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 | Senior Figures |
 | Frequently Asked Questions |
| Saturn MediaMoguls™ |
| Rate Card |
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• Are Saturn's production company services for me?
• "I want to find entertainment companies which match my criteria"
• "I have a high Media Profile and worry about facing the media"
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| Q: | Are Saturn's production company services for me? |
| A: | If you have been trading for more than 18 months in the television, film or music industry, the chances are that we can provide direct benefit, beyond the cost of the services. Before any new client is accepted, an initial assessment is undertaken, to enable us to guage the level of likely benefit and the potential for the achievement of the company’s financial or practical ambitions. This initial appraisal is free of charge. |
| Q: | How long does the Strategix™ Service take to complete? |
| A: | Commission lengths vary with the level of work wanted by the client. Typically - and only when expected gains and savings exceed fees - an initial 30 days is commissioned (thereby achieving the discounted band). This is often spread over a 90 day period. In most cases, the client wants to extend the period, this will be agreed once the level of ongoing benefit is assessed. Established clients – who have already maximised their benefit from Strategix™ or Catalyst™ - often want a day or two only at a time; for advice on a business aspect of a new production, a high-level production-accounting issue, an investor presentation, or a new production identity. |
| Q: | Cashflow is tight, how can I control costs? |
| A: | If cashflow is a concern, Strategix™ should be your first priority. The service maximises both long-term gains and short-term cashflow. We would expect the benefit to cashflow to exceed the cost, usually from a very early stage. Regardless, Saturn works with you, every step of the way. At any given point, you will be aware of the benefit to date, and the cost. Our iWork software logs every minute consumed by advisors. On a conventional day rate, you are free to cease the service at any point (this has never happened). Regular, detailed, interim reports can be provided and presented to the board at an interval of your choosing. |
| Q: | I want to raise finance, will you work on a contingency basis? |
| A: | No professional body will carry out this type of work on a free or contingent basis. Highly-skilled work deserves fair remuneration. Our advisors are very senior people who are paid well for the considerable gain they derive for our clients. Investment is selling shares, and the position can be likened to selling a house. The failure to modernise the property and maximise its value is a direct capital loss. The highly-skilled carpenter and interior decorator can multiply your sale values, but only the unemployed handyman will work for free. Ask yourself if you would accept a broadcaster’s request to remove your production fee, and you will have your answer! |
| Q: | "I am too busy running my company to worry about development" |
| A: | There is regularly a queue of clients waiting for the Saturn services. So, if you have no enthusiasm about the future of your company, neither will we! This 'false economy' viewpoint is typically held by company owner/directors, who have the luxury of not having to answer to other shareholders. The loss is only their own. Saturn's role is – in part - to relieve the pressure of planning and executing future growth. Our work is carried out with minor disruption to everyday business, and our ability to convert our fees into greater short-term and long-term benefit ends the justification for ignoring your company's future, once and for all. |
| Q: | If you make gains and savings greater than you fees, why doesn't everybody who comes into contact with them, want Saturn services? |
| A: | They do. |
| Q: | Is there ever a situation where a particular service won't save or make money? |
| A: | Yes. But in general terms, the savings and gains we make, provide sufficient 'credit' to cover the cost of other equally essential work, which may derive no cash benefit. Work such as streamlining your company accounting systems, creating highly commercial corporate or production branding, creating online investment or production briefings, or establishing commercial collaborations with distributors or licensing agents, may create no instant cash benefit. But, without exception, all our work will create a direct or indirect long or short-term financial benefit to the shareholders. If that overall benefit were not in excess to our fees, we would not normally have accepted the commission. |
| Q: | "I am concerned about confidentiality" |
| A: | Confidentiality is one of the main reasons we are trusted with many of the entertainment industry’s top projects. We have a number of clearly defined levels of confidentiality. The highest (and most popular) forbids the knowledge of client's staff, and even prevents us from being able to claim their client status. We understand the sensitivities of working in an industry based on news and story-telling, and are happy to work - with absolute reliability – to the levels of privacy you dictate. Our servers and sites have sophisticated password-based security and will only be seen by those you have authorised. Saturn's Clearance Codes allow us to target your company or production briefings at a single individual anywhere in the world, if need be. Our business simply couldn't operate without retaining the very highest level of industry secrets. We are professional advisors and – like your lawyer or accountant - confidentiality is a core part of our business. |
| Q: | Can I have references from other clients? |
| A: | Understandably, most clients prefer their personal details and – sometimes - weak-areas to be retained as confidential. In many cases, we are contractually restrained from making commercial reference to them. There may also be legal sensitivities for some, with tax advice and restructuring for example. Our work should be judged as we move forward. The beauty of our services is that we are able to achieve results quickly, and our day rate allows our work to be terminated at a moment's notice if you are not entirely satisfied with the results (you are more likely to step it up!). Further, nothing will be done to any part of your company, its systems, productions or commercial relationships, without your complete understanding and full co-operation. As far as professionalism and confidence is concerned, you can judge that – as you would any other company – by our materials and the advisors you meet, before going ahead. This said, there are some clients who have fewer concerns about confidentiality, and some of these can be found at different points on this site. |
Q & A's For Investors | |
