Advanced Level Finance Class: How to Finance and Produce a Feature Film for a Streamer Such as Netflix, Amazon or Hulu

Exclusive Advance Level Finance Class With Viviana Zarragoitia, the Vice President of Three Point Capital, one of the entertainment industry's top financiers that specializes in senior lending on film and television projects

PLEASE NOTE: Although this exclusive Stage 32 class is no longer live and the teacher is not available on email, we highly encourage you to do any assignments to get the most out of the educational experience.

We are seeing more and more members of the Stage 32 getting fully-funded agreements from streamers like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu to create original content and we expect that trend to continue well into the future. In situations like this, traditional financing and distribution schemes vary and you, as a producer or filmmaker, need to understand how to finance and produce your film in the best way in order to deliver it to the streamer on time and on budget. 

This advanced level on-demand 2-part financing class is geared towards independent producers who either have, or one day will, receive a distribution agreement (i.e., Minimum Guarantee) offer for their film ahead of production.  You will learn some valuable tools on how to monetize the offer towards financing the budget of the film. You will learn how to work with third party lenders to monetize the distribution agreement and the pitfalls to look out for when working with lenders in financing a distribution agreement.

To help you navigate this is Viviana Zarragoitia who is the Vice President of Three Point Capital, one of the entertainment industry's top financiers that specializes in senior lending on film and television projects. Through Three Point, Viviana closes the financing on every film that the company is involved in. She has been involved in the financing of over 100 independent films, and worked with such producers as Cassian Elwes (DALLAS BUYERS CLUB), Rob Barnum (MARGIN CALL), Anthony Bregman (ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND), James Schamus (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN), Aaron Gilbert (JOKER), Kimberly Steward (MANCHESTER BY THE SEA), Nicolas Chartier (THE HURT LOCKER) and Kevin Frakes (HEREDITARY), among others. Before Three Point Capital, Viviana worked in accounting at Millennium Films and Bold Films, as well as in the finance division of Lionsgate, where she oversaw the preparation of multi-million dollar film and television distribution deals.

Viviana has seen it all when it comes to film financing and knows intimately well how films find success at all budget levels. She will make sure you feel confident about your streamer deal and deliver your film in line with what a streamer is looking for.

Praise For Viviana's Stage 32 Education

"Viviana was personable, professional, interesting, interested, and a wealth of knowledge and useful information. I will take every opportunity to learn from her. She was patient and polite with every question and always clear with what she knew, what she thought, what she believed, and what she didn't know. She painted pictures and delivered facts, outlining the paths she has seen successful producers take while still encouraging all to pursue their art with a greater knowledge of the business and understanding of the challenges and potential pitfalls."

-Randy G.

"As someone who was totally new to the world of film financing, trying to learn about the process by myself was intimidating to put it lightly. Viviana clearly explains the film financing process step-by-step and demystifies the complex, bespoke nature of pre-sales, tax credits, sales agents, and so much more. I feel infinitely more confident in my ability to produce a film thanks to this class. I give it the highest possible recommendation for any independent filmmaker looking to finance their film and take their projects to the next level."

-Sean R.

"Viviana has a tremendous depth and range of knowledge about film financing and she was happy to share everything she knew. Thanks to her loose, attentive style for the class, it ranged far and wide, and she answered a lot of people’s questions whether they were general or specific to their own projects. And I feel like there was value for all of us in even the most project-specific questions."

-Randy V.