One way to build an indigenous film industry is to educate people who can help make it happen. In Chicago that would be the folks on LaSalle Street.
In Michigan, it’s the Michigan Investment Summit that will bring investors, their advisor together April 22 to learn more about non-traditional movie investing from the experts.
Educational in nature, the Summit is restricted to the financial and legal communities, said Mark Adler, president/founder of the Michigan Film Alliance, which is hosting the evening’s discussion.
“Filmmakers are asked to take a night off and not attend, so the speakers can concentrate on the subject at hand,” added Adler, an industry veteran who also will speak at the Summit.
Topics to be covered include capabilities of Michigan film production and incentives, ROI multipliers for a safer investment and the flow of funds in the money cycle.
Leading the discussion will be Ken Droz, the Michigan Film Office’s communications manager since 2008, who managed Michigan marketing activities for major film studios for 12 years, before moving to L.A. in 2000 to run his own PR firm.
Eight experts have been confirmed to date, including Keith Simon, president of Greenlight Film Funding, which focuses on deal structure, film sourcing and production structure.
Speakers include entertainment law specialists Paul Fitzpatrick, Dickinson Wright, PLLC; senior counsel Joseph Voss, Clark Hill PLC; Lisa M. Berden, Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone, PLC.
Also: Joseph G. Matesevac, managing director, JgM International, Satish Jasti, president/CEO, vice chairman of Lotus Bancorp.
Michigan Film Allianc member Gary Bourassa of Rising Dragon developed and organized the event. “We got behind Gary’s efforts right from the start, since MPA is all about boosting indigenous intellectual property and projects,” Adler said.
The Summit will be held at MSU in Troy, Michigan. See
