1st Edition
The Content Production Business Legal, Economic and Creative Basics for Producers
This book goes beyond the technical steps in the process of making film, TV, and media material, examining what it means to be an ongoing supplier of content to the marketplace and how to become one. Steve Levitan brings insights and experience from his lifelong career producing in the content industry, where he has also acted as a professional advisor to content makers, distributors and providers, whilst setting up his own production company.
Producing as a Business offers strategic, tactical, financial, legal and marketing insights for the successful establishment of content creation enterprises. Readers will gain insight into how to avoid starting from square one with each project, while also learning how to maintain a meaningful level of ownership and build a revenue stream that can sustain a core operation, helping establish them as a “player” in the industry. This text is aimed at the international production industry, with real examples referred to throughout.
Film, television, and media production students who are looking to understandthe business of producing, as well as first-time producers who are already familiar with the basics of the production process, will benefit from an examination of the building blocks that form lasting production companies.
Chapter 1. Storytelling and Technology
Chapter 2. The Basics – What You Need to Know
Chapter 3. Starting Up
Chapter 4. Basics of Business Plans and Operating Plans
Chapter 5. Business Development
Chapter 6. Monetizing Rights, Managing Revenue Streams
Chapter 7. Ethics and Social Responsibility
Chapter 8. Mistakes to Avoid
Chapter 9. Conclusion
Biography
Steve Levitan the sole owner of Protocol Entertainment Inc, founded in 1993 - which devotes itself to excellence in the development, financing and production of series, mini-series and movies for the North American and international markets. He is also one of Canada's most reputable entertainment lawyers. Since 2012, Levitan has also been an instructor at Toronto Metropolitan University’s RTA School of Media and its Creative Industries School as well as Sheridan College’s Pilon School of Business. He is a registered mediator for cultural industries.
“As a leading entertainment lawyer, production executive, successful producer and, more recently, an academic at TMU, Steve Levitan has extensive experience, insight and expertise when it comes to all aspects of content creation. The Content Production Business is an essential guide to anyone who aspires to have a professional career as a content maker.” - David Zitzerman
"Steve Levitan’s new book The Content Production Business is not only the first book of its kind, it is a comprehensive, thorough and immensely helpful primer, providing easily understood coverage of the legal, economic and creative fundamentals that anyone interested in the content production business must read." - Scott Jolliffe, Intellectual Property Partner at Gowling WLG
"As an accomplised producer, media entrepreneur and educator, Levitan knows how creativity and business must work hand in hand in content creation. This is an essential primer for anyone wanting to succeed as a producer!" - Charles Falzon, Dean of The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University
"This book is really smart! The reader, whether novice, professional or industry stakeholder will come away with a powerful, pragmatic “indie film” design for success. Levitan balances artistic vision with the commercial savviness necessary to survive and grow in a very competitive media industry. He illustrates his ideas with legal precision and a unique social intelligence while employing impactful stories from the field." - Jean Desormeaux, Sheridan College
"Steve Levitan lays out in gritty and pragmatic detail how to develop, finance, executive produce and sell a television series. This is the long overdue business and legal guide for producers and those who dream of becoming television producers." - James Nadler, Chair of RTA School of Media atToronto Metropolitan University
