ABSTRACT
The majority of independent films financed outside the Hollywood Studio system depend on a myriad of sources of finance and investment to enter film production. Industry texts and analysts talk about ‘jigsaw puzzles’ and often suggest that there are ‘no rules’ to independent financing of films. Beyond the fact that the film production business is prototypical – meaning that each film is unique (even sequels) – there have evolved certain structures and risk-managed approaches that continue to underpin the independent film finance business. But just as no films are the same creatively, few independent films are ever financed in precisely the same way (or repeated) with regards to the specific detail of partners, financing, investment, recoupment and profit share positions.
