IIFF/NYC Film Financing Workshop With Film Finance AttorneyOne-Day Law School
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*** Fast-track your fundraising progress at IIFF's networking-oriented Film Financing Townhall on June 29 in Manhattan *** |
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Abstract"Producers and investors will learn the fundamental legal structures and contracts that drive indie film financing. This knowledge will help to better plan and build investment vehicles to finance film projects." — Kaiser Wahab, Esq. The Workshop hones in on the specific legal know-how required for financing an independent feature. It spares you the pain of law school tuition or exorbitant lawyer fees. By carefully packaging and presenting crucial legal concepts in a tailored one-day intensive program, you can bypass the fragmented landscape of books and other resources that often frustrate and confuse producers and investors. Not only will our seminar open your eyes to new possibilities and crucial caveats. It may very well translate into tremendous costs savings by streamlining your working relationship with an experienced film finance attorney like our expert instructor. Without a solid investment vehicle no indie film can succeed. Perhaps more important than saving time and money, the Workshop gives you the confidence to evaluate the legal structure of any film project and explain it to potential investors or partners. These are critical success factors. The fundamentals you learn will allow you to design your own structure for achieving your unique financing goals. You will also be able to steer clear of the major legal and financial pitfalls that plague most projects. Too many producers are either fearful or simply unwilling to engage the legal issues connected with financing their movies. As a result, they rely excessively on counsel, generating higher legal fees. Worse yet, they are unable to craft a viable structure in which investors can confidently put their money. Ultimately, such a project may be doomed from the start. Our program helps you acquire the essential legal skills to avoid that outcome, improve your fundraising chances, and increase the likelihood of financial success. ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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IntroductionThe New York Metro chapter of the Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) continues its acclaimed education & networking events at the junction of film & finance with a special Film Financing Workshop for the Tri-State Area's community of filmmakers, entrepreneurs and financiers. IIFF's friends at Wahab & Medenica and Select Office Suites (SOS) are making their elegant facilities in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood available for our daylong seminar. This intensive, hands-on learning experience forms an integral part of IIFF's unrivaled series of in-depth seminars with such iconic instructors as Hollywood film financing legend Lew Horwitz (April '08 San Francisco Workshop), IFP founder Sandra Schulberg (April '08 Los Angeles Workshop | February '08 San Francisco Workshop & February '08 Los Angeles Workshop | January '08 Los Angeles Workshop), and Silicon Valley venture capitalist Dr. Frank Greene (July '08 San Francisco Workshop | June '08 Los Angeles Workshop | June '08 Silicon Valley Workshop | May '08 Los Angeles Workshop | March '08 San Francisco Workshop & March '08 Los Angeles Workshop). The upcoming Workshop builds on the exceptional popularity of IIFF's monthly Townhall Meetings —originally launched in the S.F. Bay Area during the spring of 2005— and features a highly topical program taught by an in-the-trenches expert with a track record of success. Our goal with this and future events is not only to provide unbiased insight & education about the business of film but also to foster & inform productive relationships between attending professionals. Over the past years, the landscape of film financing has changed considerably and continues to be in flux. The ongoing democratization of the means of film production has loosed an avalanche of competition in independent film, making it more difficult for even the most talented filmmakers to stand out. On the other hand, film is attracting a wider range of financing sources than ever, including a large and diverse group of private equity investors (e.g., so-called angels). In this environment of change, many of the old rules no longer apply. While content remains king, it is more critical than ever that filmmakers take a proactive, methodical and business-savvy approach to getting their films funded – be they fictional narratives or nonfiction documentaries, features or shorts, or experimental work. To thrive on the challenges ahead, filmmakers need to transform themselves from creative masterminds and technical mavens into holistic film entrepreneurs who can navigate the waters of law, business & finance as competently and confidently as they tackle the creative and technical side of movie production. (After all, the complex and wonderful process of filmmaking starts and ends with the money.) There is no better place to start than the film business plan, the film entrepreneur's systematic roadmap for success and the single most important document any serious film investor needs to see, evaluate and understand. Without a well thought-out business plan, even the most promising movie venture runs the risk of turning into a protracted odyssey and may be doomed to fail – or, at least, fail to live up to its full potential. Key components of a business plan include:
Nontrivial legal considerations & implications premeate most, if not all, aspects of every film business plan and its practical, day-to-day implementation. Getting these issues right is not just a point of professional pride. The choices made (e.g., legal entity and structure) have a profound and lasting impact on the financing, production & success of your movie. ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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Seminar DescriptionThis class provides backbone knowledge for answering the fundamental legal question every producer or investor faces: how do I best structure a movie project for investment? The emphasis is on the law, contracts & practices for taking your film venture from the business-plan stage to an actual business that can take in investor capital and deliver on its obligations. Although film entrepreneurs always consult with attorneys to undertake this process, without the proper level of understanding they cannot leverage counsel for success. Our highly instructive seminar condenses the core knowledge base of film finance legalities —typically taught over the course of one or more semesters in law school— into six intensive hours (plus two hours total for breaks and networking). You will learn:
