Investing in movies can be a unique and exciting way to earn passive income. Movies and TV shows like Captain America, The Avengers, The Hobbit, and Game of Thrones are making an enormous amount of money right now. This means that there is significant potential to earn money by investing in this industry. If you're interested in investing, you may be wondering where to start and what the best opportunities are.
In the past, only the wealthy and influential entertainment moguls could invest in movie-making ventures. However, this is no longer the case. Nowadays, there may be opportunities for regular investors to invest in the success, or failure, of movies. The allure of Hollywood is often associated with lavish parties, rubbing shoulders with celebrities, awards shows, and glamorous outfits.
While it can be risky, investing in movies has the potential to yield sky high returns. In this post, we'll explore the different ways you can invest in movies and how you can earn passive income from your investments.
How to Invest in Movie / Film Projects?
Investing in movie projects can be more complex and risky than investing in publicly traded movie production companies. Here are some general steps to investing in a movie project:
Find a movie investment opportunity. There are various ways to find movie investment opportunities, including online platforms that connect investors with film producers or production companies, attending film festivals or industry events, or networking within the film industry.
Do your due diligence. Before investing in a movie project, it's important to thoroughly research the production company, the film's script, the director, and the cast. Look at their past projects and reviews to determine their track record and whether they have a good chance of success.
Determine the investment amount. Movie investment opportunities often have a minimum investment amount. Consider how much you are willing to invest and what your potential return on investment could be.
Negotiate investment terms. Work with the film producer or production company to negotiate the terms of your investment, including how much equity or ownership you will have in the project and how you will be compensated if the film is successful.
Review legal documents. Make sure to review and understand all legal documents related to the investment, including the investment agreement, production agreement, and distribution agreement.
Online Platforms that Connect Investors with Movie Projects
There are several online platforms that connect investors with movie projects. Some popular platforms include:
Slated - A platform that connects investors with independent filmmakers and producers. The platform also offers tools for project analysis and project management.
Legion M - A fan-owned entertainment company that allows investors to participate in the development and financing of movies, TV shows, and other entertainment projects.
Mogul Productions - A decentralized platform that allows investors to participate in the production of movies, TV shows, and other content through decentralized finance and blockchain technology.
MovieInvestor.com - A platform that allows investors to invest in independent movies and get a share of the film's profits.
FrontFundr - A Canadian crowdfunding platform that offers investment opportunities in movie projects and other alternative investments.
Invest in Movie Royalties
Investing in movie royalties is another way to earn passive income from movies. When you invest in movie royalties, you are essentially purchasing a percentage of the revenue generated by a movie. This can be done by purchasing rights to the soundtrack, the screenplay, or other aspects of the movie.
Buying movie royalties can be a unique investment opportunity, but it requires some specialized knowledge and research. Here are some general steps to buying movie royalties:
Find a movie royalty opportunity. There are various ways to find movie royalty opportunities, including working with a royalty broker or specialized investment firm, attending film festivals or industry events, or networking within the film industry.
Do your due diligence. Before buying movie royalties, it's important to thoroughly research the film's production company, the film's script, the director, and the cast. Look at their past projects and reviews to determine their track record and whether they have a good chance of success.
Determine the investment amount. Movie royalty investments often have a minimum investment amount. Consider how much you are willing to invest and what your potential return on investment could be.
Negotiate royalty terms. Work with the film's production company to negotiate the terms of your royalty purchase, including the percentage of royalties you will receive and how often they will be paid out.
Review legal documents. Make sure to review and understand all legal documents related to the royalty purchase, including the royalty agreement and distribution agreement.
Here's a few brokers and firms you can research for this opportunity:
The Royalty Exchange - This platform allows investors to purchase or sell royalties from a variety of assets, including music, patents, and films.
Royalty Flow - This investment firm specializes in buying and managing royalty interests from media and entertainment companies, including films.
The Entertainment IP Fund - This investment fund allows accredited investors to invest in a portfolio of entertainment intellectual property assets, including films and TV shows.
Sound Royalties - While primarily focused on music royalties, this firm also offers opportunities to invest in royalties from films and TV shows.
Can anyone invest in movies?
Not necessarily. In the United States, filmmakers must abide by strict laws, particularly from the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), when accepting investors for their projects. There are two main types of investors: active and passive. An active investor typically has experience and connections in the entertainment industry, understands its intricacies, and takes an active role in the day-to-day production of a film. There are fewer restrictions around securing active investors for a film project.
Passive investors, on the other hand, must be accredited investors, meaning they are high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) who earn at least $200,000 per year or have a net worth of at least $1 million. If a filmmaker is publicly offering investments in their film, they must use a Private Placement Memorandum (PPM) and ensure that all their investors are legally able to invest. Filmmakers also have the ability to secure investments from up to 35 non-accredited investors per Rule 506(b), but the requirements to do so are far more complicated than creating a PPM.
If you are interested in investing in a film project and working with a filmmaker who is following the rules, they should have a PPM prepared for their film investment, which should contain the necessary documents to prove that you are an accredited investor. However, be cautious of any filmmaker who is not following SEC rules and is publicly advertising their film to investors, particularly those looking to raise film financing of $100K-$5M.
Hedgefunds and Private Equity for the Affluent Investor
For those with a substantial amount of capital, private equity and hedge funds can provide a route to investing in Hollywood. These investment vehicles are the most common method for direct investment in the film industry, but they typically require sophisticated investors with a high tolerance for risk. This option is better suited for family offices or institutional investors. If you decide to pursue this route, be sure to carefully review all offering documents to ensure they comply with securities laws.
