Film City Futures

FOCUS On: Running a Film Company - Truths & Misconceptions

Tuesday 9th AUGUST 2022

Misconceptions about the filmmaking process. Pitfalls to avoid in financing & budgeting. Why and when to consider co-producing. How to prepare your written & verbal pitch. Creating a sustainable film business.

FOCUS On: Ed Clarke

Wednesday 6th APRIL 2022

Insight into the making of TV Drama with Ed Clarke, Executive Producer - What are the key things you should be aware of as a company moving from Film to TV Drama? How do the development and pitching processes differ between TV Drama and Film? How do you gain an understanding of the commissioning and scheduling processes? What are the broadcasters and SVODs looking for?

FOCUS On: Getty Images

wednesday 12th JANUARY 2022

In this webinar we'll be joined by Philippa Ash, Senior Business Development Manager at Getty Images. How can you access and use Getty Images archive successfully during development and production? How can Getty Images support Factual and Scripted genres? What does collaborating with them involve?

FOCUS On: Diversify Or Die

Tuesday 11th october 2022

We explore why cultivating a company-wide approach to diversity and inclusion during development, pitching to commissioners and production, is the key to unlocking the best talent and ideas which will grow your business. Gritty Talent founder, Mel Rodrigues, presents tools and top tips to build an authentically representative and inclusive screen company.

Networking & Showreel Launch at the haberdashery

Wednesday 22nd June 2022

Come and celebrate 5-years of FOCUS activities, discover how they have contributed to the growth of independent film, TV and animation companies and the impact the programme has had on the screen sector in Scotland and internationally.

From the FOCUS Team, we look forward to seeing you there!

FOCUS ON: us agents

wednesday 16th march 2022

In this webinar, we'll be joined by Patrick Feldman, an agent with ICM Partners in the International TV department. The session will cover the following points: an overview of the role of a US agent in unscripted; how they work with US & UK companies; how agents can support indies to recognise trends in the US market; how an IP can work with US channels.

FOCUS ON: Managing An Indie with Mark Raeburn

Wednesday 27th october 2021

In this webinar we'll be joined by Mark Raeburn, Portfolio Chief Finance Officer, who will be looking at the importance of profit and loss, cash flow, financial forecasting, creative and business management and the key areas to pay attention to on a regular basis to run your indie successfully.

FOCUS ON: Entrepreneurial Development

Wednesday 25th august 2021

Thinking entrepreneurially in development: What can a new generation of content entrepreneurs teach those of us working in independent TV and film production companies about ideas development in today's crowded marketplace, with endless competition for eyeballs?

UK Global Screen Fund: Information Session

Thursday 24th June 2021

Are you interested in learning more about the new £7 million UK Global Screen Fund (UKGSF) that will target support across the screen sector, including film, TV, documentary, animation and interactive narrative games content? Register now for our information session with UKGSF Project Manager, Annabel Grundy.

FOCUS ON: Shiny Floor Entertainment

Thursday 2nd december 2021

The Shiny Floor format, with its long running shows such as The Voice (ITV), Strictly Come Dancing (BBC) and The Masked Singer (ITV) have served as the foundation for newer iterations of this genre and the appetite for these kinds of shows continues to grow. What will be the next big thing for 2022?

FOCUS ON: The Business of Animation

Wednesday 1st september 2021

Animation content is expanding globally, across Asia, the US and Europe. In this webinar we'll be joined by experienced animation consultant Justine Bannister - who'll be discussing how to effectively utilise your animation IP for presentation to the international marketplace.

FOCUS ON: IR35

Wednesday 11th august 2021

Will your film or TV production company's PAYE processes be affected by HMRC’s changes to the off-payroll tax rules (IR35)? In this webinar Mark Primrose, an Associate in the Employment Group at Harbottle & Lewis, will discuss the changes to the Off-Payroll Working Rules (also known as IR35) that came into force in 6th April 2021.

FOCUS ON: Negotiating Deals

Wednesday 16th June 2021

This webinar aims at enabling film and TV companies to consider the issues that arise when negotiating various deals: maintaining the passion for the project, whilst ensuring that there is an understanding of its structures and mechanisms of deals and how these can impact the business.

FOCUS ON:
factual acquisitions

Wednesday 26th May 2021

In this webinar we'll be joined by Jimmy Humphrey, Director at Marmalade Sky TV - who'll be discussing how to prepare for and understand the acquisitions process for factual television. Topics will include: where to source pre-sale & co-production finance; what materials you’ll need to present and when to pitch; navigating the world of distribution; and commercial models to expect.

FOCUS ON:
Company Investment (Part 1)

Friday 12th March 2021

In this webinar we'll be joined by Colin Howes and Ed Lane from legal firm Harbottle & Lewis - who'll be discussing the key issues to consider if you are thinking about seeking investment. Topics will include: the pros and cons of growth through investment; how to pitch your company to investors; finding an investor; and SEIS and EIS investment.

FOCUS ON: Brexit

thursday 21st january 2021

In this webinar we’ll be joined Clare McGarry and Poppy Lucas - associates at legal firm Harbottle & Lewis - who’ll be discussing the key impacts of leaving the EU that will affect the screen sector. Topics covered will include: employees and people working on productions; providing services and shooting in the EU; tax incentives and co-productions; copyright law; and data protection.

