It's completely possible to spend many years and many thousands of dollars working to produce a film that never gets made. You can also struggle to get a film made only to discover you've just purchased an expensive legal and financial nightmare for your family. 

There's an order in which things must be done in order for a film to be a successful creative, professional, and financial endeavor. 

Christina Jo Leigh is a working producer and active line producer who has helped many projects go from script to screen.  In this interview she helps new filmmakers understand how to build a project from the ground up.