How to write a Film Production Company

Business Plan

Executive Summary

Starting a film production company requires a well-developed business strategy, industry knowledge, and a creative vision. 

All you need to do is take these elements and present them in your business plan. 

Writing a business plan for a film production company might seem complicated, but all you need to do is follow the steps in this guide. 

Start with the executive summary, just like you would with other types of business plans. 

What is an executive summary? Look at it like an introduction to your plan, where you will briefly go over all the important details. 

Make sure to include:

1. The name of your film production company
2. Key objectives and mission
3. The types of films you plan to produce
4. Market opportunity 
5. Financial summary 
6. Your vision for the future
7. Funding requirements (optional)

Start by introducing the name of your production company and your plans. 

You can also mention key objectives and what sets your film production company apart. For example, it could be the focus on a specific genre, independent films, or large-scale productions.

Briefly talk about the type of films you plan to produce. For instance, documentaries, feature films, short films, TV shows, etc.

It's important to provide a short financial summary here. If the goal of your business plan is funding, add a short section on funding requirements. 

{{subscribe-form}}

Business Description

In this section, you should provide detailed information about your film production company.

You can start with a brief overview of your company. This includes any history of previous operations. 

If you haven't started your film production company yet, you can discuss your plans for the future. 

This includes the types of films you will produce, your target market, and the potential scope of production activities.

Ideally, your business plan should include a mission and vision statement. 

A mission statement defines the purpose of your film production company. It should explain what you do and why your company exists. 

Your vision statement should outline your long-term aspirations for your company's future.

It should reflect where you want your company to go and the impact you want to have in the industry.

Your mission and vision statements should be presented in an eye-catching manner, like so:

List your short-term and long-term goals.

Examples of short-term goals for a film production company can include:

• Securing initial funding and establishing a legal foundation
• Developing or producing a short film or proof-of-concept
• Building a creative team
• Creating a brand and online presence

On the other hand, your long-term goals can include:

• Expanding to feature film production
• Creating and nurturing original IP (intellectual property)
• Securing distribution deals
• Becoming a recognised industry leader

Market Analysis

You can't write a business plan for a film production company if you don't do market research first. 

Key points to cover in this section include:

• An analysis of the film production industry
• Identifying your target market
• Doing a competitive analysis
• Market needs and opportunities
• SWOT analysis

Start by providing an overview of the film industry, including its current state, trends, and growth potential.

Highlight current trends in the film industry. These could include:

1. The rise of streaming platforms
2. The demand for diverse content
3. The popularity of independent films
4. The growing influence of international markets

You also need to define your target market. 

Identify the age, gender, income level, education, and geographic location of your target audience. 

For example, if you're producing family films, your target audience may be parents with children under 12.

Competitor analysis is a crucial component of your business plan. While direct competitors should be your primary focus, make sure to analyse indirect competition as well. 

Direct competitors can be other production companies producing similar types of films. 

Meanwhile, indirect competitors can be companies producing content in adjacent spaces, such as television series, web series, or branded content. 

You can also identify gaps in the market that your company can fill. Explain the demand for the types of films or content you'll produce.

Finally, you will want to devote a section to your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This is also called a SWOT analysis. 

Organisation and Management

Readers will also want to know about how you plan to organise your film production company. 

This is what the organisation and management section is for. Here, you will provide an overview of your company's structure, leadership, and team. 

Here's how it's done:

1. Begin by explaining the legal and ownership structure of your company.
2. Identify the legal form of your film production business.
3. Explain who will manage the daily operations of your company. 
4. Highlight any legal, financial, or creative advisors who bring expertise to your business.
5. Include an organisational chart or describe how your team is structured, especially as your company grows.
6. Describe the roles and responsibilities of each department. 

Investors want to know who is responsible for making key decisions and running the business effectively.

List the primary management positions and the individuals who fill these roles. 

This can include the CEO, producers, creative directors, operations managers, and other senior-level roles.

Other common roles in film production include:

• Managing directors
• Producers
• Creative directors
• Cinematographers
• Marketing and sales directors
• Head of development 

If your production company has distinct departments, describe each of their roles and responsibilities.

This is especially helpful for larger companies with multiple divisions. For example, those involved in film production, development, post-production, marketing, and distribution.

{{subscribe-form}}

Products or Services

The next part of your business plan is all about what your company offers. In this case, it's films.

Start by explaining what types of films your film production company will produce. These can include:

• Feature films
• Short films
• Documentaries
• TV shows
• Web series
• Music videos
• Animation films
• Indie films
• Branded content and sponsored films
• Educational films

You can also specify a genre you might focus on. For example, drama, comedy, action, horror, etc. 

Here is an example:

XYZ Films primarily produces feature-length narrative films in the drama and thriller genres, with a focus on stories that cover social justice issues. We also develop and produce short films to premiere at festivals. We also have plans for digital distribution through streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu. Aside from fiction films, we create thought-provoking documentaries that examine human rights, culture, and the environment.

Beyond film production, many companies offer related services. These could include post-production, development, and distribution services. 

Make sure to mention any additional services your company will offer. 

When writing a business plan for a film production company, you might also want to add a section on intellectual property. 

