Sponsorship/endorsement letter?

[mr_goodbomb]

I'm planning to approach several local businesses and companies for endorsements with a feature film I'm working on. Very few people do video locally, and people get very interested when they hear about movies being worked on. It's a very supportive community when it comes to the arts. I planned to request several local businesses, especially those who sell more expendable meals (pizza, for example), for a day of catering (basically, a couple of free pizzas for the cast and crew) in exchange for a credit in the final film. I've been on other productions where this has been done on a phone call, but because I'm a younger guy, I would like to appear professional on approach by bringing a request letter and paperwork for them to sign so that they don't feel I might just eat the food and dissapear. If all goes well, I may also ask a few local companies to offer their products as a form of product placement (beer, for example, enough to fill a scene). They'd get a credit and have their product on screen, we'd have free props and not have to scrape all the labels off the bottles.

Are there any templates that I could look at for this kind of paperwork? A Google search yielded little.

[koradin]

I can see a number of problems with this idea.

Most companies won’t be interested in just a credit especially when the average person doesn't even bother to watch the credits at the end. Using their shops and businesses as locations in your film many get them to invest, but only if you show them in a good light. Most companies will refuse you rights if they will be shown in any sort of negative way.

With regards to product placement unless you have local companies that actually produces products and not just resell them, they wont be interested, because legally its not their decision to allow you to show someone else products in your film. For example if a local bar gave you beer for a scene, you will still need permission from the brewery that made the beer in the first place.

If you are lucky enough to have local businesses invest make sure you take out public liability insurance to cover you for any potential damages (mental or physical) that may be caused to people that see you filming, this will also cover you to accidental damage to locations you are filming at. Also by have PL insurance it makes you stand out from every other amateur, and basically says you are treating what you are proposing very seriously.

With regards to forms and contracts check http://www.filmcontracts.net/

Koradin

[mr_goodbomb]

I can see a number of problems with this idea.

Most companies won’t be interested in just a credit especially when the average person doesn't even bother to watch the credits at the end. Using their shops and businesses as locations in your film many get them to invest, but only if you show them in a good light. Most companies will refuse you rights if they will be shown in any sort of negative way.

I'm not asking for endorsements, I'm asking for donated products. It's like same principal as a pizza shop donating to a kid's soccer ball game, except their name is on something that may be seen internationally. It's worked before with nothing more than cold calls, but because I'm doing it on a larger scale, I want to be prepared. It can't waste anything but time on the phone and paper. No one will be shown negatively.

With regards to product placement unless you have local companies that actually produces products and not just resell them, they wont be interested, because legally its not their decision to allow you to show someone else products in your film. For example if a local bar gave you beer for a scene, you will still need permission from the brewery that made the beer in the first place.

Yes, I get this, thank you.

[cyrax037]

If you are lucky enough to have local businesses invest make sure you take out public liability insurance to cover you for any potential damages (mental or physical)

How does one go about something like that, and how much does it usually cost? Like, is it feasable for an average zero budget filmmaker to do?





Back on topic tho, its worth a shot! My mom put together a MASSIVE Cub Scouts Blue and Gold banquette, with 90% of the food and decorations donated!

[koradin]

mr_goodbomb, I think I could have better worded my reply, I'm not saying to not ask them, just that a credit may not interest that many people. If you are lucky there may be many companies willing to help out local film makers that will donate things for nothing in return.

I personally tend to look at things like this from a purely business point of view, were most people wont do something unless they are guaranteed to get some thing back in return for their time, effort or money that they will invest.

cyrax037, PI insurance is quite often needed to film in public places with out it your only choice is to film guerilla style and hope you don't get caught. The result of getting caught could be anything from a telling off by the police to a criminal record, or even hefty fines and compensation to anyone that could take legal action against you.

With regards to taking out PI it will cost, I was quoted £300($450) for a one years cover from http://www.filminsurance.co.uk/ in the UK, this would give us £5($7.5) million PI cover and £10($15) million employer liability cover as well, although we pay the first £250 of any claim against us. The employer liability cover is a nice bonus, because who ever is considered the producer on the film is legally responsible for all accidents to your cast and crew. I'd suggest getting on Google and searching for "film production insurance" and finding a company based in your own country and asking for a quote.

Is the cost feasible? Now that is a different question all together, when you consider that most of our films will cost less than a bar of chocolate. As you advance in film making and try to make bigger and better films you budget will increase and at some point you’ll need insurance. I suppose as a film maker one way of looking at it is how much do you worry about a freak accident occurring? That will leave you or your parents (if you’re under 18) bankrupt and with a potential criminal record. Personally I’ll be getting PI insurance before I film in public, especially considering I’ll be using airsoft guns.

