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IIFF San Francisco Townhall Meeting (April 2009):
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Event Details
IIFF/SF Special Townhall Meeting at Academy of Art University –
Where Film & Finance Meet to Succeed Together
abstract | moderator | venue | schedule | program | bios | registration | help
*** Don't miss our unprecedented, two-day Film Business Workshop on April 25 & 26 and the première of our new Film Financing Roundtable on April 23, both in San Francisco ***
The Bay Area chapter of the Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) continues its popular series of monthly gatherings at the junction of film & finance with a very special Townhall Meeting in San Francisco. Our friends at Academy of Art University are again hosting us, this time at their downtown headquarters!
This "grassroots" community get-together is designed to foster & inform productive relationships between attending professionals and to provide unbiased insight & education about the business of film (and film financing in particular). The event features a powerful roster of highly topical speakers from the filmmaking and financial industries. We are delighted to once again welcome real-world financiers among our guests for the evening.
IIFF's one-of-a-kind mission is to sustainably expand the scope & appeal of film financing, and to do so for the benefit of the public at large. True to our proven motto of "democratizing film financing," IIFF's regular Townhall Meetings bring together a wide array of professionals from relevant backgrounds in film, finance and beyond for a vibrant evening of insightful presentations and speeches, inspiring discussion and focused networking. Past meetings (e.g.: January '08 Bay Area Townhall in San Francisco, CA, January '08 Los Angeles Townhall in Venice, CA & January '08 New York Metro Townhall in Manhattan | December '07 Bay Area Townhall in San Francisco, CA, December '07 Los Angeles Townhall in Santa Monica, CA, December '07 New York Metro Townhall in Manhattan & December '07 New England Townhall in Providence, RI | November '07 Bay Area Townhall in San Francisco, CA & November '07 New England Townhall in Norwalk, CT | October '07 Los Angeles Townhall in Santa Monica, CA, October '07 New York Metro Townhall in Manhattan & October '07 New England Townhall in Boston, MA | September '07 Los Angeles Townhall in Santa Monica, CA & September '07 New England Townhall in Norwalk, CT | August '07 Los Angeles Townhall in Santa Monica, CA & August '07 New York Metro Townhall in Manhattan | July '07 New York Metro Townhall in Manhattan & July '07 Los Angeles Townhall in Santa Monica, CA | June '07 New York Metro Townhall in Manhattan | May '07 New York Metro Townhall in Manhattan & May '07 Bay Area Townhall in Mountain View, CA | April '07 New York Metro Townhall in Manhattan & April '07 Bay Area Townhall in San Francisco, CA | March '07 New England Townhall in Stowe, VT, March '07 Bay Area Townhall in San Rafael, CA & March '07 New York Metro Townhall in Manhattan | February '07 Townhall West in San Francisco, CA & February '07 Townhall East in New York City | January '07 Townhall in Santa Cruz, CA | December '06 Townhall East in New York City & December '06 Townhall West in San Francisco, CA | October '06 Townhall in New York City | September '06 Townhall in Oakland, CA | July '06 Townhall in Palo Alto, CA | June '06 Townhall in San José, CA | May '06 Townhall in San Francisco, CA | April '06 Townhall at Stanford business school) have reliably delivered useful insights into the business of film, provided valuable networking opportunities, and managed to draw large and enthusiastic crowds.
Who should attend? Entrepreneurs, technologists, attorneys, bankers, investment managers, venture capitalists and other non-film professionals are cordially invited to learn more about independent film. Are you considering taking an active role in film or would you like to expand your current involvement? Don't miss this opportunity to connect with the like-minded… Established and aspiring filmmakers are, naturally, more than welcome to join us as well!
The evening's two extra long, in-depth presentations will address key issues relevant to filmmakers, financiers, and anyone interested in the economics, business mechanics, and financial dynamics of film. They will be followed by Q&A time. Attendees will also have ample opportunity to interact & network with our distinguished presenters and amongst themselves.
An informal après-meeting celebration will take place at an area restaurant.
