IIFF/LA Film Financing Workshop with Top Agent Turned Indie Producer

Essential Film Financing & Producing Success: Make Your Next Film Happen Now

A nuts-and-bolts, bottom-line, no-bull and empowering full-day seminar distilled from 30 years of hands-on industry experience

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*** Don't miss upcoming events in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, New York and London ***

Abstract

"Jim Jermanok brings tremendous knowledge, depth and passion to his workshops.  His insight and enthusiasm are not only inspirational, but very, very practical. Jim has a refreshingly honest and direct point of view […]"

— Nick Yellen, Professor at New York Film Academy

"Jim may have changed the title of his workshop, but whatever it is, I can tell you this: You should not miss his next workshop.  Jim Jermanok changed my life and career and he can make a difference in yours."

— Ray Yeates, Director of Axis Arts Centre, Ballymun in Dublin, Ireland

"[Jim's] insight, humor and passion were absolutely contagious and inspiring."

— Kierstin Schupack, Director of White Sands International Film Festival

This unique workshop answers all your questions about financing an independent film.  You will receive practical advice from a seasoned expert and walk away with a proven method of success for advancing your career goals.

Former longtime ICM agent and active award-winning film producer Jim Jermanok has distilled thirty years of professional film and entertainment experience into a nuts-and-bolts, bottom-line, no-bull and empowering one-day workshop.  Rarely has a former talent agent from a leading, major agency been available to give his uncensored take on feature financing and production.

By the end of the day, you will have acquired the skills and knowledge necessary to confidently and competently go about financing and producing a movie.

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Seminar Description

"After enjoying Jim Jermanok's workshop, my membership was both informed and motivated to put his real-world show business advice into practice, and vault to the next plateau of their creative careers."

— Steven Arvanities, Founder of NYCscreenwriter

Essential Financing & Producing Lessons

Using his real-life experiences and those of many other prominent financiers and producers in the film business, Jim Jermanok will impart the key lessons he learned during his entertainment career of thirty years.

He will teach you how to refine your financing and producing strategy; distinguish yourself and your project; pitch with confidence; find and convince financiers and investors; employ the art of the schmooze to your fullest advantage; succeed with talent agents and managers, distributors, sales agents and other industry executives; and much, much more.

You Can Achieve Success Right Now

What it boils down to is this:

1. Jim shows you how to succeed in the film business.
2. Jim shows you how to make your movie happen right now.

Priceless Insights From Uncommon Perspective

Our expert instructor draws his valuable insights from a rare vantage point: current experience as an active, award-winning feature filmmaker combined with his professional background as an agent at America's biggest talent agency.  While at International Creative Management (ICM), Jim was privy to the bottom-line realities of how leading film financiers and producers succeed.  He learned what common qualities and skills they share in contrast to the majority of those who fail.

Trusted by Movie Stars & Industry Legends

At ICM, Jim represented and nurtured the careers of Alan Arkin, John Chancellor, E.L. Doctorow, Lou Gossett Jr., Helen Hayes, Sir Ben Kingsley, Burt Lancaster, Shirley MacLaine, Arthur Miller, Dudley Moore, Harry Reasoner, Andy Rooney, Henry Winkler and other stars.  Many of them will be quoted verbatim.

Advisor to Hedge Funds & Investors

Jim has also served as a consultant and advisor to numerous production companies, producers, hedge funds and investors.  He developed a genuinely inspiring approach to achieving success in the film businesses.  His distinctive method and philosophy is enriched by the financing and producing experiences of hundreds of industry professionals he knows and has worked with.

You will be in excellent hands with Jim.

"[O]ne of the best speakers we have offered at San Diego City College.  The faculty, staff, and students responded so favorably that not a day goes by that they do not ask when Mr. Jermanok will visit again.  They loved his ability to speak about the entertainment industry from all angles. His presentation was insightful, frank, funny and extremely informative."

— Prof. Pamela S. Perkins, Director of World Cultures Program at San Diego City College

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Learning Outcomes

This course conveys valuable skills and knowledge that any film entrepreneur will find useful.

Skills

You will develop important hands-on skills such as:

1. Distinguish, promote & pitch yourself & your film
2. Select the right script & what to watch out for
3. Develop a networking system & schmooze like a pro
4. Locate, approach & convince investors
5. Understand essential legal paperwork & terms
6. Find & succeed with agents & managers
7. Work with distributors & sales agents
8. Assemble a team that can & will deliver

Knowledge

You will be exposed to many mission-critical topics including:

1. Current sources of independent film financing
2. What prospective investors need to know now
3. Types of movies that are presently selling
4. "Soft money" film funding opportunities
5. Why networking really is the key to your success
6. State & international production incentives
7. Mechanics of international co-productions
8. Brand integration & branded entertainment
9. How to use the Internet to reach your goals
10. Differences & similarities between film & other entertainment investments including scripted & reality TV, theater & new media

Review the full Workshop program for additional details. »

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Recommended Reading

1. "Making a Good Script Great" by Linda Seger
2. "Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In" by Roger Fisher, William L. Ury & Bruce Patton
3. "How to Win Friends & Influence People" by Dale Carnegie

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Featured Instructor

The Workshop will be expertly taught by Jim Jermanok (LinkedIn | IMDb | Facebook | website), a longtime talent agent turned award-winning producer, director and writer of narrative and documentary feature films.

Jim wrote and produced the highly acclaimed romantic comedy "Passionada," which was released by Columbia TriStar in over 150 countries.  It starred Jason Isaacs, Seymour Cassel, Theresa Russell, Sofia Milos and introduced Emmy Rossum ("Phantom of the Opera").  Jim recently won the Grand Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival for his film "Em," a romantic drama about loss and love.  Set in San Francisco, the film went on to win the Criterion Collection's International Inspiration Award, the International Film Guide Award and Best Film at the Strasbourg International Film Festival.  Jim won the Best Producer Award at the recent Brooklyn International Film Festival.  "Em" was released by Vanguard Cinema in late October 2011.  Jim recently finished directing "Agganis," a feature documentary about legendary New England athlete Harry Agganis.

A former ICM agent, Jim represented Shirley MacLaine, Burt Lancaster, Dudley Moore, Helen Hayes, Alan Arkin, Arthur Miller, Henry Winkler, General H. Norman Schwarzkopf and many others. »

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Attendees

Who should attend?

Established and aspiring filmmakers looking to raise capital for their independent films, production companies, movie slates, film funds or other film-related ventures are well advised to participate in this high-value yet low-cost learning experience.

Entrepreneurs, consultants, attorneys, bankers, investment managers, venture capitalists, angel investors and other professionals with an interest in the business of film will also find the Workshop useful and worthwhile.

Why attend?

Whether you are new to the subject of film finance, need to brush up your relevant skills or want to deepen and expand your topical knowledge, this seminar is right for you!

Don't miss the rare opportunity to gain crucial insights from a top expert in the field. Connect with like-minded peers and potential collaborators in the process.

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Workshop Venue

Columbia College Chicago in L.A.

650 N Bronson Ave
(off Melrose Ave)
Raleigh Studios, Bronson Building, 2nd Floor, Room 204
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 960-8020

Map: Get a map of 650 N Bronson Ave at Ask, Bing, Google, MapQuest or Yahoo.

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Our Host

This world-class Film Financing Workshop in Los Angeles is hosted by the esteemed Columbia College, whose five-week "Semester in L.A." immersion program takes place in Hollywood.  With more than 120 programs of study and nearly 12,000 students, Columbia College Chicago is the largest and most diverse private arts and media college in the United States.  Occupying 22 buildings in the heart of Chicago's South Loop, Columbia nurtures the nation's largest concentration of young creative talent.  In addition to a solid academic foundation, students gain real-world experience through internships and part-time jobs in one of America's most dynamic and vibrant cities.

Very special thanks for making this event possible go to Jon Katzman, the Executive Director of Columbia's Semester in L.A.  The program offers select students highly intensive coursework, helps them rise to the top of an extremely competitive market, and provides a rare opportunity to experience the business of Hollywood first hand on a studio lot with industry professionals.  Classes are held at the historic Raleigh Studios complex, Hollywood's oldest and longest continually-operated movie studio.  Many graduates have gone on to work in production offices, on TV shows, at talent agencies and on film sets.

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Questions? Get answers in IIFF's Film Financing Forum!

Schedule

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Program Details

Session I (2 hours) with Jim Jermanok

1. My Agent & Producer Background
2. Agents & Managers

1. What They Can & Can't Do for You
2. How to Deal with Them

1. Get the Right Kind of Attention From Financiers & Producers

1. Distinguishing Yourself & Your Projects
2. Promoting Yourself & Your Projects

2. Key Promotional Materials for Film Financing
3. Five Essential Head Starts to Finance Your Film

Session II (2 hours) with Jim Jermanok

1. Concept Is Key: Selecting & Developing the Right Script
2. Effective Research

1. How to Locate the Right Investors & Producers
2. Determining if Financing is Possible & if Not, Why Not

3. Successful Networking for Producing & Financing Films

1. The Art of Schmoozing: Do It Like a Pro
2. How to Meet the Right Financiers & Producers
3. Creating an Effective Networking System
4. Networking Hierarchy: What to Ask a Third Party

4. Informational Interviews with Industry Pros

1. How to Obtain Them
2. What to Do When You Get There

Session III (2 hours) with Jim Jermanok

1. Status Quo of the Independent Film Industry

1. Present Sources of Film Funding
2. What Investors Need to Know Now

2. The Pitch: How to Convince Financiers to Back Your Project
3. Basic Legal Paperwork, Contracts & Terms
4. International Productions & Co-Productions
5. Distributors & Sales Agents

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Speaker Bios

Jim Jermanok

An award-winning writer, director and producer, Jim Jermanok wrote and produced "Passionada," a sophisticated romantic comedy that was released in over 120 American cities in summer-autumn of 2003.  It was later released in 2004-2005 by Columbia TriStar in over 150 countries.  The film stars Jason Isaacs ("The Patriot," "Harry Potter"), Sofia Milos ("CSI: Miami"), Emmy Rossum ("Phantom of the Opera"), Theresa Russell and Seymour Cassel.  "Passionada" was the prestigious closing night film of the Seattle International Film Festival.  Since its release by The Samuel Goldwyn Company, the film received high praise from prominent American film critics.  Ebert and Roper gave it "Two Thumbs Up!" on their weekly television program and syndicated column.  Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times writes: "The Jermanoks strive for and achieve a romantic comedy with humorous, fanciful plotting yet shaded by genuine tenderness and passion."  Rex Reed of the New York Observer adds that "'Passionada' is a charming and luxurious romantic interlude carefully constructed and greatly enhanced by fresh dialogue."

Most recently, Mr. Jermanok produced "Em," a romantic drama about loss and love.  "Em" had its world premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize.  It went on to win the Criterion Collection's International Inspiration Award, the International Film Guide Award, the Best Film Award at the Strasbourg International Film Festival and Best Producer Award at the Brooklyn International Film Festival.  The film was released in October 2011 by Vanguard Cinema.

Mr. Jermanok recently finished directing a feature documentary narrated by Olympia Dukakis, "The Golden Greek: The Harry Agganis Story," about the extraordinary and beloved New England sports legend of years past.  He previously wrote and produced a highly praised thirty-minute film, "Clear Cut," starring Calista Flockhart and Stephen Fry.  He has also written "High Moon," a full-length screenplay commissioned by Just Betzer, the Academy Award-winning Producer of "Babette's Feast."

Jim Jermanok was an agent one of the world's largest talent and literary agencies, International Creative Management (ICM), for eight years.  Within a year of starting in the mailroom, he was promoted to a full-fledged agent at the age of 25.  Mr. Jermanok represented Alan Arkin, John Chancellor, E.L. Doctorow, Helen Hayes, Burt Lancaster, Shirley MacLaine, Arthur Miller, Dudley Moore, Harry Reasoner, Andy Rooney, General H. Norman Schwarzkopf and Henry Winkler, among others. »

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Registration

Filmmaker-friendly, affordable online registration is available at the top of this page.

Register now to secure the best available price!

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Need Help?

Direct all your questions and inquiries about this event to IIFF's online forum at http://forum.filmfinancing.org.

Having trouble with Eventbrite (this site), PayPal or Google Checkout? Get help in our online forum. You can also notify us by email well in advance of the event and register on-site.

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