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Have Matching Funds, Seeking First Funds

S

SCRIPTS

I have a script that's gotten tremendously positive reaction from several indie prods, an LOI from a European bank offering to provide 50% matching funds (up to $10 million), a Canadian production company offering to provide up to 40% in matching funds in the form of government rebates, tax incentives, etc., but both in matching funds -- now I need the first 50% in "first" funds. Executive summary, LOI, script and other info available upon request. I'm fairly experienced as a screenwriter, have a script currently in pre-production with an a-list director and a $40 million budget, but the script I'm talking about here ("The Life and Times of Lesbian Alien Opera Singers") is more in the $2 million to $10 million budget range depending on above the line choices.

Thanks. I look forward to your responses.

Rob Tobin
 
question

Hi Rob,

I know you posted here to get funds to make your movie, but I wanted to ask you a question if you could take a little time to answer, I would be grateful. I have written a script and have an Oscar Winner attached and interest from a distribution house in Greece. The film is to be shot in the States. I read your post and was curious as to how you managed to get the bank to agree to give you funds. Do you have any advice with that? I mean how did you go about it if you don't mind me asking....thanks for any helpful info...evangelosgio@yahoo.com
 
No Doubt the most important question is

how you managed to get the bank to agree to give you funds

I will request you personally to answer this so that we can (and at-least i) can gain more knowledge.Apart from that i think why dont you place an AD in News paper + Some ARTS council mentioning the condition and start selling shares???
 
Sounds like you're producing it yourself. The FIRST thing I would do is to try to attach an A-list (or 2) actor(s)! Trying to raise monies in this economic environment you have to have names attached. If I were producing I would also try to cut my budget as low as I could get it. Right now it's a buyers market and distributors are not paying much for films hopefully this will change in the next couple of years. So making your money back on 2mil is going to be hard without names attached.
Just my 2 cents.
Good Luck
 
Since Rob hasn’t posted here in nine months I suspect he won’t be
answering your questions.

Rob Tobin is an author of two “how to” books and worked for
several years with Stephen J. Cannell in development. He was one
of the top freelance readers in the business for many years. He
may still be covering scripts. so he (and the producers) are
connected in the business.

The project he mentions here is “The Camel Wars” to be directed by
John McTiernan. I’m not sure why he came to indietalk for find
funding. According to IMDb (which is notoriously inaccurate) the
show is in production, but I can’t find anything about it in the
breakdowns so who knows...
 
I'm not sure I understand what first/matching funds are.

Then again, I probably just didn't read that post very carefully.

(Reads again)

Uhm....I think I understand matching funds, but first funds remains a mystery to my tiny, tiny brain.
 
First funds means the first money put into the bank. What Rob has
is a paper agreement for some money from a bank but only if he
brings in 59% of the money up front.

If he can raise $5 million the bank will put in another $5
million. Essentially they are saying they want to see that he has
the clout to bring in the money and people he says he can before
they will guarantee their investment.

adeel, I answered the question. Rob has a $40 million film with an
A-list director in preproduction and many connections in the
business. The bank feels he may be able to bring an A-list
director ot his new project so they have offered to match any
funds he brings in.
 
directorik said:
Since Rob hasn’t posted here in nine months I suspect he won’t be
answering your questions.

Rob Tobin is an author of two “how to” books and worked for
several years with Stephen J. Cannell in development. He was one
of the top freelance readers in the business for many years. He
may still be covering scripts. so he (and the producers) are
connected in the business.

The project he mentions here is “The Camel Wars” to be directed by
John McTiernan. I’m not sure why he came to indietalk for find
funding. According to IMDb (which is notoriously inaccurate) the
show is in production, but I can’t find anything about it in the
breakdowns so who knows...
Click to expand...

Yea with those connections wonder why he's coming here. Well at least he says he looks forward or our responses. :lol:
Thanks
 
as directorik said
adeel, I answered the question. Rob has a $40 million film with an
A-list director in preproduction and many connections in the
business. The bank feels he may be able to bring an A-list
director ot his new project so they have offered to match any
funds he brings in
Click to expand...

Looks like he is living in a better place than me. Banks in my country will not even allow me to sit after i say "I WANT MONEY TO MAKE A FILM :D"
 
ad2478 said:
Looks like he is living in a better place than me. Banks in my country will not even allow me to sit after i say "I WANT MONEY TO MAKE A FILM :D"
Click to expand...
When you have been a develop exec for several years, have
two books published have been a highly regarded story editor
and have a movie in preproduction with an A-list director
attached, the banks in your country will allow you to sit
and ask for money.

They might even offer you a matching fund deal....
 
directorik said:
When you have been a develop exec for several years, have
two books published have been a highly regarded story editor
and have a movie in preproduction with an A-list director
attached, the banks in your country will allow you to sit
and ask for money.

They might even offer you a matching fund deal....
Click to expand...

Must be nice, eh?

And thanks for clearing up my question. I know it was one of the dumber ones.
 
Rob Tobiin

I was surprised to stumble across this thread that seems to have spanned years, about me! How is everybody doing? If anyone wants to contact me it's best to do so at my email address: scripts@earthlink.net. "Camel Wars" has been postponed and is currently due to start shooting next year. I am not really seeking funds anymore but rather writing assignments and sale of my spec scripts, so if any producers are out there looking for an experienced writer at extremely reasonable rates, drop me a line.

Thanks and good writing to all of you.

Best,

Rob Tobin
 
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