The “Film Finance Forum” panel consisted of top film production professionals in Louisiana and Los Angeles, and featured an invaluable discussion on various funding options, from leveraging tax credits to guerrilla financing. Panelists included attorneys Eric W. Thompson, Esq., legal representative for and former vice president of Feature Film Development at Twentieth Century Fox; Will French, Esq., co-founder and president of Film Produc-
The Treatment Project panelists Henry Griffin, Mari Kornhauser and Steven Esteb.
tion Capital; and Rob Wollfarth, Esq., counsel at Baker Donelson. Jason Hewitt, executive producer, contributed his expertise as CEO of Films In Motion, one of Louisiana’s premier production and post-production companies. Entertainment Partners’ Melissa Wiseman moderated the panel. Wiseman is a manager of EP Financial Solutions and has over nine years of production accounting experience, which has included working at Warner Bros. and Walt Disney Studios. Getting a production deal is all about the pitch. Three filmmakers experienced a rare opportunity to pitch their projects to industry
professionals and business developers. The panel featured Michael Arata, producer/executive producer of more than 20 internationally distributed feature films as well as a host of awardwinning short films and documentaries; Danny Bigel, founder of The OIX and independent film producer, who has produced 12 feature films with many of Hollywood’s most established stars and directors; Suzanne Weinert, an accomplished producer who also participated on the “Treatment Project” panel earlier in the day; and Carol Markowitz, financial expert and entrepreneur-in-residence at globally recognized New Orleans-based The Idea Village. Steven Esteb, who was also a “Treatment Project” panelist, returned as the moderator of “Pitch to Producers.” Participants received invaluable feedback, contacts, and networking opportunities, which is what The
Liz Atherton , Nicke Krause and Shanda Quintal
Jim Gleason and Shanda Quintal
Expo is all about. And as the Louisiana film industry continues to grow, The Expo: Louisiana Actors & Film Industry Conference will continue to develop programs and opportunities to support it. LFV Lolita Burrell joined forces with founder Shanda Quintal in the expansion and production of this year’s conference and will oversee future growth of the Expo. In recent years, she was honored as a “Woman of the Year” by New Orleans CityBusiness magazine for spearheading the “New Orleans Does Business Right! Corporate Governance and Ethics Conference.” Lolita is also an artist and was named one of “New Orleans Jazz Divas” by Offbeat magazine, in 1999. She graduated from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business, and is a licensed CPA with 15+ years of internal auditing experience. She is an alumna and board member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. For more information, visit www.louisianaactorsexpo.com.
ACTORS EXPO: INSIGHTS FROM THE FRONTLINES While this year’s Louisiana Actors & Film Industry Expo expanded to include filmmakers, screenwriters, and other integral film professionals, there was still a major focus on actors. Attendees were able to take part in discussions and presentations such as: “Headshot and
Resumé Critique,” “Casting Director Critique,” “Actors Access and EcoCast Demonstrations,” and “Don’t Get Cut: Editing for Actors.” In addition, actors had the opportunity to meet with professionals in their chosen field for critique and feedback of their work during the “Agent Meet-
ings and Casting Sessions” portion of the event. The Actors Expo day was truly invaluable to aspiring and professional actors alike. Here’s what some of the attendees had to say about this year’s event:
“This was my second year attending the Actors Expo. The Expo experience was beneficial for me to network with fellow actors, and offers the opportunity to hear from and speak with casting directors. The workshop most interesting to me is always the Q&A for the casting directors. I also enjoyed the Editing for Actors workshop. If you want information about auditions, the Actors Expo is an opportunity to hear firsthand from top casting directors in Louisiana, Los Angeles, etc.”
“I always love to see more people at these events. I think the info that an actor can get here in NOLA is invaluable. Talking to casting directors, agents, critiques. Actors need to be here to take part in these events to learn more about the business of being in this business.”
—KIM BAPTISTE, LOCAL ACTRESS
—JASON TERESI, ACTOR’S ACCESS (EXPO SPONSOR)
“I thought it was great! As actors we need events like this to help us reach out to people who are important. In most cases you just can’t show up at people’s offices and chat. This was an environment where everyone was happy to be there and didn’t mind mixing and mingling with each other. The casting session was essential. Probably the most powerful part of The Expo for me. The chance to have real casting directors critique my work letting me know my strengths and weaknesses was awesome.” —MICHAEL CAROLLO, LOCAL ACTOR 44
LOUISIANA FILM & VIDEO MAGAZINE
ISSUE SIX 2012
“The Expo gets bigger and better every year. Previously, our programming was specifically geared toward actors. This year, however, we added an additional day for filmmakers; yet, the purpose of The Expo stays the same: to give actors, and now filmmakers, the resources and information they need to move forward in their careers. All of the panelists and presenters are invested in the Louisiana film industry and welcome the opportunity to provide invaluable insight to aspiring and experienced actors and filmmakers. It’s this dedication, on the part of the panelists, guest speakers and attendees, that will continue to keep Louisiana in the top three states for film production.” —SHANDA QUINTAL, EXPO FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR