Jack Davidson
Reno, NV (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal
Titan Pictures Limited
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Startup
Location:
Reno
Industry:
Entertainment
Year Founded:
2008
Number Employees:
1-10 people
Description:
Titan Pictures Ltd. and Film Factory New Zealand are producing a $4 million horror picture that will be shot in Michigan in the fall of 2010. Logline: A group of fashion models on location at a wilderness lake incur the wrath of Native American spirits after one of them removes a baby's skull from an ancient burial ground. Development is complete. Paul Carran (Ike:Countdown to D-Day, Wired) and writer Jack Davidson will produce. Veteran British director Stuart Orme (The Puppet Masters, The Lost World) will helm. Top visual effects supervisor George Port (The BRidge to Terabithia, 30 Days of Night) will handle the FX. Jason Scott Lee, Olivia Hussey, Alfonso Ribeiro and Eric Schwieg will star. Seeking $3 million in equity from an angel group or 10-12 high net worth individuals. For a profitable film the key selling points are... Horror, the right genre – sells well domestically and is very strong in DVD rentals. Worldwide appeal - horror and action are the two best genres for foreign sales. Stars – though not required in a horror film, they are a huge plus for worldwide sales and for attracting distributors.
PG-13 rating - expands the audience by opening it up to audiences under 16, also, by refraining from excessive gore the film may be more appealing to older female audiences who like thrillers but are put off by the R-rated horror films reliance on gore. Low production costs - too low (under $1m) and the production values are weak - over $5m and the breakeven point climbs. With a $4m budget our breakeven point is only $3.15m - a strong point for risk reduction as well. Numerous windows – there are up to 8 windows (theatrical, video-on-demand, DVD and 5 TV) available in each of the 38 territories worldwide. Sex appeal - if it can sell soap, beer and cars it works even better for films -- spices up the trailers, posters and DVD jackets which distributors understand matters most. Quality script – a good story well told. The attachments speak to this, but the producers can also provide third party coverage that "recommends" the material.
For risk management the key elements in place are: An experienced producer – Paul Carran has 30 years experience in production. A veteran, bondable director – Stuart Orme has helmed 27 films including two studio projects. Funds held in escrow - investors money bears interest and is returned to investors in full if the producers fail to raise the full amount of the equity needed to complete the budget.
Production funded in stages - and only after 75% of the budget is in place. Significant soft money - reduces exposure, investors in for only $3m of a $4m project. Insurance - covers the investors & production from Acts of God, liabilities, errors and omissions, etc.
Completion bond - protects investors from cost overruns and guarantees a completed film or investors are reimbursed. Interested investors are invited to contact us to receive a copy of our film prospectus.