Contact IIFF San Francisco Bay Area for event and ticket information.
Thursday, October 23, 2008 from 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM (PT)
*** Don't miss IIFF's next Townhall near you - http://all.filmfinancing.org/latest-thm ***
The Bay Area chapter of the Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) continues its successful series of monthly gatherings at the junction of film & finance with another special Townhall Meeting in San Francisco. Our friends at Academy of Art University are again hosting us at their new facilities in the City's SoMa district, conveniently located just a short walk from SF Caltrain Station at 4th & King.
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 five presentations plus panel discussion 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 panelists and amongst themselves.
An informal après-meeting celebration will take place at an area restaurant!
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The event will be moderated by Thomas Trenker (LinkedIn profile | full bio | brief bio) who founded the Institute for Int'l Film Financing (IIFF) and runs FilmAngels, the world's first professional angel investor group for independent film. Besides that and organizing a variety of events and initiatives at the junction of filmmaking, entrepreneurship and venture capital, Mr. Trenker is always on the lookout for worthwhile and intriguing new indie film projects that are seeking investor financing. Don't hesitate to connect with Mr. Trenker via LinkedIn or in person at this or another upcoming IIFF meeting.
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Academy of Art University (AAU) – School of Motion Pictures & Television
466 Townsend Street (btw. 5th & 6th St.)
Room #225 – 2nd floor
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 274-2200
Map: Get a map of 466 Townsend 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 466 Townsend 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. Curbside parking is generally available at and around 466 Townsend St.; a map of parking facilities in the vicinity of our venue can be found here.
Nearest public transportation stop & walking directions (ca. 0.3 miles or 7 min.): San Francisco Caltrain Station at 4th & King St. is just a short walk from our venue at 466 Townsend St. Take Caltrain or Muni Metro line N Judah to 4th & King St. (San Francisco Caltrain Station), then walk northwest on 4th St. toward Townsend St.; turn left onto Townsend and proceed approx. 2 blocks to the last building on the right-hand side of the second block, a large warehouse-like facility, where our meeting takes place – look for Academy of Art University's signature red, white & black logo above the entrance!
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 May 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.
Very special thanks for making this event possible go to Curran Engel, Full-time Instructor in AAU's film school.
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6:00-6:30 pm ... Registration, welcome and introductions
6:30-7:30 pm ... Three featured presentations with Q & A (3x 20 min)
7:30-8:00 pm ... Networking break I (30 min)
8:00-9:00 pm ... Two featured presentations with Q & A (2x 30 min)
9:00-9:15 pm ... Networking break II (15 min)
9:15-10:00 pm ... Moderated panel discussion with Q & A (45 min)
10:00+ pm ... Community time at area restaurant
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1) Pitching Your Film: What Investors Want to See & What Producers Want to Show — by Patrick O'Heffernan (bio) »
2) The Creation of an Independent Television Marketplace: Opportunities for Filmmakers & Financiers — by Damon Berger (bio) »
3) The Art of the Deal: How to Get a Movie Funded: An Overview — by Sandy Rosenberg (bio) »
4) Lessons in Indie Success: What the Independent Film Industry Can Learn From Independent Music — by Bryan Robinson (bio) »
5) Hollywood Profits: Quantitative Drivers of Motion Picture Profitability — by Thomas Trenker (bio) »
*** TO BE FINALIZED SHORTLY ***
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– Patrick O'Heffernan, Ph.D. (topic): Dr. O'Heffernan is a seasoned fundraising expert and executive, a media strategist and campaign manager, as well as an Emmy- and Telly-winning producer, bestselling author and educator with a long career in academia, non-profits, and the media. An early member of FilmAngels and member of the Keiretsu Forum of Angel Investors, he presently works as Director of Finance & Development at the Coro Center for Civic Leadership. He is a blogger and fundraising expert for the Skoll Foundation-sponsored online community Socialedge.org, and a Board Member of the Nameste-Direct Foundation and the Center for Partnership Studies. His company, INTHESTUDIO Media, produces podcasts for corporations, non-profits and foundations on a variety of topics. A former Professor of Mass Media & International Affairs at Georgia Tech, Dr. O'Heffernan also served as Vice President at Population Media Center and Director of Foundation Relations at Georgia Tech, and as a development consultant and Advisory Board Member to Link TV. He has be awarded an Emmy, four Telly Awards, the Egyptian Diamond Award for the Environment, a Webby Honoree Award and was nominated for a Peabody radio award. During his distinguished career, Dr. O'Heffernan has raised over $40 million for various organizations. He holds a Ph.D. from MIT, an M.A. from the University of California at Santa Barbara, a degree in journalism from San Jose State University, and he studied advertising at Art Center College of Design. »
– Damon Berger (topic): Mr. Berger is Senior Director of Programming & Business Development at leading Internet TV startup Revision3. Unlike aggregators, mash-ups, and user-generated video sites, Revision3 is an actual TV network for the Web, creating and producing its own original, broadcast-quality shows. The company was founded in 2005 by technology visionaries Kevin Rose, Jay Adelson, Dan Huard, Ron Gorodetzky, and David Prager; it is now led by Internet TV pioneer Jim Louderback. Mr. Berger joined as Director of Business Development in January 2008 to oversee the company's distribution and promotion strategies. In June 2008, he also assumed responsibility for creative programming across the Revision3 network. To date, he signed about 40 content distribution deals with major players on broadband, mobile, and traditional media platforms, including YouTube, Veoh, TiVo, and Hulu. Mr. Berger has spent his entire career trying to narrow the divide between traditional storytelling and digital platforms. Prior to Revision3, he helped to launch The Walt Disney Company's episodic short-form digital studio, Stage 9, where he served as head of creative development. Before that, Mr. Berger coordinated the Drama Series department of ABC's multi-billion dollar TV studio across multiple partner companies (and various internal divisions) during the development of approximately 90 scripts and 15 pilots for the 2005-2006 pilot season, including Emmy winners "Ugly Betty" and "Brothers and Sisters". Multi-talented in the offline world, he can scream at and for Boston sports teams at the same time. »
