AGENDA

• Tuesday, November 8, 2011 – 8:00am - 6:15pm (click to see full descriptions)
  8:00 – 9:00am   Registration

  9:00 – 9:15am   Introductory Remarks

  9:15 – 9:45 Research/Case Studies
  TV Tracker research

  9:45 – 10:15am   Keynote Q&A with Ryan Kavanaugh

  10:15am – 11:00am   State of the Film Industry
  Top studio and production chiefs will analyze what it means to make and distribute films successfully to audiences now and into the future.
  *What constitutes a hit today? Is tentpole and franchise development the main goal at studios? What is the future of small-to-medium budgeted projects?
  *What are the current strategies to stretch a film's life cycle past theatrical, through to emerging platforms and new technologies?
  *What were the trends of 2011, which may affect upcoming slates? Will superheroes stay strong? Will literary adaptations continue to be hot?
  *What is the impact of growing audience market in China, and other emerging territories?
  Confirmed Speakers:
  David Glasser, Chief Operating Officer at The Weinstein Company
  Jim Stern, CEO of Endgame Entertainment
  Rick Nicita, Co-Chairman and Chief Operating Officer at Morgan Creek Productions

  11:15 – 11:30am   Networking Break

  11:30am – 12:15pm   What is the Outlook for Film Finance – Who are the Latest Key Players and Partners?
  Although the general feeling is that banks have returned to the film industry, there are still challenges to financing in our uncertain global economic times. Many studios have turned to partners, including the just launched Hemisphere fund that is backing many Sony features. What are best strategies going forward to get films officially greenlit?
  *What are the major financing funds like Hemisphere, Skydance, Legendary and others looking for before they back projects? What is the likelihood that new partner funds will crop up?
  *What do the emerging film markets in China, for example, mean for finance opportunities? Should films appeal to these audiences' sensibilities?
  *What are prospects for indie financing – what is that environment like going forward? Speakers:
  P. Clark Hallren, Managing Partner at Clear Scope Partners
  Jean-Luc De Fanti, Managing Partner of Hemisphere Capital Management
  Christa L. Thomas, Managing Director and Sr. Film Advisor Sports and Entertainment Group at SunTrust Bank
  Michael London, Founder of Groundswell Productions

  12:15 – 12:45pm   Keynote Q&A with Alcon Entertainment Co-Founder and Co-CEO Andrew Kosove and Co-Founder and Co-CEO Broderick Johnson

  12:45 – 2:00pm   Lunch

  2:00 – 2:30 Kickstarter SuperSession: Is Crowdsourcing the Future of Film Production and Marketing?
  Moderated by Joseph Beyer, Director of Digital Initiatives at The Sundance Institute Speakers:
  Jocelyn Towne, Writer, Director and Actor of As You Were (Formerly known as I Am I)
  Jennifer Fox, Director of My Reincarnation
  Mike Plante, Founder of Cinemad Presents

  2:30 – 3:50pm   The Digital Explosion: Navigating the Best of Alternative Film Delivery and Marketing Models PART ONE 2:30 – 3:10pm   Trendsetters in Digital Distribution Across Platforms
  Studios increasingly cite digital distribution revenues as a true area of growth, as more and more consumers prefer this convenient way to watch film. How are content owners and services collaborating to best advance this side of their business?
  *What is best window to release films – can a VOD debut help indie films get exposure? How does that impact theatrical opportunities?
  *What is the state of digital content options for audiences? How are they responding to different business models?
  *How are studios relating to the increasing popular of the iPad, and out-of-the-gate success to services such as HBO GO? Confirmed Speakers:
  Justin Herz, Senior Vice President, Direct-to-Consumer, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution & General Manager, Warner Bros. Advanced Digital Services
  Susan Jackson, Co-President of Freestyle Releasing
  David Karp, EVP of Business Development at SnagFilms PART TWO 3:10 – 3:50   Trendsetters in Digital Marketing
  Social networking and building online buzz is no longer an option but a necessity to successfully promoting films. However, as new options pop up on a daily basis, what are the best strategies to reach today's audiences? Tweeting, posting, sharing, liking, checking in, gaming – what makes the most sense to promote films? Top studio digital marketers and leading digital services will debate what it takes to reach today's audiences.
  *What is the best way to succeed in reaching today's viewers – what is the best mix of outreach through Facebook/Twitter/Google/YouTube? What are services rising in importance?
  *Which films succeeded in their digital campaign strategies this year? Will this influence the way we see films promoted in the future? For example, what is the effect of Super 8 promoting early screenings on Twitter?
  *What are the trends of the future – as tech improves, targeting more and more through mobile/tablets? Does audiences' increasing use of mobile GPS offer marketers a chance to send ultra-targeted messaging? Confirmed Speakers:
  Adam Stewart, Industry Director of Media and Entertainment at Google
  Matt Thomas, Director of Business Development at GetGlue
  Jon Fougner, Social Media Consultant and former Principal Product Marketer at Facebook
  Tim Mahlman, Chief Revenue Officer at Klout

  3:50 – 4:05 Networking Break

  4:05 – 4:50pm   How Do We Find and Create the Next Breakthrough Hits?
  Studios crave those ideas that will build into long-running franchises of the future. How are development and production chiefs identifying what audiences want to see, and will want to see in ongoing potential installments?
  *How are studios and production companies researching and predicting what stories audiences will want? How challenging is it to greenlight a film and be confident there will be demand by the time it's ready to premiere in theaters?
  *Where is inspiration coming from in the development process? How can you tell if a book has the potential to be the next Twilight, Hunger Games or Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? What commands attention in a wholly original idea?
  *What are the drivers of breakthrough hits – the right actor/director/producer/special effects sequence? Confirmed Speakers:
  Franklin Leonard, VP of Creative Affairs at Overbrook Entertainment
  Alex Gartner, Producer with Atlas Entertainment
  Kahli Small, EVP Production and Development at GK Films
  Palek Patel, Producer at Roth Films
  Bryan Unkeless, VP of Production and Development at Color Force

  4:50 – 5:30pm   Why do Women Matter in Hollywood?: Their Influence Behind the Camera, In Front of the Camera, and in the Audience
  Women have been having enjoying strong momentum of late, with engaging acting roles in box office hits like The Help. They've also moved into high profile broad comedy-once considered a guys-only genre- with starring roles and writing credits , such as Elizabeth Meriwether's No Strings Attached. Influential women and men in the film industry will explore why female-driven projects are important contributors to this business.
  -What projects are women excited about making in the future? Is that changing?
  -How are female and male filmmakers creating projects that will appeal to today's female audiences? Confirmed Speakers:
  Melissa Rosenberg, Producer and Writer
  Dante DiLoreto, Executive Producer of Glee
  John Fithian, President and CEO of the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO)
  Geena Davis, Actress
  Chris Miller, Director of Puss in Boots

  5:30 – 6:15pm   Variety's Producers to Watch SuperSession

  6:15pm  Cocktail Reception