Method for the sale of movies prior to the production thereof

Abstract

A method for funding the production of a movie by presenting a storyboard synopsis of the yet-to-be-produced movie on a production company's Internet Web site, and allowing interested potential viewers of the movie to purchase a share of the production company's stock prior to production of the movie. Accompanying the storyboard synopsis is an offer which includes an opportunity to participate in the making of the movie by ‘voting’ for certain options related to the movie's production, as well as the opportunity to view the production of the movie via video transmission over the Internet. The purchase of a share of production company stock provides the shareholder the right to obtain a free copy of the completed movie as a dividend. The stock purchase is effected preferably by an electronics fund transfer, such as by the entering of a credit card number via the Web site. Production of the movie is not commenced until the number of shares of stock in the production company sold is sufficient to cover the estimated cost of making the movie.

1 . A method for financing production of a movie via a sale of a security comprising the step of: 
 providing a mechanism comprising the sale of the security, wherein a single copy of the movie is offered, prior to completion of the production of the movie, as a dividend for each said security sold.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of distributing the movie to the potential viewers who have purchased the security.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of distributing the movie includes distributing copies of the movie in the form of a digital video disk.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of distributing the movie includes distributing electronic copies of the movie.  
     
     
         5 . A method for financing production of a movie, via a sale of a security, the method comprising the steps of: 
 presenting an offer, via an Internet Web site, whereby viewers of the Web site may receive a copy of the movie as a dividend by purchasing the security, prior to the production of the movie, wherein the security is a share of stock in a company associated with the production of the movie; and    producing the movie after a predetermined number of shares of said stock have been purchased.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , including the step of displaying, via the Internet Web site, video images of activities relating to the movie as the movie is being produced.  
     
     
         7 . A method for producing a movie, financed via a sale of a security prior to completion of the movie, comprising the steps of: 
 presenting an offer, comprising the sale of the security, via an Internet Web site, whereby a viewer of the Web site may receive a copy of the movie by making a purchase of the security as a single share of stock which includes the movie as a dividend; and    producing the movie after a predetermined number of said purchases have been made.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , including the step of processing a payment for said stock by an electronic funds transfer.  
     
     
         9 . A method for financing production of at least part of a movie via a sale of a security comprising the step of: 
 providing a mechanism comprising the sale of the security, wherein a single copy of the movie is offered, prior to completion of the production of the movie, as a dividend for each said security sold.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of distributing the movie includes distributing copies of the movie in digital form.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of producing the movie after a predetermined number of shares of said stock have been purchased.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , including the step of displaying, via the Internet Web site, video images of activities relating to the movie as the movie is being produced.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , including the step of displaying to potential viewers of the movie, via an Internet web site, selectable options related to the production of the movie.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of the potential viewers use the web site to vote for certain options related to the movie's production.