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The event will be expertly moderated by Curran Engel (LinkedIn profile | full bio | brief bio), a Bay Area-based film industry veteran of 20 years with more than 200 productions under his belt. He founded and serves as Executive Producer at two independent production companies, Fog City Films and Zephyr Films. Over the course of his accomplished career, Mr. Engel has worked as Producer or Line Producer on such feature films as "This Space Between Us", "Skeleton Woman", "The Sculptress", "Tryst" and others. A long-time senior faculty member at Academy of Art University, he also instructs classes in producing and production management for motion pictures. Mr. Engel is a sought-after consultant and guest lecturer on film industry topics.
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Academy of Art University (AAU)
79 New Montgomery Street (at Mission St.)
Auditorium – 1st floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 274-2200
Map: Get a map of 79 New Montgomery St. from Ask, Google, MapQuest, MSN, Windows Live or Yahoo. Alternatively, use the map on AAU's website.
Driving & parking directions: Our meeting venue is easily reachable by car from the South Bay via nearby Highway 101 North (US-101 N) or nearby Interstate 280 North (I-280 N), and from the East Bay via nearby Interstate 80 West (I-80 W). Find a comprehensive overview of directions to 79 New Montgomery St. from different parts of the Bay Area here. Personalized driving directions can also be obtained from the above-listed online mapping services; just follow the link of your choice and enter your start address where required. A map of parking facilities in the vicinity of our venue can be found here.
This month's Film Financing Townhall in the Bay Area is graciously hosted by Academy of Art University (AAU), a leading private university founded in 1929 in San Francisco. With nearly 10,000 students that occupy its 30+ buildings in downtown San Francisco, AAU is considered the largest private school of art and design in the United States. It offers both traditional on-campus and online distance-education degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of fine arts-related majors, including Motion Pictures & Television and Animation & Visual Effects. In 2007, AAU was granted regional accreditation by the Senior Commission of the prestigious Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC), one of the six major regional accreditation commissions recognized by the US Department of Education.
At AAU's School of Motion Pictures & Television, students learn the ins and outs of "Lights, Camera, Action!" in a real-world movie studio setting with state-of-the-art equipment and guidance by top industry professionals. The School fosters creativity and independence in filmmaking as an art while also providing instruction in the commercial aspects of filmmaking as a business. The School's educational approach is dedicated to practical, hands-on training in a collaborative framework. Students are immersed in a broad range of filmmaking skills, including producing, directing, cinematography, lighting, sound, editing, and screenwriting. Ultimately, they concentrate on one area and train to become highly employable specialists in their chosen field.
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6:00-6:15 PM ... Registration, Networking & Welcome (15 mins)
6:15-7:15 PM ... Wil Hobbs' In-Depth Presentation with Q&A (60 mins)
7:15-7:30 PM ... Intermission & Networking Break (15 mins)
7:30-9:00 PM ... John Cones' In-Depth Presentation with Q&A (90 mins)
9:00+ PM ... Community Time at Area Restaurant
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1) Lender Financing of Independent Films
— by Wil Hobbs (bio), veteran finance & banking industry executive of 40 years with extensive film financing experience; currently serves as Chief Credit Officer at Community Bank of the Bay … (more) »
2) Investor Financing of Independent Films
— by John Cones (bio), leading Los Angeles-based securities & entertainment attorney; advises film, video, TV & theater producers about investor financing of entertainment projects & business start-ups … (more) »
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– John W. Cones, Esq. (topic): Mr. Cones is a leading securities/entertainment attorney who has practiced in Los Angeles and area for eighteen years, advising independent feature film producers and others on matters relating to investor financing of feature films and other entertainment projects. He has prepared or participated in the preparation of business plans and/or the required securities disclosure documents, along with Blue Sky compliance, for more than 250 such offerings during his 18-year securities law career, including public and private production-money offerings for feature films, television pilots, documentaries, infomercials, live stage plays and Internet companies. Mr. Cones' clients have produced or distributed some 50 feature and documentary films with funds raised through such offerings. Other such offerings have been conducted for development, packaging and completion funding. In a broader sense, Mr. Cones also works with entrepreneurs on the investor financing of business startups. He has lectured more than 350 times to an aggregate audience of approximately 5,400 on topics relating to film finance and distribution for the American Film Institute (AFI), the UCLA graduate-level Independent Producers Program, UCLA Extension, the USC Cinema/TV School, the USC Cinema/TV Alumni Association, IFP/West, American University (Washington, DC), the Nashville Bar Association, Cal Western School of Law, the University of Texas Entertainment Law Institute, North Carolina School of the Arts, California Lawyers for the Arts, Columbia College Hollywood and other film industry organizations. In addition to several articles, Mr. Cones has authored six books on those same topics including "Introduction to the Film Industry: A Guide for Students, Filmmakers and Scholars", "Dictionary of Film Finance and Distribution: A Guide for Independent Filmmakers", "Film Industry Contracts", "43 Ways to Finance Your Film", "The Feature Film Distribution Deal" and "Hollywood Wars". He also hosts an online discussion forum about investor financing of entertainment projects and maintains a website for his law practice. Mr. Cones is a member of the California and Texas Bar Associations. He resides in Westlake Village, CA. »
– Wilbur E. "Wil" Hobbs, Jr. (topic): Mr. Hobbs is Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at Community Bank of the Bay in Oakland, CA. His career in finance began in 1969 at Citibank, where he managed the bank's College Recruiting Department before moving on to assignments as a corporate lender specializing in real estate and, later, entertainment finance. In 1980, Mr. Hobbs joined Crocker National Bank as Vice President in its Entertainment Industries Department, US Banking and Capital Markets Group. In addition to arranging corporate credits for media and communications companies, he created and managed the Motion Picture unit, lending to independent producers and to the major studios. When Wells Fargo Bank acquired Crocker, Mr. Hobbs joined its Beverly Hills-based entertainment department. After leaving Wells Fargo Bank, he maintained a financial consulting practice specializing in entertainment financings for communications, motion picture and financial institution clients. Mr. Hobbs came to the Bay Area in 1996 as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Acquisitions and Corporate Development for Douglas Broadcasting in Palo Alto, CA. He returned to commercial banking in 1998 specializing in small- and medium-sized business loans. Mr. Hobbs is currently a member of the Boards of Directors of the Jack London Aquatic Center (JLAC) and Inner City Advisors (ICA). JLAC is a non-profit corporation that built and manages the Jack London Aquatic Center for the City of Oakland. JLAC's mission is to create educational, recreational and competitive water sports programs for Oakland's citizens, and especially its youth. ICA provides pro-bono strategic consulting, through teams of volunteer business professionals, to high-growth small- and medium-sized businesses. ICA's client companies are inner city businesses that create quality jobs, reinvest in the community, and contribute to the local economy. Mr. Hobbs is a former Board member of Alonzo King's LINES Ballet (San Francisco), Independent Feature Project (New York) and IFP/West (Los Angeles), the predecessor of Film Independent. He earned his undergraduate degree at Boston University and his MBA at Columbia University Graduate School of Business. »
– Curran G. Engel (topic): Mr. Engel has worked in the motion picture industry for twenty years. He labored his way up from intern to producer, working on well over 200 music videos, commercials, documentary, corporate and feature films. Mr. Engel is currently the Executive Producer at two Bay Area-based production companies that he also helped establish, Fog City Films and Zephyr Films. During the course of his career he has worked, in varying capacities, for Walt Disney Co., Warner Bros., NBC Television, and others, including a number of independent productions like "This Space Between Us" (2000) featuring Jeremy Sisto, Poppy Montgomery, Erik Palladino, Alex Kingston, Vanessa Marcil and Garry Marshall. His screen credits also include "Tryst" (2003) starring Richard Conti; "Ralph Ellison: An American Journey" (2002) with Andre Braugher, John Amos and Paul Benjamin; "Cherish" (2002) featuring Robin Tunney and Tim Blake Nelson; "Skeleton Woman" (2000) with Serena Scott Thomas; "The Sculptress" (2000), a.k.a. "The Demon Within", starring Jeff Fahey, Patrick Bauchau and Katie Wright; "Tweeker" (1999) with Bree Turner and Sean Skelton; "Heartwood" (1998) featuring Jason Robards, Eddie Mills and Hilary Swank; "Chalk" (1996) directed by Rob Nilsson, starring Edwin Johnson; "James and the Giant Peach" (1996) featuring Paul Terry, Miriam Margolyes and Joanna Lumley; and "The Net" (1995) with Sandra Bullock. Mr. Engel has produced and consulted for various production companies and independent filmmakers around the country. He frequently serves as a guest lecturer on film industry topics. Moreover, Mr. Engel has been a faculty member at Academy of Art University in San Francisco since 1999, teaching courses in producing, production management and creating demo reels. »
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Online registration is available at http://sfb.filmfinancing.org/041409 (top of this page)
Early bird registration NLT Monday, March 23:
IIFF Member ... $25 if registered online no later than 3/23
Non-member ... $40
Regular registration NLT Monday, April 6:
IIFF Member ... $35 if registered online no later than 4/6
Non-member ... $50
Last minute registration NLT Monday, April 13:
IIFF Member ... $45 if registered online no later than 4/13
Non-member ... $60
On-site registration (at the door):
IIFF Member ... $55
Non-member ... $70
To learn more about membership with IIFF, email our Membership Bureau, or approach an IIFF team member at or after the event.