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Learning OutcomesAs a result of successfully completing this course, you will have acquired a variety of valuable skills & knowledge. SkillsYou will be introduced to crucial skills, including:
KnowledgeYou will be exposed to mission-critical knowledge, including:
Be sure to review our detailed Workshop program for additional information! » ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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Recommended Reading
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Featured Instructor
Kaiser has broad experience, having worked on films that run the gamut from Bollywood movies, such as "Tara Rum Pum," to indie comedies, such as "The Oh in Ohio," starring Paul Rudd. With Anywhere Road he was intimately involved in the clearance, financing and distribution of all the company's films, including the documentary "A Very British Gangster" and "Black Irish" by Brad Gann, writer of "Invincible." Kaiser has also developed the financing and business model for Imagine Fashion's video collective, which features top fashion photography and modeling names. Kaiser has lectured and presented at Harvard Law School, Columbia University and the School of Visual Arts on film financing, copyright and digital media. He presently serves as Chair of the Corporations Committee at the New York County Lawyers Association. Kaiser was most recently a panelist for Broadcasting & Cable on licensing properties with Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems. He is published in the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal. » ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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AttendeesWho should attend?Established and aspiring filmmakers looking to raise capital for their independent films, production companies, movie slates, film funds or other film-related ventures are well advised to participate in this high-value yet low-cost learning experience. Entrepreneurs, technologists, attorneys, bankers, investment managers, venture capitalists and other professionals with an interest in the business of film will also find the Workshop useful & worthwhile. Why attend?Are you considering taking an active role in film or expanding your current involvement? Don't miss this rare opportunity to gain crucial insights from a seasoned expert, and connect with like-minded peers (and potential collaborators) in the process! ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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Workshop VenueSelect Office Suites116 West 23rd Street Map: Get a map of 116 W 23rd St. from Ask, Bing, Google, MapQuest or Yahoo. ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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Our Host
W&M uniquely addresses the legal needs of companies in the media and entertainment space. The firm's clients have been featured in Variety, the New York Times, Time Out, on MSNBC and elsewhere. Its attorneys serve on the board of the New York Lawyer's County Association and have lectured or been panelists at the School of Visual Arts, Columbia University, Harvard Law School and other prestigious institutions. They maintain a legal blog, the New York Business Law Blog. SOS has played host to a vibrant assortment of accomplished and newsworthy companies, artists and success stories in the social media and film space. With current and former tenants such as the Ladders.com, Federated Media, Lot 47 Films and Matt Mochary (director of "Favela Rising," winner of the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival), it is an ideal space for filmmakers and other creatives looking to maximize their office footprint. Very special thanks for making this event possible go to Ray Lindenberg, Executive Manager at SOS. ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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Schedule
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Program DetailsSession I(2 hours) with Kaiser Wahab
Session II(2 hours) with Kaiser Wahab
Session III(2 hours) with Kaiser Wahab
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Speaker BiosKaiser Wahab
Beginning his career with Pryor Cashman Sherman & Flynn LLP, Kaiser later joined Day Pitney LLP, where he handled licensing, trademark/copyright and contractual issues for companies like Microsoft and UTC. In addition to that, he clerked at the U.S. Court of International Trade. Kaiser is published in the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Journal, and his firm has participated in a variety of panels including at the School of Visual Arts, Columbia University and Harvard Law School. He currently serves as Chairman of the Corporate Law Committee at the New York County Lawyers Association and sits on the Advisory Board for Heart Gallery NYC, a nonprofit that places foster children with families. » ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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RegistrationFilmmaker-friendly, affordable online registration is available at the top of this page.
Register now to secure the best available price!^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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Need Help?Direct all your questions and inquiries about this event to IIFF's online forum at Having trouble with Eventbrite, PayPal or Google Checkout? Please get help in IIFF's online forum. (You can also notify us by email well in advance of the event and register on-site.) ^top | abstract | intro | description | outcomes | reading | instructor | attendees | venue | host | schedule | program | bios | register | help | buzz | links |
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| Workshop contents are Copyright © 2010 Kaiser Wahab & Thomas Trenker. All other content is Copyright © 2010 Institute for Int'l Film Financing (IIFF). All rights reserved. |
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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.
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