Welcome to Independent Filmmaker Day!
Rubenstein Business Law and Ornstein Schuler State Film Tax Credits present Independent Filmmaker Day, held Live via Zoom on March 24th & 25th, 2021.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced producer, this event is for you. We help independent creators from around the world develop new projects, connect within the industry, and champion collaborative and impactful storytelling at all stages.
For beginners, you will hear from industry experts providing you with real-world practical advice to help turn your dream idea or screenplay into reality. Rather than paying thousands of dollars to attend film school or lengthy monthly/weekly courses, in only 2 days with IFD you will learn how to pitch your idea, structure your project, find funding, and locate distribution.
For experienced filmmakers, you will hear from Oscar and Emmy Nominated Experts that will teach you how to add value to your projects. You will learn new strategies on how to finance your film/tv project, how to market your film/tv project using social media, how to attract A-List talent, how to maximize tax strategies under IRS Code 181, and how to sell your film/tv project to networks, Netflix and Amazon.
We are also extremely proud to present our Direct Access Speed Dating Panel where you will get a chance to network with Producers, Financers, and Distributors about your project so you can establish real connections that you cannot find elsewhere.
March 24, 2021 -
3 pm - 10 pm EST - Film/TV Panel Discussions!
Panel Discussions: Hear from industry experts on a variety of topics in film/tv including: acting, directing, producing, film funding, distribution, social media, product placement, post-production, entertainment law, and more. Each panel lasts one hour and includes Q&A from the audience. When you register on Eventbrite, you will receive an email 3 days before the event to register on Zoom, which will provide the Zoom link.
Confirmed Panelists Include:
Mark Damon: Legendary Producer (His Films have been nominated for 10 Oscars, including Monster starring Charlize Theron where she won Best Actress). Other credits include: The Last Full Measure, Das Boot, 2 Guns, Lone Survivor, 9 and 1/2 Weeks, Short Circuit, and The NeverEnding Story.
Tim Daly: Emmy-Nominated Actor (The Sopranos, Madam Secretary, Wings)
Yvette Nicole Brown: Actress (Community, The Mayor, Elena of Avalor)
Mark Koch: Producer (The Passion of the Christ, Lost in Space, Black Dog).
James Parris: Director of Animation. His credits include Transformers, X-Men, Spiderman, Lion King, Mulan. James is also Animation Director for Doug Unplugs (Apple TV), and Shimmer and Shine (Nickelodeon).
Ken Mok: Golden Globe and Emmy Nominated Producer (America's Next Top Model, Making the Band, Joy, Invincible, and The Right One.
Thomas Jane - Actor/Producer (Hung, Expanse on Amazon Prime, The Punisher)
Courtney Lauren Penn - Producer (film adaptation of Stephen King's "From A Buick 8.")
Howard Gould - Executive Producer & Writer (The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Cybill, The Devil Wears Prada, Shrek the Third)
Anjul Nigam - Actor/Producer (Grey's Anatomy, True Detective, Never Have I Ever)
Grady Craig - VP of Development & Business Operations for Bondit Capital which finances feature films.
Emily Best - Owner and Founder of Crowdfunding Platform Seed & Spark
March 25, 2021 -
2:00 pm - 5:30 pm EST - Expert Roundtables.
Your opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from experts in the film and tv industry about your specific project. We will have a total of three different Expert Roundtables with a different expert at each table (limited to one hour and only 15 attendees per expert). When you register on Eventbrite, you will receive an email 3 days before the event to register on Zoom, which will provide the Zoom link.
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm EST - Seminar: Master Your Pitch!
Prepare for the Pitch Competition with this special pitching seminar by Entertainment Lawyer and Producer David Rubenstein . You will learn:
1. What a producer, agent, or manager is really looking for when they hear a pitch.
2. How to succeed at pitching if you're shy!
3. The 3 keys to every successful pitch.
4. How to avoid the 5 most common pitching mistakes.
5. How to find pitchable elements even in a "low concept" or "character driven" project.
6. How to find your hook and make producers salivate without "selling out!"
7. Unique pitching techniques specifically designed for pitch fests.
About David Rubenstein:
David Rubenstein is an Entertainment Lawyer who has been voted a "Super Lawyer Rising Star" for 7 years in a row, an award given to less than 5% of all attorneys. Most recently, David helped raise funding for the acclaimed film, 1917, which won 3 Oscars, and also served as a Producer's Consultant on the highly regarded film, Human Capital, starring Marisa Tomei and Liev Schreiber, which premiered on the red carpet at the Toronto Film Festival.
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm EST - Pitch Competition.
Your opportunity to Pitch your film/tv project for a chance to win over $40,000 in in-kind services to help make your project. Each pitch is limited to 3 minutes in a "shark-tank" style format before a panel of 3 judges. The fourth vote will be comprised of an audience member vote, so bring your family and friends to cheer you on for your best chance to win! (limited to only 40 pitches on a first come first serve basis). You will be able to share your screen during your 3 minute pitch if you want to incorporate video. All film, tv, and documentary projects are eligible to win. When you register on Eventbrite, you will receive an email 3 days before the event to register on Zoom, which will provide the Zoom link. The day before the event we will email you a list of which order you will pitch. The order will be comprised based on the order in which contestants signed up (ie first to sign up will go first).
Judges include:
1) Jennifer Wallace - President of Artists United, a community of over 30,000 artists in all disciplines coming together to empower each other and to be a force for social good in our world.
2) David Rubenstein - Entertainment Lawyer who has been voted a "Super Lawyer Rising Star" for 7 years in a row, an award given to less than 5% of all attorneys. Most recently, David helped raise funding for the acclaimed film, 1917, which won 3 Oscars, and also served as a Producer's Consultant on the highly regarded film, Human Capital, starring Marisa Tomei and Liev Schreiber, which premiered on the red carpet at the Toronto Film Festival.
3) Audience Vote
10:00 pm to 11:30 pm EST - Virtual After Party
Party and Network with your fellow attendees and panelists in a virtual setting using the popular app TapRoom. You will be emailed the download instructions and link to join after buying a ticket.
