How Do You People Do It?

BenjaminLevin · Post by **BenjaminLevin** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 3:36 am

I've noticed that a lot of you have started your own production companies (or at least what I think is a production company) and I just wanted to know how you do it? So...how do you do it?

joe · Post by **joe** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 6:41 am

make movies. show them to people under your assumed production company name.

foxwood · Post by **foxwood** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 7:00 am

I one day desided that I was head of Foxwood Pictures, we had our sound stage in my car port, and our top end [ost production sweet, was two comps and a Lan. Really we did just stick a name before are stuff.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:16 pm

well i also just assumed a company name, it is i guess not legally mine.
It makes you sound more professional

But mine is a company which does not make any money

2nd_Recon · Post by **2nd_Recon** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 3:16 pm

I just said " Hey, you! Yea you! We're making movies. We're called "Kriminal Films." And thus, the company was born.

Ornsack · Post by **Ornsack** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 8:06 pm

We've never really had a production company but 'Bumstead Productions' has kinda stuck because it makes people laugh and provokes reaction (especially to the logo) so we might as well use that!

El Brenty · Post by **El Brenty** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 8:11 pm

I think that it's really cheeky, in a funny way! LOL! Especially the logo!

I'm forming a production company for Fascination Street TV. I'm calling it Daft Basket Productions, and it won't be official or anything until filming gets underway, and there's some positive feedback from one of the TV networks, which at this stage is wishful thinking!

U.S.Amateurfilmaker · Thu Jan 29, 2004 10:40 pm

I just started one for no reason inparticular, just because I like film making. I am only just starting to work on my first movie.

mott · Post by **mott** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 10:54 pm

what do you guys think of my company name (The Digital Line)

Vamp · Post by **Vamp** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 11:01 pm

Funny story...

I don't think anythings official until it has a webpage

Period One would never be an official movie unless there was a production company behind it

Therefore, NeverDead Productions (www.never-dead.cjb.net) was born

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 12:44 am

i like it Mott

BenjaminLevin · Post by **BenjaminLevin** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 2:39 am

This sounds cool guys. But couldn't I somehow use this as a tax writeoff since I would be the owner of a company? And couldn't I write camera equipment off as a business expense? That would be kind of cool

Raptor · Post by **Raptor** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 2:59 am

Well so long as you have some income derived from the businbes to show for it, Batteries, tapes, lights, computers ( so long as used exclusively for the business) mileage, and a host of other expenses are write offs. However, the IRS will look very unfavorably upon having a business that continuously loses money. Make sure you get a good accountant, and all the appropriate licenseing (It costs me about $100 per year for local business licenses). Also be aware that you will have to pay taxes on your income derived from teh business. The first year I was 'in business' it cost us $1500 in additional federal taxes, and about $60 for the state and local, the seconad year was pretty much a wash since I had better writeoffs and only showed a paper profit of about $100. This year will probably cost me about $200 in federal taxes, with one new cam and hopefully next year should pretty much be a wash since I've already spent about 3000 on another cam and gear in January. Unfortunately this year is on track at this point that the 'side business' will probably gross about $10,000. Which isn't too bad for 'working maybe 5 - 10 hours a week average

Keep in mind, if you are using it as a tax writeoff, then you have to legally qualify. That means you will need to get a legal DBA or incorporate under your company name, Or do it as I do, a sole proprietership under my personal name. although this year I may incorporate as an LLC.The down side is, as an LLC, you must pay yourself wages, and then pay both personal and corporate income taxes.
In other words, before dsicidng this is a great way to write off your toys, talk to a good tax accountant

And oh yeah, the accountant is write off too LOL

El Brenty · Post by **El Brenty** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 10:51 am

That's another thing we don't need over here - business licensing. I had my first business when I was 16 seiling computer cheat manuals by mail-order. I went into a bank, asked to open a sole-trader account, and hey proesto, I had a business.

These days, things are a bit more advanced, I have a chartered accountant doing the comapny accounts, and the company is registered as a Limited company, I'm also VAT registered.

But if you want to run a business in the UK, you pretty much need a bank account, and the world is yours. Raptor pointed out that you can't run a business at a loss, and that's the same here as well.

You can't claim VAT back on purchases if you're not VAT registered here, and if any of you are actually charging for your work, you're going to have to have a fairly large turnover before you cross the VAT threshold limit (When I had the shop it was around Ã‚Â£50,000.

I3lade203 · Post by **I3lade203** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 4:31 pm

One day decided I wanted a company, couldn't just have films without saying who made them!

stickmurder30 · Post by **stickmurder30** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 6:42 pm

BenjaminLevin wrote:I've noticed that a lot of you have started your own production companies (or at least what I think is a production company) and I just wanted to know how you do it? So...how do you do it?

Find a name, create a logo, make movies and you're done !

BenjaminLevin · Post by **BenjaminLevin** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 6:57 pm

Thanks for all of the information guys. I have to get started and think of a name now. This morning I found out that what I was going to call my production company was taken by a porn company. That makes me pretty angry. Thanks for all of your help guys

justsomeguy · Post by **justsomeguy** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 1:59 am

yeah im making a my site so im trying to come up with a name. have about 5 millioon possiblities, but known of them have really stuck for more than 24 hours, sooo... yeah whatever

Ornsack · Post by **Ornsack** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 4:37 am

There's an American porn company named 'John Leslie Productions'. Anyone in the UK will find that name hilarious.

U.S.Amateurfilmaker · Post by **U.S.Amateurfilmaker** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 6:02 am

If you need a name, just keep typing ideas into a search engine. If nothing comes up, it's a safe bet that there is nothing with that name. Although, you may find a variation, but as long as it's not the same name, your safe.

Epsilon · Post by **Epsilon** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 6:06 am

If you need to find out if your wanted domain name is still available, you can check at www.register.com

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How Do You People Do It?

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