IIFF Events Feed

IIFF Los Angeles Film Financing Townhall in Hollywood (May 2012): Networking & Education for Financiers & Filmmakers

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:10:04 +0000

When:
Thursday, May 17, 2012 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (PT)

Where:
Stella Adler Theatres
6773 Hollywood Boulevard
The Adler Theatre - 2nd floor
Los Angeles, CA 90028

Hosted By:
IIFF Greater Los Angeles

The Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) is an innovative, independent social-impact organization that endeavors to bridge the gap between the worlds of filmmaking and finance for the benefit of all stakeholders – including the public at large.

Founded by Thomas Trenker in 2003 and headquartered in San Francisco, IIFF has chapters in the Bay Area, New York City, New England, Florida, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, London, the Pacific Northwest, the Lower Midwest, the Southwest and the Great Lakes Region.

Help launch or run an IIFF chapter in your area! We make it easy and worthwhile. Email the chapter development team and tell us about yourself. Or join our online community at http://forum.filmfinancing.org to keep in touch with a growing number of filmmakers and financiers.

Register for this event now at:
http://iiff-townhall-la-rss.eventbrite.com

Event Details:

LA Film Financing Townhall at Stella Adler Theatres

Film Meets Finance:
Networking & Education for
Filmmakers & Financiers

Seven Insightful Talks by Leading Experts & More

*** Don't miss other events in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Kansas City and New York ***

Abstract

"To-the-point presentations on the latest trends and targeted networking with like-minded pros set this event apart from the rest. IIFF delivers no-nonsense insight and real opportunity." — Thomas Trenker, film financier

The Los Angeles chapter of the Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) continues its popular monthly gatherings at the junction of film & finance with a special Film Financing Townhall at the renowned Stella Adler Theatres. Their facilities are conveniently located near the corner of Hollywood and Highland.

This grassroots community get-together is designed to foster & inform productive relationships between attendees. It provides unbiased insight & education about the business of film and film financing in particular. The event features a powerful roster of highly topical speakers from the filmmaking and financial industries. We are delighted to welcome real-world financiers among our guests!

The evening's five seven presentations plus panel discussion address key issues relevant to filmmakers, financiers and anyone interested in the economics, business mechanics, and financial dynamics of motion pictures. They are followed by Q&A time. Attendees also have ample opportunity to interact & network with our featured experts and amongst themselves.

An informal après-meeting celebration will take place at a nearby restaurant.

Attendees

Who should attend?

Entrepreneurs, consultants, attorneys, bankers, investment managers, venture capitalists, angel investors and other professionals with an interest in the movie business will find this event worthwhile. Everyone who cares about independent film is cordially invited to join us.

Are you considering taking an active role in film, or would you like to expand your current involvement? Don't miss this high-value yet low-cost learning experience and the opportunity to connect with like-minded peers.

Established & aspiring filmmakers looking to raise capital for their projects, production companies, movie slates, film funds or other ventures are, naturally, more than welcome as well.

Why attend?

New to film finance? Need to brush up your topical knowledge? Want to deepen your understanding? Care to participate in an ongoing conversation & community dedicated to the subject? This uniquely valuable gathering is right for you!

Gain crucial insights from leading experts in their field. Network with fellow film & finance professionals. Meet potential collaborators and future business partners. All this at a price that is hard to beat.

Program Details

Feature Financing Strategies for the Indie Producer

Julio Caro (bio), innovative independent film/TV producer with combination of creative management skills & strong financial background; Producer/EP at Broken Rose Productions; feature films include drama "El Cantante" (Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony), thriller "Duress" (Martin Donovan, Sakis Rouvas) & sci-fi film "Hunter Prey"; served as Jennifer Lopez' producing partner at Nuyorican Productions, had first-look agreements with Columbia, Fox TV & Telemundo; producer credits also include Tarsem Singh's "Cell" (Lopez) & "Erskineville Kings" (Hugh Jackman); fmr. Sr. VP at Manufacturers Hanover Trust (now JPMorgan Chase), specialized in asset-based lending & leveraged acquisitions … »
Targeting the 1%: A Short Primer on Their Behavior, Patterns & Interests

