10:45 AM - Noon
Session A:
Revolution in Feature Film/Short Film Production and the Net - The New Economic Model
Sundance this year will be remembered for one thing, the arrival of the dot coms to Park City, Utah. If last year was the year the music industry was shaken by the arrival of MP3, then this year will be the year the movie industry “Gets Digital.” The merger of movies and the Internet is about two important ideas, the delivery of movies into the home via broadband and second, the ability of film makers to produce theatrical quality films, (yes, just as good as 35mm) using digital cameras and digital desktop editing systems. Why should a feature film maker be boxed in by the constraints of huge budgets and the understandable demands of the traditional film industry, when there is a ready alternative - low budget production with total creative freedom. And it goes double for innovative TV programming and animation. In the next twelve months, it is possible that 500 to 1000 quality shorts or features get produced, not only by students or fly-by-night production companies, but by experienced professionals. Digital Hollywood welcomes these newcomers to cross the digital divide.
Doug Liman, Film Director, “Swingers” & “Go,” founder & Chairman, Nibblebox.com
Trina Wyatt, Chief Financial Officer, Tribeca Films
Darcy Young, Head of New Media, Miramax Films
Kevin Wendle, CEO, iFilm
Jason Kliot, President, Blow Up Pictures
Curt Marvis, CEO, CinemaNow
Megan O'Neil, VP of Filmmaker Relations, Atom Films
Neil McGinness, Sr. Vice President Business Development, Broadway Video, Moderator
Kevin Wendle is the CEO and co-founder of IFILM. Kevin was the first senior entertainment industry executive to make the move to the web back in 1993 and was a co-founder of CNET, one of the world's leading internet companies. He was also a co-founder of E! Online and Fox Broadcasting Company and is an Emmy award winning film and television producer. Kevin joined the founding partners of CNET as president, programming & marketing, and was responsible for overseeing all of the company's initial creative, editorial, production and marketing efforts. During his five years with the company, he created and executive produced CNET's extensive network of internet sites as well as the company's four national television programs. In addition, Kevin was one of the founders of E! Online, CNET's joint venture with E! Entertainment Television. He was a member of the board of directors of both CNET and E! Online until 1998. In both 1996 and 1997, Kevin was cited by "Websight" magazine on its list of the "100 Most Influential People on the World Wide Web", listed in the top ten both times. Kevin was also one of the six founding members of the team that launched Fox Broadcasting Company in 1986. While serving as executive vice president of the Fox Entertainment Group, Kevin led programming and marketing for the new network including the development of its hit series "Married…With Children", "The Simpsons", "21 Jump Street", "In Living Color", "America's Most Wanted", "Cops", "Totally Hidden Video", "The Tracey Ullman Show", and "Beverly Hills 90210" which was based on a concept that Kevin originated. He also launched Arsenio Hall as the host of Fox's late night series and was the sole executive producer of Arsenio's first week of programs. After leaving Fox in 1990, Kevin became the founding president and chief operating officer of Quincy Jones Entertainment Company where he developed and was executive producer of the successful NBC comedy series "Fresh Prince of Bel Air", recruiting Will Smith for his first-ever acting role. Earlier in his career, Kevin held senior programming positions at both NBC and ABC, and produced and directed various television programs for ABC and Whittle Communications including the first ever music video series on broadcast television, "New York Hot Tracks", which was nationally syndicated in the early 1980's.
Curt Marvis is CEO of CinemaNow, an interactive entertainment and community dri
ven virtual film studio linking indie film watchers to indie filmmakers. Marvis takes the helm of CinemaNow after a diversified 20-year history of leadership in the television, music, multimedia and Internet arenas. Prior to joining CinemaNow, Marvis led publicly held 7th Level (now Learn2.com NASDAQ: LTWO) in its transformation from a game development company to a leader in web-based e-learning and communications services. After overseeing the complete restructuring of the company, Marvis led the successful merger activity between 7th Level and privately held Street Technologies resulting in the formation of Learn2.com (NASDAQ:LTWO). Previously he was co-founder and executive vice president of multi-media start-up Powerhouse Entertainment where he was instrumental in creating a new form of interactive entertainment called Moviegames. The new game genre, which integrated original film footage and breakthrough voice recognition technology, debuted in two live-action CD-ROM games base on the motion pictures -- "The Jungle Book" from Disney and "Pinocchio" from New Line Cinema. Before starting Powerhouse Entertainment, Marvis served as consultant to the IBM Multimedia Publishing Studio and Global Interactive Task Force where he helped create strategic plans for IBM in their development of CD-ROM and interactive software. Marvis initially made his mark in the entertainment industry as CEO of The Company, an award winning privately held LA based production company that produced and developed more than 200 music videos, concerts, home videos and commercials. During the 10 years he headed The Company, Marvis launched productions for rock luminaries from Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones to Janet Jackson and Bon Jovi. He produced many of the most popular rock videos in the history of MTV and his work was honored during the Grammy’s, American Video Awards, Billboard Awards, MTV awards, and international competitions. The industry recognized him by awarding him the coveted MTV Video Vanguard Award in 1991. Early career work included a three-year stint with documentary and family programming production house Bill Burrud Productions and five years producing for a number of projects including the innovative comedy program Channel Zero as well as a diverse mix of reality and dramatic productions for United Artists, New World and Sunn Classics. At the age of 17, he filmed and produced a television documentary on California that was sold during Marche International Des Producteurs (MIP) in Cannes, where he was the youngest producer to participate in the selling of his own program. Marvis received his B.F.A. Summa Cum Laude from the UCLA Film School in 1980, after being one of the youngest documentarians to have a film acquired for distribution. Marvis’ position at CinemaNow.com marks the return to his true love, the world of film. He brings leadership and entrepreneurial vision in directing CinemaNow.com towards creating a world of free enterprise for independent cinema enthusiasts.