The Business of Film: A Practical Introduction

This updated third edition introduces readers to the business of film at every stage of the filmmaking lifecycle, from planning and production to financing, marketing, and distribution. Celebrated authors Stephen R. Greenwald and Paula Landry offer a practical, hands-on guide to the business aspects of this evolving industry, exploring streaming, development, financing trends, regional/global/online distribution, shifting business models, exhibition, multi-platform delivery, marketing, VR/AR, virtual production, accounting, and more.

The book is illustrated throughout with sample financing scenarios and charts/graphics, and includes detailed case studies from projects of different budgets and markets. This new and expanded edition has been updated to reflect the new challenges facing the industry due to Covid-19 and how to navigate the new landscape of film financing and distribution. Other updates include coverage of new indie films and distributors, virtual production, the recent impact of global markets including the biggest streamers like Netflix, Apple and Amazon are how they are shaping the future of the business.

This is essential reading for students looking for foundational knowledge of the film industry and guidance on how to successfully adapt to constant changes in the entertainment business.

Extensive online support material accompanies the book including downloadable forms and templates, PowerPoint slides, quizzes and test banks, and other additional resources.

Stephen R. Greenwald has served as an executive, financier, consultant, and lawyer within the motion-picture industry. He is currently the managing partner of G&H Media LLC, Chief Operating Officer of Grey Eagle Films LLC and Director of Media Studies at Wagner College in New York. Stephen has worked widely in the movie business, and from 1999 to 2007 was president of the Metropolitan College of New York, where he launched an innovative graduate business program in media management, the first of its kind in the country.

Paula Landry

is a writer/producer, film business and media consultant, interested in disruptive business models. Landry crafts feature films and episodic content, business plans, budgets and schedules, as well as branded content for Fortune 500 companies and non-profits. Landry is president of IdeaBlizzard Productions and is also the author of Scheduling and Budgeting Your Film: A Panic-Free Guide, now in its second edition. An active member of NYWIFT, Landry conducts media seminars worldwide, coaching creative entrepreneurs and teaching MBA students in various colleges in New York City.