Christopher Billows, Head of Media Ventures, Orchard Capital Partners LLP
SECTOR: DISTRIBUTION
“From a distributor’s perspective, it was invaluable being able to talk to Producers
so candidly and learn how to bridge the gap in understanding that can exist. I learned
that you need to find a common language; show them they you can talk creatively
and understand their priorities and concerns, and that your numbers needn’t be their
‘enemy’.
You can never have enough understanding of the other business areas that impact
upon your own. Inside Pictures immerses you with your immediate peers, and with
very senior executives, who will equip you with this knowledge. Being thrown into
this group of 15 people was a fantastic experience. To have peers that you can be
very frank and informal with, asking about what you do and don’t understand, is
refreshing and valuable. I hope that the 15 of us will keep in touch over years
to come.
Having always worked in studios, the course made me realise exactly how difficult
the current changes in the industry will be for independents. If we are going to
create a sustainable film industry in the UK, we need an awareness of what is not
working currently so that we can try to fix it in the new world we are entering.”
Stefan Demetriou, VP, Visual Content Strategy & Acquisition, EMI UK
SECTOR: MUSIC & PRODUCTION
“With convergence, boundaries between traditional industries are increasingly blurring
and coming from a predominantly music-led organisation Inside Pictures presented
an extremely timely and relevant development programme.
Inside Pictures has immersed me in a world and an array of people that it would
have been inconceivable to achieve any other way. I think that this scheme is probably
the single most important thing that I’ve done in my career.
Inside Pictures has provided me with the perfect road map to take my career to the
next level. It has also helped me to identify the transferable skills I already
have that relate to film.
It has helped me to think more entrepreneurially, and has given me the confidence
to launch new projects.
Having the umbrella of Inside Pictures around you will unequivocally help your career.
None of us from the current cohort believe that the schemes will actually finish
in January 2009. I know we’ll keep in touch with each other and with the course
leaders.”
Laura Hastings-Smith, Producer, Wayward Films
SECTOR: PRODUCTION
“There were so many highlights of the course. Obviously the LA module 2 was a fantastic
experience. I don’t believe that you could get that access in such a condensed form
in any other way.
Of the course broadly, practically each session was a highlight. There is no ‘eureka’
moment. The course works by going over industry issues from different angles and
perspectives to deepen and broaden your knowledge, so there’s a cumulative effect.
As a Producer, it’s very important to learn how the market works; how exploitation
and recoupment affect the way in which you structure the financing of a project.
It’s definitely made me more aware of the impact of the market on all aspects of
a project, and will affect the way I select, budget, cast and finance projects.”
Susie Hock, Director, Business & Legal Affairs, Universal Pictures International
SECTOR: BUSINESS & LEGAL AFFAIRS
“Networking is a major part of the programme. As well as all the amazing people
that came to speak with us, the cohort of 15 participants is a fantastic network
to be a part of. We all keep in touch and ask each other questions. And if we can’t
help personally, we can sign post each other on to more relevant people from our
networks.
Inside Pictures has given me a deeper level of understanding of the whole industry.”
Ken Marshall, Producer, Steel Mill Pictures
SECTOR: PRODUCTION
“I found the marketing sessions on how to understand the market and how to market
your film very beneficial. Particularly valuable were the conversations on how to
sell your film to financiers.
Module two in LA was invaluable for the networking, and the phenomenal amount of
contacts that we all made. For me at this stage in my career, I think the Agents
and Lawyers will be particularly advantageous. If, for example, I’m negotiating
with the Guilds in North America, I’ll have a name that I can call which will be
incredibly useful. And there are many other contacts that I know I’ll take advantage
of further into my career.
Hearing anecdotes from people who have worked in the industry for decades was an
enlightening experience. It really put our own experiences into perspective and
built my own aspirations for the future”
Andrew Reid, Head of Production, Northern Ireland Screen
SECTOR: PRODUCTION & FINANCE
“The trip to LA was fascinating. We met senior figures from the studios and other
leading companies in the industry. We were exposed to the size and scale of the
US domestic industry, which is just so different to the UK industry. Particular
highlights for me were the Paramount session on the marketing campaign for Iron
Man and the Reliant Pictures session on business and legal affairs, and the general
terms of talent and finance deals. And of course the session with the Director David
Fincher was incredible. He has an incredibly detailed knowledge of the expected
costs of each of his films, and won’t compromise if someone won’t put the finances
up. He’ll simply move on to the next project.
Inside Pictures puts you through a detailed, in-depth programme of activities that
explains every aspect of the business to you. The course has left me with a deeper
understanding of the commercial side of the business. I have already been able to
put learning from the course into practice, and can feel that my approach to development
has changed.
Being part of a mixed cohort of Producers, Executives and Distributors was a fantastic
experience, and we have all learned a great deal from each other, on top of the
actual course itself. It’s been a great experience and I would strongly recommend
it to anyone else considering it.”
Rachel Robey, Producer, Wellington Films Ltd
SECTOR: PRODUCTION
“I wanted to explore different models for creating a sustainable, profitable business.
My business partner and I want to be able to focus on making feature films, so I
wanted to examine strategies for developing our company without vertically integrating.
We know it will be challenging to focus on feature films and sustain a profitable
business, so Inside Pictures was the perfect space to be able to learn about different
models.
Week one was like a foundation course in the nuts and bolts of the whole film value
chain. As the 15 participants all come from different parts of the industry, week
one provided an essential grounding in areas outside of our usual specialism so
that we were all brought up to a similar level of understanding. This meant that
for the rest of the programme, and particularly module 2 in Los Angeles, we were
able to hit the ground running and participate in all the sessions.
In particular the finance and legal sessions were fascinating. The sessions delivered
by Wiggin LLP provided an incredible overview of how Hollywood actually works, and
how deals are done. You assume that if you get financed by a studio it’s much more
straightforward, but actually it’s probably equally as complicated as piecing together
independent financing.”