Dictionary of Film Finance and Distribution: A Guide for Independent Filmmakers

A Film Dictionary that Helps Level the Playing Field -- Most film dictionaries do a good job in defining concepts associated with the technical, production or marketing aspects of the film business. However, these books typically have very little content about the business side of the movie-making business, which in turn hurts independent filmmakers when it comes to negotiating good contracts. "The large film studios and theater chains employ attorneys and others who are experts in negotiating film contracts," writes John W. Cones in the Introduction to this book. "In contrast, most independent filmmakers and producers have limited knowledge of the law, in part because the schools and universities that educated them stress the technical, creative or production side of filmmaking, not the business side. One consequence of this disparity is that independent filmmakers and producers are usually at a disadvantage when it comes to negotiating the financing and distribution of a film. I wrote this dictionary to help fill this void," says Cones, a Los Angeles-based film and entertainment attorney who is often called the nation s foremost advocate for independent filmmakers. "More specifically, my goal was to help level the playing field a bit when it comes to negotiating financing and distribution of films." Cones adds that the information in this book should prove valuable to a wide range of people seeking to independently produce a film, including attorneys, distributors, executive producers, producers, associate producers, studio executives, screen writers, directors, exhibitors, broker/dealers, money finders, accountants, auditors, investors, profit participants, federal and state government officials and film students. CONTENT --Acknowledgments Introduction Terms Associated with Motion Picture Production 337 Business Practices of the Major Studio/Distributors Overview of the Motion Picture Industry Dictionary of Terms Bibliography About the Author

John W. Cones is a securities and entertainment attorney in Los Angeles, where he advises clients who produce independent feature films, videos, television shows and plays. He has written nine other books on Hollywood, and he lectures frequently on film finance and distribution.