If your company creates or owns original content or intellectual property (IP), highlight this as a core part of your product offering. 

Original IP can include scripts, characters, or franchises. 

This can be a significant asset for your production company, and it's definitely worth mentioning. 

Marketing and Sales Strategies

You'll want to pay special attention to the marketing and sales section of your film production business plan. 

It's definitely the part potential investors will want to check out, so here's how to do it right:

1. Identify your target audience. 
2. Outline how you will position your film production company in the market. Also, explain how you will differentiate yourself from competitors.
3. Create an effective film marketing plan. 
4. Come up with a good distribution strategy. 
5. Explain how you will monetise your films and services.
6. Discuss any partnerships or collaborations that will support your marketing and sales efforts. 
7. Briefly outline the budget required to execute your marketing and sales strategy. 
8. Explain how you will measure the success of your marketing and sales efforts.

When it comes to film production strategies, there are plenty of ways to go. You can use social media, email marketing, newsletters, PR, etc. 

You can also take advantage of local film festivals. They can help you gain exposure and attract distributors or investors.

You also need a solid distribution strategy. Explain your approach to getting your films in front of audiences, which can include:

• Theatrical releases
• Streaming platforms
• Video-on-Demand (VOD)
• Film festivals and markets
• International distribution

Your sales strategy outlines how you plan to generate revenue. Key revenue streams include film sales and licensing, digital downloads, rentals, merchandising and more. 

You can also talk about partnerships or collaborations. Mention any partners interested in supporting your strategy. 

These could be partnerships with distributors, film festivals, streaming platforms, or brands looking for promotional content.

Operations Plan

Your operations plan outlines how you will run your film production company on a day-to-day basis. 

Start by providing an overview of how your film production company will operate.

Describe the entire production workflow, from the idea or script stage to the final product and distribution.

This can include:

• Development: Scriptwriting, storyboarding, and securing financing.
• Pre-Production: Planning the logistics, hiring the cast and crew, securing locations, and finalising the budget and schedule.
• Production: The actual filming or recording phase (the execution of the planned scenes, shots, and sound recording).
• Post-Production: Editing, adding visual effects (VFX), sound design, colour correction, and finalising the film for distribution.
• Distribution and Marketing: Submitting the film to festivals, pitching to distributors, or uploading it to streaming platforms.

Discuss where your company operates and describe the facilities or locations you use. 

This could include your office space, production studios, or access to external resources. For example, rented sound stages or on-location filming sites.

Provide details on the equipment and technology that your company uses to produce films.

Highlight any specialised tools, cameras, software, or equipment that helps set your company apart. 

You can also include a general timeline for a typical project, from development to distribution. 

This shows investors or stakeholders that you have a clear understanding of how long each phase takes and how you'll meet deadlines.

Here's an example timeline:

1. Development: 2-6 months (scriptwriting, securing financing, casting)
2. Pre-production: 1-3 months (scheduling, hiring crew, location scouting)
3. Production: 2-8 weeks (filming)
4. Post-production: 3-6 months (editing, VFX, sound design)
5. Distribution and marketing: ongoing (festival submissions, marketing campaigns, streaming platform negotiations)

Financial Plan

Your financial plan is one of the most important parts of your film production business plan. It will be the first thing potential investors will want to see. 

This section outlines the financial strategy, forecasts, and needs of your business. 

Make sure to include the following elements:

• Initial costs required to launch your film production company
• All your revenue streams
• Profit and loss statement (income statement)
• Cash flow statement
• Break-even analysis
• Balance sheet
• Funding requirements 

Each financial statement should be presented in a table, like in this example:

If you're seeking investment, specify how much funding you need and how it will be used. 

Break down the funding into specific categories. For example, production costs, marketing, equipment purchases, etc. That way, you can show that you have a clear plan for using the capital.

Use realistic estimates for costs and revenue. Overly optimistic projections can turn away investors.

This section is crucial for potential investors or lenders. They need to understand the financial viability of your business and the return on their investment.

Conclusion

The last part of your film production business plan is the conclusion. 

The conclusion is there for you to simply summarise your entire plan. Quickly summarise key points, such as:

1. Your business overview
2. Unique selling proposition
3. Market opportunity
4. Your vision and goals 
5. Your potential for success 

Try to end on a positive note, and make sure to add a call-to-action (CTA). 

If you are seeking investment, partnerships, or other support, clearly state what you're looking for and how interested parties can get involved. 

This could be a request for funding, a partnership opportunity, or even collaboration on future projects.

Here's a quick example:

XYZ Films is currently seeking strategic partnerships and investment to bring our upcoming slate of projects to life. We invite you to join us on this exciting journey to redefine the future of independent cinema. For more information or to discuss potential opportunities, please contact us directly.

Appendix

The appendix is for supporting documentation, which can be anything you think is relevant to your film production business plan. 

Here are some ideas:

• Sample contracts and agreements
• Film project overviews or synopses
• Detailed financial projections and assumptions
• Tax documentation
• Resumes or bios of key team members
• Market research and industry data
• Legal documents and permits
• Marketing materials or press kit

{{subscribe-form}}