Getting Real with Indie Film Finance and Distribution
KA: I spoke with Financier/Producer Michael Mendelsohn , Chairman of Patriot Pictures, about what are equity/wealthy individuals looking for when investing in films.
MM: I don’t think wealthy individuals or equity investors are looking to be in the movie business to make a profit necessarily. They are looking to talk about an issue, or a socially relevant subject matter. Many of them want to be heard.
A perfect example of this is Participant Media, headed by Jeff Skol, internet entrepreneur and former President of Ebay. “In January 2004, Founder Jeff Skol brought together a handful of entertainment industry executives who shared his interest in creating quality entertainment that would engage the audience, generate awareness of topical and interesting issues and inspire individuals to take action. Participant Media was born.”
KA: Michael, you’re both a producer and a financier…so what do you look for in a project to make a financing decision?
MM: I look for the same things as a producer and as a financier…I need the same elements to be there. Although, big elements aside, I’m starting to get more “issue oriented.” What I mean by that is a project that can have an impact on people, or change people’s minds about an issue or idea.
KA: So you’re looking at issue oriented projects because that’s what you’re more passionate about, or that’s what the audience wants?
MM: Well, I think both. And as an indie producer, I can’t really do a $250 Million SPIDER MAN. But I can do $30 million and under picture, and that’s where we look for big stars….But now the definition of big stars has changed….it used to be Al Pacino and DeNiro…they used to be considered big stars, but now that’s changing…..
KA: Who are the big stars now?
MM: I don’t know anymore…(laugh)…..now it’s George Clooney, Brad Pitt,
KA: What about the kids?
MM: Taylor Lautner….Robert Pattinson…
KA: Is there a sweet spot for budgets now?
MM: Well, issue oriented movies that are done for under $5 M, action movies that are done for around $30M…with the right cast.
KA: So is the mid-zone kind of a danger area?
MM: Yeah…the only thing you can do for the middle zone, is a British movie that is an adaptation or remake of a modern day take on a Shakespeare story like Romeo and Juliet. For instance, ANONYMOUS cost $30M…KING’S SPEECH cost $15-16M. Both dramas in that mid-zone…but British oriented.
KA: And why do they seem to be British films?
MM: They just seem to be the ones that the Weinsteins will distribute. (Laugh)
KA: So what would you say has been the biggest change in film financing in the last 5 years?
MM: What’s missing is the lack of educated film financiers. No longer are there independent financiers that are willing to fund smart indie pictures. They’re funding BATMAN, they’re funding 300…Outside of the issue-oriented film, financiers are independently funding major studio pictures.
KA: Do you think that VOD and digital downloads are a significant revenue stream now?
MM: Absolutely.
KA: How does it monetize in your financial formula?
MM: We put it into the section of Home Video rentals and we split the number with DVD rental and sales. VOD takes a piece of what used to be DVD. DVD got weaker, and now VOD and downloads are getting stronger.
KA: We’ve been reading that Netflix is going through some growing pains and possible hard times. The studios are holding back their movies or asking exorbitant prices. Are you hearing that the studios are doing their own streaming deals?
MM: Yes. They’re distributing through ITunes, or through Microsoft, or through 3rd parties. The Studios never like to let any company get too powerful.
Examples: Vongo and Movielink. These services offer thousands of titles around the clock, from recent blockbusters to Hollywood classics. Some for as little as $1. “After spending the past few weeks trying them out, I’ve decided they’re compelling alternatives to both video stores and DVD-by-mail services. Now it doesn’t matter where I am or what time it is. If I have Media Center and a high-speed Internet connection, I have a movie theater.” Michael Stroh/Microsoft
KA: Are investors’ expectations higher or lower than in years past?
MM: Higher. (Why?) Because many of them made a lot of money in the real estate debacle, so they think they should make a lot of money in film….
KA: What keeps you making movies?
MM: The passion that I have about storytelling…Sometimes I wish I didn’t have the disease… (laugh) and I could do something else…but people keep coming to me to make their movies and I get inspired. And when they hit, and you make a difference…it’s very exciting.
Michael Mendelsohn is the Chairman and CEO of Patriot Pictures, and currently manages senior and mezzanine debt portfolios for banks and financial institutions specializing in entertainment. Michael has arranged production financing for over 258 films, including “Lord of War,” starring Nicolas Cage and Ethan Hawke; “Material Girls,” starring Hilary Duff, and “Holy Cross,” executive produced by George Romero. Mr. Mendelsohn has also arranged financing for such films as Beacon Pictures and Wolfgang Peterson’s ”Air Force One;” Lakeshore Entertainment produced “The Mothman Prophecies;” the Wachowski Brothers’ “The Matrix;” Icon Pictures produced “What Women Want;” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs.”