Q&A with John, Stephen, and Jay of The Calculated Movie

CALCULATED’s movie franchise is the first from the four novels—and the first project from ONEDOOR STUDIOS. Celebrating these two firsts, all Calculated Development LLC’s investors participate in premium terms, including also receiving a portion of every sequel’s profits (with only 25% of the offering still available). Investors receive 110% of their initial investment at the end of the development phase when scripting is complete along with distribution contracts and the completion bond secured. This means that investors recoup their investment before the film is shot. Additionally, investors also enjoy a proportional share of 50% of Calculated Development company’s profits. Mathematically this nets down to 50% of the development company’s 50%...so a proportional share of 25% of the film’s net profits from all revenue sources.
It appears ONEDOOR STUDIOS is providing the first public opportunity to invest in the development of a studio and major global distributor released motion picture franchise. It’s no surprise that its Reg CF offering on WeFunder has taken the platform by storm and continues to perform ahead of forecasts.

Traditional independent offerings are riskier because they generally only offer any return to investors if the film is completed, distributed and has subsequent profits. In CALCULATED’s opportunity, the first tranche of returns comes to investors upon the securing of bank financing for production costs before the film enters full production. Therefore, the success of the film in the box office has no impact on the first tranche returns. This model then allows the investors to share in a second tranche return from the net profits of box office, streaming, merchandise, video games and all ancillary products.

There are about two dozen production companies like Centropolis, Working Title and New Republic Pictures who set their pictures’ primary distribution during their development. Doing this assures their release, provides much of the necessary production bank loan collateral and almost always their profitability. These companies follow the similar best principles and practices of the most successful producers—about which ONEDOOR STUDIOS’ co-founder John Lee authored the standard industry reference book, entitled The Producers Business Handbook, now in its 4th edition. This is CALCULATED’s business model, and by adding to it the opening of its development investment to the public through equity crowdfunding, ONEDOOR is disrupting the industry.

At first glance, the 110% preferred and 50% thereafter terms of some independent movie investment offering may look similar or the same as Calculated Development’s terms. Yet a little closer look reveals CALCULATED is vastly superior.

First, most offerings are raising production rather than development funds. Their only option for their investors’ return of investment is from the produced project’s income. Calculated Development LLC’s offering is spent on CALCULATED’s development. About $1.7 million of the $2 million spent on advanced production expenses for studio-level screenwriter(s), plus director and actor attachment fees. This allows the development company’s 110% preferred return to its investors to be paid from a combination of reimbursed production expenses plus its development fee, each paid from the project’s fully collateralized and bonded bank-provided production loan—and paid to investors as the project begins production.

So, CALCULATED’s investors receive 110% of their investment a year or more earlier than similar production focused offerings, and is not reliant on the project’s commercial success.
Second, most independently produced and financed motion pictures set their distribution after their pictures are completed, relying on festivals and private distributor screenings. Sundance is the largest of these with over 10,000 applicants each year, yet less than one-hundred projects are accepted to attend, and on their best years yielding about ten projects purchased. Dismal odds for investors looking for their returns from distribution earnings.

On the contrary, CALCULATED’s primary distribution is set up during its development. This confirms its distribution before production and begins CALCULATED’s branding. It also importantly assures key ancillary products—such as electronic games and brand tie-ins that need similar preparation as the motion picture—are typically planned a year in advance so as to release in concert with CALCULATED’s release date.
Raising sufficient development capital for CALCULATED’s studio-acceptable script, director and lead cast qualifies it for North America studio distribution, which in turn assures CALCULATED’s international territory major distributor acceptance—which in turn leads to a profitable, risk-mitigated experience for our investors.

In summary, those investing in Calculated Development LLC receive 110% of their investment before CALCUATED begins production, assuring none of their investment is reliant on CALCULATED’s marketplace success. Similarly, their 50% of CALCULATED’s profits are even dimensions ahead of other motion picture investments, because CALCULATED’s motion picture and ancillary products’ distribution are set-up before it begins production. With their investment more then fully returned, all else is bonus income. Hopefully abundant and for as long as audiences enjoy great entertainment

After CALCULATED’s novels caught the attention of ONEDOOR STUDIOS’ principals, they put it through a rigorous studio-level creative and business greenlight. For it to be accepted, CALCULATED’s company share of earnings needed be at least twice its production cost. It handily passed this two-to-one earnings-to-cost minimum ratio.

The greenlight forecasts low, medium, high and breakout scenarios. How high might it reach? All will know when CALCULATED earns into that position, but initial calculations based on this sophisticated greenlight process put the earnings to cost ratio projections over 4:1. ONEDOOR STUDIOS uses a decades-long proven process of greenlighting calculations based on prior movies and series in recent history, their emotional drivers, beats and themes, which create a campaign signature. We then take that campaign signature and compare the same elements with our pictures campaign signature. This process allows us to be very mindful of what current audiences are craving in story and therefore can accurately predict the audience enticement of a particular project.

In summary, investors can revel in knowing that because of our thorough greenlighting, CALCULATED will carefully complete its development, employ the most excellent craft in its production, will do all possible to enable its distribution partners, and, with Heaven’s help, should deliver an abundant return to its investors.

In light of CALCULATED’s solid business model married to its gripping, audience pleasing story, now combined with a very attractive investment offering, it appears this may be the best motion picture investment opportunity ever offered to the public.