Monday, September 27 10:45 AM - Noon Track II: Financing & Packaging: The Feature Film Producer – Innovative Concepts in Business Development: From International, co-Production, Cable and Satellite and DVD, to Broadband & Wireless Brand Extension The role of the television and feature film producer, from network reality and series show and studio film producer to the sports, cable and satellite producer, the definition of what it means to be in business, to develop programming, to package and produce is being impacted by multiple forces – from the crisis of digital piracy to the windfall profits of the unexpected boom in the DVD market, from the retrenching international market to the expanding appetite and opportunities of wireless, cable and satellite and the impact of broadband delivery to the home and finally, to the implications of digital cinema, both as a production tool as well as a distribution and display technology. In this session, we will touch on all of these ideas and attempt to sketch out an overview of what it means to be work in feature film and television marketplace. Digital distribution – cable, satellite, DVD, Wireless and Broadband is creating a new world with an expansive appetite for programming. Surviving and thriving in that environment is the challenge at hand. Erik Feig, President of Production and Acquisitions, Summit Entertainment (I Know What You Did Last Summer, Slackers) Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, founder, Antidote Films (Thirteen, Laurel Canyon, The Station Agent, The Jimmy Show, Wendigo) David Garber, Lantern Lane Entertainment LTD (Monster, My Big Fat Greek Wedding) John Manulis, CEO, Visionbox Media (Tortilla Soup, Charlette Somtimes, The Basketball Diaries) Thierry Baujard, CEO, Peacefulfish Susan Ruskin, Producer, Western Sandblast Sharon Swart, Senior Editor, Variety, Moderator Erik Feig is the President of Production and Acquisitions at Summit Entertainment. He began his career by producing the teen hits I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER and I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER for Columbia Pictures and the teen comedy SLACKERS, also for Sony. After developing projects for most of the major studios and networks, he was under an overall producing deal with Artisan when Summit recruited him to run their film activities. In that capacity, he oversees development and co-productions with Summit's client companies, including Alcon Entertainment, Beacon Pictures, Intermedia, Mandalay Pictures, Newmarket Capital Group, Walden Media, Artisan Pictures, and Escape Artists. Erik is also responsible for creating a slate of in-house produced titles for Summit. He is currently in production on MR AND MRS SMITH, starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and directed by Doug Liman (BOURNE IDENTITY). He is in pre-production on ME AGAIN and THE ALIBI for Spring '04 starts and an as-yet-untitled teen music-driven film from the writer of SAVE THE LAST DANCE for a summer '04 start. His recent producing credits include WRONG TURN, a teen thriller for Fox, starring Eliza Dushku and with creature effects by Stan Winston. As well, another recent production, DOT THE I, a romantic thriller from first-time director Matthew Parkhill, starring Gael Garcia Bernal, won the audience award at the Deauville Film Festival and was accepted into the Premiere section at the Sundance Film Festival. Erik received a BA in English from Columbia University, 1992. Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, founder, Antidote Films: Jeff Levy-Hinte most recently produced, in association with Working Title Films, Catherine Hardwicke directorial debut, THIRTEEN. The film stars Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood and premiered in the Dramatic Competition section of 2003 Sundance Film Festival, where it received the Directing Award. Recently Jeff produced Lisa Cholodenko’s LAUREL CANYON. The film stars Frances McDormand, Christian Bale, Kate Beckinsale and Allesandro Nivola and premiered in the Director’s Fortnight at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and was released in the US by Sony Pictures Classics. Additionally, Jeff produced Lisa Cholodenko’s first film, HIGH ART, which premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival and screened in the Director’s Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival. The film starred Ally Sheedy, Patricia Clarkson and Rhada Mitchell and was released by October Films. He has also produced Larry Fessenden’s WENDIGO, which stars Patricia Clarkson and Jake Weber. Jeff also served as