Robert Green (bio), Producer at Another Green World Productions, focuses on film, TV, internet & confluence of all 3; Head of Production at Green World Productions, made sequel to & developed TV show based on "Waiting"; fmr. VP at Granada Int'l, ran scripted entertainment for ITV in LA, sold & produced film/TV projects into US market; fmr. Head of Production at Hans Zimmer's Media Ventures, raised money & produced 3 films incl. "Waiting" & Werner Herzog's "Incident at Loch Ness"; fmr. Director of Development at Jan de Bont's Blue Tulip Productions, developed big-budget features incl. "Minority Report," worked on "Haunting" & raised financing for "SLC Punk!"; previously wrote business plans for Bob Cooper (Landscape Ent.) & Larry Kasanoff (Threshold Ent.); fmr. Story Editor at Red Wagon Productions, developed "Gladiator," "Hollow Man," "Stuart Little" & many others; fmr. Assistant to Prez at Island Pictures ("B.A.P.S.") … »
Changing the Rules of Film Finance in the New Economy

Anton Nel (bio), seasoned international film financier, originally from South Africa; specializes in de-risking film investments to create principal protection for investors; employs various strategies to mitigate risk, either by utilizing other investment-grade instruments as arbitrage or via investment leverage; helps many investors protect their principal investment & enables producers to participate in profit much sooner on recoupment waterfall; also finances property developments & monetizes sovereign guarantees for capital projects & other asset classes … »
Shoot for the Moon: Lessons Learned in the Trenches

Damian Harris (bio), award-winning writer/director/producer who has been making films & TV for 20+ years both in studio system & independently; wrote, directed &/or produced "Gardens of the Night" (John Malkovich, Jeremy Sisto), "Deceived" (Goldie Hawn), "Mercy" (Ellen Barkin, Stephen Baldwin), "Bad Company" (Laurence Fishburne, Ellen Barkin, Frank Langella) & "Rachel Papers" (James Spader, Jared Harris, Michael Gambon); made low-budget indie "Gardens of the Night" for < $1M, but it nevertheless played in competition at Berlin Film Festival & was sold by Mark Amin's Sobini Films & William Morris's Cassian Elwes … »
How to Take Action on Your Film Funding Goals

Ryan Lewis (bio), superb independent producer who spent last decade working for NBC, Spyglass Entertainment, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Paradigm talent agency & others; Co-Producer of Matthew Lillard's directorial debut "Fat Kid Rules the World," which won 2012 SXSW Audience Award; Exec. Producer of comedies "High School" (2010 Sundance premiere) & "Demoted" (Sean Astin, David Cross); Assoc. Producer of "Pool Boys" (Lillard, Rachelle Lefevre) & "Autopsy"; fmr. Head of Development at prolific producer Warren Zide's Flipzide; fmr. Coordinator at Fuse Entertainment; currently producing web series for Crackle.com, developing "Harvard Zombie Massacre" & multiple TV series … »
Make Your Own Luck: Financial Networking & Public Relations

Camille Solari (bio), prolific American-Canadian actress, comedian, writer & producer with credits incl. "Recoil" (Danny Trejo, Steve Austin); "True True Lie" (Jaime King), "Boston Girls" (Danny Trejo), "CSI: Miami" & "Boston Legal"; CEO at La Vie En Rose Productions; starred in, wrote & produced 15+ feature films & TV shows in only 5 years; worked on shows for HBO, Universal, Comedy Central, NBC, Showtime, Cinemax, Weinstein Co., Lifetime, IFC, Syfy & others; originally from Boston, began career as assistant to Tom Cruise, then started writing, acting & producing on her own; nominated for IMDb's Top 10 Actresses to Watch (2012) … »
The Power of Many: Latest Trends in Crowdfunding

Uri Emerson-Fleming (bio), entertainment lawyer in film & TV practice group at prominent law firm Kleinberg Lange Cuddy & Klein; represents authors, actors, writers, directors, producers, production co's & studios in matters related to development, production & distribution of movies, TV programs, new-media productions & other creative content; fmr. Associate in Irell & Manella's entertainment transaction practice group, involved in acquisition of major US studio; fmr. Manager of Business & Legal Affairs at Worldwide Film Completion, worked on 30+ independent movies with $1–50M budgets; fmr. Sr. Associate at Strategic Issues Management Group; fmr. Managing Editor at Southern California Law Review; earned MBA & JD (top 10% of class) from USC; named Rising Star in entertainment & sports by Super Lawyers of Southern California … »

