I break the phases of filmmaking into six distinct areas: The Idea; Development; Pre-Production; Production; Post Production; and Distribution. Most new filmmakers spend most of the research and education in the production phases. But the biggest hurdles are in the two “D’s”– Development and Distribution. Development is where you raise the money and build the right team. Distribution is where you make money to pay back the investors and enough for you to keep going. These two areas are woefully lacking. That’s why I started teaching the Greenlight seminar several years ago. Often people have a story they want made into a movie and they either write the screenplay or commission the writing of the screenplay. Then it’s an upward climb to get the script sold to a production company. Then it’s an uphill battle for the production company to…