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Please direct all your questions and inquiries regarding this event to IIFF's online community forum at http://forum.filmfinancing.org.
Having trouble with Eventbrite (this site), PayPal or Google Checkout? Get help in IIFF's online forum. (You can also notify us by email well in advance of the event, and register on-site.)
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The Buzz: The following quotes are samples of what others say about IIFF meetings… "Wow. Last night was great! I want to thank you again for the inspiring work you do. This is such a big need […] and you're truly doing the work of angels (literally and figuratively)." — Brant Smith, Producer, "Quality of Life" "I really must say that I found all speakers very interesting, and I was hanging on their every word. IIFF, the mission and content, seems to be a good fit for me, because it is my dream to run a medium size production house. […] Thank you, BIG THANK YOU […], for inviting me to this very quality and important event." — John Henry, Owner, John Henry Filmworks "Let me again say I think you did a great job putting yesterday's event together – great crowd, smart presentation, lots of enthusiasm." — David Rosen, Executive Producer/Convener, Digital Independence "Wow! For such a moderate investment, so much information. So much good networking. I hope you are proud of the magic you've created with IIFF." — Kevin Morrison, Writer/Director/Producer of independent film & TV "I just wanted to say thanks for another great and informative meeting. The speakers were impressive and I made some good contacts." — Jesse Ford, Founder & Executive Director, Group Hug Productions "IIFF and FilmAngels has really impressed me so far with its focus on the independent film community. I've traveled and interacted with film organizations around the world […]." — Jin Woo Joo, Founder, Cinemasports "Thanks so much for hosting such an interesting program last week. I am always inspired by the creativity, and most recently, by the commitment to 'a better world'. It keeps my cynic's heart at bay! […] again, my heartfelt thanks for your mission and execution. Well done!" — Teri Cundall, Founder & President, Propville.com "The event was great, very helpful." — Marc Perez, Co-President & Founding Partner, Sirk Productions "[…] I greatly enjoyed attending last night's event and found it very informative - certainly something that's been missing in New York so far." — Michael Gunther, Director/Producer, Triboro Pictures "Great presentation tonight. Lots of energetic discussions and questions." — Campbell Dalglish, Prof. of Screenwriting, MFA in Film & Video at CUNY "Thanks so much for tonight's event. It was really inspiring and incredibly informative." — Elizabeth Foley, Founding Faculty Member, Producing Dep't at NYFA "I enjoyed this evening's townhall presentation and found it very informative." — William Doll, Writer/Director, World Stage Pictures "Your Town Hall mtg was stimulating. You managed to attract the right target audience, and I loved your choice of speakers." — Sandra Schulberg, Founder, Independent Feature Project (IFP) "I attended the New York Town Hall Meeting and just wanted to thank you for setting up such an informative colloquium. It was my first IIFF event and I look forward to attending more in the future." — Blythe Frank, Producer, "Kettle of Fish" (Michael Mailer Films) "Thank you again for a wonderful event last night." — Morgan Pehme, Co-Founder & CEO, Merlion Entertainment "I'm just writing […] pertaining to the IIFF meeting last night, which I found both entertaining and informative and also promising of great things to come from IIFF in the near future!" — Thomas Woodrow, Producer, Furnace Films "I attended the IIFF town hall last week in New York and came away impressed. Thank you for putting together such an excellent panel of speakers. I found [Mr. Trenker's] presentation especially useful. As a former quant at Putnam Investments, I tend