Featured Moderator

The event will be moderated by Jim Lukowitsch (bio), an award-winning media research and product management professional in Hollywood. Over the course of his career, Jim has worked at Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., Netflix, Anschutz Entertainment Group, Codemasters and The New York Times Company. Most recently, he ran a film, TV and digital media research business for Baseline, where he assisted filmmakers in putting together business plans and investment packages key to securing necessary funding and launched an expert-authored media blog, along with two lines of media research reports. »

Schedule

From	To	What
7:00 PM		Kick-Off & Welcome
7:00 PM	8:00 PM	Four Featured Presentations with Q&A (4 × 15 mins)
8:00 PM	8:15 PM	Networking Break (15 mins)
8:15 PM	9:00 PM	Three Featured Presentations with Q&A (3 × 15 mins)
9:00 PM	9:15 PM	Networking Break (15 mins)
9:15 PM	10:00 PM	Moderated Panel Discussion with Q&A (45 mins)
10:00 PM+		Community Time at Area Restaurant

Questions? Get answers in IIFF's Film Financing Forum!

Townhall Venue

Stella Adler Theatres: The Adler Theatre

6773 Hollywood Blvd
(NE corner of Hollywood Blvd & N Highland Ave)
The Adler Theatre - 2nd floor
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 465-4446

Map: Get a map of 6773 Hollywood Blvd at Ask, Bing, Google, MapQuest or Yahoo.

Our Host

This month's Film Financing Townhall in Los Angeles is hosted by the esteemed Stella Adler Theatres, a 18,000-square-foot facility that houses three state-of-the-art Equity Waiver theatres, numerous rehearsal studios, a dance/fencing studio, a scene shop and a restored original speakeasy (one of the last ones left in Hollywood). Named after acclaimed acting teacher Stella Adler, the complex is located in the heart of Hollywood, next to the Hollywood Wax Museum, just east of Highland Avenue on Hollywood Boulevard. It is affiliated with the Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre, which was co-founded by Ms. Adler. After a long and successful career in films and on Broadway, Stella Adler opened her New York school in 1949, followed by Los Angeles in 1985. She taught an acting technique that nurtures the imagination of the actor. Her teachings have been embraced by many of the world's most respected actors, writers and directors including Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando, Melanie Griffith, Harvey Keitel, Richard Dreyfuss, Cybill Shepherd, John Ritter and Peter Bogdanovich, to name a few.

Registration

Filmmaker-friendly affordable online registration is available at the top of this page.

Ticket type	IIFF Member*	Non-member	Registration deadline
Early bird	$25	$45	3 weeks before event
Regular	$35	$55	1 week before event
Last minute	$45	$65	1 day before event
On-site (at the door)	$55	$75	Day of event

Register now to secure the best available price!

* To learn more about membership, email our Membership Bureau or ask an IIFF staffer at or after the event.

Need Help?

Direct all your questions and inquiries about this event to IIFF's online forum at http://forum.filmfinancing.org.

Having trouble with Eventbrite (this site), PayPal or Google Checkout? Get help in our online forum. You can also notify us by email well in advance of the event and register on-site.

Speaker Bios

Jim Lukowitsch

Moderator

Jim Lukowitsch is an award-winning media research and product management professional in the entertainment industry. Over the course of his fifteen-year career, Jim has worked at Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., Netflix, Anschutz Entertainment Group, Codemasters, The Schonfeld Group and The New York Times Company. At Warner Bros., his research and analysis was key to WB's roll out of digital cinema worldwide. Jim spent several years consulting on Netflix's movie recommendation engine. At Codemasters, he played a key role in the launch of the North American division of a major video game publisher and distributor. Most recently, Jim ran a film, television and digital media research business for Baseline, part of The New York Times Company, where he assisted filmmakers in putting together business plans and investment packages to securing necessary funding and launched an expert-authored media blog, along with two lines of media research reports. Jim appeared at film conferences and commented upon and contributed to film-related media stories. His Baseline website and blog won numerous interactive media awards including the Communicator Award, the Interactive Media Award, and the WebAward. Jim holds an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and a BA in Economics from Columbia University. »

Thomas Trenker

Founder

A Wall Street investment banker and Silicon Valley startup executive turned independent film financier, Thomas (LinkedIn profile | full bio) serves as Chairman of the Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF). An innovative and ambitious social-impact organization, IIFF endeavors to bridge the gap between the worlds of filmmaking and finance for the benefit of all stakeholders including the public at large. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in San Francisco, IIFF has active chapters in multiple cities across the U.S. and continues to expand.

