Learn from a "Go-To Producer" with 70+ projects and credits at Netflix, Legendary, IFC Films, Hulu, and more - who knows exactly what it takes to turn a script into a finished film!

Get a sample budget handout you can take with you and put to work immediately!

If you want your film to actually get made, you need to understand how it gets built. When you take a project out, you’re going to be asked direct questions: What does it cost? Where are the pressure points? How long will it take? If you can’t answer those with confidence, your project immediately feels like a risk. This isn’t about theory - it’s about showing you can execute.

Line producing is where your script becomes a real plan. You need to know how to break down a script properly, identify the top cost drivers early, and understand how your creative choices impact budget and schedule. A night exterior, multiple locations, a large cast - these aren’t just story decisions, they directly affect time, money, and feasibility. If you don’t understand that, you’re making decisions that can quietly derail your project.

You also need to understand how a budget actually works beyond the top sheet. That means knowing the difference between above-the-line and below-the-line, how rates, fringes, kit fees, rentals, and expendables are calculated, and how to build a budget that reflects reality - not optimism. Just as important is cash flow - when money is needed, not just how much. You’ll also learn how to manage cost reports, adjust in real time, understand how tax incentives and location choices impact your financing, and where films typically go over budget in post-production and delivery.

In this webinar, you’ll learn from Michael Wormser. Featured as a "Go-To Producer" by Produced By Magazine, Michael is co-founder and producer at Cinemand Films, with credits spanning Legendary, Lakeshore Entertainment, Netflix, IFC Films, Fox Television Studios, Hulu, and FreeForm - over 70 projects across film, series, commercials, branded content, and more. Most recently celebrated in Deadline for his thriller biopic The Leader premiering at Tribeca, Michael has built an extraordinary career working across every genre imaginable. What makes him the perfect person to teach this subject isn't just his remarkable résumé - it's that he has personally built the production plan on every single project he's produced. 

He’ll show you how to approach line producing in a practical, real-world way - so you can make smarter decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and put your project in a position to actually get made.

PLUS! You will receive this handout to help you:

• Sample Budget

Praise For Michael's Teaching on Stage 32:

"I'm so glad I got to work with Michael. I thought I knew everything there was before making my first film but boy was I wrong. He really helped me get my production in shape before we started shooting. Thank you!" - Caroline R.

"I really needed something to level up my filmmaking and producing game and learning from Michael was just the right thing. he's super knowledgeable, cares about his students, and wants everyone to succeed in their endeavors!" - Logan F.

"No matter how experienced you are, getting your passion project made is within your reach. Whether you’re a brand new producer or someone with more experience looking for a refresher or new perspective, Michael will give you the tools you need." - Josh P

The Role of a Line Producer

• What a Line Producer actually does (vs. the textbook definition)
• Relationship to the Producer, UPM, and production team
• Translating creative vision into real-world execution

From Script to Plan

• Breaking down a script (what matters—and what can hurt you)
• Identifying the top 5 cost drivers early
• How story choices directly impact budget and schedule

Building the Budget

• Top sheet vs. detailed budget
• Above-the-line vs. below-the-line
• A creative approach to budgeting
• Key concepts simplified:
  • Rates & fringes
  • Kit fees and rentals
  • Expendables

Cash Flow: The Part No One Explains

• Why timing of money matters
• When you actually need to build a cash flow
• Common mistakes that put productions in trouble
• Real-world example of cash flow vs. budget mismatch

Cost Reporting & Staying on Track

• What a cost report is and why it matters
• How to catch problems before they escalate
• Managing overages and making real-time adjustments
• Communicating with producers, financiers, and the team

Tax Credits & Financial Strategy

• Basic tax credit overview
• How location decisions impact financing
• Common pitfalls when budgeting incentives

Post-Production & Delivery

• What happens after wrap
• Deliverables: what buyers and distributors actually require
• Budgeting for post, music, legal, and finishing
• Where films quietly go over budget

Q&A with Michael Wormser

• Filmmakers who want to understand the business side of bringing their story to life
• Directors who want to make smarter creative decisions that don't blow the budget
• Producers looking to strengthen their understanding of budgeting, scheduling, and logistics
• Writers who want to understand how their story choices impact production costs
• Film students and emerging creatives ready to take their knowledge to a professional level
• Anyone who has ever been caught off guard by how much it actually costs to make a film

Praise For Michael's Teaching on Stage 32:

"I'm so glad I got to work with Michael. I thought I knew everything there was before making my first film but boy was I wrong. He really helped me get my production in shape before we started shooting. Thank you!" - Caroline R.

"I really needed something to level up my filmmaking and producing game and learning from Michael was just the right thing. he's super knowledgeable, cares about his students, and wants everyone to succeed in their endeavors!" - Logan F.

"No matter how experienced you are, getting your passion project made is within your reach. Whether you’re a brand new producer or someone with more experience looking for a refresher or new perspective, Michael will give you the tools you need." - Josh P