Jeff Steele

Grandfather Your Section 181 Benefit Today

October 27, 2011 By Jeff Steele 1 year ago

You do not need to have investors to be grandfathered; you just need to memorialize a few things before year’s end

  

Consumer Laundering - Piracy's Silver Lining Unfolds

October 9, 2011 By Jeff Steele 1 year ago

Operators of online piracy sites should take note -- you could be sitting on the next media gold rush

  

Union-Busting 101 for First-Time Filmmakers

October 2, 2011 By Jeff Steele 1 year ago

Hollyblog: Film financier Jeff Steele's tips for negotiating with SAG, WGA, DGA, IATSE and the Teamsters. Teaser: Get to know Eastern Europe!

  

The Upside of Digital Piracy: Or How I Learned to Quit Worrying and Love the Free Feedback

June 5, 2011 By Jeff Steele 1 year ago

If producers can look past their lost hypothetical revenue, then they can use sites like Pirate Bay to harness thousands of people commenting on their film

  

The Importance of Always Hedging Your Currency

May 8, 2011 By Jeff Steele 2 years ago

In this volatile world market, currency losses create sinkholes in your budget that are large enough to kill the project. That's why you need to stabilize your currency from the get-go

  

Why 20% Deposits on Foreign Pre-Sales Are Going Bye-Bye

April 24, 2011 By Jeff Steele 2 years ago

All these delayed or problematic indie film projects spread across the world have received their 20% deposits while the buyers wait forever for their notice of delivery. This can't last

  

So How Much Should You Allocate to the Producer of Marketing & Distribution?

April 17, 2011 By Jeff Steele 2 years ago

Most producers are too mired in the daily demands of physical production, post-production and delivery to have the time and clarity to contemplate all the facets of a film's marketing campaign

  

The Illinois Tax Incentive: Why Studios Aren’t Moved by It

March 28, 2011 By Jeff Steele 2 years ago

Even if the state is able to rescue its film credit, it’s not going to make a difference to studios, premium independents or primetime networks

  

Crowd-Funding: How to Make it Work for Filmmakers

March 20, 2011 By Jeff Steele 2 years ago

Highlights from the Film Finance Forum: Part Deux

  

Highlights From Winston-Baker’s 3rd Annual Film Finance Forum

March 13, 2011 By Jeff Steele 2 years ago

With a standing-room audience of mainstream financiers, producers, executives, attorneys and more, this annual event has become the preeminent financial gathering of its kind

  

Hollyblog: Oscars and Financing - Why 'A-list' Isn't 'Always-List'

February 27, 2011 By Jeff Steele 2 years ago

Does winning an Oscar make you an A-list star? Whoopi Goldberg might beg to differ, but it also depends on how you define A-list.

  

The Pros and Cons of Chinese Film Funds

February 13, 2011 By Jeff Steele 2 years ago

If you have a compelling project that organically checks all the boxes, then take a shot at some Chinese dough ... but thoroughly understand that there are many strings attached

  

The Kids Are All Right, But What About The Producers?

January 30, 2011 By Jeff Steele 2 years ago

I suggest we avoid this whole "produced by" quagmire with a simple clarification of the credits: creative producers, production producers and financing producers.

  

Movie Finance Specialist Jeff Steele Launches New Firm

January 13, 2011 By Daniel Frankel 2 years ago

Film Closings will handle packaging and closing of motion-picture finance deals

  

Obama Tax Bill Resurrects Credit for Indie Filmmakers and Investors

December 19, 2010 By Jeff Steele 2 years ago

The new tax bill, extending Section 181 Federal Film Tax Credit, is great news for independent filmmakers

  

Note: Oscars Don’t Finance Films

December 16, 2010 By Jeff Steele 2 years ago

Why can't Mark Boal and Kathryn Bigelow slam-dunk their next project?

  

But Dad, I Hate 3D!

December 9, 2010 By Jeff Steele 2 years ago

If your film is intended for an audience under 10 years old, I wouldn’t rush out to make it in 3D

  

Portugal: the Straw That Breaks the Back of Independent Film Financing?

June 27, 2010 By Jeff Steele 2 years ago

If you want to get your movie made, be prepared to pack your bags

  

Bad News: It's Harder Than Ever to Finance Ultra-Low-Budget Films

April 29, 2010 By Jeff Steele 3 years ago

Good news: $250K is the new $2.5 million, thanks to technology

  

Portugal: Crushing Blow to Independent Film Financing?

March 30, 2010 By Jeff Steele 3 years ago

Europe's money troubles are going to have ripple effect as buyers close their euro-stuffed wallets

  

Cheaters Never Prosper (and Other Rules of Using Tax Credits)

March 21, 2010 By Jeff Steele 3 years ago

Stick to the letter of the law, not just the spirit, or you'll end up repaying incentive cash

  

Letters of Intent: Don't Trust, and Verify

March 15, 2010 By Jeff Steele 3 years ago

A star may intend to participate in your project, but don't rely on a letter of intent to prove it

  

In Defense of Nicolas Chartier

March 7, 2010 By Jeff Steele 3 years ago

Anyone who can cobble together financing like Chartier did for 'Locker' deserves an Oscar