Development

The time when an idea is fleshed out into a structured story and to prepare it for pitching and fund raising.

Producing / Directing

Producers control or contribute to the business side of film making. The Producer initiates, supervises, and co-ordinates several factors of the production including scheduling, cast and crew, financial matters, and distribution. The Director is in charge of the creative aspects of the film such as artistic or dramatic structure, guiding the actors, and overseeing some of the technical details of the film.

Most of the time the Director is involved in the 3 main production phases (Pre Production, Production, and Post Production) while the Producer is typically at work through all stages of the film’s life. Many filmmakers want to be able to focus on the creative side of their film and not worry about the technical or management details while others prefer the business end and would rather hire a director to oversee the creative aspects.

Whether you need selective assistance in managing your film or are looking for someone to oversee the overall production, Fade 2 Black Productions’ staff will dedicate themselves to keeping your project on track.

Step Outlines / Treatment/Scripts

Ok, so you have a great story idea. Now what? Before you sit down at the keyboard and start pounding away at what is going to be an award winning script, you need to know the plot of your film. It is important to realize the difference between story and plot. Story is WHAT your film is about while Plot is HOW you tell it. Before you write your script you need to be able to define the plot points and the beats of your story.

A good way to look at your film is to see it as a living creature. First you define your skeleton (plot) and once you have a good supportive structure you start to add your organs and nervous system (story). Your film should have a pulse, energy and a life of its own.

To do this you create a step outline, which is anatomical look at your story and lists out all of the important story beats and plot points that your film will include. Once you have that defined, you then develop a treatment, which is a condensed version of your screenplay-to-be in paragraph form.

If you have an idea and are struggling to write a script that you are satisfied with, we can help you analyze it from an objective point of view and together flesh it out into a solid, well structured screenplay. If you already have a draft(s) of your script and would like an objective review or touch ups, our team will be happy to work with you. Please keep in mind that in order to submit a script to us it must be registered with the Writer’s Guild of America. Registration is easy and costs very little and you can find more information about that here.

Business Planning / Funding / Budgeting

The most difficult, tedious, and grueling part of putting a film together is often finding the production money to make it happen. Obtaining that elusive, magic check will involve clawing and scraping in the best of cases so the trick is to be as prepared as possible. Sure, you may know someone who knows someone who has a rich Uncle who will SURELY invest in your movie, but before you approach them with “I have an idea”, you need to keep a couple of things in mind:

First, anyone can have an idea. They are a dime a dozen, and chances are someone has already thought of your brilliant story before. Your idea needs to be well crafted into a solid story and with strong characters that the audience can connect with. Few investors will give money to a “great idea” alone, so make sure it’s presentable.

Once you have a good script that you are happy with, you need to have a plan. Showing them a script and saying I need X amount of dollars isn’t going to work. Investors will want to see a breakdown of how the money will be spent, along with a detailed production schedule followed by a realistic game plan (distribution, sales, festivals, etc). A well written business plan contains this information and is expected by film investors.

Finally keep in mind when you are asking for money, that most people who have it usually can spot good investments. You’re not going to be able to splash a few ideas on a notepad and expect them to hand over a blank check. If you promise Ben Hur but are asking for $500 or want a million dollars to film your cousin’s wedding then something is wrong.

An investor needs a good reason to invest in your film, and our staff is ready to help you give them one.