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2007 FORUM SCHEDULE
TO BE ANNOUNCED THIS SUMMER
LAST YEAR'S SCHEDULE CAN BE READ READ BELOW:
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2007
Kick-off with a sneak preview of Phillip Noyce's
Catch a Fire (click to view trailer)
The Forum began at 7:30 pm at the Mann Festival Theater in Westwood. Screening was followed by a Q&A with Noyce and producer Robin Slovo. The Forum opening reception took place immediately afterwards at the Hammer Museum.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27—
MAKE YOUR FILM WITHOUT GETTING SCREWED:
- 8:30 am - 9:15 am:
Check-in, breakfast, introductory remarks - 9:15 am - 9:45 am:
Keynote Address
The legendary John Pierson helped launch the careers of Spike Lee, Michael Moore, Kevin Smith, and Richard Linklater. Hear the author of Spike, Mike, Slackers & Dykes: A Guided Tour Across a Decade of American Independent Cinema tell you how to make the choices that will help you be more than a one-hit wonder and build a career. - 9:45 am - 10:45 am:
The Producer-Director Collaboration
Mark and Michael Polish have brought forth a distinctly independent body of work including Northfork, Twin Falls Idaho, Jackpot and the soon to be released The Astronaut Farmer. They've also co-authoring the book The Declaration of Independent Filmmaking: An Insider's Guide to Making Movies Outside of Hollywood. Through their body of work, we explore this important relationship that can make or break not only one film but an entire body of work. Hear how to be as creative in saving money as you are in telling your story while Mark and Michael reveal key strategies that are as important as any line item in your budget.
Moderator: Scott Macaulay, producer of Raising Victor Vargas and editor of Filmmaker Magazine
Panelists: Mark and Michael Polish - 11:00 am - 12:30 pm:
How do you get money without talent or talent without money?
Getting a commitment from actors without a pay-or-play deal. Getting funding without names that sell. How to solve the Catch-22 of low budget filmmaking.
Moderator: Sam Kitt
Panelists: Micah Green (CAA) , Mark Damon, Kendall Morgan, Victoria Thomas, and Gail Mutrux
- 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm:
Indie Community Lunch Hour
Prominent members of the independent film community will host tables and be available for informal discussions during the lunch hour. - 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm:
How to Maximize Every Part Your of Your Production
How to feed your crew without breaking your budget. How to get multiple looks from one location. How crew parking can save you—or cost you—time and money. How to make the most of every hour of your crew's time. In short, how to maximize everything you've got.
Moderator: Matthew Greenfield
Panelists: Eric d'Arbeloff, Callum Greene, Preston Holmes, Ted Kroeber, and Danielle Renfrew - 3:15 pm - 4:45 pm:
Two Case Studies of Low-Budget Success Stories
Low-budget films that successfully screened at world-class festivals, garnered awards, and brought a lot of attention to their filmmakers. Candid accounts of these filmmakers' journeys from the inception of the project through production, the festival circuit, and distribution experiences.
Moderator: Scott Macaulay, producer of Raising Victor Vargas and editor of Filmmaker Magazine
Panelists: Neill Dela Llana and Ian Gamazon (Cavite), Patrick Creadon and Christine O'Malley (Wordplay) - 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm:
I'll Never Do That Again: How to Avoid Screwing Yourself
Established producers candidly recount three of the biggest mistakes they have made in their careers, how they fixed them, the price they had to pay, and the lessons learned.
Moderator: Effie Brown
Panelists: Stephanie Allain, Lindsay Doran, Eric Watson, and Richard Gladstein
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28—
SELL YOUR FILM WITHOUT GETTING SCREWED:
- 8:30 am - 9:00 am:
Check-in, breakfast, and introductory remarks - 9:00 am - 9:30 am:
The Future of Film
Theatrical vs. digital download. Standard Def vs. Hi-Def. Explore the future platforms for releasing and seeing films and figure out how the new world of exhibition will affect your films, your stories, and your career.
Speaker: Ted Sarandos - 9:40 am - 11:00 am:
How to Choose Your Reps Without Getting Screwed (The Filmmakers Talk)
Seasoned filmmakers introduce us to the world of producers' reps, sales agents, publicists, and lawyers. Learn how to find them, what they charge, how to negotiate a deal, and whether they are right for your film. Filmmakers who sold or didn't sell their films will tell all about what they did right and what they regret.
Moderator: Peggy Rajski
Panelists: Aric Avelino, Kirby Dick, Cameron Watson , and Daniel Dubiecki - 11:10 am - 12:30 pm:
The Right Marketing Strategy
Napoleon Dynamite went to Sundance without any pre-festival awareness. This wasn't by accident. Learn how to create a marketing strategy that works for your film at festivals and beyond. When should you show your film to distributors—before or during a festival? Do you need a publicist? Find the right marketing strategy or...your film goes nowhere.
Moderator: Rich Raddon
Panelists: Wash Westmoreland, Greg Whiteley (New York Doll), David Zeiger, and Caveh Zahedi - 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm:
Indie Community Lunch Hour
Prominent members of the independent film community will host tables and will be available for informal discussions during the lunch hour. - 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm:
How to Choose Your Reps Without Getting Screwed (The Execs Talk)
Producers' reps, publicists, sales agents, filmmakers, critics, and distributors discuss when and where you should show your film.
Moderator: John Anderson (I Wake Up Screening)
Panelists: Rena Ronson, John Sloss, David Magdael, and Nancy Utley - 3:15 pm - 4:45 pm:
Don't Get Taken By the Fine Print
Know what you're giving away before signing any contract. Become aware of the key negotiation points in a contract and how all those legal terms can impact your future fortunes.
Moderator: Linda Lichter
Panelists: Howard Cohen, Richard Klubeck, and Joe DeMarco - 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm:
New School DIYstribution
New technologies are revolutionizing distribution and giving filmmakers more options to reach audiences and make money selling their films. With web-based marketing, Internet VOD, cell phones, and iPods, is this the beginning of a filmmakers' market?
Moderator: Peter Broderick
Panelists: Robert Greenwald, Lance Weiler , Mesh Flinders (Lonelygirl15), and Ben Rekhi - 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm:
Happy Hour/Closing Reception
AND THE HAMMER MUSEUM (10899 Wilshire Blvd at Westwood Blvd.)
