Hi Jack, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a Major Hollywood Studio, Indie Film, and Television Producer, Executive Producer, Line Producer and DGA UPM and Second Unit Director. I have been an on-the-lot producer at The Walt Disney Company, Columbia Pictures (Sony Pictures Entertainment), HBO Originals amongst many others. My ‘Produced by’ credits include: ‘First Reformed’, ‘Reign Over Me’, ’The Upside of Anger’,Starting in Detroit as a comedy concert promoter with my brother, comedian Mike Binder, we produced live comedy and music shows throughout Michigan to a good amount of success. We went on to raise independent financing to film one of the concerts at the Fischer Theater in downtown Detroit. With the help of George Carlin, we sold the film to HBO.

This launched my career and I headed to Hollywood where I worked for Robin Williams managers, and gained employment on multiple HBO comedy specials. Working with HBO for many years, I rose through the ranks as a production coordinator for ‘Not Necessarily the News’, the Emmy Awards, working on many other productions including ‘It’s the Garry Shandling Show’.

Answering an ad in Variety for an assistant to an Oscar Winning Producer, I was hired to assist Michael Phillips (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Sting.) I worked with Mr. Phillips and was promoted to Vice President of Creative Affairs as we serviced our film slate at the major studios, including HBO, working with Outlaw Productions.

Coincidentally, Outlaw Productions optioned my brother Mike’s screenplay and they invited me to produce with Jeffrey Silver and Robert Newmyer on the film which became titled ‘Crossing the Bridge’ for Columbia/Tristar.

This film was picked up by Disney who hired us to be on the lot producers and creatives, backing our next film ‘Indian Summer’ with Diane Lane, Alan Arkin, Bill Paxton, Vincent Spano, Kevin Pollack, Julie Warner, and Elizabeth Perkins. The film had a hilarious cameo by Sam Raimi, who attended our summer camp where the movie was filmed.

We went on to make films at Columbia Pictures with Damon Wayans, and then independently financed films with Mariel Hemingway, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, and many more top talent before being commissioned to produce ‘The Mind of the Married Man’ television series for HBO Original Series for two seasons.

Producing ‘The Upside of Anger’ starring Kevin Costner, Joan Allen, Evan Rachel Wood, Keri Russell, Erika Christensen, and Alicia Witt was next which we sold to New Line Cinema for theatrical distribution. This film was shot in London but set in Michigan.

For ‘Man About Town’ starring Ben Affleck and John Cleese I produced the film, which Mike also wrote and directed, in Vancouver, BC and the film was sold to Lionsgate Films.

‘Reign Over Me’ was our next film, returning us to Columbia Pictures. The film starred Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Donald Sutherland, Liv Tyler, Mike Binder, and Saffron Burrows.

I went on to continue raising independent film financing, producing, executive producing on films including ‘Tomorrow’ which Martin Scorsese executive produced with me, ‘The Domino Effect’ starring James D’Arcy, and ‘Eating Our Way to Extinction’ documentary narrated by Kate Winslet, with Richard Branson and Tony Robbins, which won Best Feature Documentary at the EMA Awards.

I then produced and financed ‘First Reformed’ Directed by Paul Schrader, starring Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, and Cedric The Entertainer for A24 and Universal Pictures. Working with my London partners (where I am also based in addition to Los Angeles) and Killer Films, we were thrilled as the film became the highest rated and reviewed film upon its release.

I founded FilmBudget.com Worldwide to help fellow filmmakers obtain professional film budget and schedule, film finance plans, film tax credits analysis, and producer consulting services to assist in their filmmaking goals. I focus on accurate and proven film budgeting and film financing documentation for investors and production of movies and television.

Greentrees Films is my international production company, with several films in finance, casting, and pre-production stages.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Never! The film industry is a challenge which requires tenacity and perseverance daily. Not only is finding the film financing a struggle, making the film and tv shows is a constant battle of business and creativity.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am the Founder of FilmBudget.com Worldwide which I created to help fellow filmmakers obtain professional film budget and schedule, film finance plans, film tax credits analysis, and producer consulting services to assist in their filmmaking goals. I focus on accurate and proven film budgeting and film financing documentation for investors and production of movies and television.

I love working with filmmakers around the world, creating the film budget and film finance plan for their works, to prepare them for film financing and production of their movie or tv series. My experience as a film financier, investor, and producer has shown me what is required to obtain funding and the professionalism required in the presentation to investors, financiers, and other stakeholders.

By creating professional film budgeting documents for their vision, I empower creatives, and business minded producers, to advance their goals. FilmBudget.com works with screenwriters, directors, producers, major studios, mini-majors, production companies, investors, financiers, and distributors.

Greentrees Films is my international production company, with several films in finance, casting, and pre-production stages, which is my company dedicated to my current productions.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?

Working with the legend John Cleese of Monty Python’s Flying Circus fame was one of the many highlights of my career so far.

I wear many hats as a producer, executive producer, financier, investor, line producer, and DGA Unit Production Manager. I also am the Second Unit Director on my productions, which I love doing.

In an industry with so many numerous producers, I have been able to utilize my self-taught skills and experience to handle a large percentage of the role of the producer. I have had many great partners however, including my incredibly talented writer-director-comedian brother Mike Binder, who has been a guiding and driving force in my life and career, whom I have immense esteem for.

Contact Info:

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