Hedge funds often use a strategy known as "slate financing" to manage risk and generate returns. This involves investing in a portfolio of films instead of a single production. By diversifying their investments, hedge funds can balance the risks and returns associated with individual films. The films included in the portfolio depend on the co-financing efforts between the production and distribution company and the film studios. However, due diligence is necessary to ensure transparency in financial accounts.
Crowdsourcing for the Rest of Us
For the average investor who wants to invest in the movie industry, crowdfunding has become a popular option. This approach enables filmmakers to raise capital from a large group of individuals by gathering small amounts of money. However, potential investors must conduct thorough research on the project, its personnel, and their track record before investing. It is also essential to scrutinize the filmmaker's promise of return, as they may only offer merchandise as a reward.
Alternatively, investors can consider investing indirectly in the movie industry by investing in entertainment-related stocks. Companies such as Viacom, Netflix, Disney, Amazon, and Lionsgate produce big-budget films and offer diversification in their entertainment industry offerings, which can mitigate some of the risks of stock market investments. Nevertheless, it is essential to note that this approach does not guarantee a producer credit.
Investing in a production company can give you the opportunity to earn returns from the success of the movies they produce. This can be done by purchasing shares of the company, similar to how you would invest in a publicly traded company.
Research the movie production companies that are publicly traded. You can use online financial resources like Yahoo Finance, Google Finance, or MarketWatch to find information on companies that are involved in the film industry.
Open a brokerage account. In order to invest in publicly traded companies, you'll need to open a brokerage account with a firm that allows you to buy and sell stocks.
Fund your brokerage account. You'll need to transfer funds into your brokerage account before you can purchase shares of a movie production company.
Find the stock symbol for the movie production company you want to invest in. You can find this by searching for the company's name on your brokerage's trading platform.
Place your order. Once you have found the stock symbol, you can place an order to purchase shares of the movie production company through your brokerage account. You can choose to purchase a specific number of shares or invest a specific amount of money.
It's important to keep in mind that investing in publicly traded movie production companies can still be risky and there is no guarantee of a return on your investment. Be sure to do your research and only invest what you can afford to lose. It may also be helpful to consult with a financial advisor or investment professional before making any investment decisions.
Considerations when Investing in Movies
Before investing in a movie project, it's essential to conduct thorough research and due diligence. Consider the producer's reputation, experience, and the talent involved in the project. A lack of a proven track record is a warning sign that should not be overlooked. The quality of the script or screenplay should also be examined, as well as the other investors who have invested in the project.
It's also important to evaluate the potential market appeal of the film. Blockbusters tend to have a broader appeal, while niche films have a smaller audience. Films with a religious message or intellectual humor could be a hard sell to distributors since their audiences tend to be narrow. The film's talent, both in front of and behind the camera, should also be considered.
Additionally, it's important to ensure that the filmmaker's interests are aligned with those of the investors and the distributor. The investment should be a fair arrangement, and investors should be cautious of situations where most of the revenue benefits the filmmaker rather than the investors. Lastly, it's essential to learn about the director's vision and evaluate whether they have an outsized ego that could prove detrimental to the success of the film.
Any investment proposal for a movie project should be put in writing and contain an arbitration clause for cost-effective dispute resolution. The filmmaker should have a completion bond to protect investors from project mismanagement or poor forecasting. Different fundraising options should be considered for crowdfunders, and tax incentives should be pursued properly. Funds should be escrowed during the fundraising stage to ensure transparency and accountability, and insufficient funds should be returned to investors. When it comes to returns, investors should be repaid their investment and debts incurred first, followed by profit-sharing with the producer. The film's stars, writers, and director are paid from the producer's profits. It is crucial to work with a professional with experience in the film industry to ensure these considerations are met.
How Movies Profit
In the movie industry, ticket price revenue is split between the theater owners, studios, and distributors, with the studio traditionally receiving a larger portion during a film's opening weekend. The percentage of revenue an exhibitor receives depends on the contract for each film, and many contracts are designed to protect theaters against films that do not perform well by giving them a larger percentage of ticket sales.
Merchandising is also a significant source of revenue for big-budget films that appeal to kids and Comic-Con fans. On the other hand, some analysts warn about movie fatigue as younger audiences gravitate towards newer forms of entertainment like video games and YouTube.
Foreign sales are also an essential aspect of revenue for the movie industry, with some American films earning more money internationally than domestically. Producers often make a wish list of well-known names for casting to increase the chances of selling the rights in foreign territories. Besides, revenue from television rights, video-on-demand, and streaming are becoming more critical sources of profit for producers, with streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime licensing older films for their platforms. However, the success of original content on these platforms may draw audiences away from traditional movies.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, investing in the movie industry can be a risky venture but can also offer potential rewards. For sophisticated investors with enough capital, private equity and hedge funds provide the most common route for direct investment in cinematic ventures. However, these investment vehicles are better suited for family offices or institutional investors due to the substantial risks involved. Crowdfunding has become a popular form of investment for ordinary investors and a way for filmmakers to raise capital from a broad group of patrons. Before investing in a film project, it is important to conduct thorough research and due diligence on the project, personnel, and their track records. Indirect investment through entertainment-related stocks is also an option for investors to consider.
To protect their interests, filmmakers should produce a written investment proposal with an arbitration clause, have a completion bond, and escrow funds during the fundraising stage of the film to ensure transparency and accountability. It is important to work with a professional with experience in the film industry to navigate these complex investments. Ultimately, film revenues should be used to repay investors all of their investment and debts incurred first before any other stakeholders, and profit-sharing between the producer and investors follows.
It's important to keep in mind that investing in movie projects can be risky and there is no guarantee of a return on your investment. It may be helpful to consult with a financial advisor or investment professional before making any investment decisions.