Koradin

[blitzkrieg]

Koradin, looking at the true cost of productions these days, even guerilla ones, youve definitly have a point! I've done very low budget productions down here where the actors get paid in food, rides, and a copy of the completed film for their reel. Hit up Mommy and Daddy for use of locations, etc. all "free". My costs still may range close to $1500.00 for consumables, gear rental when needed, costumes, etc. A cost of 300 pounds or $450.00 (what's that in euros?) for a YEAR of coverage is definitely something you can work into a budget!
Now, Mr. GoodBomb may have it better where he lives due to the lack of film and video projects being produced, but location is something all should consider. I live near New Orleans, and on any given day there is at least one major motion picture being filmed. I've heard of many stories where someone will stand in front of a location and not budge until either paid off in cash, lawyers get involved, or the production moves. PI is a small price to pay down here for peace of mind! Something to consider...

Good Luck!

[koradin]

blitzkrieg depending on the exchange rate the cost in euros will be about €350. As you pointed out over a year that nothing really, especially if you do about 5-6 films a year. Also paying PI cover as a one off payment is a nice incentive to actually get out and make more films and further our skills in film making.

I have to agree with you on costs, they can very easily spiral out of control (this obviously excludes the kids with guns running round in their garden, which has zero cost). For the short am working on at the moment we've just worked out that 2 costumes will cost about £240 ($360 or €270), am just glad we can make heavy use of cloning and not have to buy any more, although that still doesn't take into account the cost of costumes for the opposition in the film.

mr_goodbomb, did you happen to find any useful contracts/forms on the site I linked?

Koradin

[cyrax037]

mr_goodbomb, I think I could have better worded my reply, I'm not saying to not ask them, just that a credit may not interest that many people. If you are lucky there may be many companies willing to help out local film makers that will donate things for nothing in return.

I personally tend to look at things like this from a purely business point of view, were most people wont do something unless they are guaranteed to get some thing back in return for their time, effort or money that they will invest.

cyrax037, PI insurance is quite often needed to film in public places with out it your only choice is to film guerilla style and hope you don't get caught. The result of getting caught could be anything from a telling off by the police to a criminal record, or even hefty fines and compensation to anyone that could take legal action against you.

With regards to taking out PI it will cost, I was quoted £300($450) for a one years cover from http://www.filminsurance.co.uk/ in the UK, this would give us £5($7.5) million PI cover and £10($15) million employer liability cover as well, although we pay the first £250 of any claim against us. The employer liability cover is a nice bonus, because who ever is considered the producer on the film is legally responsible for all accidents to your cast and crew. I'd suggest getting on Google and searching for "film production insurance" and finding a company based in your own country and asking for a quote.

Is the cost feasible? Now that is a different question all together, when you consider that most of our films will cost less than a bar of chocolate. As you advance in film making and try to make bigger and better films you budget will increase and at some point you’ll need insurance. I suppose as a film maker one way of looking at it is how much do you worry about a freak accident occurring? That will leave you or your parents (if you’re under 18) bankrupt and with a potential criminal record. Personally I’ll be getting PI insurance before I film in public, especially considering I’ll be using airsoft guns.

Koradin


Interesting. I found a couple places here in the states, but from what I could tell, the coverage is per production, no annual general coverage for multiple productions. Cops aren't really a major concern for me, if I need to film something that would possibly be of concern to the cops, I'll just film it in my little town if possible, where I know the 2 full time cops really well. I do have one advantage, in that my area is tiny, and I know several city officials fairly well, but I do see where is might come in handy later on, maybe. I just don't know if I could see spending $200-$500 on a zero budget 5 minute youtube short HAHA.

[mr_goodbomb]

mr_goodbomb, did you happen to find any useful contracts/forms on the site I linked?

Koradin

Not in this respect, no.

[koradin]

mr_goodbomb possibly go with an amended product release form (http://www.filmcontracts.net/contracts/form.php?id=1132), that should at least be useful for people giving you items to use in your films.

Just had a proper look through myself and there isn't anything that would be suitable for people supplying food in return for credits. I suppose the best thing to do would be to just go along and ask local businesses if they would be interested, offering a credit or their business used and a location (free advertising for them), or possible give them the option of appearing as extra's or even minor speaking parts if the display any sort of acting ability. Also extend this offer to their family members, chances are at least one person will want to appear increasing your chance of getting food and also increasing the number of extras and potential actors.

cyrax037, I found that the shorter the length of time the insurance is taken out for the higher the price goes, basically saying the quicker you work the more likely you are to make mistakes and need the insurance, hence the higher cost. Knowing plenty of useful people is a major advantage in film making, one you should definitely try to exploit to the best potential.

I agree for 5 min youtube shorts insurance is going to be a waste. Personally I want to move passed youtube and do this for a living, not just make films to show friends and family.

Mike

[cyrax037]

Right!

HAHA, I just got my quote back from one of the websites I found, and I was quoted over $18,000 for a short film I've been planning for awhile. Nearly triple to max budget I had set for it LMAO. Of course, my use of animals did raise it up a little, but not really that much. Most of its just general liability. I'd have to look into this more, when/if I try to make any real films and try to make any money doing this.