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The AFM is the premier film Market in the United States and is host to international filmmakers
and buyers. It is put on by the trade organization, the Independent Film & Television
Alliance, (IFTA). The AFM opened on November 1 2007, has shown a 3% increase in attendance among
buyers. In total, 1,628 buyers from 65 countries registered for AFM 2007, compared to 1,573 and 61 nations for 2006.
Major territory highlights include the U.S. (up 10% from 2006), France (up 12%), Scandinavia (down 28%), Poland (up 50%),
Turkey (up 25%), Taiwan (down 53%), Russia (up 40%) and Brazil (up 18%).
For a copy of a PDF
of the
AFM 2007 BUYERS ANALYSYS CLICK HERE.
Each year the AFM converts the
LOEWS hotel in Santa Monica into a myriad of offices for filmmakers, distributors and other film support businesses.
In addition to the selling of films, the AFM offers filmed entertainment oriented conferences covering a variety
of subjects from film financing opportunities, to distribution & theatrical marketing trends. Pictured below
are the IFTA executives including newly elected Chairman Lloyd Kaufman. 
ITFA
execs. L-R: Lloyd Kaufman, Jean Pruitt, Jonathan Wolfe Photo credit: Thos Robinson/Getty Images. The IFTA....Since 1980, more than fifty percent of the Academy
Award™ “Best Picture” winners have been films produced or licensed globally by IFTA member companies.
The Independent Film & Television Alliance (“IFTA” or “the Alliance”) was established in 1980
as the American Film Marketing Association (“AFMA”). Its first members were a group of distributors and sales
agents whose main goal was to expand the independent film business by creating a world-class trade show, the American Film
Market (AFM). Today, the association has evolved into the trade association for the independent film and television
industry worldwide, while the AFM concurrently has become the largest international film market in the world. The
IFTA Official site: http://ifta-online.org/___________________________________
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV's
Exclusive video Interview with LLOYD KAUFMAN
Hollywood2You.TV met with the newly elected Chairman
of the IFTA, Lloyd Kaufman to discuss important issues for the independent film community.
Lloyd Kaufman is also CEO of TROMA ENTERTAINMENT, a 35 year old film production and distribution
company headquartered in New York.
Lloyd Kaufman is very concerned about the Film Industry's Consolidation
and it's effect on the independent filmmakers of the world. The Majors dominate the content in theatres and network
TV programming that we see. While that fight is going on, we face the new media arena of the Internet, and "NET
NEUTRALITY". Lloyd and the IFTA have been actively meeting with the FCC addressing the monopolistic
bulling of the Majors and it's adverse affects. We need to keep the internet OPEN as it has alway been.
Check out the Video Interviews clips below to hear
Lloyd Kaufman on Net Neutraliity and his film release POULTRYGEIST and it's success using MYSPACE.com and getting theatrical
releases.
VIDEO CLIP #1
Lloyd discusses the FILM INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION
VIDEO CLIP #2
Lloyd discusses- POULTRYGEIST MYSPACE SUCCESS
Poultrygeist - MYSPACE SITE:
http://www.myspace.com/poultrygeistmovie Night of the Chicken Dead is cinema’s first chicken-zombie horror-comedy… with musical numbers!
When well-meaning but somewhat dim Arbie (Jason Yachanin) returns to the spot of his first (and only)
romantic encounter with his high school sweetheart– the not-so-romantic Ancient Tromahawk Tribe Indian Burial Ground–
he is shocked to discover two horrible realities: Not only has the graveyard been bulldozed to
make room for the newest fast-food “American Chicken Bunker” chain restaurant, but after only one semester at
college, his girlfriend Wendy (Kate Graham) has been transformed into a left-wing, lipstick-lesbian liberal, and spends her
free time protesting the corporate takeover of America. It's a wild ride as usual from the TROMA Production
Team.
TROMA Poultergeist Official site:
http://www.poultrygeistmovie.com/
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV - John Reed
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FILM FINANCING UPDATE
AFM 2007 CONFERENCE
Photo credit: Thos Robinson/Getty Images.