In his role as Managing Director of FilmAngels, Thomas also runs the world's first professional angel investor group for film. FilmAngels has been modeled after the way successful angel networks function in Silicon Valley and adapted to the unique characteristics of the movie industry. It focuses exclusively on funding independent films and film-related ventures. FilmAngels address the unfilled need for a structured, highly efficient and ultimately more effective environment for the vetting and financing of high-risk film projects.

Don't hesitate to connect with Thomas on LinkedIn or at an upcoming IIFF meeting near you. »

*** To be finalized shortly ***

The Buzz

These quotes are samples of what past attendees say about IIFF events:

"Wow. Last night was great! I want to thank you again for the inspiring work you do. This is such a big need […] and you're truly doing the work of angels (literally and figuratively)." — Brant Smith, Producer, "Quality of Life"

"I really must say that I found all speakers very interesting, and I was hanging on their every word. IIFF, the mission and content, seems to be a good fit for me, because it is my dream to run a medium size production house. […] Thank you, BIG THANK YOU […], for inviting me to this very quality and important event." — John Henry, Owner, John Henry Filmworks

"Let me again say I think you did a great job putting yesterday's event together – great crowd, smart presentation, lots of enthusiasm." — David Rosen, Executive Producer/Convener, Digital Independence

"Wow! For such a moderate investment, so much information. So much good networking. I hope you are proud of the magic you've created with IIFF." — Kevin Morrison, Writer/Director/Producer of independent film & TV

"I just wanted to say thanks for another great and informative meeting. The speakers were impressive and I made some good contacts." — Jesse Ford, Founder & Executive Director, Group Hug Productions

"IIFF and FilmAngels has really impressed me so far with its focus on the independent film community. I've traveled and interacted with film organizations around the world […]." — Jin Woo Joo, Founder, Cinemasports

"Thanks so much for hosting such an interesting program last week. I am always inspired by the creativity, and most recently, by the commitment to 'a better world'. It keeps my cynic's heart at bay! [A]gain, my heartfelt thanks for your mission and execution. Well done!" — Teri Cundall, Founder & President, Propville.com

"The event was great, very helpful." — Marc Perez, Co-President & Founding Partner, Sirk Productions

"I greatly enjoyed attending last night's event and found it very informative - certainly something that's been missing in New York so far." — Michael Gunther, Director/Producer, Triboro Pictures

"Great presentation tonight. Lots of energetic discussions and questions." — Campbell Dalglish, Prof. of Screenwriting, MFA in Film & Video at CUNY

"Thanks so much for tonight's event. It was really inspiring and incredibly informative." — Elizabeth Foley, Founding Faculty Member, Producing Dep't at NYFA

"I enjoyed this evening's Townhall presentation and found it very informative." — William Doll, Writer/Director, World Stage Pictures

"Your Townhall mtg was stimulating. You managed to attract the right target audience, and I loved your choice of speakers." — Sandra Schulberg, Founder, Independent Feature Project (IFP)

"I attended the New York Townhall Meeting and just wanted to thank you for setting up such an informative colloquium. It was my first IIFF event and I look forward to attending more in the future." — Blythe Frank, Producer, "Kettle of Fish" (Michael Mailer Films)

"Thank you again for a wonderful event last night." — Morgan Pehme, Co-Founder & CEO, Merlion Entertainment

"I'm just writing […] pertaining to the IIFF meeting last night, which I found both entertaining and informative and also promising of great things to come from IIFF in the near future!" — Thomas Woodrow, Producer, Furnace Films

"I attended the IIFF Townhall last week in New York and came away impressed. Thank you for putting together such an excellent panel of speakers. I found [Mr. Trenker's] presentation especially useful. As a former quant at Putnam Investments, I tend to dig into the numbers and [his] analysis was illuminating." — Robert Milacci, Executive Producer, Sinestra Pictures

"I very much enjoyed the seminar last Saturday in Stowe, VT. It was a lot of driving in one day (3.25 hrs. each way…), but worth it. […] Thanks again for a very enlightening day." — Marjorie Short, Oscar-nominated Writer/Producer/Director, Short Productions

"Just a note to say Larry Meistrich had a good time last night and was impressed with the quality of the group." — Jeff Silverstein, President of NEHST Access + Learning, NEHST Studios

