Through two intensive and interactive webinars Michelle Parkyn will teach you how to develop, fund and distribute an independent feature film.

Join her for a series of webinars as she discusses the journey from script to screen - detailing Michelle's experiences of producing her first 4 feature films with an independent production company after working for the BBC for 7 years. Her features had budgets ranging from £80,000 to £500,000 and all acquired distribution in multiple territories worldwide. Films she produced include NIGHTSHOOTERS (nominated Best British Film at Raindance, winner of Best Action Film at Michigan FF) and Dune Drifter (winner Best VFX at Other Worlds FF, Texas).

Development & Funding (17th Feb 18:30-20:30)

Michelle will discuss crucial aspects of development such as timing, the importance of working on multiple projects at once, getting distributor / agent's input, attracting cast and identifying an audience.

She will then dive into the different funding routes available including:

• BFI development funding (approach to this sort of funding compared to private investment)
• Private investment (what to offer investors and how to handle them.
• Film Investment companies (the pro’s and con’s)
• Tax credit
• Product placement

Marketing & Distribution (24th Feb 18:30-20:30)

You’ve made a feature film, now how do you get it distributed, seen and profitable?

Here Michelle will discuss how to create a buzz around your film and this topics such as:

• Getting on set visits by media
• Self promotion
• Utilising BTS materials and footage
• Making the most of any USP’s

She will then cover working with Agent / distributors. Ideally you’ve already built this connection in phase 1, but if not we'll discuss how to you find someone suitable. She will also discuss the pros and cons of taking it on yourself vs using an agent

We'll also discuss festivals and how useful the festival run really is. You will also receive some tips and strategies on building relationships with festivals.

Finally we will discuss whether you can truly make money from independent films? Michelle will talk about which of her films are in profit and which aren't as well as why.

Speaker bio

Michelle started out her media career at the BBC, where she remained for 7yrs working on projects from Dragon’s Den to multi-platform drama. From there she joined an independent TV production company where she met Marc Price (feature film writer / director). In 2016 Michelle and Marc joined forces and Michelle moved into film production.

Since then Michelle has produced four feature films, all of which have had distribution in multiple territories worldwide. Films include NIGHTSHOOTERS (nominated Best British Film at Raindance, winner of Best Action Film at Michigan FF) and Dune Drifter (winner Best VFX at Other Worlds FF, Texas).

All of Michelle’s films so far have been low budget, so squeezing every penny out of production finance is key, as is keeping investors happy and keen to invest in subsequent projects.

Two features are on Michelle’s slate for filming in 2021 (Covid permitting), with finance already secured and budgets progressively increasing with every film. Michelle and Marc’s aims are to make engaging British indie films with an action slant, though their slate is wide and varied, to try develop a business model that is sustainable across regular productions.

Below are some photos from our previous events: