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The Essential Financial Management Toolbox for Film, Screen and Broadcast

Discover how managing finances dictates your creative business world. Learn key tools needed for successfully financed projects.

5,752 enrolled on this course

AFTRS Screen Business - Networking Event

The Essential Financial Management Toolbox for Film, Screen and Broadcast

5,752 enrolled on this course

  • 3 weeks

  • 2 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

Become Empowered in Financing Creative Projects

Arm yourself with a deeper understanding of the financial skills required to begin the journey to successfully financing a new project. Learn more about the financing ‘tools’ that drive screen content creation and creative businesses around the globe.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 0 seconds Hi, my name’s Peter, Herbert. I’m a producer, many years experience. I’ve done a lot writing, a lot of script editing, I’ve worked in television and film » over the years. Event work. More lately, » I am working in screen business and I’m currently Head of Screen Business at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. » And I’m talking to you now about an opportunity that’s coming up to learn a bit about the language of screen business. » Why is this important? Because anything and everything you do to advance your career in screen content industries, » requires an understanding of film finance language. » And that’s what we’re going to show you.

Skip to 0 minutes and 44 seconds It’s a really exciting area, much underrated, that as you move through the world, you’ll understand how important it is to speak the same language as the capital, as the money end of the business. So come along, join us and find out about this key ingredient in the creative endeavours.

What topics will you cover?

FINANCE SPEAK

  • Core accounting principles and the language of financing creative projects.
  • 3 key financial statements that all investors live by.

HOW DOES MONEY FLOW AROUND A COMPANY?

  • ‘The Balancing Act’ of balance sheets.
  • Why ‘Cash Flow is King’ and the realm of profit and loss statements.
  • ‘Long Live the King’. If you make a profit what can you do with it?
  • What are all these taxes?

WHAT IS A COMPANY?

  • Business structures and setting up your own creative endeavour.
  • Director, shareholder, board, auditors… what do all these people do?
  • Working with capital, liabilities and debt.

Get out your toolbox and start analysing!

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Identify the basic financial skills relating to the establishment and ongoing maintenance of a company.
  • Discuss the basic financial structures supporting an existing company.
  • Identify key financial drivers in companies.
  • Investigate basic financial spreadsheets.
  • Discuss the financial reasoning behind a business proposal or business plan.
  • Improve your financial analysis of your own creative proposals.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for screen media content creators and business operators who want to better understand the financing of projects.

Whether you are a production accountant, a small business operator, a creative business manager or an emerging producer with a slate of prospective projects, this course will provide you with a better understanding of where to start and how to get your creative project financed.

What software or tools do you need?

While this course doesn’t require any existing specialist skills or equipment, basic Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and formula skills, or equitable free software alternatives, will give you a head start.

Who will you learn with?

I am a highly experienced professional screen practitioner, encompassing roles as Producer, Writer and Media Consultant, working across film, television and corporate.

Dr Gerard Reed is a Senior Lecturer in Screen Business at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and has experience in economic development and entrepreneurial innovation.

Who developed the course?

Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS)

Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) is Australia’s premier screen arts and broadcast school, offering top online courses on FutureLearn.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 9 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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