I want to start a company that produces documentary films. I have $10,000 that I can use to start the business, I don't own a home, and I have no other significant assets. I have a friend who wants to be my partner. She has no money, but she's a creative genius. I live in NYC and she lives in Casey, Illinois. The way this industry works is pretty much like this: freelance producers like us come up with an idea, pitch it to money people, produce the film, and sell the rights to the film to a major network (like The History Channel or A&E or ABC, etc.). Once we sell, we move on to the next idea/film. What business form should I use to start my company and why? What are the issues you can see that I will have to deal with or that I should be thinking about?

As a new business owner operating in the United States, there are several forms your company can take. Most common are sole proprietorship, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership (LLC or LLP, respectively), or C corporation.
Sole proprietorship offers a businessperson relative ease in set-up and operation; however, the legal risks one assumes when operating this way usually do not outweigh the inconvenience of organizing as an LLC or LLP. A sole proprietorship makes partnership logistically and legally difficult, and it can expose your personal assets to liability as the business and you are one and the same.
Operating as an LLC—or, in the case of a partnership, an LLP—limits your liability by shielding your personal assets in the event the business is sued or defaults on debt. Further, organizing as an LLC (or LLP) can be done inexpensively and with less investment of time or money than organizing as a C corporation.

Issues that need to be considered when starting any type of business are numerous, but among the key factors are market research (are you certain there is a demand for the service you're seeking to provide?), startup money (few businesses are instantly profitable; is sufficient cash available to sustain the initial capital investment required for equipment and operating expenses like a telephone and internet access?), and marketing (what plan for contacting and pitching commissioning companies, like television networks, exists?).
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/191788

https://www.usa.gov/state-business/new-york

https://www.videomaker.com/article/c7/15423-starting-a-production-company-what-you-need-to-know