The following list covers the essential elements of planning and producing a movie or television series. Most of these elements should be clear for the filmmaker; investors might want to know more details about them.
Before the start
Understand the whole process
Have clear and defined goals
Know the resources needed for your objectives
Conceptualization
Define the project: central concept, story, characters, narrative and visual style
Establish the principal message
Check the viability of the project
Financially: how much will you be able to raise and how much do you propose the project will need?
Artistically: the elements you propose are compatible with the resources – high salaries for talents, use of famous music and expensive locations, costly postproduction
Legally: contracts, IP clearances, union and labor laws compliance, other legislation, etc.
Business model definition
Value proposition and purpose
Market segment and target audience
Sources of revenue
Identify sources of financing
Prepare financing proposals
Budget
Distribution channels
Marketing and promotion strategies
Plan and budget
Set out the key milestones of your planning
Create a cash flow chart in case the resources are not available immediately
Review as much as necessary
Establish a production schedule and agree it with the team
Assign dates to each stage of the development and production
Produce the final budget and adjust the planning according to the budget
Legal and administrative matters
Select and manage confidential information related to the project
Produce a copyright record for everything created in the project
Evaluate applicable insurances for the project and ensure these costs are reflected in the budget
Draw up the necessary legal documentation
Consult a legal professional as early as possible in project development
Undertake IP clearance good practices from the start
Identify and mitigate existing risks
Ensure the chain-of-title
Confirmation of the crew
Define roles and responsibilities
Select your creative and technical teams for their written formal engagement
Conclude contracts and legal agreements including IP clauses from the creative crew
Production design
Review or finalize your script. Ensure IP clearance in the last version
Develop your storyboard
Ensure that any changes in the script or storyboard are reflected in the schedule, budget, planning, etc.
Produce sketches and art design
Plan the visual effects and graphics
Consider promotional materials
Locations and permits
Select locations
Be aware of the time and money constraints of the project
Explore research permits and regulations
Obtain filming permits
Casting and talent selection
Conduct auditions and screen tests
Select the cast and other talent
Negotiate the contracts
Develop promotional materials
Create a marketing plan, e.g., contacts, partner institutions, screenings, etc.
Design promotional materials, e.g., posters, trailers, website, etc.
Produce a launch and distribution strategy
Pitching checklist
Preparation
How long is your pitch?
Who is the audience?
What is the main point of your project?
Content
Solid narrative
Trailer, sample reels or content sample
Essential facts and figures
Talented crew
Plan, business model and budget
Distribution and marketing
Possible annexes (depending on the needs and circumstances)
Deal memo
Business plan
Detailed budget
Pitch deck
No grammatical errors or mistakes
Choice of visual identity in line with the project (images, palette of colors, etc.)
When convenient include real elements from the project (trailer, scenes, script, storyboard, scene locations, real photos of characters in case of biopic, documentary, etc.)
Talents contractually engaged or proposed for the project
Work on your logline
Think about the order of the content of your pitch (genre, the setting, the logline, the synopsis, the director’s vision, introducing the main characters, outlining the conflict and an idea of the resolution)
Have the pitch ready on your laptop, tablet, phone and some copies if useful