maker is confronted with the question of how to finance the project. But what importance does the film have for the market? How does one acquire business partners in the first place? How credible or fail-safe is the concept? Have the calculations taken everything into account? And are the figures sustainable?
Anyone wishing to attract voluntary investors should be prepared to observe a few rules and meet some expectations. A clear and well-developed strategy upfront will therefore answer most of the questions that potential sponsors and/or investors are likely to ask. And that is why this two-day seminar sets out to give a tangible and practice-oriented look into the methodology and structure behind a persuasive and sustainable strategy.
On the first seminar day, Juliane Thevissen will provide an overview of finance basics, point to some financing possibilities and give participants an idea of methods and assessment criteria. She will be analysing the role of cooperation partners, sponsors and broadcasters as well as discussing the procedures and requirements that different investors tend to insist on.
On the second day, Claudia Droste-Deselaers and Jutta Krug will process the participants‘ firm project concepts and discuss with them related possibilities, conditions and expectations as well as definite no-go areas. In addition, the two instructors will be clarifying specific matters as to film subsidies and broadcaster support. Last but not least, they will be pleased to answer any specific questions. During the deliberations, Juliane Thevissen will support and advise the participants and take the part of the film producer!
Juliane Thevissen
Juliane Thevissen started her career in film in Berlin at the beginning of the 1990s. Since then, she has been involved as production manager on various TV movies and international cinema films – such as Dear Wendy, Bears Kiss and Lammbock. Following many years of work as producer and managing partner at Rhein Film, in 2010 she set up her own company: thevissen filmproduktion. She enjoyed wide success with the world première of her cinema movie Zarte Parasiten (Tender Parasites) at the Venice Film Festival in 2009. The film went on to be screened at many major festivals. Further feature films, made-for-TV movies and documentaries are currently under development.
Films by Juliane Thevissen (Selection)
Rockabilly Ruhrpott 2010 | Zarte Parasiten 2010 | Weihnachten im Morgenland 2010 | Vater Liebe 2008 | Der Butler und die Prinzessin 2007 | Dear Wendy 2005 | Zwei Millionen suchen einen Vater 2005 | Der Zehnte Sommer 2003 | Bears Kiss 2002 | Lammbock 2001
Claudia Droste-Deselaers
After graduating from the University of Television and Film in Munich, Claudia Droste-Deselaers gathered a wealth of experience in the film distribution sector at Columbia TriStar-Filmverleih. As the winner of the Next Generation Prize for Young Producers awarded by the GWFF, a German association dedicated to safeguarding film and TV rights, she went to the USA in 1993 where she worked for Fox Studios Inc. and HPO Independent Productions. After her return to Germany, Ms Droste-Deselaers was first employed as programme editor, then as departmental manager i/c coordination and finally as office manager for the Director of Programmes at RTL. From 1999 to 2010, she was authorised signatory and finally Deputy CEO at the NRW Film Foundation where she was in charge of the project funding section. In 2009, she was enrolled as a member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in New York.
Jutta Krug
Jutta Krug ist seit Februar 2005 beim Westdeutschen Rundfunk (WDR) für den langen Dokumentarfilm zuständig. Als Redakteurin und Reporterin war sie ab dem Gründungsjahr 1992 in Straßburg für ARTE tätig. Im Jahr 2000 wechselte sie nach Köln in die ARTE-Redaktion des WDR, wo sie Themenabende und diverse dokumentarische Formate entwickelte. Dokumentarfilme aus ihrer Redaktion wurden vielfach ausgezeichnet und sind regelmäßig auf allen großen Festivals vertreten, zum Beispiel Heimweh nach den Sternen von Patricio Guzmán, Nobody‘s Pefect von Niko von Glasow und Kinshasa Symphony von Claus Wischmann.
Filme von Jutta Krug (Auswahl)
Chandai und ihr Elefant 2010 | Auf Teufel komm raus 2010 | Nostalgia de la luz – Heimweh nach den Sternen 2010 | Kinshasa Symphony 2010 | Seelenvögel 2009 | Verlorene Zeit 2008 | Die besten Frauen der Welt 2008 | Der lange Weg ans Licht 2007 | Ich will dich – Begegnungen mit Hilde Domin 2007 | Höllentour 2004
