Film Finance & Activism - LA - Oct 17 2012

[Charles]

Dear Friends,

A choice line-up of prominent FILM & FINANCE PROS ensures the IIFF event in LA on Oct. 17 is WORTH YOUR WHILE. They'll talk about:

1) "NEW RULES OF FILM FINANCE & How to Thrive as Producer" -- by JULIA VERDIN, one of Hollywood's top independent producers with excellent talent connections & extensive knowledge of packaging, tax incentives, foreign sales & distribution; President & Producer at Rough Diamond Productions, focuses on films with both commercial appeal & good social message; currently developing "Neuromancer," based on William Gibson's bestseller; Owner & Manager at talent management company Rough Diamond Management, repping Olivia d'Abo, Margo Stilley & other actors; produced 30+ feature films such as "The Merchant of Venice" (Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Joseph Fiennes), "Stander" (Thomas Jane, Deborah Unger), "Two Jacks" (Sienna Miller, Jack Huston) & Stephen King's "Riding the Bullet" (David Arquette, Erika Christensen); fmr. Producer & Host on entertainment TV shows; started as film & TV actress in UK; served as Board Director at BAFTA/LA & at Seven Arts Pictures (NASDAQ: SAPX); etc.

2) "LESS IS MORE: Funding Ultra Low-Budget Movies" -- by PAGE OSTROW, leading producer's rep & veteran entertainment industry exec; finds, negotiates, tracks & collects on deals for indie filmmakers; also works with private equity groups to get projects funded; Founder & President at producer's representation firm Ostrow & Company; arranged financing &/or negotiated distribution for 200+ feature films & many documentaries; previously spent 10 years as independent sales exec for 25+ distributors, providing global sales support, licensing & pre-sales of films & libraries to int'l buyers; worked for Initial Entertainment's Graham King, distributor & producer of such Oscar winners as "The Aviator," "The Departed" & "Blood Diamond"; 1st Hollywood entertainment exec invited to speak at United Nations Film Fest in NYC; staged & moderated Green Light Night pitching contest in LA, NYC & Toronto; etc.

3) "ATTRACTING DISTRIBUTORS: Advice for Filmmakers & Financiers" -- by KEN DUBOW, who spent 30+ years in distribution at major studios, multinational corporations & as independent; sales experience includes syndication, US cable, int'l TV & film as well as large libraries; extensive relationships with leading buyers worldwide; President at boutique distributor & sales operation Opus Distribution; fmr. President of Worldwide Distribution at production & distribution company PorchLight Entertainment; fmr. President of Distribution & Exec. VP of Worldwide Sales at independent film studio First Look Studios; fmr. President & CEO at Modern Entertainment, sold 324-title library to Lionsgate; previously held executive positions with MGM/UA, Disney & Pandora Films; served on Steering Committee for American Film Market (AFM) & as TV Committee Chair at Int'l Film & Television Alliance (IFTA); etc.

Head to http://gla.filmfinancing.org/101712r for your ticket.

4) "MAKE MORE THAN A MOVIE: Build a Brand, Develop a Franchise" -- by MIKE BAWDEN, seasoned marketing & PR pro with 25+ years experience; currently works on financing & launching "Space Command" movie franchise; Partner at full-service PR agency Bawden & Lareau Public Relations (B&LPR), specializing in message creation & management for client brands; President at virtual consultancy Brand Central Station with partners in 40+ countries, providing innovative marketing services to help brands grow; fmr. Adj. Professor of Marketing & Advertising at several universities; fmr. Chair & Board Member at ECCO Int'l Public Relations Network, ranks as 4th largest network of owner-managed PR firms worldwide; fmr. President at integrated marketing communications agency Bawden & Associates with 40+ employees; featured speaker at nat'l & int'l conferences on branding & brand management; etc.

5) "FINANCING FILM ACTIVISM: How 'The Dude' Represents Films" -- by JEFF DOWD, AKA "THE DUDE," nationally recognized producer's rep, writer/producer & authority on movie marketing, distribution & exhibition; recently helped raise $28M for indies; was basis for Jeff Bridges' character in cult hit "The Big Lebowski" (Bridges, Goodman, Buscemi); Producer of "Zebrahead" (Michael Rapaport); Exec. Producer of "FernGully" (Robin Williams, Tim Curry, Christian Slater), "Ocean of Pearls" (Brenda Strong), "Cement" (Jeffrey Wright, Chris Penn, Sherilyn Fenn) & "The Last Game" (documentary); Producer's Rep or Marketing Consultant on "Blood Simple," "The Black Stallion," "Chariots of Fire," "The Grey Fox," "Gandhi," "War Games," "Hoosiers," "The Stunt Man," "Hearts & Minds," "Desperately Seeking Susan," "Green Street Hooligans," "The Thing About My Folks" & "Duma"; fmr. Board Member at Sundance, Independent Feature Project (IFP) & Int'l Documentary Association (IDA); etc.

We'd be SUPER THRILLED if you decided to join us! Please tell your colleagues & peers about WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

Warmest,

Your Friends at IIFF Los Angeles
Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF)
http://gla.filmfinancing.org/101712r

www.gla.filmfinancing.org