executive producer of Jesse Peretz’s FIRST LOVE, LAST RIGHTS, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Currently, Jeff is developing the novel SARAH, by JT Leroy with Steven Shainberg attached to direct, and the memoir FAMOUS LONG AGO by radical journalist Ray Mungo. Upcoming productions include THE HAWK IS DYING, based on the novel by Harry Crews, which will be directed by Julian Goldberger, MACBETH with director Todd Louiso and THE LAST WINTER with Larry Fessenden. Prior to producing, Jeff edited a wide range of video and film projects, including WHEN WE WERE KINGS which won the 1996 Academy Award for Best Documentary. In addition to his film company ANTIDOTE FILMS, Jeff is the co-owner of Dig It Audio, an audio post house that provides complete sound services for video and feature film. John Manulis, CEO of Visionbox Media: Currently the CEO and lead producer of Visionbox Media Group and Visionbox Pictures, a production, post-production and technical solutions company dedicated to producing films and television more efficiently and with greater creative freedom through digital technology. The company’s Visionbox Pictures division has produced/co-produced, acquired, or represented films for distribution, including double Independent Spirit Award nominee CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES, Fox Searchlight release NEVER DIE ALONE, starring DMX (with ContentFilm); Lions Gate release THE COOLER, starring William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin and Maria Bello (with ContentFilm); Harry Shearer’s TEDDY BEARS' PICNIC; multi-festival award winning FALLING LIKE THIS; and Noah Stern’s THE INVISIBLES (Sundance ’99, Laemmle’s Independent Series ‘01) starring Portia de Rossi and Michael Goorjian; and the current productions of THE L.A. RIOT SPECTACULAR, starring Snoop Dogg, Charles Dutton, Charles Durning, Emilio Estevez, George Hamilton and many others and BELIEVE IN ME. Mr. Manulis began his career directing theater off-Broadway, later segueing into producing television and film. As the Head of Filmed Entertainment for Samuel Goldwyn Films, he supervised the development, production or acquisition of such films as THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE, MASTER AND COMMANDER, LOLITA, AMERICAN BUFFALO, ANGELS AND INSECTS, I SHOT ANDY WARHOL, BENT, THE PREACHER'S WIFE, BIG NIGHT, KISSED and THE KING OF MASKS. Mr. Manulis' career as an independent producer includes TORTILLA SOUP, starring Hector Elizondo, Raquel Welsh, Elizabeth Peña and Jacqueline Obradors; THE BASKETBALL DIARIES, starring Leonardo diCaprio and Mark Wahlberg; SWING KIDS, starring Christian Bale, Robert Sean Leonard and Noah Wyle; FOXFIRE, starring Anjelina Jolie; DAYBREAK, starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., Moira Kelly and Omar Epps; the upcoming productions of THE L.A. RIOT SPECTACULAR and BELIEVE IN ME; and the off¬Broadway and Los Angeles sensation The Umbilical Brothers’ THWAK . He has executive produced projects including the acclaimed CBS series "Comedy Zone", which he also created, V.I. WARSHAWSKI, starring Kathleen Turner, BLIND SIDE, starring Rutger Hauer and Rebecca DeMornay for HBO, and the 38-share CBS MOW "Intimate Strangers". Mr. Manulis received an A.B. degree from Harvard University, is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Writers Guild of America, East and serves on the Board of Directors of The Digital Coast Roundtable and The Liberty Hill Foundation. David Garber, Lantern Lane Entertainment LTD: In 1975, Garber began his career in theatrical distribution with Sunn Classic Pictures working as a copyrighter and backroom personnel. Moving up through the ranks managing operations, theatrical sales, marketing and distribution. He became Vice President East Coast Sales for Associated Film Distribution, and then segued to film buying for a regional theatrical chain. He then became Division Manager for Roger Corman’s New World Pictures, again moving up the ranks to the position of Assistant General Sales Manager, North America. He then became Vice President of Acquisitions and Ancillary Sales, before moving to President of Marketing and Distribution for Charles Band’s Empire Pictures in 1987. He worked in a variety of Senior Executive positions at various independent distribution companies including New World Pictures, Epic Productions and Michael Douglas’ Stone Group Pictures where he managed operations, sales, and marketing of the releases of several major features through Columbia Pictures Entertainment including Double Impact starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Garber