– Sanford "Sandy" Rosenberg, Ph.D. (topic): Dr. Rosenberg is a licensed psychotherapist, educator, researcher, business consultant, and successful producer/financier with 25 years of experience in film, video, TV and emerging technologies. He is the Founder & President at Media Research Associates (MRA), a San Francisco-based consulting firm specializing in qualitative knowledge-based research, examining the relationship between story, structure, symbol, image, emotion and the user experience in all media. Dr. Rosenberg is also a Founding Partner & Executive Producer at Front Street Pictures, a Vancouver- and L.A.-based independent film company that has completed numerous feature films since 1999. Recent productions include "The Deal", starring Christian Slater, Selma Blair, Robert Loggia and Angie Harmon, which premiered at the 2004 AFI Fest; and "We Don't Live Here Anymore", starring Naomi Watts, Mark Ruffalo, Laura Dern and Peter Krause, which premiered, won an award, and sold at Sundance in 2004, and was subsequently released by Warner Independent. Front Street also produces a steady stream of made-for-TV movies in a production services capacity for domestic and international broadcast networks including Lifetime, Global and TF1. Dr. Rosenberg received his M.A. from the New School for Social Research in New York City, and earned his Ph.D. in clinical/social psychology at Saybrook Graduate School in San Francisco. »
– Bryan Robinson, Esq. (topic): Mr. Robinson has been involved in the entertainment industry for more than 20 years and is a licensed attorney in the State of California. He specializes in the areas of entertainment (including film), sports, technology and intellectual property law. Although his entertainment career started in the motion picture industry, he has extensive experience representing major label clients, independent entertainment companies, and independent artists in a variety of domestic and international matters. Mr. Robinson has also represented Internet and high-tech clients, on a wide range of business matters and entertainment issues, with a particular emphasis on digital delivery of all media, such as music, motion pictures and the visual arts. Currently, he is handling all aspects of the business affairs (including the development of new distribution and business relationships) for RNLG Entertainment and Distribution, LLC (RNLG). KOCH Entertainment, the leading independent music and video distributor in the U.S., distributes RNLG throughout North America. Moreover, Mr. Robinson is a certified contract advisor with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and signed a number of clients to several NFL teams. He is also a member of the Sports Lawyer Association as well as the Intellectual Property Section and the Sports & Entertainment Law Section of the California State Bar Association. »
– Thomas Trenker (topic): A Wall Street investment banker & Silicon Valley startup executive turned independent film financier, Mr. Trenker (LinkedIn profile | full bio) serves as Chairman of the Institute for Int'l Film Financing (IIFF), 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. IIFF was founded in 2003 and incorporated in California as a not-for-profit, public benefit corporation. Headquartered in San Francisco, IIFF has active chapters in multiple cities across the US and continues to grow and expand rapidly. Mr. Trenker is also Managing Director of FilmAngels, the world's first professional angel investor organization for film. Modeled after the way successful angel groups function in Silicon Valley, and adapted to the unique characteristics of the movie industry, FilmAngels focuses exclusively on the financing of independent films and film-related ventures. FilmAngels was founded by a group of accomplished Silicon Valley professionals with backgrounds in venture capital, investment banking, corporate law, real estate, software, and angel investing. The founding team developed the FilmAngels process and established the FilmAngels organization to address the unfilled need for a structured, highly efficient and, ultimately, more effective environment for the screening and financing of high-risk independent film projects. In addition to his leadership roles at FilmAngels and IIFF, Mr. Trenker organizes a variety of events and initiatives at the junction of filmmaking, entrepreneurship & venture capital. He is always on the lookout for worthwhile and intriguing new indie film projects that are seeking investor financing; don't hesitate to connect with Mr. Trenker via LinkedIn or at an upcoming IIFF meeting. »
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Online registration is available at http://sfb.filmfinancing.org/102308 (top of this page)
Early bird registration NLT Wednesday, October 1:
IIFF Member ... $25 if registered online no later than 10/1
Non-member ... $40
Regular registration NLT Wednesday, October 15:
IIFF Member ... $35 if registered online no later than 10/15
Non-member ... $50
Last minute registration NLT Wednesday, October 22:
IIFF Member ... $45 if registered online no later than 10/22
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 is a sampling of what others are saying 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, Convener/Executive Producer, 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, Managing Member, Genre Film Partners; Producer, COLLATERAL (Cruise, Foxx) Would you like to speak out? We want to hear from you! Send us your comments by email. |
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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 film and finance for the benefit of all stakeholders – including the public at large.
IIFF was founded by Thomas Trenker in 2003 and incorporated in California as a not-for-profit, public benefit corporation. Headquartered in San Francisco, IIFF currently has chapters in the SF Bay Area, New York City, New England, Florida, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, London, and the Pacific Northwest.
Help us expand further, 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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