3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Track B:
Feeding the Internet/Movie Content Monster - Production Companies and Networks Migrate into the Low Budget Film Making Environment
Whether your company was part of it or not, the decision has already been made as to the future of low-budget film making and it is “everybody’s getting into it.” No one seriously questions anymore that the entertainment industry is migrating to the Net. The first announcements of low-budget Net strategies from major film companies and networks have already been made, and we have already seen original works produced not only for theatrical, but a few have been produced specifically for the Net. This is the start of a real revolution in film.
Dave Bartis, Co-CEO, Nibblebox
Bruce Eisen, Executive Vice President, Cinema Now
Luke McDonough, EVP, Corporate Development, iFilm
Scott Sander, President & CEO, SightSound (Quantum Project)
Michael Lindenbaum, Partner, Release Entertainment (co-founded with Michael Rapaport & financed by Atom Films)
Patrick Lynn, VP of Film Acquisitions. MediaTrip.com
Gary Zeidenstein, Founder, Filmmaker and VP Content Acquisition, ALWAYSI.COM, Moderator
Michael Lindenbaum, Partner, Release Entertainment (co-founded with Michael Rapaport & financed by Atom Films): Michael Lindenbaum from Release Entertainment: RELEASE ENTERTAINMENT is a partnership between Rapaport and former development exec Michael Lindenbaum, who joined Rapaport after having previously worked for the likes of Joel Schumacher and Renny Harlin. The two met on the set of Rapaport’s feature film Deep Blue Sea. RELEASE ENTERTAINMENT and inked a deal with ATOMFILMS to produce an original Web series entitled, "10 Items or Less." The series in which Rapaport will star, will also star Adam Goldberg ("Saving Private Ryan"), Todd Louiso ("High Fidelity"), Matt Winston ("Keeping The Faith")and Justin Pierce ("Next Friday"). In addition to financing the project, AtomFilms will promote and distribute the original series from a specifically designed spotlight channel featuring weekly episodes, special features, and opportunities for online viewers to interact with the cast and crew. Michael Rapaport is best known for his memorable performances in John Singleton’s Higher Learning, Woody Allen’s Mighty Aphrodite and Ted Demme’s Beautiful Girls. Rapaport can be seen next in Nora Ephron’s Numbers opposite John Travolta and Lisa Kudrow, Spike Lee’s Bamboozled and Fox 2000’s Navy Diver opposite Robert DeNiro and Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Scott Sander is the President, CEO and Co-Founder of SightSound.com. Scott has emer
ged as a leading advocate for change in the motion picture and music industries as they adopt digital distribution. Scott was also the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kinetic Workplace, a Pennsylvania-based change management consultancy specializing in workplace innovation which he founded in 1987.Gary Zeidenstein, Founder, Filmmaker and VP Content Acquisition, ALWAYSI.COM: In 1994,
Gary formed Mr. Z’s Production Company, LLC. His first property, "Dooley", a children’s television program, was produced in partnership with Scripps Howard Broadcasting. This Emmy award winning show was distributed on PBS Stations across the country. In 1997, he sold "Dooley" to LightPoint Entertainment, based in Orlando at the Disney-MGM Studios. Also in 1997, Gary co-wrote and produced the feature film, "Triangles and Tribulations." In 1998, he sold an option on another children's show, "Created By You". Melding his interest and experience in the entertainment industry with his experience in previous successful startups, Gary co-founded AlwaysI.com (then known as AlwaysIndependentFilms.com) in October 1998. After graduating from The University of Cincinnati in 1988 with a B.A. in marketing and finance, he started his own marketing company, Classic Impressions. Classic Impressions specialized in acquiring and distributing licensed products. Within three years, sales topped $1.8 million through relationships built with major retailers including JC Penney, Federated Dept Stores and Krogers. In 1999, Gary sold Classic Impressions to Mill Street Holding.David Bartis recently joined his partners Doug Liman and Liz Hamberg in announcing the formation of Nibblebox.com, an on-line entertainment site dedicated to the college market that is focused on developing and mentoring new talent. Nibblebox will solicit ideas for both video and radio programming and pair experienced film and television executives directly with students to develop their concepts. When programming is selected for production, Nibblebox also pairs an outstanding writer, director or producer with the project to act as a mentor. Programming is targeted back to a college audience through the Nibblebox site. Financing for Nibblebox comes from leaders in the entertainment industry and the Internet as well as the venture capital community. Prior to starting Nibblebox, David Bartis was appointed Senior Vice President, Primetime Series, NBC Studios, in December 1997. He reported to Scott Sassa, President, NBC West Coast. Bartis supervised the development and production of all primetime comedy and drama series for NBC Studios, including "Providence" and "Will & Grace," which both achieved breakout hit status during their 1998-99 freshman seasons. Under Bartis, NBC Studios also produced the successful NBC drama series "Profiler" as well as the 2000 midseason animated comedy "Sammy." Bartis joined NBC Studios after serving as HBO’s Vice President, Original Programming, West Coast, since November 1993, and Vice President, Creative Affairs, HBO Independent Productions, since November 1991. While at HBO, he was responsible for overseeing the development and current production of original programming for HBO and the development and current production of original programming marketed outside HBO through HBO Independent Productions. Bartis was H.I.P.’s development executive and also supervised production of the long-running Fox comedy "Martin" and was the development and current production executive on the critically acclaimed CBS comedy "Everybody Loves Raymond." Other projects for HBO included the animated series "Spawn" and "Spicy City." He has also supervised the production of Fox’s "Roc," "The Ben Stiller Show," "Daddy Dearest," "Get Smart" and "The Last Frontier." Prior to joining HBO, Bartis was Director of Programming at Quincy Jones Entertainment, where he was involved in the development and launch of NBC’s "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air." While at Quincy Jones, he was also the Executive in Charge of Production for 65 hours of Telepictures syndicated show "Jesse Jackson." Bartis began his career in 1985 as an intern at Fox Lorber Associates in New York. A native of Providence, R.I., Bartis earned a B.A. in English and American Literature from Brown University. He was the president and co-founder of the National Association of College Broadcasters and University Network. He currently resides in Los Angeles.