Every Filmmaker Should Know These Two Things About The Filmmaking Business — Jeff Deverett
Film Courage: Jeff, you say making a movie is like starting a business? Why make that comparison?
Jeff Deverett, Film Producer, Entrepreneur, Writer, Director: Making an independent movie. There are so many components to making a movie. Think of you’re creating something from scratch, from an idea and that’s what a business is. You have an idea and you want to bring it to life and bring whatever it is (your product or service) to market and you have to go through all of those steps and components to do that. That is what making a movie is. Ultimately you’re going to develop it, produce it and then market it and so that’s what a business is. It’s creating a product or a service and then putting it out to market and then hoping that consumers consume it and in the case of movie the consumption is watching it or buying it (whatever) in that case. How is that any different than any business? That’s what all businesses do, they create from an idea, a product or a service and put it out to market to be consumed and that’s why I relate it to a business.
Now in the studios, there are two types. I believe that the studio business and the independent business are entirely two separate businesses the way a public…(Watch the video interview on Youtube here).
About:
Jeff Deverett is formerly from Toronto, Canada where he acquired a Law Degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Finance Degree from The University of Toronto. After his legal internship, Jeff migrated directly into the film & TV industry starting in the Home Video Distribution division of New World Entertainment when VHS & Beta was in its “heyday”. Jeff continued his film & TV Distribution career for 22 years working as Senior VP at Astral Communications (a big public Canadian Media Company); EVP International Distribution for Anchor Bay Entertainment; SVP Domestic Distribution for HIT Entertainment, where he helped manage iconic kids brands Barney, Bob the Builder, and Thomas the Tank Engine; and SVP North American Distribution for Alliance Entertainment. Jeff then founded and launched his own worldwide distribution company, KaBOOM! Entertainment which was eventually sold to eOne Entertainment. After 22 years of film Distribution, Jeff had a burning desire to try his hand at the “artistic” side of the business and became a film writer, producer, and director of low budget independent feature films. Over the past decade, Jeff financed, produced and/or directed seven feature films which he self distributed worldwide. Three of his movies, FULL OUT, KISS & CRY, and FULL OUT 2 — YOU GOT THIS! are presently airing on NETFLIX worldwide in 60 countries and 22 languages. After a long and successful career in film Production & Distribution, Jeff is excited to share his knowledge and experience with up-and-coming new filmmakers and students. He currently teaches at San Diego State University’s School of Theatre, Television and Film.
Related videos:
5 Pieces Of Advice To New Artists On Business And People — Walid Azami
Filmmaking Is A Startup Business — Zeke Zelker
Being A Successful Filmmaker Starts With Business — Mark Harris
Art or Business, Which Comes First? — Dale Stelly
The Reality Of Producing Movies — Jay Silverman
