Development Funding Using DEBT?!
The 3 Most Important Reasons to Use Debt for Independent Film Development Funding
1. No Dilution in Ownership OR Creative Control:
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You Own 100% of the project - 80% to 100% of the net to your llc.
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No giving up future profit or creative control to investors.
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You maintain control over the entire project start to finish.
2. Faster & More Predictable Access to Funds:
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Debt can be structured and funded faster than equity.
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Repayment follows milestones, not investor opinions or bias.
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Get the capital you need to develop the project properly.
3. Maximum Project Flexibility & Leverage:
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Gain Distribution Opportunities & the best state tax incentives!
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Attach A-List talent through distribution to drive box office!
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Move MUCH quicker from Screenplay to the BIG SCREEN!
Why?!
Debt doesn't argue™!
Meet....
Hugh McPherson
Leader | Strategist | Filmmaker
Producer | Executive Producer | Actor
joins your projects as Producer & Executive Producer with primary focus on business strategy, development funding, proper film development packaging, debt funding & financing structure - The Capital stack, analytics, distribution positioning, and helping filmmakers properly prepare commercially viable projects for full funding, production, and release.
This is not day-to-day on-set producing, you control 100% of your creative. Hugh's focus is building the business and funding structure required to help independent films become market-ready projects positioned for:
• Development Funding - skilled debt raising team
• Experienced Production Services team with credits
• analytics - custom details based on your film
• Distribution - theatrical or streaming
• State tax rebates based on real spending
• Full production funding - "your capital stack"
• casting A-LIST talent with above as leverage
• Brand Integration with leverage based on stars
• Release Strategy based on best returns for llc
What YOU pay is performance-based and tied directly to successfully raised funds for the project. That way copper wire productions is paid 5% of all capital raised, gets a producer's share & minor part at full project funding. Little to none of your own money is invested as we use debt for 100% of the film's development costs - start to finish!
If no funds are successfully raised, no producer funding compensation is paid - period. this is OUR guarantee to your project and you!
Development Funding With Debt
The Capital Stack
We fund using a "Debt Model" because you can Raise money quickly, more predictably and most of all DEBT DOESN'T ARGUE™! This is the way that real estate, automotive, manufacturing and most other businesses do it.
We house this "DEBT" within an LLC to protect your personal finances and shield you from exposure to liability.
• Create & build out your LLC (Yours or Shelf Co.)
• Development Funding for Proper Development
• Distribution - Minimum Sales Guarantees (MSG)
• State & Local Tax Filming Credits (Rebates)
• Streaming, TV, VOD & other viewing revenue deals
• Brand Integration & Promotional Sales deals
• GAP Funding - financing once project is ready
• Equity - when strategic & your project has leverage
We specialize in non-dilutive, debt-first structures so you keep 100% creative control, maximize your ownership of the project and limit interference.
Why do we mention EQUITY if our focus is DEBT?
once you have a project that is fully funded, distribution, cast, location is set and are ready to shoot - you can sell some minority positions in your project to take some cash out for yourself!
Proper Project development
The Development Process
The development of your film project is crucial and specific items MUST be present to be accepted & to gain distribution, state tax incentives, streaming deals, brand integration, gap funding & to be investor ready.
• Script accepted - commercially viable (Save the cat)
• development packaging - analytics report (120 Pages)
• Budgeting, scheduling & line producing
• Build elements from LLC - trademarks & copyrights
• Distribution, social media, accounting
• Production services, casting, producer's rep
• Film production, on-set assistance (If needed)
• Post-production supervision & delivery
We don’t just help you raise the money — we help you actually develop and produce the film on time and on budget from start to end pf the process.
Think of it this way - you are the writer, producer, executive producer and the studio! You control everything and debt doesn't argue™!
Filmmakers pitch stories.
Lenders finance capital stacks.
We help you build both!