| Q: | "I am an investor and I want to find entertainment companies which match my criteria" |
| A: | Saturn is the only professional, established company able to help you in this sector. You have three options; A) You can meet with us to detail your position, so that we can confidentially source companies which fit your criteria. We can then present you with these in a simple investor-friendly way, so that you can make an informed decision on which you would companies you would like to meet. B) We can operate electronically. This involves you filling in an online form, which will then return to you the projects and companies that most closely match your criteria. Clearance Codes for the relevant online briefings are then sent, and you can view them at your leisure, before requesting more information. Or C) You can join the exclusive MediaMoguls™ Private Investor Club, which not only allows you full and free access to the industry's top insider-opportunities, but also provides a long list of instant VIP lifestyle benefits, befitting the media mogul status! |
| Q: | How can I rely on your accurate grading of the projects? |
| A: | You shouldn't. Initially, the projects are informally introduced to you in a way that allows you to find the ones which best suit your criteria. If you move forward, you will want to carry out your own due diligence, much of which may be satisfied from the detailed follow-up documents we send you. If your enthusiasm remains, we will usually set up a studio tour for you and your advisors, so that you can meet the key people in a fun relaxed atmosphere to explore the possible synergies. At no point in the process is there pressure on you to move forward. Often, there is competition for the positions, so your rejection of the project will likely have few negative consequences for the principles. |
| Q: | Do you represent me or the principles behind the opportunities? |
| A: | In the top right-hand corner of each project, you will see whether the principles are a Saturn client or not by the words "A Saturn Endorsed Opportunity". In this case, we will represent the client and, should you require in-depth entertainment industry advice (which we would recommend), we will appoint a qualified independent third party for you, or you may appoint your own. However, despite the client status, you will find that our grading remains accurate. Our clients understand that for our grading to be anything other than impartial, would be to compromise the value of the whole system. If the project does not state a Saturn endorsement, then our interest rests with the investor only. It is important to note that – as an essentially investor based organisation – we depend upon our commercial reputation. Even when representing a client’s project, we retain an independent-like status in terms of the actual benefits and returns. The failure to do this would destroy our prized investor base. |
| Q: | Why would I choose Saturn, rather than my usual advisors, to represent me? |
| A: | Investing in the entertainment business is a dangerous game for the uninitiated, as many have discovered to their peril. Often, well intended production companies take on investors, only to discover that they had a limited understanding of the complexities of the commercial returns. As in any industry, no matter how good the product, the failure to understand the revenue streams represents a major risk for the investor. Our ability to understand the complex corporate, distribution, licensing and broadcast structures, upon which your return will depend, is unsurpassed in the industry. This allows us to structure and negotiate ultra-safe positions beyond the capacity of a conventional advisor, and at a level far beyond the knowledge base of the production company principles. |
| Q: | Is investing in entertainment a realistic proposition? |
| A: | If intelligently structured, we believe that investments in this sector are as safe as in any other. Television, for example, is actually more tangible than is perceived. Productions which meet certain quality and criteria have a known minimum value in the marketplace and, like dealing with a property agent, this can be clearly ascertained by sellers – often willing to guarantee a minimum sales level. The industry is less susceptible to fluctuations in the economy than most; People will always watch television, they still listen to music and go to the cinema. Once you have put into place the essential safety mechanisms to ensure the minimum expected return exceeds your input, you will find that the common return profiles far exceed other industries. And the 'Jackpot' factor for a blockbuster programme, film or album is legendary. Saturn is revolutionising the industry's investor relationship, building new permanent bridges for the benefit of producers and investors, for years to come. |
| Q: | How do the VIP benefits of the MediaMoguls™ club work? |
| A: | Once your membership goes through, you will receive a box of goodies, including MediaMoguls™ Cast & Crew jackets and – most importantly – your VIP MediaMoguls™ Card. This card is the most powerful you will carry. It will open the doors of the top clubs of London, New York and LA. It will get you VIP treatment and discounts at most of the major hotels and restaurants, around the world, and VIP seats at your favourite Film Premieres. It will even get you into the Upper-Class airport lounges on an economy ticket! You will have a dedicated MediaMoguls™ PA at the end of the phone, to arrange VIP access for all your social plans. Saturn has revolutionised the private investor club, to a new level. |
For High-Profile Corporate & Personal Media People | |
| Q: | "I have a high Media Profile and worry about facing the media" |
| A: | Saturn's Spotlight™ service will allow you to sleep at night, with the confidence that you are ready for anything the media can throw at you. For the first time, you will have access to the same level of support covertly enjoyed by Prime-Ministers and Presidents. There are three levels of support: Premiere for one-on-one VIP in-depth coaching and strategy (this is for Ministers, Celebrities and Multi-National CEOs), On-Call emergency insurance which – for a monthly fee – provides the knowledge of 'whenever, wherever' support at a moment's notice, and the standard service for high-level groups or normal one-on-one preparation coaching. |
| Q: | Will Spotlight™ Advisors travel with me for my media tour? |
| A: | Yes. Our team are the men who you see every day, just behind the right shoulder of some of the highest profile statesmen and corporate heads. The service is – as with all Saturn services – as confidential as you would like it to be. Many refuse to appear on camera without one of our team present. Our On-Call service is the best 'minute's notice' support this type of client can have, once the Premiere service has been completed. |