How to Start a Film Production Company

The production company is the backbone of any film. It is responsible for all the tasks that are required to create and package a film. It includes everything from hiring talent, scouting locations, and creating costumes to managing budgets, scheduling shoots, and editing footage.

 

To start a successful production company, it is important to have an understanding of what it takes. Thus, follow the below-mentioned steps to start a film production company.

 

Steps to Start a Film Production Company

 

• Research the Industry
• Choose your Niche
• Make a Business Plan
• Register your Business
• Get the Funding Together
• Build your Network
• Buy the Equipment
• Marketing

 

Step 1 - Research the Industry

 

If you want to start a film production company, you need to know the industry inside and out. 

 

You have to know the business and marketing side of things because that is what will keep your company afloat.

 

There are a few ways you can research the industry before starting a film production company. 

 

One way is by looking at the big sharks of the industry, such as Dharma Productions, YRF, T-Series etc. 

 

Find out how they started their journey and watch the documentaries to know the inside secrets of setting up a film production company.

 

Another way is by studying films from all different decades and genres, paying close attention to how they were marketed and how that changed over time.

 

You need to know what you are getting into and what is expected of you to be successful.

 

What does it take to start a film production company? 

 

You must have money, time and an idea of what kind of films you want to make. Also, you need more than just one person working on the project.

 

Step 2 - Choose your Niche

 

Choosing your niche is a very important part of starting a film production company. If you don't choose the right niche, you may have trouble finding customers and making money.

 

Thus, you must have a clear idea of what you want your company to do, the type of films you want to produce and the audience you want to target. 

 

When choosing a niche, you have to focus on the following:

 

• The first one is to focus on a specific genre, such as horror or comedy.
• The second one is to focus on a specific target audience, such as children or elderly people. 
• The third one is to focus on the type of films, such as documentaries or animation.

 

For example, 

 

• If you want to target kids, you will have to make movies with animations and VFX. 
• If you want to target the 18-27 age group, your film must have a good story and plot twist. 
• If you want to target the 28-40 age group, work on documentary or biopic movies.

 

Step 3 - Make a Business Plan

 

A business plan for a film production company must be clear about its goals, both short-term and long-term.

 

It should also provide information on how it will generate revenue to sustain itself.

 

Thus, it is important to have a good understanding of the industry before starting a film production company. 

 

The plan should include information on:

 

• Business name
• Business model
• Legal structure
• Location of your office
• Initial investment and startup cost
• Goals
• Type of films you want to produce
• Target audience 
• Distribution channels
• Marketing strategy

 

Also, it should include information about your competitors so that you can understand how much competition there is in your industry and how you will differentiate yourself from them.

 

Step 4 - Register your Business

 

The next step would be registering your business. When starting a film production company, you can register your business as:

 

• Private Limited Company Registration Online
• One Person Company
• Limited Liability Partnership

 

Selecting a business structure is a crucial decision. Thus, get in touch with our experts by filling out the form on your right. 

 

Once your business is registered, apply for the following licenses with the help of our experts:

 

• GST Registration
• Shop and Establishment Act Certificate (For office premises)
• FFO Registration

 

Shooting films in India without permission from the Film Facilitation Office is illegal.

 

Step 5 - Get the Funding Together

 

After the registration, open a business bank account and deposit your funds in that. 

 

You can either go with HDFC Bank or ICICI Bank to open your account as they are known to provide good service in this case.

 

Talking about the investment required, you will need a minimum of Rs. 20 lacs - Rs. 30 lacs to set up your business grounds.

 

It only includes the business registration, license cost, basic equipment cost, initial salaries and office rent.

 

After that, the investment required will depend on the movie's budget.

 

If you are planning to self-invest in your business, well and good. 

 

Otherwise, you can consider partnering capital, venture capital, angel investors, business loans etc.

 

Step 6 - Build your Network

 

The film industry is a very competitive and difficult industry to break into. 

 

It is not just about having a good idea for a film, but also about having the contacts and resources to make it happen.

 

To start your own film production company, you need to build your network by networking with people in the industry. 

 

It will help you find potential partners, investors, distributors and other contacts that can help you get your films made.

 

• First, you should make connections in the industry of filmmaking by volunteering on sets or interning with a company in the industry. 

• Second, you should try to make connections with distributors or other film production companies so that they can distribute your work for you. 

• Third, if you are an actor or director yourself, it will be easier for you to get people on board for your project because they know what it is like from their perspective and they trust your judgment because of that.

 

Step 7 - Buy the Equipment

 

The equipment required to start a film production company varies depending on the type of work that will be done.

 

The following is a list of the basic equipment required to start a film production company:

 

• Camera
• Lights and Reflectors
• Sound recording equipment
• Tripod or monopod
• Lenses
• Editing software
• Laptops with good processors, plenty of RAM
• Hard Drives for Storage

 

The equipment for film production is expensive. Thus, find out if there are any film production companies in your area that have closed down recently. 

 

If so, contact them and see if they would be willing to sell their equipment or offer a lease on the property for a reduced cost.

 

Step 8 - Marketing

 

Marketing a film production company is not an easy task. It takes a lot of time and effort to get the word out about the company, its projects, and its work.

 

The first thing that you should do is create a website for their company. 

 

This website should be updated with all the information about the films that you have made, as well as any other relevant information like contact details and social media links.

 

The next step would be to create content on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. 

 

These platforms are very popular among people of different age groups so it is important to create content for them on these platforms.

 

How to get into the Film Production Industry?

 

Starting a film production company will not be hard if you do it the right way.

 

Firstly, fulfill the basic legal necessities like company registration online, get business licenses and open a business bank account. 

 

Secondly, buy proper equipment and hire a hardworking capable staff.

 

Last but not the least, have an exciting film idea. 

 

You can also start with biopic films which are really trendy these days. 

 

Let's take the example of the MD of VRL Film Productions - Mr Anand Sankeshwar is releasing a film on the life story of his own father Mr Vijay Sankeshwar. 

 

The film shows how a man with just one truck in 1976 now owns India's largest logistics company (VRL Logistics Limited). Moreover, it also shows how they entered the media industry as well.

 

Thus, it is not necessary to have a film with a 500 crore budget to get into the industry. 

 

Start with something simple but original and exciting.