This book provides the in-depth information, exercises, and worksheets that will provide readers with the tools to become successful, enlightened filmmakers. Most novices are unaware of the ""business"" aspects of the film world or that producing Hollywood films will involve contracts, budget constraints, personnel, scheduling, legal issues, insurance, and safety regulations. Many first time filmmakers spend all their time on their ""creative endeavors"" and often forget to establish production management strategies or consider business ethics as integral parts of the process. In many cases the result is litigation or insurance problems that can lead to financial hardship and/or the inability to distribute the film. The book includes a companion CD-ROM containing the forms and documents covered in the text. Solutions to exercises and PowerPoint slides are available to instructors.

This much-anticipated text starts the discussion where indie-targeted how-to books typically leave off. That is, at the gates of a major studio. Here s an insider s look at all the details technical, business, and legal involved in movie making, on the lot or on location, when there s serious financing behind the project and some plan other than wishful thinking for distribution.
Wong, an entertainment insurance broker, outlines the business aspects of filmmaking for independent filmmakers and students. She explains the studio system, the roles of the production crew, establishing a deal memo, unions and guild associations, casting and actor contracts, tax incentives in various states, locations, equipment and props, production scheduling, budgets, accounting, using an entertainment attorney, insurance, and risk management. The DVD-ROM contains forms and documents. There is no bibliography.