managed at these entities. He then moved to LIVE Entertainment where he was a key member in the management team that helped the company to grow from potential bankruptcy to a profitable, publicly held status. During his tenure at LIVE, he was responsible for all the company’s operations, post-production, purchasing, theatrical sales, television and ancillary sales. He then created the company’s Television division where he negotiated several multi-million dollar television output arrangements including the company’s Showtime and All American deals. While at LIVE, Garber created its New Media Division where he supervised all of LIVE’s Interactive and worldwide sales activities the independent leader in this field. Most recently, he formed Lantern Lane Entertainment as the principal officer of the company, he licenses films in all areas of entertainment and consults on marketing and distribution issues worldwide. Most recent projects include consulting on "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and the licensing, consulting, and implementation on the U.S. release and Academy campaign for Charlize Theron's "MONSTER". Lantern Lane also recently formed a theatrical division to help independents release on a limited basis. The company's initial releases were "Aileen: The Life and Death of a Serial Killer" from Nick Broomfield and "Seeing Other People" from Pariah, Gavin Polone's company. As producer's reps and sales agents, the company places about 30-50 titles into varying rights license agreements annually. Susan Ruskin is an award winning producer who began her career working as a creative executive for George Lucas’ LucasFilm. She was a development executive for Robert Stigwood Productions before Associate Producing THE WOMAN IN RED directed by and starring Gene Wilder. Ruskin was a producer and head of production at Gene Wilder's Pal-Mel Productions for several years. She produced HAUNTED HONEYMOON starring Gene Wilder, Gilda Radner, Dom Deluise and Jonathan Pryce. Susan also oversaw the Richard Pryor/Gene Wilder movie SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL and ANOTHER YOU among others. Susan then joined Middle Fork Productions where she was a Producer on ANACONDA for Columbia Pictures as well as VACUUMS -- a movie directed by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas ( the creators of the hit show STOMP) starring Kip Pardue, Lee Evans and Rose McGowan. also oversaw the production of the documentary, GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT with Middle Fork Productions and The Shooting Gallery for American Masters. As an executive at Middle Fork, Susan developed a number of ongoing projects under the deal with Columbia and consequently Universal Pictures. Susan is now working with a talented group of writers, directors and a casting agent under the umbrella of Western Sandblast. This loose consortium of people with varying expertise have come together to take advantage of their various experiences to help one another with individual projects, as well as working together. In this capacity, Susan has been involved in the development of several projects in the independent financing arena. Ruskin was born in Cape Town, South Africa. She came to America in high school and went to Sarah Lawrence College and then New York University. She is married and has two children. Thierry Baujard, CEO, Peacefulfish: Thierry Baujard is founder and CEO of peacefulfish which is a unique media consulting company, based in Berlin, specialized in film financing and digital distribution. His experience in film financing includes film projects in the USA with Mandalay Entertainment, Strategic Development for the Studio Babelsberg GmbH in Potsdam, Business Development for Studio Canal-Vivendi. He also worked on business models and content acquisition for different pan European Video On Demand services on the internet, ADSL services and satellite. Further experience in the media sector includes projects for Arte (Franco-German TV station) and for the E-Content program (EU) in Luxembourg. He holds an MBA from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy and from UCLA in Los Angeles, where he specialized in film financing and e-commerce. He is also a regular speaker at different training seminars from the Media program like MEDEA, MEDISCRIPT and MAGICA in Rome. He is developing the company in terms of international network of consultants and new business. His current work includes film financing, business model for new digital distribution channels and the structuring of film funds for production companies and investors.