Maverick Artist & Innovator Forums - The Biz of Art Part 2: Sales & Distribution

Running time: 90 mins

Sunday, March 6th from Noon to 1:30 pm at Hal Todd Studio Theatre (SJSU)

The Biz of Art Part 2: Sales & Distribution

Leading sales and distribution leaders discusstraditional and contemporary ways to market and sell your movie. Forum topics include: festivals, markets, media, international sales, domestic theatrical, home entertainment and Internet/VOD.

Moderated by: Steve Harnsberger - Digital Entertainment VOD Market Development and Strategy. Steven Harnsberger is the President of Harnsberger Digital Consultants in San Francisco, leading strategy and outbound market development services for independent film distribution to cable VOD/service providers, traditional rental /kiosk platforms for VOD/EST, and in the internet and OTT markets on emerging platforms for AVOD, TVOD and SVOD (iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, NetFlix, Amazon, ROVI, Hulu etc). In 2010 he became the EVP Business Development for FreeStyle Digital Media executing dozens of new VOD portal deals with the leaders in cable, satellite, and internet VOD to connected devices. From 2004-2008, Steve served as the Vice President, Strategic Business Development at Sonic Solutions (Roxio/CinemaNow-now ROVI), where he pioneered new markets for digital media distribution in retail store kiosks, connected set top boxes, online and in retail. At Sonic, he forged first ever technology deployments through partnerships with Amazon, TiVo-2-Go, RealNetworks, Google, Yahoo, Nintendo Wii, CinemaNow, Cisco, Broadcom and Samsung. Mr. Harnsberger is a top new media market analyst at Gerson Lehrman providing guidance to over 100 funds and managers investing in the space. In 2010, he has also worked with Cinequest Film Festival to help secure distribution for Cinequest films through Netflix and to other leading players. Steve can be reached at steve.harnsberger at gmail.com and welcomes inquiries.

Panelists Include:

Jeffrey Brandstetter - JEFFREY D. BRANDSTETTER, ESQ. is a veteran entertainment and intellectual property attorney with over 19 years experience in film, TV, music, literary, new media and entertainment financing matters. He has represented a wide array of entertainment and high-tech clients?from megastars to new artists?including recording artists, songwriters, indie record labels, publishing companies, sports figures, managers, accountants, producers, distributors, merchandisers, promoters, music manufacturers, writers, film and TV production companies, financiers, and Internet and high-tech startups. Jeff's extensive transactional experience includes drafting and negotiation of all contracts, licenses, deal memos and private placement memoranda necessary for the development, production, distribution and financing of film, television, video, music and new media content across all major distribution platforms and outlets (online, mobile and offline) in domestic and foreign territories, as well as entity formation, governance and dissolution. Jeff is also an experienced litigator with multiple successes, including obtaining and collecting on a judgment in excess of $2.5 million on behalf of an intellectual property client; successfully briefing and arguing before the California Court of Appeal on First Amendment issues; recapturing, prosecuting and policing the Rhodes piano trademark, trade dress and trade secret rights worldwide; and successfully litigating TWA's first copyright infringement case involving its proprietary PARS network, the first computerized travel agency system of its kind. Jeff is the co-author of the highly acclaimed book The Music Business (Explained In Plain English), and has been published in a number of national and regional publications including The Entertainment And Sports Lawyer, the Entertainment, Publishing And The Arts Handbook, BAM Magazine, Guitar Player, Electronic Musician, and a bi-monthly legal column in Music Market Magazine. He appears frequently as a speaker and moderator on entertainment law matters (including TV, radio, webcast and live panel/seminar appearances) and is an active panel attorney and lecturer for California Lawyer for the Arts and the IIFF (Institute for International Film Financing). Jeff has also taught intellectual property at Golden Gate University and served as an expert witness in entertainment law matters, an arbitrator in complex business litigation and securities matters, and pro bono counsel for the ADL. Jeff is also the Co-Founder and CEO of IndiePlayaTM , the revolutionary online film distribution and marketing platform that enables profitable DIY distribution of independent film by providing filmmakers and distributors with a robust marketing toolset, superior business intelligence, rich social network integration, and a feature-rich platform that allows modification of all offering terms on-the-fly. Film and TV credits include (partial list): DANGEROUS MINDS; MAD CITY; THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (including prequel and sequel); USA Network's JUDGMENT DAY: THE ELLIE NESLER STORY; Comedy Central's MAKE ME LAUGH; Fox's PARTY OF FIVE and ALLY MCBEAL; Discovery Channel's SMASH LAB; TEKNOLUST (starring Tilda Swinton); HAPPILY EVEN AFTER (starring Jason Behr, Marina Black and Fay Masterson), HER MINOR THING; OBSTACLES (starring E-40); PURSUIT OF EQUALITY; SEE HOW THEY RUN; PRIDE OF IRELAND (Phil Coulter documentary); CONFESSIONS OF A BURNING MAN; ALL ABOUT DOGS; TECH CLOSEUP (nationally syndicated TV series); and Executive Producer of STRAIGHT OUTTA HUNTERS POINT. See also www.IMDb.com listing.

