Pre-Summit Workshop - Financing a Film

Monday, February 8, 2010 

6:00 PM Reception & Workshop Registration

7:00 PM Financing a Film

Representatives from various perspectives in a film financing transaction will take you through a sample transaction from the initial stages to securing financing and closing the transactions.  You will receive practical advice and information to utilize in financing your projects.  Our panel will provide practical advice and analyze and discuss the issues that arose during the financing process.  There 3.25 cpe/cle credits available for this workshop.

• Accessing the economics of the deal
• Creating an effective package: business plans, budgets, letters of intent, pre-sales, chain of title
• Understanding the key legal agreements
• Identifying key players in the financing transaction
• Tax and accounting issues
• Completion bonds, credit insurance 

Moderator: David Steinberg, Partner, Heenan Blaikie

Panel:  Nicholas Tabarrok, Owner, Darius Films
            David Henry, Senior Vice President, U.S. Bank
            Jeff Sanders, Managing Partner, Roberts Ritholz Levy Sanders Chidekel & Fields

9:45 PM Open Forum:  Q&A with Panel

10:00 PM Workshop Concludes 

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Film Finance Summit

Tuesday, February 9, 2010  

8:00 AM Breakfast & Summit Registration

8:45 AM Welcome & Introductions (6.25 cpe/cle credits)

9:00 AM Current Financing Trends & State of the Industry

This panel will discuss what is being financed, how they are being financed and who is financing films in this downturn. This panel will also analyze the current state of the industry, the impact of major problems from the downturn and the importance of gap financing.  

Moderator:  Jeff Sanders, Managing Partner, Roberts, Ritholz, Levy, Sanders, Chidekel & Fields

Panel:          Roy Salter, Principal, The Salter Group
                    Mark C. Manuel, Executive Vice President, Lionsgate Entertainment
                    Peter Graham, Principal, 120db Films
                    Additional panelists to be announced 

10:00 AM Break

10:15 AM Financing Content

This panel will cover the primary sources of financing content in the economic credit crunch for television and film -- debt, equity, presale and soft money.  We will explore the roll debt lenders and the conditions a producer and filmmaker need to satisfy to secure funding from commercial banks, private equity and other sources of financing for content. 

Moderator: P. John Burke, Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Panel to be announced

11:15 AM Break

11:45 PM Branded Content Financing and Production Strategies  

Many brands are finding it harder and harder to get their products in front of consumers and are turning to the internet, mobile and other platforms to gain exposure.  This panel will look at ways that major brands are using content to promote their products but also entertain audiences. The panel will analyze how advertising agencies, producers and product integration are now key elements in the content financing chain.

Moderator:  Phil Alberstat, Partner, Fuel Industries

Panel:      Steven Amato, Partner, Omelet
                Amber J Lawson, Controller of Comedy, Babelgum Networks
                Michael Bellavia, President, Animax Entertainment
                Additional panelists to be announced

12:45 PM Networking Luncheon

2:15 PM Consuming Content in the Transmedia World

This high level panel of studio execs, academics and content creators will look at how we are now consuming content in the new digital world and the impact of technology on our viewing habits. Panelists will look at current trends for producing and marketing content on multiple platforms available to consumers and how the way we consume content will change.

Moderator:  Phil Alberstat, Partner, Fuel Industries

Panel:        Stuart W. Volkow, VP, Strategy and Development, The Institute
             Henry Jenkins, is the Provost's Professor of Communication, Journalism, and Cinematic Arts at the University   
                 of Southern California 
                Additional panelists to be announced

3:15 PM Break

3:45 PM International Co-Productions & Co-Financings

This panel will be an insider’s look at an international co-production 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:  David Steinberg, Partner, Heenan Blaikie

Panel to be announced

4:45 PM Closing Remarks & Open Forum for Questions

5:00 PM Summit Concludes

5:30 PM Networking Cocktail Reception

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Post-Summit Workshop - Taxation of the Film & TV Industries

 

Wednesday, February 10, 2010  

8:00 AM Registration & Breakfast (3 cpe/cle credits)

8:45 AM Introduction & Overview

9:00 AM Tax Planning for the Film & TV Industries

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. 

Schuyler M. Moore, Partner, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan

10:30 AM  Break

10:45 AM State Tax Incentives & Financing Tax Credits

With states offering 20 – 35% 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, the requirements to file for the tax credit, what the incentives cover, the filing process and how to cash flow credits and rebates.

Co-Moderators:  Dama Claire, Production Executive, The Incentives Office
                          Jeff Begun, Production Executive, The Incentives Office
                          Peter Graham, Principal, 120db Films
                          Vince Porter, Executive Director, The Govenor's Office of Film & Television, Oregon Film 
                          Additional panelists to be announced

12:00 PM Question & Answer Session

12:15 PM Workshop Concludes