"As it turns out, my producing partner [producer/director Leszek Burzynski] attended your IIFF meeting in Santa Monica on July 16. He was quite impressed with the presentations." — Terrance Sweeney, Partner & Producer, Winning Team Studios

"I just wanted to say thanks again for putting on such a great forum last night. […] I really enjoyed the occasion and especially the presentations. They were extremely relevant and really strong, credible presenters." — Gordon Clark, CEO, The Movie Portfolio Fund

"First, I wanted to say how much I really enjoyed your premier [film financing] seminar…!" — Frank Sacks, Founder & Principal, The Frank Sacks Company

"I had a very enjoyable experience. The seminar was extremely professional and well put together." — Adam Tantleff, Founder, President & Executive Producer, Sinestra Pictures

"THANKS […] There are no organizations or groups that I have come across that are doing what you and FilmAngels are doing." — J. Martin, Co-Owner, 24 Bros Entertainment

"I cannot express enough gratitude toward the great job that you are doing to help talented filmmakers realize their dreams. God bless you!" — Mara Vardanyan, Producer, Roman Pictures

"Your seminars are FIRST RATE!" — Rowan Joseph, President, Greenwood Hill Productions

"Thanks for organizing a great event. I thought it was a very interesting group of speakers." — Tricia van Klaveren, Producer/Exec. Producer & Principal, Fully Loaded Pictures

"[T]hank you for a terrific meeting last night…" — Greg Lejnieks, Actor/Filmmaker, Art Dealer & fmr. Pro Soccer Player

"First of all, thank you for hosting the Film Financing seminar. Very, very informative. I hope you have another one very soon." — Richard Beaty, Writer/Producer/Director & Co-Owner, Cielo Azul Films

"Just wanted to say 'thank you' for last night's IIFF meeting. […] The slides look great […]. I look forward to the next meeting." — Robert Pratten, Founder & Writer/Director, Zen Films

"I'm a big fan of all you're doing with IIFF… very inspiring to filmmakers." — Thomas Mignone, Director/Writer, DOOM Incorporated

"Thank you for hosting the [Workshop] last week. It was very informative and [the instructor] was spectacular. I learned a lot and met several fantastic people." — Lisa McTigue, Producer/Director, Three Masked Peeps Productions

"Thank you for inviting us to present to your [FilmAngels] groups in both Palo Alto and San Francisco. The attendees were warm and educated investors. You've done a terrific job gathering people with a passion for film." — Julie Richardson, Producer, "Collateral" (Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx)

"It was another great event and I appreciate all your work […]. Thank you." — Paul Oja, Writer/Director, "Bus Trip"

"I must thank you for sending [Workshop instructor] Dr. Patrick O'Heffernan down to Los Angeles last month. It was the best $200 I have ever spent on a seminar. [S]ince Patrick has both raised money and invested money, his perspective was simply invaluable!!!" — Rosser Goodman, Director, KGB Films

"You assembled an impressive group of speakers (and characters). […] I think we share a strong desire to help filmmakers." — Darren Ehlers, COO, Scenechronize

"First, I simply must say what an amazingly informative session it was and well carried out by [Workshop instructor] Tricia van Klaveren and her guest speakers. It packed a memorable punch. […] I had never heard of IIFF previously and now look forward to more of the same from you guys." — Teo, CEO, Cool Room Entertainment

"I really enjoyed [Kaiser Wahab's] class. A great value. Thank you for sharing your knowledge." — Bob Rudis, Director of Photography & President, Tubular, Inc.

Speak out, we would like to hear from you! Send us your comments by email.

About IIFF

The Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) is an independent grassroots organization equally dedicated to serving the needs of filmmakers & financiers. IIFF's one-of-a-kind mission is to sustainably expand the scope & appeal of film financing and do so for the benefit of the public at large.

True to our proven motto of "democratizing film finance," IIFF's frequent Townhall Meetings bring together a wide array of professionals from relevant backgrounds in film, finance and beyond for a vibrant evening of insightful presentations, inspiring discussion & focused networking. Past meetings have reliably delivered useful insights into the business of film, provided valuable networking opportunities and drawn large, enthusiastic crowds.

IIFF has active chapters in multiple cites, and we are looking to expand further to better serve filmmakers and financiers everywhere. Help start or run a local chapter in your area! We make it easy and worth your while. Take a first step and tell us about yourself.

Not ready for your own chapter but eager to get involved in another meaningful way? We may have just the right full- or part-time internship for you, no matter where you are. Simply email us your resume to apply. IIFF interns are treated as equals while they learn about film finance and interact with industry leaders.