L-R) Salter Group principal Roy
Salter, Summit Entertainment LP chief operating officer Bob Hayward, Comerica Bank regional manager for Beverly Hills and
Los Angeles Morgan Rector, Screen Capital principal David Molner, and Steve Fayne pose during the panel discussion "Film
Financing - Year In Review" Film financing, ever sought after by independent filmmakers, was discussed in great detail at
the AFM Film Finance conferences this year. Finance models are varied utilizing the resources
of private equity, distribution presales, tax incentives, hedge funds and investment bankers. Lower budget films often
require more creativity, and often private equity is the way to go. Pre-sales to international
territories has been down over the past couple of years, curbing that source. In the second session, Christa
Thomas of JPMorgan Securities sited that it appears that there are too many films in the market
place and buyers are more discriminating than before. The Hedge funds sources are declining, and more
single picture deals being made instead of slates of films. Investors are looking to protect for the downside of their
investments. Theatrical attendance is down, and in the US the average is 5 visits to the theatre per year, in Japan
.2 visits per year. Home theatres have become the preferred alternative unless it's a blockbuster big screen sort of
film. Paid subscriptions in homes is dying in favor of buying or downloading to own. New Media options look like
a bright financial horizon, but they haven't kicked in to their potential yet. P&A investments follow the last in first
out money model, but there is a reluctance now with poor theatrical performances impacting ROI. But worse than that,
some 8 digit P&A investments have only been returning 7 digit grosses. Investors know that the banks who suggest
film investments are almost a guarantee 18.3% ROI are the same banks in trouble now for huge losses in the mortgage business
they chose. Sub prime rates are the indication to tell investors beware. Tax incentives are being used on approximately
70% of films made last year. Film budgets under 1 million find that the costs of admin and legal for application and
follow through for tax incentives can eat up the benefits of those incentives. Some state tax incentive never get
realized because of overlooked details in the incentives or state's processes. Bonding companies sited that it
is common place for producers erroneously put tax incentives in their budgets as if they were cash. The Tax incentives
must be discounted, and sometimes don't come true at all.
The 4 Major factors to entice an
investment banker are. (1) The Person, and his track record of past repayment of loans/ lending history. (2) Fundamental
Paperwork - Presales & in place contracts (3) Lastly... Script & Cast. The 4th final and BEST
selling point of the project would be to have a SALES AGENT of past known success attached to the project.
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV __________________________________________________ AFM
- iHollywood Forum
MOBILE CONTENT Conference MONETIZING
CONTENT - Movies & wireless opportunities for movies and other video
content are a key focus for filmmakers at AFM again this year at the iHollywood Forum conference. Although downloading
of films sounds like "everybody's doing it", the reality is that less than one percent of all film sales are
from downloads. Retail physical sales of DVD's account for over 90% of the gross sales. The reason is that although
the technology is capable of it, consumers are not geared up for it. The average homes in the US do not have computers
networked to all the TV sets in them. This means they can't share the content between other rooms, (like finish the
movie on the bedroom TV set), so this isolates the several DVD/TV's in the home. Then there's the issue of no
backup copy (unless you make one) and everyone knows computer disk crashes are common, and your movies will be gone!
Yet another major reason is pricing. Studios want the same amount for downloads as DVD sales, although you don't
get that hard backup DVD copy or the "DVD special features". A problem
that faces filmmakers is getting their films to consumers. How does a consumer find that film? Retailers
like Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Barnes & Noble only stock a limited number of DVD products per store, and chances
are it' not your film. One company that has a good plan to bridge this gap is MOD systems. Anthony
Bay, Chairman and co-Founder sites that "Manufacturing on Demand"
system from his company will be made available in retail outlets across the US soon. Consumers requests will be
searched on a database and the film will be burned as they wait on DVD or eventually mobile devices. Retailers
will benefit as there will be no inventory to stock, and they will be able to offer an infinite number of films.
This solution also has the benefit of a social interaction of retailers talking and helping the consumers to
find that elusive film and increase other sales opportunities. The download business model is evolving and once we have something that works, DVD's will take the
path that CD's did i.e closure of brick and mortar stores like the Tower Records chain. For independent filmmakers trying
to find an online download audience it's best to look to the social networking tools like Myspace
& Youtube. These social networks can be used to drive consumers in a community of interest to products
for sale like videos, films & ringtones. It's a way to reach out without a heavy marketing budget and get substantial
results. Sites like Myspace allow you to add friends, thousands of friends, and then by simple messaging your friends you
can inform them of new offerings & events.
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV
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TROMADANCE
"Festival rebellion at it's best" 
TOXIE the TOXIC AVENGER
Photo credit: Thos Robinson/Getty Images
The TromaDance Film Festival is
a rebellion held in plain view of Sundance. This independent film festival charges
no entry fees and charges no fees to see the films. Huh? What's that all about. Well, Lloyd Kaufman, CEO of Troma Entertainment
and now Chairman of the IFTA, has had enough of the so called independent film festival Sundance. Lloyd as a producer
himself knows that the fees for entering Sundance, are prohibitive for many filmmakers, and that the winners are really shoe-ins
from major supporters of Sundance. In efforts to help the indie filmmaker, Lloyd has launched his rebellion festival
TROMADANCE! Troma Entertainment has a catalog of over 700 films, but their films are not featured in this festival. TROMADANCE is now spreading like a plague and has
added a second location in Indiana in conjuction with The B Movie Celebration.
