Obtaining finance & tax incentives to get independent and studio films made, distributed and marketed in today’s market place

Benefits of Attending

• Access to and information from the most senior players in the industry at the top of their professions
• Significant networking opportunities amongst the top professionals and financiers in the film business today
• Expanded session on the U.S. state, federal and international tax credits and incentives for film and TV production
• The role of banks and specialized finance companies in providing financing for film production
• How talent agencies can help package films for financing and distribution
• Ways to generate financial support for films utilizing brand integration and product placement
• Understand how sales agents and distributors can generate the domestic and foreign distribution you need to make your film a success
• Understand how to utilize new digital platforms for distributing media content into the home and onto hand held devices

Educational Course Credit — Up to 12 CPE / CLE Credits Available

Substitutions/Cancellations

Cancellations received more than 72 business hours prior to the meeting will be issued a credit. A $350 fee will apply to cancellations received within 72 business hours of the event. No credit card or cash refunds will be issued at any time. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact us at 1-914-328-5656, or e-mail info@citeusa.org. Credits will not be issued for "no shows"

CITE's block of discounted sleeping rooms is limited - reserve your sleeping room early! We cannot guarantee rates or availability. A very limited block of rooms at a reduced rate has been set aside for CITE attendees. For conferences being held at local firm centers, hotel blocks have not been arranged and accommodations are at your own discretion

Thursday, March 22, 2012

8:45 am Key Note Welcome

9:00 am Current Strategies in Sourcing Funds to Get Films Made Today

• Banks – Commercial and Private
• Private Equity
• Film Funds
• Sovereign Wealth Funds
• Hedge Funds
• One-Off Funding vs. Slate Funding
• Crowd Funding
• Other Financing Sources

10:00am Refreshment Break

10:15 am Planning, Applying for, Administering and Monetizing Domestic & International Production Incentives

• Current Developments in the US and Foreign Jurisdictions
• Current Hotspots in the US and Foreign Jurisdictions
• Caps, Minimum Spend and Other Requirements to be Aware of When Using Tax Credits
• Applying for Incentive Programs and Understanding Varying Regulations
• How to Properly Set Up, Administer and Monitor a Production to Maximize Incentives
• Liens, Priorities and Audit Requirements
• Monetizing Tax Credits
• Costs of Tax Credit Funding

11:45 am Spotlight on 2-3 Key US States and Foreign Jurisdictions Providing Production Incentives - Hear from Film Commissioners and Tax Credit Funders Summarizing:

• Tax Credits in their Jurisdictions
• Fund Caps
• Amount of Credits for spend vs. payroll
• Application process (when to file)

12:15 pm Luncheon

1:45 pm Tax and Accounting Issues in Film Production Finance

• Update on Federal Tax Incentives 
• Structuring investments for maximum investment value
• Advising Investors for Tax Planning on Film Investment
• Production Accounting and why it’s critical
• Budgeting Tools and working with UPMs and Line Producers to ensure reliable budgets
• Contingencies
• Production Audits and Reporting to financiers, bond companies, union and other third parties
• Preparing to Audit Distributors

2:45 pm Attaching Talent to a Film

• Utilizing Casting Agents
• Talent Agencies
• Managers
• Attorneys
• When to make offers
• Structuring offers to talent
• Are Pay or Plays Really Necessary?
• Are “Letters of Intent” Really Necessary?
• Can Presales be achieved without attached talent?

3:45 pm Break for Refreshments

4:00 pm- Case Studies in Financing an Independent Film 

• Q&A for Independently Financed Feature Film TBD

5:15 pm – Summary & Q&A

5:30 First Day Ends – Networking Cocktail Reception Sponsored by Sheppard Mullin

Friday, March 23nd, 2012

8:45 am Canadian Tax Credits or another state or jurisdiction

9:00 am Labor Issues in Dealing with Guilds and Labor Unions

• SAG, DGA, WGA, IATSE, Teamsters. What about PGA?
• What are the different contracts a production can sign and apply?
• What are the benefits and liabilities to working under a low budget agreement?
• What could become due to talent or crew under low budget agreements after the film is completed?
• How are the labor costs of the film affected by its distribution? 
• Posting a bond, deposit or residual reserve and getting it back; dealing with financial assurance requirements.
• Have the unions changed their protocols for payment and financial assurances in a changing distribution environment and if not, what are the plans to do so?
• Unions as signatories to collection accounts and how it works. 
• Getting distributors to assume required union payments.
• Avoiding law suits and bankruptcy due to union costs, fees and residuals.
• New Compliance Wage Laws in CA and NY

10:00 am Break for Refreshments

10:15 am Financing Films Using Branded Entertainment

• How can Branded Entertainment Provide the Funds Necessary to Make and or Market a Film
• Is Product Placement different from branded entertainment
• Utilizing branded entertainment as a distribution tool
• When should you involve branded entertainment
• Working with branded entertainment consultants
• Working directly with brands
• Incorporating branded entertainment into the story and when to say no
• When does the money come in from branded entertainment and product placement?
• Can you finance the “paper” of branded entertainment?

11:15 am Developing a Distribution Strategy to Maximize Sales and Obtain Financing

• Attaching International  Sales Agents
• When you can attach Domestic Distribution
• Creating a Distribution Plan
• Social Media and Gorilla Marketing 
• When to Start Marketing
• Exhibitors and Booking Agents – Dealing directly with exhibitors
• Distributor/rent a system deals
• The Current Role of Film Festivals
• Impact of Digital Distribution

12:15 pm Spotlight on 2-3 Key US States and Foreign Jurisdictions Providing Production Incentives - Hear from Film Commissioners and Tax Credit Funders summarizing:

• Tax Credits in their Jurisdictions
• Fund Caps
• Amount of Credits for spend vs. payroll
• Application process (when to file)

12:45 p.m. Luncheon

1:45 pm Latest Developments in Digital and Internet Innovations in TV & Film Distribution

• How are VOD, SVOD & “Over the Top” changing distribution
• How to financially participate in online streaming deals
• What kind of money can a film or tv show really count on from digital distribution formats?
• Can a producer secure a direct deal with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, YouTube, etc.?
• The advent of “Over-The -Top” alternative services (Sony, Apple, Google)
• The transition from DVD to the “cloud” and digital distribution (the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem, UltraViolet and Keychest)
• Original film/tv content commissioned for the web (the 100 new YouTube channels, Netflix and Yahoo original productions)

2:45 pm How Films Recoup Their Money

• Waterfall of Recoupment to Feature Films
• What are the different revenue streams for recoupment
• Working with Collectors to ensure the money is reported accurately
• Enforcing Distribution Deals
• Structuring the Obligations of Recoupment & Profit to ensure the numbers = 100%
• Audit Clauses and Planning for Audits to ensure fair recoupment of money
• Maximizing Revenue Streams after the Film has Exhausted Traditional Distribution
• How long does it take to recoup

3:45 pm Summary & Q&A

4:00 pm Conference Ends

Bloomberg BNA | CITE Conference Registration - Page 1

There are 3 ways to register for a Bloomberg BNA | CITE Conference:

1. Complete this form and fax Page 2 to 914-328-5757
2. Call us directly at 914-328-5656
3. Complete the online registration process

Please note that automatic price calculations will occur upon proceeding to page 2