Spread the Word!

Support IIFF's mission by spreading the word. Use the following links as you see fit.

Upcoming Event

LA Townhall on 5/17 … http://gla.filmfinancing.org/051712

Latest Events: Greater Los Angeles

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Our Website

IIFF: Bridging Film & Finance … http://filmfinancing.org

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Keep in Touch

Join IIFF's online discussion forum at http://forum.filmfinancing.org

IIFF Bay Area Film Financing Townhall in San Francisco (May 2012): Networking & Education for Financiers & Filmmakers

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:42:18 +0000

When:
Thursday, May 17, 2012 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (PT)

Where:
Academy of Art University (AAU)
79 New Montgomery Street
Auditorium - 1st floor
San Francisco, CA 94105

Hosted By:
IIFF San Francisco Bay Area

Register for this event now at:
http://sfb-filmfinancing-org-051712-rss.eventbrite.com

Event Details:

SF Film Financing Townhall at the Academy of Art

Film Meets Finance:
Networking & Education for
Filmmakers & Financiers

Seven Insightful Talks by Leading Experts & More

*** Don't miss other events in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Kansas City and New York ***

Abstract

The San Francisco chapter of the Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) continues its popular monthly gatherings at the junction of film & finance with a special Film Financing Townhall at the renowned Academy of Art. Their facilities are conveniently located across the street from the Palace Hotel in downtown San Francisco.

An informal après-meeting celebration will take place at a nearby restaurant.

Attendees

Who should attend?

Established & aspiring filmmakers looking to raise capital for their projects, production companies, movie slates, film funds or other ventures are, naturally, more than welcome as well.

Why attend?

Program Details

The New Crowdfunding Law: What It Means for Film Entrepreneurs & Financiers

Daniel Riviera (bio), Principal at boutique law firm Riviera & Assoc.; Harvard & Georgetown-educated entertainment attorney with 25+ years of film, TV, music, gaming, trademark & publishing experience; assisted with 100s of movie projects; past clients include Carolco, Imagine, Spelling, Groundlings, Keiko Matsui & Gilda Radner; reps many producers with social & political content, both for-profit & non-profit … »
Indistinguishable From Magic? The Amazing Technology Behind Big-Box-Office 3D

Damon Wolfe (bio), Exec. Producer at Stereobox, producing stereography (3D) for such clients as Disney, Warner Bros., ImageMovers, George Lucas's ILM, IMAX & Real D; fmr. Technical Director at Wild Brain Animation; Technical Supervisor & Sr. Technical Director at Disney's ImageMovers Digital Studio … »
Media With a Message: Social-Issue Film & Documentary Success

Paul Zehrer (bio), Exec. Producer/Director at PotentialSF & Campaign Developer for Spare Climate Change; earned nominations for Independent Spirit Awards, Sundance Grand Jury Prize & Emmys; wrote & directed for PBS's "EnviroMysteries" & Nickelodeon's "Blue's Clues" (Emmy nom for Best Director); received Blockbuster/McKnight Film Fund Award for "Threshhold" screenplay; 20+ years experience as editor on music videos, commercials, indie features & docs incl. Oscar nominee "Essay on Matisse" (PBS), "Blackout" (Frontline/PBS), "Listen Up" (Warner Bros.) & "Picasso Paints Picasso" (PBS) … »
A Fine Line: Balancing Art & Commerce in Documentaries

Laura Lukitsch (bio), Founder & Producer at Global Performance Media with clients incl. KQED/Spark, LinkTV, Commonwealth Club & Thiel Foundation; faculty member at SF State; has produced, directed & edited films for 7+ years; premiered long-form doc "Beard Club" at Hot Springs Documentary Film Fest; currently in pre-production on "Mind the Gap"; won numerous grants & awards incl. Fleishhacker Foundation, Pacific Pioneer Fund & SF Film House Residency … »
Read, Write, Webseries: Producing for New Disruptive Media Outlets

Daedalus Howell (bio), versatile filmmaker, journalist & media personality; Writer/Producer at Future Media Research Lab (FMRL); wrote & directed parodistic "R&H Educational Film Series" (Showtime, Canal+, IFC); co-produced feature "Aviary" (2005); produced content for Wikia & "lifestyle ambassador" videos for Sonoma County Tourism Bureau; had distribution on Showtime Next, MTV2, MTV Italia, HBO Ceska Republika & BiteTV; wrote for SF Chronicle, LA Downtown News, FineLife Sonoma & Sonoma Valley Sun … »

