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Indies - The Creative Meets the Money

Tom Garrett and the University of Tampa Film Society presents John Gaskin, a 25 year film production veteran

      Understand what the financial community is looking for from Indies. What does the bonding company, the financier, the distributor, etc. expect from you? What does an Indie filmmaker need to know to navigate through the financial and major studio community? You don't need to know a lot of complicated number-crunching jargon... BUT... you are expected to know the overall picture and how to state your case in the terminology used by those who hold the purse strings. More importantly, you need to understand what drives the purse-string holders - are they risk takers, will they talk to you, what are their attitudes and characteristics? This seminar gives you a casual, but enlightening, perspective into positive ways to penetrate the film industry as an Indie.

      INTRO BY TOM GARRETT:  "John Gaskin is a film professional that instills trust and enthusiasm and calls it as it is! From his years of experience as a production auditor /accountant/ production executive ( all my higher powers) with his expertise in budgeting, cost reporting, dealing with bond companies, managing contracts of every description, working with producers (and being one himself), production managers and studio executives ensure a production is produced on time and on budget. He brings his vast cross-over disciplinary skills and experience to an nuts and bolts result in his book "Walk The Talk", which I use in my producing course at University of Tampa. His presentations and workshops are just not the how to's... but the why's . He shares all the interpersonal goings on with the bottom line - the result, and the money involved to get that result. I am grateful to have discovered "Walk the Talk" and John Gaskin and look forward always to introduce John's book and information that I have found there, and no where else." 

      - Tom Garrett, University of Tampa Media Studies Professor, Director of the Film Society

 

REGISTRATION: Registration - FREE at the request of the University of Tampa
(Register & receive emails of material before the seminar)r     
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2009
Time: 9:30am - 5:00pm (Registration & coffee at 9:00am )
City: Tampa
Facility: The University of Tampa Film Society, Department of Communication, Film Media Arts
401 W. Kennedy Blvd. , Tampa, Florida 33606-1490 
 http://www.ut.edu/map/
Instructor: John Gaskin 25 year film production auditor veteran
Vendor: Sponsored by the University of Tampa Film Society

Description:   We start with an overview of the film production industry from the perspective of deal-making. Using a simplified flow chart, we track from the beginning (initial creative concept) to the end (final revenue sharing) of a film or television project, answering some of the most common questions Indie filmmakers have.  A highlight of a few basic questions that I've heard are:

  • What is the minimal amount of financial understanding required when pitching projects?
  • Who does what and who do you trust?
  • What sort of deal are you expected to negotiate and when do the Lawyers and Blue Suits enter the picture?
  • What is the minimal amount of control you need to retain?
  • What is the minimal amout of "Film Budget" speak expected and how do you communicate it with confidence and enthusiasm?
  • We talk about these subjects, and do some drilling, to give you more confidence in your pitching for financing or even for a film job. You'll be much more confident in your conversations with executive producers, studio execs, bonding companies, etc., thus creating confidence that you can actually finish the film project with the money available.
  • Throughout the seminar I give lots of real examples of my conversations with, and working observations of, known film/television producers and directors I have worked with/for. 
  • Unabashed name dropping of some people I've worked with/for - Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Bill Mechanic, Frank Oz, George Clooney, Gavin Palone, David Valdes, Kevin Costner, Michael Glick (mentor at the American Film Institute), Film Finances (Bond Co), Independent Film Guarantors, Studio Exec's at Disney, Universal, Warner Bros, Sony TV, etc.

Objective: Those who attend the seminar will leave with an understanding of the film industry as a business, and feel much more confident in their ability to approach those people who decide whether or not to finance any film project you are involve with. It's also my intention to communicate enough about the people that I know in the business so that you'll understand for yourself what their attitudes and characteristics are. They are everyday people, for the most part, who have a  job to do, and they WILL take chances, but only if they have confidence that you CAN do what you set out to do. Another objective I have is to invite the local Florida CPA's/accountants to this seminar, giving them a chance to interact with the Indie community, and to participate in the seminar's Q & A, providing a catalyst to our interactive seminar.
Who Should Attend:
Any one interested in independent film & television production, as well as the infrastructure community of CPA's, accountants and bookkeepers. Come network with your film community. 
Prerequisite: An interest in film, television, commercial or documenatry filmmaking.

Price:                    FREE   at the request of the University of Tampa
Regular Price: $50

Register & receive Materials before the seminar.

                                                                                


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John Gaskin has worked in the film production business since 1985, primarily as a Film Production Auditor. John has worked on 45 different productions in 5 different countries, working with greats such as Ron Howard, Frank Oz and Walter Salles - as well as small independent films and TV episodic productions, pilots and mini-series. During his career many of his assistants have gone on to become Key Accountants (another term for the Production Auditor).

John also has Supervising Producer credits - see his resume on IMDb. In his previous seminars he was touted as the Billion Dollar Man because the accumulated budgets that have been under his control has exceeded a Billion Dollars.

John's book, "Walk The Talk" is required reading at the University of Southern California's Cinematic Arts (Peter Stark Graduate Producer's Program). John has numerous internet articles on Google Knol and EzineArticles  and enjoys answering your questions on his blog - filmproduction.

John has several 'Testimonials' but his favorites are from Ron Howard and David Valdes (David worked with Clint Eastwood for a chunk of his career and has been an independent producer for some time in his own right). Click her to see Ron Howard's letter, and here for David Valdes's hand written note. Another testamonial that John is proud of is Peter D. Marshall's book review. Peter is a 35 year veteran film director and instructor. Visit John's Web Site for more testamonials.

Here is a short 2 minute clip of CPA's and Film Producer's being interviewed after one of his Detroit workshops:

 

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