Film advisory · Producer · 20 years
Get the truth
about your film project.
Skip the trial and error and get direct, commercially grounded advice before you pitch, finance or produce.
Project Reality Check
Where does your project really stand?
Two short steps. An honest diagnosis. The next decision becomes obvious.
Run the full diagnostic tool — built specifically to pressure-test where your project actually stands.
Launch Project Reality CheckThe advisory
Turn hard-won experience into your shortcut.
Every year, talented writers, directors and investors lose years on projects that were never market ready. Not because they lack passion, but because nobody ever gave them clear, honest feedback on concept, finance and deal structure.
I have spent almost two decades on the financing and producing side of the table, structuring deals, reviewing recoupment waterfalls, negotiating with sales agents and distributors and seeing firsthand which projects actually get made.
This session is where you use that experience before you make your next big decision.
What I can do in one call
In a single focused session we can:
- 01Pressure test your concept and logline so you know if it triggers a genuine “Tell me more” — before you write or shoot.
- 02Define your real audience and what that means for budget level, cast, and distribution strategy.
- 03Map realistic financing options: tax incentives, equity, presales, gap, or hybrid distribution routes.
- 04Spot deal-killing red flags in contracts and recoupment so you avoid the one-sided structures that quietly drain careers and returns.
Audience
Who this is for.
Producers & Directors
Done guessing and want to start developing projects the market actually wants.
Writers with serious film projects
Have a script, concept or package and want to know if it is commercially positioned before sending it out, pitching producers or wasting years rewriting in the wrong direction.
Producers preparing finance
Want an experienced second pair of eyes on their finance plan, investor deck or deal structure.
Investors in film
Like the upside of film, but want the discipline, protections and transparency they are used to seeing in other asset classes.
Positioning
“After reviewing hundreds of finance plans and sitting through countless distributor and sales-agent pitches, I've seen exactly which projects survive the market and which quietly die.”
This is not coaching. It is decision support, comparable to speaking with a film-finance lawyer but grounded in real commercial experience. This is not theory; it is how financing actually works.
Sessions
Three levels of sessions, depending on whether you need fast clarity, strategic guidance, or investor-grade analysis of structure, risk, and return potential.
Fast clarity
30-minute Clarity Session
For producers and directors who need deeper guidance on concept, finance, market fit or deal structure.
I help you assess where the project sits commercially, what budget level makes sense, what financing path is realistic and where the main risks are.
Best for: concept checks, positioning questions, early decisions or budget issues.
Strategy
60-minute Strategy Session
For producers and directors who need deeper guidance on concept, finance, market fit or deal structure.
I help you assess where the project sits commercially, what budget level makes sense, what financing path is realistic and where the main risks are.
Best for: projects preparing to pitch, finance, package or reposition.
Investor-grade
90-minute Investment Strategy Session
For producers, financiers and investors who need detailed analysis of structure, risk and return potential.
I examine the finance logic, waterfall, investor terms, sales assumptions, budget versus market value, protections and red flags.
Best for: investor decks, finance plans, recoupment structures and serious funding decisions. Live only. No documents retained.
Profile
Your Advisor
Daniel Maze is a film producer and advisor with almost two decades of experience in financing, developing, and producing international feature films across the U.S., U.K., and Europe. He helps producers structure cross-border productions, optimize tax incentives, manage co-production budgets, streamline cash flow, and secure funding.
Daniel advises both independent production companies and major studios on European production and financing structures, and leads a focused development team shaping commercial films rooted in value-driven storytelling. He has long-standing relationships with leading international sales agents and distributors, giving him a frontline understanding of what the global market actually buys and how films recoup. He is known for his disciplined approach to development, steering projects from concept through finance to final delivery.
Daniel's experience spans directing and producing his debut feature in Los Angeles, building a strong international network, and working closely with producers who value clarity, discipline, and market-driven thinking. He is frequently asked to advise producers and financiers on market positioning, budget strategy, and international co-production opportunities. His deep understanding of the intersection between creative decisions and financial outcomes makes him a sought-after strategic partner for producers worldwide.
Selected credits & references
The honest truth
One wrong deal, one wrong budget, or one unrealistic concept can set you back years.
If you are serious about making a real decision, this won't be another vague conversation.
You'll leave with a clear strategy, a realistic financing path, and at least one uncomfortable truth that saves you years of wasted time and money.
Library
Tools, Principles, and Mindsets for Serious Filmmakers
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