FRIENDS
OF TROMADANCE RALLY at AFM! 
Photo credit: Thos Robinson/Getty Images for AFM
TromaDance supporters "hail to the chief" Lloyd Kaufman at the AFM Press conference November
1, 2007. From upper Left then Clockwise: Lloyd Kaufman - Founding "Chief" of TROMADANCE Kevin Eastman - Creator of NINJA TURTLES & owner Heavy
Metal magazine
Stephen Paul - Film Producer of Ghost Rider (2007) James Gunn - Writer/director of Slither, writer of 2004's Dawn of the
Dead Bill Dever - Founder of Indy co-op, TROMADANCE
2nd location in Indiana and the B Movie Celebration site: HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV - John Reed
ADDITIONAL AFM ARTICLES
POSTING SOON... STAY TUNED....
CLICK ON THE PLANET BELOW TO GO TO
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV's
THE FILM LOUNGE
Go to the Home Page for
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV
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SPOTLIGHT on
FILMS
@ AFM 2007 STUCK
 
Left - Poster
- Right - display at AFM
AFM photo credit - MRP IMAGES
STUCK
Director Stuart Gordon
Distribution: RIGEL ENTERTAINMENT At the AFM the over-the- top display for the new film STUCK,
stuck in everyone's mind for sure. The life size car with human body STUCK through the windshield spanned 30' across
the fourth floor of the LOWES hotel to promote the film. Director Stuart Gordon delivered the intense, psychologically
dark thriller starring Mena Suvari (American Beauty) and Academy Award-nominee Stephen Rea (V for Vendetta). Wow, when
I think of STUCK I think of that uneasy feeling I got with "MISERY" (1990 Kathy Bates). This film's suspense keeps
you on the edge of your seat. You better just accept the fact that you'll have to gasp OMG throughout the film.
The Director, Gordon brings out great performances in both of these two top actors in a realistic bloody "I
can't believe it, but it's true" film. Mena Suvari has an incredible range as an actress that she demonstrates as
her character progresses in the story. Actor Stephen Rea has one of those great faces that only has to look at you
to catch you attention and make wonder what he's thinking about. Together they're a HIT team for this suspense
thriller from Rigel Entertainment.
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV
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Hollywood Singing & Dancing
 Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History
Great Musical Treasures LLC
Distributor: Passport International
Entertainment
This film stood out as a fantastic collection of magic moments reminding the audience of pure entertainment.
The great days of Musicals have gone and re-emerged several times over the years as producers refuse to lose that special
truly entertaining art form. This film will introduce the art of musicals to a new generation of movie audiences and
inspire young filmmakers alike. It's the most comprehensive
documentary film about Hollywood musicals ever produced. Hosted by Academy-Award-winning stage, screen and television actress,
Shirley Jones, the documentary is a celebration of song and dance featuring films from major studios such as Warner Bros.,
Paramount, Fox, Columbia, Disney, Universal and MGM, as well as from such independents as Miramax and Barwood. The film includes
clips from over 90 musicals, the narrative beginning with 1927’s “The Jazz Singer,” up through the 2003
Academy-Award-winning Best Picture, “Chicago,” 2005’s “Dreamgirls,” and beyond. “Hollywood
Singing & Dancing” is a celebration of a family genre that remains alive and kicking; a loyal and dedicated fan
base having previously generated hundreds of millions of dollars for the ”That’s Entertainment!” franchise.
Distribution Contact: www.passportentertainment.com
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV
_____________________________________________________ VIVA -
a film by Anna Biller
 VIVA
is a Quirky, Sexual comedy tribute (or just spoof) to the 70's way of life in the American culture. The sexual
revolution quest of the 1970's was characterized by "The Swingers", the Cocktail hours by the pool, and the strange
quest we had for bright Colorful interior design. The film's music is definitely "POP 70's TV SERIES", and helps
you to re-live the adventurous story of "Barbie" in the film. Anna Biller
wrote, produced, directed and starred in this occasionally naked, often silly, frolicking cinematic extravaganza. If you're
in the mood for a little quirky fun with a cult classic feel, put VIVA on your Christmas list and experience this creative
filmmaker's slant on the sexual revolution era. Official site: http://www.lifeofastar.com/viva.html
HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV
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