This panel will take you through the steps necessary to get your film funded. Representatives from various perspectives in a film financing transaction will take you through a sample financing content transaction. This panel will provide practical overview to the economics of a financing transaction, as well as, practical advice and information to utilize in financing your projects.
Structure of a Motion Picture Financing Transaction
Components of Financing: Equity, Debt & Soft Money
Security Interests and Controls
Essential Elements: budgets, letters of intent, script; chain of title
Producers, Bankers, Lawyers & Accountants – Who Controls the Deal?
Completion bonds, Credit Insurance and Enhancements
Moderator: David Steinberg, Partner, Heenan Blaikie, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
11:15 AM Networking Break
11:30 AM The Economics of Motion Picture Production: From Box Office to Profit Participation
This panel will discuss the revenue stream and payment waterfall using a sample of a single independent feature film. It will also examine who gets what from which revenue stream and the schedule of payment returns to the various players in the finance transaction.
Moderator: Patricia V. Mayer, Partner, Mitchell Silbergerg & Knupp LLP, Los Angeles
12:30 PM Current Sources for Content Capital
This panel will cover the latest trends, requirements and primary sources of financing content in the current economy including the role of debt lenders and the conditions a producer and filmmaker need to secure financing from investment bankers, private equity and hedge fund sources as well as other sources of financing.
1:30 PM Break for Lunch
2:45 PM U.S. Incentives and Production Strategies for Financing Credits
With states offering 20 – 40% in tax incentives, credits and rebates, where you shoot has become a critical part of financing because it is a way to lay off some of the financial risks. This panel will discuss the States with the best incentives, what requirements must be meet to file for tax credits, when it is better to take a tax credit or a tax rebate and the differences between each and how to cash flow and/or transfer the credits. Each attendee will receive the 2010 Production Incentives Guide filled with the latest incentives from each State and Puerto Rico.
Moderator: Jeff Begun, Production Executive, The Incentives Office, Santa Monica
3:45 PM Networking Break
4:00 PM Federal & International Tax Issues for the Entertainment Industry
This session will provide an overview of federal tax issues impacting the film and television industry, including Section 409A, loan-out corporations, deductions; income forecast amortization, income recognition, inbound and outbound international tax issues, withholding, independent contractor qualification, and characterization and taxation of various financing transactions.
This panel will be an insider’s look at an international financing and the various players from a film will discuss the advantages and disadvantages in filming in various country’s as well as accessing funds, grants, treaties, tax credits & shelters available globally.
Moderator: Ken Dhailwal, Partner, Heenan Blaikie LLP, Toronto, ON, Canada