Developing Feature Films in Europe: A Practical Guide

Over the last two decades European films have lost two-thirds of the cinema-going audience to American films. Among the different approaches and cost structures of the European and American industries there is one area where the US invest significantly more than Europe: development. Developing Feature Films in Europe is the first comprehensive text on this critical stage of the film-making process. It is based on extensive research and interviews with more than seventy industry practitioners. It provides details of national and pan-European funds which are available for film development, as well as information about training initiatives for writers and producers. There is also an invaluable directory of contacts, addresses and application procedures for public and private funding bodies throughout Europe. This book provides a wealth of practical advise and information for any film producer, script executive, writer or director aiming to move their projects from the idea stage into production, and to exploit the market for their scripts and films. Angus Finney is a writer and consultant on film, media and the arts and is an expert on the European film industry. He is a former Deputy Editor of Screen International and is currently chairman of the Festival Film School, a training initiative aimed at developing new talent in the European industry.

Table of Contents:
1 An introduction to feature film development; The basic concept and state of play; 1.1 The wider perspective; 1.2 Defining the activity of development; 1.3 The early stages of development; 1.4 Development as a high-risk investment; 1.5 The 'auteur' problem; 1.6 Europe's different approaches; 1.7 The Hollywood approach; 1.8 Private sources of development; 1.9 MEDIA Programme's intervention; Key summary points; 2 Creative aspects of film development; The respective roles of the writer, producer, director, agent, script editor and financier; 2.1 The writer; 2.2 The different roles of a producer; Key summary points; 3 National public support systems for feature film development; An examination of the EU's main domestic funding mechanisms for film development; 3.1 Introduction to the national systems; 3.2 France; 3.3 The UK; 3.4 Germany; 3.5 Spain; 3.6 Italy; 3.7 National sources of development finance in smaller territories across Europe; Key summary points; 4 Broadcasters' support systems; The broadcasters' development policies in each domestic territory; 4.1 Development by French broadcasters; 4.2 Development by UK broadcasters; 4.3 Development by German broadcasters; 4.4 Development by Spanish broadcasters; 4.5 Development by Italian broadcasters; Key summary points; 5 Privately-funded film companies; A case study on PolyGram Filmed Entertainment's development Strategy, and an analysis of large, medium and smaller European company practices; 5.1 Case study: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment; 5.2 Housekeeping/Output deals; 5.3 Private companies; Key summary points; 6 Pan-European funds and initiatives; Pan-European development funds and training initiatives, including a focus on the European Script Fund; 6.1 Introduction to the MEDIA Programme; 6.2 The European Script Fund (SCRIPT); 6.3 Other development/training initiatives; 6.4 The MBS approach; 6.5 SOURCES (Stimulating Outstanding Resources for Creative European Screenwriting); 6.6 The Frank Daniel Script Workshops; 6.7 Equinoxe; 6.8 First Film Foundation; 7 What next?; A summary of the book's key findings and a discussion of the new strategies required for improving the state of development; 7.1 A changing perception; 7.2 No studio umbrellas; 7.3 The fragmentation problem; 7.4 Criticisms being answered; 7.5 More development finance available; 7.6 Investing in larger companies; 7.7 The broadcaster catch; 7.8 Training beyond 2000; 7.9 Taking risks for the future; Directory of Contacts; Appendix A National public sources of development finance & country by country; Appendix B Pan-European public funds for feature film development; The European Script Fund (SCRIPT); Appendix C Pan-European training/development initiatives; ACE ; EAVE; Equinoxe; First Film Foundation; PILOTS; The Frank Daniel Script Workshops; Appendix D The large and medium-sized private companies in Europe; Appendix E European-based literary/talent agencies; Index;