It’s not just filmmakers who need to understand the business. Investors do too. Here are a few words of advice on the film industry for new investors from an executive producer.

It’s hard to raise funding for a film, and the contracts get confusing quickly. Here’s a glossary to help you understand the mountain of paperwork you’ll need to sign to get your film financed. This blog doesn’t mean you don’t still need a lawyer (I’m not one, and this isn’t legal advice), but it will help you understand the paperwork you’re sent.

I’m not a lawyer, but I know contracts can be dense, confusing, and full of highly specific terms of art. With that in mind, here’s a glossary of Art. Here’s a glossary to help you out.

There are a lot of terms of art in film distribution. Here’s a primer.

If you want the best distribution deal for your independent film, you have to negotiate. Here’s a guide to get you started.

If you want to raise money from investors to make your independent film, you’ll need rock-solid financials. Here’s how you write that section of your business plan.

Investing is always risky. Investing in Film is moreso. If you’re raising money, you need to make sure your investors know this.

Financing a film is hard. It might be easier if you break it up into more manageable raises. Here’s an outline on that process.

Film Distribution is a business of buying and selling intangible rights to films and media. This requires a lot of legal paperwork. Here’s a guide.

If you want to make a film, you should really start a company (entity) to do it through. Here’s one Executive Producer’s take on how structuring them.

I’m not a lawyer, but even I know contracts are complicated. Here’s a breakdown of the major elements of an indie film sales or distribution agreement.