As an indie filmmaker, you need an acute understanding of business operations, including commercial real estate, contracts, equipment, insurance, and financial planning. Squaring these logistics away first will ensure a smooth production throughout the entire timeline, from pre-production to post-production.
Ignoring these critical decisions can actually halt a production in its tracks, even shelving it completely. Moreover, legal and financial troubles can derail your original creative vision and affect your ability to secure distribution.
Commercial Real Estate Considerations
First, map out the workspaces you need to create an independent film. While you can certainly use your own home for some creative tasks, like writing, upgrading to commercial spaces will give you more room to realize a full-length feature film. You’ll need:
- A soundstage
- A production office (for administrative tasks)
- Crew meeting rooms
- An editing and sound mixing room
- A scene shop for props and sets
- Rehearsal spaces for actors
- Storage warehouses
The planning phase is the perfect time to research legal help for commercial real estate, since many contracts and negotiations are involved. For instance, if your production is located in Los Angeles, San Diego, New York City, or Austin, TX, learn how an Axiom real estate lawyer can help you navigate commercial leases, such as triple Net Leases (NNN) that require film production companies to pay:
- Base monthly rent
- Proportional shares of property taxes
- Building insurance
- Common area maintenance (CAM)
Commercial real estate lawyers can explain zoning and permitting considerations for film production spaces. These commercial spaces must be legally zoned for entertainment production. If you operate heavy equipment or store volatile materials, like paint or pyrotechnic supplies, without proper zoning, the city can shut down your production.
Lawyers also negotiate contract clauses that ensure buildings provide the electrical infrastructure and amperage capacity needed to power production sets. Lease terms also clarify who’s responsible for power installation costs.
Film production often requires modifications to commercial spaces, so lawyers negotiate clauses that define what those structural alterations are and whether the building must be restored to its original state after filming is complete.
Production Equipment
When buying production equipment, invest in products that are built to last. Weigh the cost benefits of leasing versus buying equipment and vice versa. Renting is another option, but always rent the latest production equipment and technologies.
Remember, you’ll need the following production equipment as a baseline:
- Main and secondary cameras
- Lighting
- Grip hardware
- Editing workstations
- Wireless systems
Protect your production assets with routine maintenance and post-production checks. If you’re filming across multiple locations, use barcode scanning to keep track of your equipment.
Insurance for Filmmakers
As a filmmaker, you don’t want a costly accident to drain your production budget. Insurance, like general liability coverage, is a necessary safety net that covers third-party injuries and property damage sustained on set.
You also need inland marine insurance to cover rented and owned production equipment from theft, damage, or loss on set and while being transported to other filming locations.
Workers’ compensation is a crucial insurance measure. You’re legally required to buy workers’ comp to cover the medical expenses and lost wages for crew members injured on the job.
Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance protects your production company from intellectual property lawsuits, copyright infringement, or the unauthorized use of names and likenesses in your films. It’s important to note that distributors will not release your film without active E&O coverage.
Special cast coverage is also available to protect productions from financial loss after a key actor or director pulls out of a project. This coverage is typically sold as an insurance rider.
Production Budgeting
Once you’ve clarified your production needs, you can design a budget to comfortably cover your expenses and leave a financial buffer for any costs.
You could also start with a working budget and strategize from there. However, the size of your budget can ultimately determine the scope of your creative vision. If you want to work with a microbudget, consider your capacity to cover above-the-line (ATL) and below-the-line (BTL) costs.
Create a Roadmap to Production
Be ready to shoot the moment you step on set. Clear all hurdles first to prevent production delays, including commercial real estate contracts, equipment investments, insurance, and production budgets.
Once your film is complete, start planning for the film festival circuit! Follow us to learn how to get your film in front of an audience.
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