Mark will present his "Risky Business: Financing & Distributing Independent Films" seminar at at UCLA on February 20. Those who attend this comprehensive one-day seminar will learn how independent films are financed and distributed. Topics include organizing your company, raising financing via pre-sales, debt and limited partnerships, negotiating tactics, principal terms of the acquisition/distribution agreement, cross-collateralization and creative accounting. Particular attention is paid to how producers and filmmakers can protect their interests by watering down warranties, getting added to the E& O policy, using lab access letter to retain possession of the negative, and utilizing termination and arbitration clauses.
The seminar is all day Saturday. Limited Enrollment.
Registration number: V4464B. Attorneys receive 7 hours of MCLE credit.
more info at:
An extensive handout accompanies the course. The handout covers:
SELF DEFENSE CHECKLIST
ORGANIZING YOUR COMPANY
Choice of Business Entity
Sole Proprietorship
General Partnership
Limited Partnership
Corporation
Company Formation Checklist
Limited Liability Company
Comparison of Entities
COLLABORATIONS AND CO-PRODUCTIONS
International Co-Productions
Co-Production Checklist
RAISING MONEY
Loans
Pre-sale Agreements
Contract: IFTA International Schedule of Definitions
Entertainment Finance Companies
Equity Investments
Finders
TACTICS AND STRATEGY IN ARRANGING DISTRIBUTION
How Much is My Film Worth?
How Distributors Evaluate a Film
Sources of Revenue
Increasing Your Leverage
Film Festivals
Working the Festival Circuit
Balancing Risks and Rewards
The Acquisition/Distribution Agreement
Tactics and Strategy
Markets and Festivals
Investigate the Distributor
PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
Territory
Media ¬
Term
Distribution Fee
Distribution and Marketing Expenses
Advances and Guarantees
Consultation Rights
Warranties and Representations
Accounting
Arbitration
Insurance
Termination
Assignment
Allocation of Package Revenue
Security Interest
Governing Law
Territorial Minimums
Retain Your Masters
Return of Materials
Delivery
Contract: Lab Access Letter
Contract: IFTA Rider to International Distribution Agreement
WHEN A DISTRIBUTOR DEFAULTS
Selecting a Distributor
Creative Accounting
Conducting an Audit
How Revenue is divided
Creative Accounting Pitfalls
Accounting Terms
Defensive Tactics
Tax Incentives Revisted
The Los Angeles Times published an article on September 22, 2009 entitled "Filmmaking incentives losing glamour in cash-strapped states. The article stated that while more than 40 states offer tax breaks or rebates for film and television production, some states were re-considering the wisdom of such programs in light of their budget difficulties.
Wisconsin quashed its state's tax program this summer after a report by the state Department of Commerce raised questions about money the state paid for "Public Enemies," the Universal Pictures gangster movie starring Johnny Depp. The governor replaced its program providing a 25% tax credit with no cap -- with a $500,000-a-year grant designed to bolster Wisconsin-based film production companies. That's much less than the $6.1 million the state awarded in tax credits in the last year.
2010 CineVegas Film Festival Cancelled
Organizers are canceling the CineVegas Film Festival in Las Vegas next year because of the economy.
President Robin Greenspun and Artistic Director Trevor Groth announced today that the CineVegas Film Festival will not be held in 2010
Festival President Robin Greenspun issued a Friday statement citing "the current economic climate and the pressures it created."
Greenspun says organizers didn't want to let the economy affect the festival's quality, so they put the event on hold.
Artistic Director Trevor Goth says he hopes to relaunch CineVegas after the economy recovers.
The 11th CineVegas Film Festival was held June 10 - 15, 2009 at the Palms Casino Resort and Brenden Theatres in Las Vegas.