Strathford Hamilton - Strathford Hamilton, an Emmy and Director's Guild nominated Director of prestige films and television shows, is well known throughout the entertainment industry as the director of the team that created the "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers", the most successful children's show of all time, grossing in excess of $800 million for Saban Entertainment. Mr. Hamilton's first film, "Blueberry Hill", was made for $500,000 and sold to MGM for US Theatrical distribution. Most recently he produced and co-directed the Paris Hilton Film "National Lampoon's Pledge This!" and Executive Produced the films "Smitty", ?The Cursed?, ?Underground?, ?April Showers? and the documentary ?Cinema is Everywhere?. Over the last 25 years, Mr. Hamilton has managed and produced films and TV shows for the studios and independents, with combined budgets of over $100,000,000. After receiving his Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of New South Wales in Australia, Mr. Hamilton worked on feature films and television in virtually every continent. He settled in Los Angeles, where he became President of Production for Mediacom Industries, a public company, and subsequently co-founded TriCoast Production Partners Inc. with Ms. Marcy Levitas Hamilton. Motion pictures and TV shows directed by Strath Hamilton, include "The Set Up", starring Billy Zane for MGM/UA and "The Proposition", staring Patrick Bergin and Theresa Russell, while his TV specials for CBS ?But he Loves Me...? and ?Please God I?m only 17? have been honored with Directors Guild of America awards, Emmy, Humanitas and other awards. His reputation for creating quality, critically acclaimed motion pictures has afforded him access to the entertainment industry's top actors, screenwriters and directors, many of whom he counts among his closest personal relationships. Strath Hamilton is also co-founder and President of The Backyard National Children's Film Festival, a non-profit organization. At TriCoast Studios, Mr. Hamilton directs the company's creative and business activities together with Ms. Levitas Hamilton and oversees the development, production and distribution of individual motion picture projects. He is currently prepping the film TUX to be shot in Australia/New Zealand this summer.

