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Originally posted by Magikplp

WARNING:
I have listed, several questions about starting a production company in no particular order. So as unstructured as my request is, the more details you can provide would most certainly be appreciated.

1) Which is better to start off as, LLC or Corporation in the state of CA? (I read an article there is a difference)

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Neither is better. Both are different so you need to be very
clear what your goals are in order to make the right decision.

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2) Does "differentiating" yourself from a film production company as oppose to a production company pigeon hole you?

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I'm not sure what you mean. A "film production company" and
a "production company" are exactly the same thing.

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3) What are the typical costs when paying a lawyer to legitimize your business?

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Lawyers can charge from a several hundred to go over paper
work that you prepare to several thousand to do all the work.
The typical costs depends on what your needs are - and they
are very different for each person and company.

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4) What is the greatest hardship one faces when first starting out a production company?

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Getting enough work to pay the bills.

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5) With the cheapening costs of technology, are production companies facing greater difficulty in competing with smaller houses?

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Yes. There are more and more people starting prodCo's because
the start up costs are lower than in the past. So there is more competition.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Thank you for your response. I hope you don't find my questions pestering...so here we go...

RESPONSE TO QUESTION #1
You say that the type of business needs to be determined by the goals...but as a production company, isn't the goal all the same? How would my goals be different? What goals would determine if something should be LLC or corporate?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION #2
I've done some research and some production companies advertise themselves as "film" based while the other half defines themselves as "everything." Or does this not even matter?

RESPONSE TO QUESTION #3
It appears you have knowledge in this area, Do you know any good entertainment lawyers?

Nothing fancy, just honesty.

I should have said - what your needs are. You're right. Most prodCo's have the same goals.

I still don't understand. I've never seen a prodCo advertise themselves as film based or any
as everything. Do you have examples from your research? As far as I know a film production
company and a production company are the same thing.

Check your local bar association and contact local production companies for referrals.

Certified Instigator, thank you very much for your input. Very valuable, exactly what I was hoping for. Hope you don't mind me asking your random questions every now and then

Nothing fancy, just honesty.

Not at all. I sure hope you do me a favor and answer my questions too.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Certified Instigator - Not sure where your question is...but in regards to my research, I've been looking specifically in the Orange County, CA market. If you google "Orange County Production Company" not many film companies come up. Instead you have production company stressing "corporate style" videos as oppose to film. So that is where my research is based off. In regards to interviewing specific companies, I have no information to present but there marketing is clearly defined on their website "any and all projects"...hope this helps.

Nothing fancy, just honesty.

I get it now. When you use "film" you mean motion picture production as opposed to commercials,
corporate, advertising and educational. In that case you can get pigeon holed if your company
makes commercials or corporate videos because that is very different than producing feature length
films for theaters or DVD.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Thanks CI for your input. Very Late Response - I know.

Nothing fancy, just honesty.