Accomplished producer Suzanne Lyons started making 5 million+ films with A-list cast utilizing financing from the international marketplace, but moved into ultra and modified low budget films.

In this case study, Suzanne discusses just what the indie producer needs to know to avoid falling into the pitfalls of indie producing, to how to find potential investors, raise equity funds for your films, packaging on your own, and much more. Suzanne covers all the practical from A-Z.

In this case study Suzanne covers:

• Practical advice for getting your low-budget film off the ground
  
• Raising private equity for low-budget films
  
• How to find potential investors for your script
  
• Raising funds via sales presentations
  
• How the role of the producer is drastically different with very small budgets and the rude awakening she experienced as an ultra low-budget producer
  
• Why she times her films around markets
  
• Why she considers distribution BEFORE she shoots
  
• How she's attached A-list cast for her films completely on her own

*This is a case study of one producer recounting her personal experiences. Any information contained herein is relevant to one person's experiences. Nothing in this case study constitutes legal, financial, or tax advice. Film Specific is not a legal, financial or tax resource and in no way offers any type of such guidance. Film Specific always recommends seeking the counsel of a qualified and reputable attorney whenever dealing with legal issues and recommends seeking the counsel of a qualified attorney, accountant or financial expert whenever dealing with tax and business issues.

Additional Resources:

Suzanne Lyons MySpace page
Suzanne Lyons' Flash Forward
Snowfall Films
United States Securities And Exchange Commission
American Bar Association
Shooting People
SAG Indie

About Suzanne Lyons

SUZANNE LYONS has over 25 years experience in television and film. She was VP of Marketing and Promotions for a Canadian network and affiliate and while there, she also created, produced and directed news and series programming and has won numerous awards for her work. Suzanne moved to Philadelphia in the early 90's and worked in sales and distribution selling both film and television internationally. Ms. Lyons then established herself in Los Angeles in the mid 90's and co-founded the Flash Forward Institute. She has led hundreds of entertainment industry seminars to thousands of participants in both the U.S. and Canada.

Snowfall Films, Inc. was co-founded by Ms. Lyons and Kate Robbins and in the last seven years Snowfall produced or executive produced eight movies: A British comedy UNDERTAKING BETTY (aka "PLOTS WITH A VIEW") with actors Brenda Blethyn, Alfred Molina, Naomi Watts, Lee Evans and Christopher Walken and British director Nick Hurran. Miramax is the domestic distributor. UNDERTAKING BETTY won a BAFTA award. Snowfall Films produced a British/Canadian co-production thriller titled JERICHO MANSIONS staring James Caan, Genevieve Bujold, Maribel Verdu and Jennifer Tilly with Spanish director Alberto Sciamma.

Snowfall Films Executive Produced the British/Canadian family comedy BAILEY'S BILLION$ which stars Dean Cain, Laurie Holden, Tim Curry, Jennifer Tilly and Jon Lovitz as the talking dog, directed by David Devine. Snowfall is an Executive Producer on writer/director Asia Argento's THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS which is based on the novel by J.T. LeRoy staring Asia Argento, Marilyn Manson, Winona Ryder and Peter Fonda. The film premiered during the Directors Fortnight at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and screened to high acclaim at the 2004 Toronto Film Festival.

Snowfall Films is in the process of developing three family films. A World War I family drama titled SCOUTS HONOR, an animated Christmas feature film titled OMARR THE CAMEL, and MISTY'S MISADVENTURES based on a manuscript that Snowfall recently acquired. Snowfall Films has just teamed up with Italian based Producer Mark Holdon to co-produce Snowfall's suspense thriller A.K.A.

WindChill Films, Inc., a genre division, was launched in 2005 and CANDY STRIPERS, the first film in the slate of thriller/horror movies sold to Screen Gems for U.S. DVD distribution. The second picture in this slate, produced in the spring of 2006, is titled SÉANCE with writer/director Mark L. Smith (VACANCY) and actor Adrian Paul ("Highlander" TV Series). LionsGate is distributing SÉANCE which won Best Picture at the Shockerfest Film Festival. The third WindChill film, PORTAL, starring Kevin Dobson and Chris Conrad, just screened at the American Film Market. The next project on this slate is MOST LIKELY TO… which will be shot in 2008.

The goal at Snowfall Films and WindChill Films is to produce high-quality films and TV Series that entertain, delight, inspire and inform. They have consistently accomplished that goal and take great pride in both Snowfall and WindChill's reputation for operating with creativity, integrity and an undauntable stand for quality and fun. They are committed to ensuring a creative environment for every person who works on their projects. They recognize that the production team from cast to crew is the cornerstone of the enterprise, and they value each and every member of the team.

PC Users:
If you're using a Windows PC, RIGHT CLICK on the "DOWNLOAD" links above, and from the pop up menu select "Save Target As" in Internet Explorer or "Save Link As" in Netscape. In the "Save As" dialog box, choose where you'd like to save the file on your hard drive, then click "Save." Once the download is complete, simply open the file. The MP3 file should open in whatever audio program you have on your computer.

Mac Users:
If you're using a Mac and Mozilla Firefox, move your cusor over the "DOWNLOAD" links above, click the CTRL key, then click on the link. (The key is to do this in order) From the pop up box, select "Save Link As". Another window opens allowing you to choose where you'd like to save the file on your hard drive, then click "Save". Once the download is complete, simply open the file. The MP3 file should open in whatever audio program you have on your computer.

If you're using a Mac and Safari, move your cusor over the "DOWNLOAD" links above, click the CTRL key, then click on the link. (The key is to do this in order) From the pop up box, select "Download Linked File As". Name the film and the file downloads immediately. Once the download is complete, simply open the file. The MP3 file should open in whatever audio program you have on your computer.