*** More to come ***

Featured Moderator

The event will be moderated by Noemi Zeigler (bio), an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter, film and video instructor, web show host, singer/songwriter and standup comedian. She has produced and/or hosted such TV programs and web shows as "Pushy TV," which gained a cult following in San Francisco; "The Minx Mandate" on Revision3 Beta; "Pop Secrets (and Other Roadside Attractions)," which aired across Europe; and "Studio SX" for SXSW. Her feature script "What Do You Thinx of Madeline Minx?" won Best Farce and Best Fresh Voice at film festivals in Los Angeles and Toronto. Noemi holds an MFA from the prestigious American Film Institute. »

Schedule

From	To	What
7:00 PM		Kick-Off & Welcome
7:00 PM	8:00 PM	Four Featured Presentations with Q&A (4 × 15 mins)
8:00 PM	8:15 PM	Networking Break (15 mins)
8:15 PM	9:00 PM	Three Featured Presentations with Q&A (3 × 15 mins)
9:00 PM	9:15 PM	Networking Break (15 mins)
9:15 PM	10:00 PM	Moderated Panel Discussion with Q&A (45 mins)
10:00 PM+		Community Time at Area Restaurant

Questions? Get answers in IIFF's Film Financing Forum!

Townhall Venue

Academy of Art University (AAU)

79 New Montgomery St
(between Market & Mission, across from Palace Hotel)
Auditorium - 1st floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 274-2200

Map: Get a map of 79 New Montgomery St at Ask, Bing, Google, MapQuest or Yahoo.

Our Host

This month's Film Financing Townhall in San Francisco is hosted by the esteemed Academy of Art, a leading private university founded in 1929 in San Francisco. With nearly 10,000 students that occupy its 30+ buildings in downtown San Francisco, AAU is considered the largest private school of art and design in the United States. It offers both traditional on-campus and online distance-education degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of fine arts-related majors, including Motion Pictures & Television and Animation & Visual Effects. In May 2007, AAU was granted regional accreditation by the Senior Commission of the prestigious Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC), one of the six major regional accreditation commissions recognized by the US Department of Education.

Very special thanks for making this event possible go to Curran Engel, Full-Time Instructor in AAU's film school.

Registration

Filmmaker-friendly affordable online registration is available at the top of this page.

Ticket type	IIFF Member*	Non-member	Registration deadline
Early bird	$25	$45	3 weeks before event
Regular	$35	$55	1 week before event
Last minute	$45	$65	1 day before event
On-site (at the door)	$55	$75	Day of event

Register now to secure the best available price!

* To learn more about membership, email our Membership Bureau or ask an IIFF staffer at or after the event.

Need Help?

Direct all your questions and inquiries about this event to IIFF's online forum at http://forum.filmfinancing.org.

Having trouble with Eventbrite (this site), PayPal or Google Checkout? Get help in our online forum. You can also notify us by email well in advance of the event and register on-site.

Speaker Bios

Daniel Riviera

Daniel Riviera, Esq., the principal of the Riviera & Associates law firm, has over twenty-five years of experience as an attorney in the motion picture industry. He has been involved with hundreds of projects, ranging from Academy Award-nominated documentaries to major studio releases, which have become enormous commercial successes and cultural landmarks. Daniel represents clients involved in all aspects of the motion picture industry, with a current emphasis on guiding independent film productions from financing through the sale of distribution rights. Past clients have included Carolco Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Spelling Entertainment, the Groundlings, Keiko Matsui and Gilda Radner. Current clients include Academy Award-nominated filmmakers, independent film studios and Internet-based distribution companies. Daniel is a graduate of Harvard College and the Georgetown University Law Center. »

Damon Wolfe

Damon Wolfe is currently an Executive Producer at Stereobox, which has produced stereography (3D) for Disney, Warner Bros., ImageMovers, George Lucas's ILM, IMAX and Real D. Damon is a former Technical Director at Wild Brain Animation Studios in San Francisco, and a Layout Supervisor, Computer Graphics Technical Supervisor and Senior Technical Director at Disney's ImageMovers Digital Studio. He studied animation at Vancouver Film School. »

