For Aspiring Producers
Whether you’re an actor, director, writer, an aspiring business professional or a passionate creative interested in how the production industry works, this series will save you time and money. Producer Essentials: A Comprehensive Guide to Business Affairs and Production Law for Film & Television offers you the tools you need to effectively navigate the Film & TV production landscape and get your first project off the ground.
Learn from the very best
Developed and designed by top entertainment lawyers, Lori Massini & Heather Watt, Producer Essentials brings together current industry legal experts & business professionals to provide step-by-step instruction, essential information & firsthand experience into every video session.
Master Class Instruction
Through 12 video modules, totalling 16 hours of content, this self-paced course covers all aspects of producing a film or television production, from financing the project and post-production requirements to marketing and pitching your project to investors, festivals and distributors.
Producer Essentials - Financing
Faculty
Kim Roberts
Producer and Partner, Sepia Films
Kim Roberts brings over two decades of experience as an entertainment lawyer to Sepia Films, where he oversees co-productions, production financing, contract negotiations, E&O insurance and tax credits for Canadian and foreign productions, as well as all aspects of production legal. Kim is also involved in the development and production of Sepia’s feature film slate, utilizing strong working relationships with financiers, cultural agencies and distributors and providing input on the slate’s creative elements. Together with producing partner Tina Pehme, Roberts has produced numerous feature films, feature documentaries and more than a dozen movies for television. Roberts also executive produced the award-winning Canada/UK co-production It’s All Gone Pete Tong (2004).
Lori Massini
Entertainment Lawyer, Boughton Law Corporation
Lori Massini practices entertainment law, assisting numerous Canadian and American producers and studios with their legal and business affairs needs. Lori has acted as production counsel for original programming for networks such as Nickelodeon, Disney, the Food Network and Discovery. She has extensive experience negotiating contracts for actors, directors, producers and crew, managing employment and labour issues, advising on corporate legal matters and overseeing complex financing arrangements. Lori was formerly Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs for a major film and production studio. She is active in the arts, and is an accomplished dancer and musician. Lori is a co-creator of Producer Essentials.
Trevor Hodgson
Senior Business Affairs Executive, First Look Media
Trevor Hodgson has provided executive producing, producing and business affairs services on more than 75 non-scripted and 10 scripted projects. His experience spans dramatic feature films, television scripted and unscripted series, and animated features and series. Trevor most recently produced The Oland Murder, a true crime documentary series for CBC and executive produced the series Rust Valley Restorers for History Television. His past productions include Eat St., Yukon Gold, Timber Kings, Cold Water Cowboys, and Chopped Canada.
