Film & Video Financing offers the independent producer a plethora of approaches to the complex and arduous task of financing the low-budget ($10 million or less) feature. Contents include information on current attitudes and approaches to finding investment through limited partnerships, equity investments, banking issues, split-rights deals, debt equity deals, blocked funds, foreign pre-sales, and much more. plus insider's tips from independent producers and money raisers for such films as sex, lies, and videotape, Dirty Dancing, and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
I moved my family to Cornwall England from Hollywood as I wanted to bring up my daughter in a natural setting. And that we have! We live in a tiny valley (supposedly a micro-climate and the warmest spot in England) with subtropical plants in the garden. We can hear the ocean from the house as it is only a minute walk away. When the weather is good, I stop working and walk on the cliffs.
Seven years ago I took my company "virtual" and have offices in Los Angeles and Seattle and work with a network of freelancers through the US and the UK. We publish America's leading line of "how to" filmmaking books. Occasionally I am able to make films, the most recent being THE SACRED SITES OF THE DALAI LAMAS - which I am just finishing.
I've been working for a long time to realize a feature film that I've co-written -based on a true life experience - set in Bali. I first went there in 1970 and some of those early experiences have stuck with me. Information about my films and books may be found at www.mwp.com
My daughter is growing up fast - she's 13 - and an avid violinist, swimmer and soccer player. We enjoy snorkeling off the rocks near our cottage (but have to wear wetsuits because it can get cold).
My wife gardens, makes antique bead jewelery and gave up her job as a celebrity photographer at CBS Networks to live out our dream in Cornwall. It was D. H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf that drew her to Cornwall.
I still travel to the U.S. about 2 times a year to meet with our authors, renew my film contacts, give seminars and see friends.
This year I'll be presenting a seminar at Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival in Champaign Illinois where I grew up.