FOCUS ON: recoupment

Wednesday 18th november

In this webinar Maria Tanjala - Co-Founder of FilmChain - will discuss how to set up an effective system for managing recoupment. Topics covered will include: creating a recoupment schedule; understanding different financing structures and equity investment; guidelines for priority of allocation and disbursement of entitlements; and rules of thumb and commonly accepted practices.

FOCUS ON: Branding

Wednesday 14th October

With a new generation of content creators to compete with, film and television production companies must work harder than ever to stand out. In this webinar Lawrence Francis - Executive Director at Premier, the UK’s leading communications agency - will discuss how to effectively establish and promote your brand.

FOCUS ON: sales agents

Wednesday 19th august

How do you go about finding the right sales agent for your project? How do you secure a deal with them? What different types of distribution deals are available? In this webinar, held in partnership with Short Circuit, Julia Short will explore the essentials of negotiating a deal with a sales agent.

FOCUS ON: literary adaptations

Wednesday 12th august

Producers, publishers and agents are constantly searching for the next great story and ideas regularly derive from the things that we read. In this webinar, learn from experienced literary scout Elizabeth Cochrane about ways to locate common sources for your story or script and the pros and cons of working with literary adaptations for your project.

FOCUS ON: formats

Wednesday 29th July

How do you develop a successful TV format? What steps can you take to ensure that you secure a second series? How do you go about adapting a format for markets outside of the UK? This webinar with Andrew Robertson from Very Nice TV will cover all topics related to television formats.

FOCUS ON: Film Tax Relief

Wednesday 27th May

UK Film Tax Relief has been a success for filmmakers, for the industry and for the government - but how do you access it? How do tax credit rules differ for film, TV and animation? What conditions must your project pass to be eligible to claim? In this upcoming webinar, Samuel Ampah from Alliotts will provide detailed guidance and discuss all elements related to the UK's Film Tax Relief

FOCUS ON: Film Finance

Wednesday 20th May

Financing of film projects often requires an elaborate patchwork of investors, banks, soft money tax credits and in-kind services. In this webinar feature film and television producer Ivan Mactaggart from Cambridge Picture Company will discuss various aspects of film financing

FOCUS ON:

Business crisis Management

Wednesday 6th May

In this webinar, industry business leader Nick Curwin will explore the types of threats facing production companies, how to respond to an unexpected and fast-moving event, developing a crisis management plan and the impact of COVID-19.

FOCUS ON: scripted development

Wednesday 22nd april

Sheryl Crown from Rubicon Pictures discusses how to establish a successful development strategy and put in place effective work flows. This webinar will provide invaluable advice to help you better understand how to establish a development strategy for your film or television production company.

FOCUS ON: Cash Flow

Wednesday 15th april

Given our current circumstances, it is more important than ever to be ready for whatever the world will throw at your screen sector business. This webinar featuring Danielle Biggins & Shannon McDonald from DASH Accounting Services will provide invaluable advice to help you better manage the cash flow of your film or TV company and how to steer your company through a crisis.

FOCUS ON: intellectual property

Wednesday 8th april

Catherine Potts (Scottish Enterprise) covers key areas of Intellectual Property (IP) and discusses how it can impact various aspects of your film or TV company. Each stage of a production has its own clearance issues and this webinar will provide a guideline to some of the critical areas of IP most looked at by companies working within the screen sector.

FOCUS ON: Nations & Regions

wednesday 20th November

This event examines the broadcast sector’s current focus on the Nations and Regions and asks…what exactly does this mean for the Scottish screen sector? Our panel brings together broadcasters and policy makers to dig deep into the changing face of the nations and regions, and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing companies in Scotland today.

FOCUS Presents: Young Audiences Content Fund Briefing with Jackie Edwards

monday 28th october

This event is an opportunity for content producers to find out more about the ambitions and priorities of the fund from Jackie directly, and take part in an audience Q&A. The BFI's Young Audiences Content Fund supports the creation of distinctive, high-quality content for audiences up to the age of 18.

FOCUS ON: People

WEDNESDAY 22nd May

Your company has the best chance of success if you hire the right people to work for you. This event included short presentations from organisations such as Adopt an Intern, Glasgow University Internship Hub, Business Gateway, Glasgow Guarantee, Televators and Changing the Chemistry, followed by a limited number of one-to-one surgeries with the speakers.

FOCUS ON: scripted

thursday 20th september

Attendees were invited to find out about commissioning priorities and how to secure a successful TV drama from our panel of experts.

Our panel discussed key trends in high end drama, and outlining opportunities both within Scotland and in the widening drama commissioning landscape.

FOCUS ON: digital

wednesday 18th april

This event was an opportunity for indie production companies and filmmakers to gain a crucial overview of the digital commissioning landscape. We were joined by Little Dot Studios, and find out more about how to secure video content commissions through digital platforms like Facebook, Apple, Snapchat and SVOD channels from business development and digital content consultant Jen Topping.

FOCUS ON: data protection

wednesday 31st january

The workshop was designed for companies working in the screen sector who need to market their work or maintain a database. Elizabeth Mclean of Scott-Moncrieff and Laura Irvine of BTO Solicitors outlined the main changes and requirements of new GDPR new legislation, the challenges it might pose to your organisation, and the practical steps you can take now.