May 2008

This week was the first of two weeks on the business of production – basically meaning the legal aspects. These four sessions will all be taken by the course tutor Carlo whose background as a media lawyer with Davenport Lyons makes him very well equipped to tutor us on the often complex film legals. The first session focused on development and pre-production, looking at finance as well as basic agreements for writers, directors, actors, producers and HOD’s as well as option agreements for the script or underlying material, such as a novel. This was particularly useful for me in terms of my project which is a novel adaptation. The second session covered the basics of working freelance and how to set up a an independent production company, including choosing a name, registering with companies house, managing payroll and annual accounts and all the legal paperwork required to set up the company. We then discussed the role of PACT, equity and SAG as the unions in the UK and USA for talent and the regulations they impose on their clients as well as those hiring them. Whilst not the most riveting sessions in terms of content, this knowledge is indispensable for any would be producer, it may just be better if these heavy sessions were divided up throughout the course rather than coming all at once as it is fairly intense and dry to have them all so closely together.

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Gabriel Tupinamba

(One-Year Practical Filmmaking) has seen great success this year with both films he made on his course. And The Colours... appeared at the Cannes Short Film Corner and both shorts have been screened at other festivals including the Digital Festival in Florence, Evil City in New York, and Sapporo Film Market in Tokyo.