Producing for Profit

Andrew Stevens has mastered almost every aspect of the entertainment business, from creative filmmaker, writer, director, and producer, to corporate executive, leader in trade and union negotiations and collective bargaining, the creative development and physical production of motion pictures, as well as film sales, distribution, finance, publicity, and marketing. He has produced and financed over 175 motion pictures, including the hit comedy The Whole Nine Yards and the cult classic Boondock Saints. His films have generated over $1 billion in worldwide revenues. He is a former award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated actor and continues to be active in the motion picture business in addition to being an author, educator, motivational speaker, and industry consultant. He served for a decade on the board of directors of the International Film and Television Alliance, (formally the American Film Marketing Association) and also served as chairman of the Independent Producers Association (IPA).

"Andrew Stevens has mastered every facet of filmmaking and there isn’t a better teacher out there. This isn’t film school theory, it’s how to make a film in the real world and make a profit."—Roger Corman, Oscar winner and legendary independent filmmaker"A must-read for every independent filmmaker and film student who wants to understand the dynamics of the film industry and how to maneuver it while producing a film outside the studios. The insider experience of the author gives this guide extraordinary value."—Adele Schmidt, Professorial Lecturer, Film and Media Arts Division, SOC, American University, Washington DC, and Director and Producer of the series on progressive rock, Romantic Warriors: A Progressive Music Saga"In Hollywood Shuffle, learned the hard way how to make a movie and make a profit. Andrew Stevens not only streamlines the process but gives you a foolproof formula on how to get it done. This is the best money a filmmaker can spend and will pay for itself many times over."—Robert Townsend, Award-winning Director

• Foreward by Roger CormanPrologueChapter 1: What Is a Producer?Chapter 2: Changes to the Independent MarketplaceChapter 3: The Global MarketplaceChapter 4: How to TAP into the MarketplaceChapter 5: The Domestic Market, Festivals, and Market ValueChapter 6: Identifying and Developing a Film Based on Trend and AnalysisChapter 7: Now That I Have My Script, What Do I Do?Chapter 8: Investors, Actors, Attorneys, Agents, Mangers, Business ManagersChapter 9: Film Production BasicsChapter 10: How to Manage Production CostsChapter 11: Mounting a ProductionChapter 12: Navigating the Actors UnionChapter 13: Respect for the DollarChapter 14: The Internet and New MediaChapter 15: Marketing and PublicityChapter 16: RecapAppendices