to dig into the numbers and [Mr. Trenker's] analysis was illuminating." — Robert Milacci, Executive Producer, Sinestra Pictures "I very much enjoyed the seminar last Saturday in Stowe, VT. It was a lot of driving in one day (3.25 hrs. each way…), but worth it. […] Thanks again for a very enlightening day." — Marjorie Short, Oscar-nominated Writer/Producer/Director, Short Productions "Just a note to say Larry Meistrich had a good time last night and was impressed with the quality of the group." — Jeff Silverstein, President of NEHST Access + Learning, NEHST Studios "As it turns out, my producing partner [producer/director Leszek Burzynski] attended your IIFF meeting in Santa Monica on July 16. He was quite impressed with the presentations." — Terrance Sweeney, Partner & Producer, Winning Team Studios "I just wanted to say thanks again for putting on such a great forum last night. […] I really enjoyed the occasion and especially the presentations. They were extremely relevant and really strong, credible presenters." — Gordon Clark, CEO, The Movie Portfolio Fund "First, I wanted to say how much I really enjoyed your premier IIFF/LA seminar…!" — Frank Sacks, Founder & Principal, The Frank Sacks Company "I had a very enjoyable experience. The seminar was extremely professional and well put together." — Adam Tantleff, Founder, President & Executive Producer, Sinestra Pictures "THANKS […] There are no organizations or groups that I have come across that are doing what you and Film Angels are doing." — J. Martin, Co-Owner, 24 Bros Entertainment "I cannot express enough gratitude toward the great job that you are doing to help talented filmmakers realize their dreams. God bless you!" — Mara Vardanyan, Producer, Roman Pictures "Your seminars are FIRST RATE!" — Rowan Joseph, President, Greenwood Hill Productions "Thanks for organizing a great event. I thought it was a very interesting group of speakers." — Tricia van Klaveren, Producer/Exec. Producer & Principal, Fully Loaded Pictures "[T]hank you for a terrific meeting last night…" — Greg Lejnieks, Actor/Filmmaker, Art Dealer & fmr. Pro Soccer Player "First of all, thank you for hosting the Film Financing seminar. Very, very informative. I hope you have another one very soon." — Richard Beaty, Writer/Producer/Director & Co-Owner, Cielo Azul Films "Just wanted to say 'thank you' for last night's IIFF meeting. […] The slides look great […]. I look forward to the next meeting." — Robert Pratten, Founder & Writer/Director, Zen Films "I'm a big fan of all you're doing with IIFF… very inspiring to filmmakers." — Thomas Mignone, Director/Writer, DOOM Incorporated "Thank you for hosting the [Workshop] last week. It was very informative and [the instructor] was spectacular. I learned a lot and met several fantastic people." — Lisa McTigue, Producer/Director, Three Masked Peeps Productions "Thank you for inviting us to present to your [FilmAngels] groups in both Palo Alto and San Francisco. The attendees were warm and educated investors. You've done a terrific job gathering people with a passion for film." — Julie Richardson, Producer, "Collateral" (Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx) "I wanted to let you know just how much I enjoyed last Saturday's workshop. It was extremely informative and comprehensive. Thank you so much! I look forward to attending many more of the IIFF workshops." — Janine Goldberg, Director of Business Affairs, Polygon Entertainment Would you like to speak out? We want to hear from you! Send us your comments by email. |
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Copyright © 2009 Institute for Int'l Film Financing (IIFF). All Rights Reserved.
When & Where
Academy of Art University (AAU)
79 New Montgomery Street
Auditorium - 1st floor
San Francisco,
CA 94105
Tuesday, April 14, 2009 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (PT)
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Hosted By
IIFF San Francisco Bay Area
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.