Jere Hausfater - Currently, Hausfater is consulting for various television, 3D, digital content, and motion picture companies through his company, Fathaus Entertainment.Hausfater founded Essential Entertainment in 2007, an independent development, financing, and worldwide sales and distribution company as CEO. Essential distributed such pictures as Defiance directed by Ed Zwick, Fireflies in the Garden starring Julia Roberts, the Samuel Hadida-produced Solomon Kane , My One and Only starring Renee Zellwegger, Clive Barker?s Book of Blood and Dread, the soon-to-be produced sequel of Point Break, as well as Summit?s recently announced Intrepid production, Cold Light of Day. Hausfater oversaw all aspects of the company including development, worldwide sales, distribution/marketing, business/legal affairs, administration, and finance. Hausfater also spearheaded the international sales and strategy for Marvel Films closing deals in Spain, Japan, France, and Germany for Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. He also worked as a consultant for the international television division at MGM. Previously, Hausfater was Executive Vice President of Miramax International from September 2003 through October 2005 overseeing international theatrical distribution, marketing, sales, home video, television, and international business affairs. He was also in charge of the Los Angeles office and a senior executive of the worldwide acquisition group. Under his watch, Miramax sold and oversaw the sales and international theatrical and video release of such films as Cold Mountain, Starsky & Hutch, Scary Movie 3, Spy Kids 3, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Shall We Dance, Aviator, Finding Neverland, Sin City, Amityville Horror, The Brothers Grimm, and Garden State. From 2000 to 2003, Hausfater was President of the Motion Picture Group, Worldwide Distribution and Acquisitions at Intermedia Films, in charge of worldwide distribution, marketing and acquisitions. WhileatIntermedia, Hausfater achieved in excess of $300M in worldwide film sales and headed the worldwide marketing and distribution of films such as K19: The Widowmaker, Resident Evil, Adaptation, K-Pax, Enigma, The Life and Death of David Gale, The Wedding Planner, Iris, The Quiet American, Basic, Dark Blue, and Terminator 3. Hausfater served as Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Business Affairs for Buena Vista International/Buena Vista Home Video from 1988 through 2000 where he was responsible for the worldwide acquisition and sale of theatrical motion pictures and children?s programming for Disney. He achieved in excess of $300 million in operating income for the studio. While at BVI, he also started the first studio in-house theatrical and television sales company, Buena Vista Film Sales. During his tenure at Disney, Hausfater acquired and sold distribution rights throughout various countries of the world for over 500 films and video properties including The Chipmunks, the Henson library, The Best of Johnny Carson, The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, Snake Eyes, Face Off, Il Postino, The Ice Storm, Pulp Fiction, Air Force One, The Piano, What?s Eating Gilbert Grape, Die Hard With A Vengeance, Dances With Wolves, Koyla, The Hurricane, Sleepers, 13 Days, Runaway Bride, 3 Ninjas and Shine. He also started the UK comedy production label-acquiring properties such as the successful Calendar Girls, Kinky Boots, and High Heels And Low Lives. He also developed and oversaw the production at Disney of Duets starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Gun Shy starring Sandra Bullock. He was also the Disney executive overseeing international acquisition and distribution of Miramax product through Buena Vista International. His division was a separate operating unit with P&L responsibility within the studio. Prior to Disney, Hausfater was Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs at Media Home Entertainment/Heron Communications, one of the largest independent video companies Prior to Media Home Entertainment, Hausfater was head of Business/Legal Affairs at K-Tel Entertainment, a publicly traded company specializing in the sale and production of phonograph records, music publishing, video software and television production. Hausfater executive produced Kid?s Incorporated, a first-run television show for The Disney Channel, which started the careers of Fergie (Stacy Ann Ferguson) and Mario Lopez. Hausfater earned his law degree from Southwestern University. He worked at United Artists Records, ABC Records and MCA Records, as in-house counsel and business affairs. He graduated Boston University with a degree in Business Administration. Hausfater is also a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Executive Branch. He is currently a business professor for Boston University?s undergraduate School of Management teaching Entertainment Management attended by visiting film students studying in Los Angeles. He is married and has two grown sons.

Mitch Mallon - Mitch Mallon has an accomplished 25 year career within the music and video industries having held senior management positions at Rhino Entertainment, Warner Music Group and now at Image Entertainment. Initially focused on independent niche products and then music DVD?s, Mr. Mallon has successfully promoted and incorporated these mediums into each company?s mindset, ensuring success. In 2005 Mr. Mallon launched Image Entertainment?s digital division and has been one of the leaders in the digital frontier and its overall market potential and opportunities. In 2007, Mr. Mallon helped establish the Entertainment Merchants Associations Digital Council. The EMA Digital Council?s programs and initiatives are helping educate producers, licensors and studios who are interested in the evolving digital marketplace.

Sponsor:

Cinequest Film Festival 21 Presents