Paul Zehrer

Paul Zehrer is currently an Executive Producer and Director at PotentialSF and Campaign Developer for Spare Climate Change. His film and TV career has earned him nominations for the Independent Spirit Awards, the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and the Emmy Awards. Paul has written and directed for "EnviroMysteries" (PBS) and "Blue's Clues" (Nickelodeon), which earned him an Emmy nomination for Best Director. He has written several screenplays including "Threshold," for which he received a Blockbuster/McKnight Film Fund Award. Moreover, Mr. Zehrer has over twenty years of experience as a film and video editor on music videos, commercials, independent features and documentaries including the Oscar-nominated "An Essay on Matisse" (PBS), "Blackout" (Frontline/PBS), "Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones" (Warner Bros.), "Picasso Paints Picasso" (PBS) and "Ordinary Sinner." He was a creative force behind many award-winning commercials for Lieberman Productions in San Francisco, working with dozens of Hollywood, music and sports celebrities. Paul earned a BA in Philosophy from Vassar College and taught filmmaking at Virginia Commonwealth University. He has been a Fellow Artist in Residence at Yaddo and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. »

Laura Lukitsch

Laura J. Lukitsch is the Founder and Producer at Global Performance Media, which has clients including KQED/Spark, LinkTV, the Commonwealth Club and the Thiel Foundation. She is a faculty member at SF State University. Laura has been producing, directing and editing films for more than seven years. She has worked as a filmmaker with artistic, public-television and corporate clients. Laura's first long-form documentary "Beard Club," inspired by the World Beard and Mustache Competition, premiered at Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. It was shot in six countries and twelve cities. She is currently in pre-production on "Mind the Gap," a feature-length documentary which examines urban transportation systems and sustainable urban transit through the eyes of commuters in Beijing, San Francisco, London and Lima. Laura has won numerous grants and awards including a Fleishhacker Foundation grant, the Pacific Pioneer Fund grant and the San Francisco Film House Residency. »

Daedalus Howell

Daedalus Howell is a writer-producer at FMRL.com, a filmmaker and a media personality. He wrote and directed the R&H Educational Film Series, a parody of American "social guidance films" of the 1950s, which aired on Showtime, Canal+ and IFC. He directed music videos for the bands Longwave (RCA) and Falcon, and co-produced the feature film "The Aviary." Daedalus recently produced food and beverage-themed content for Wikia, a "lifestyle ambassador" video series for the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau, and is the writer-director of dozens of short films. His work has also been distributed internationally on outlets including Showtime Next, MTV2, MTV Italia, HBO Ceska Republika and BiteTV. As a journalist, Daedalus has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the North Bay Bohemian, the Petaluma Argus-Courier, Los Angeles Downtown News, FineLife Sonoma Magazine, the Sonoma Valley Sun, and presently writes a weekly column for the Sonoma Index-Tribune. He published "I Heart Sonoma: How to Live & Drink in Wine Country" as an ebook. He is a former co-founder of DHowell Media Group, which has evolved into FMRL (Future Media Research Lab). The company produced content for brands including Annie's Homegrown, Morton's Steakhouse and Sutter Home Winery, as well as numerous music videos. »

Noemi Zeigler

Moderator

Noemi Zeigler is an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter, film instructor at the Academy of Art, web show host, singer/songwriter and standup comedian. Her feature script "What Do You Thinx of Madeline Minx?," a comedy with musical numbers, won Best Farce at the Broad Humor Film Festival in Los Angeles (2008) and Best Fresh Voice at the Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto (2008). Kathleen Turner read the role of her mother Rochelle in a staged reading of the script at the Electric Lodge Theater in Venice, CA in 2009. In 2002, Noemi produced and hosted "Pushy TV," a weekly genre-bending reality/talk show, which gained a cult following in San Francisco. She hosted and co-produceed a satirical web show on Revision3Beta.com called "The Minx Mandate," with guests including celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. She co-hosted the German television documentary "Pop Secrets (and Other Roadside Attractions)," which aired across Europe on ARTE and 3 SAT. Noemi also co-hosted "Studio SX," a program for South by Southwest (SXSW). Moreover, she writes, performs and records electronic dance music on the independent record label Radio Charlie Records. Her single "Unleash Your Soul," has appeared on numerous dance charts around the country. Noemi has taught film and video courses at the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico, the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and Laney College in Oakland. She is an advisory board member of Toronto's Female Eye Film Festival. Noemi holds an MFA degree in Film Directing from the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles. »