Last week’s Entertainment Business symposium at UCLA lacked the usual spark one feels when 500 lawyers gather together in one room. Even so, I live-tweeted a number of the highlights from the two-day event.
#uclaentertainmentsymposiym financing film slates are back
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
#uclaentertainmentsymposiym interesting nugget: so much money in the film investment space that studios are raising their distribution fees.
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
Photo: Headline act: Kenny and Harvey Takeaway: TV TV TV mantra (at UCLA Freud Playhouse) http://t.co/qzbG4zSBeI
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
Yes. “@shericandler: TV or just episodic?" My take is both. One-offs with back door pilot potential are less risky though.
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
#uclaentertainmentsymposiym advertisers getting squeezed out of TV and making their own content. Case study: LEGO movie
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
#uclaentertainmentsymposiym Ratner: big brands will go direct to well recognized content creators for longer term deals to use their brand.
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
#uclaentertainmentsymposiym (cont'd) as opposed to going through studios to talent/content creators.
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
"We have a theatrical window followed by a piracy window" #goingforthefunny #uclaentertainmentsymposiym
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
@Dealfatigue So where do we go from here?
— Fay Hauser-Price (@Hauslightsfay) March 8, 2014
Bank discount/spread improved to 90% for state tax incentives (from 80%) #uclaentertainmentsymposiym
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
Who's banking incentive paper at 90%? I'm asking for a friend. #uclaentertainmentsymposiym
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
A lot of conversation but very little actual money from China investing in film #uclaentertainmentsymposiym
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
Sovereign wealth funds are back in film #uclaentertainmentsymposiym
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
"China's goal is due diligence of Hollywood docs/assets to replicate homegrown industry not to actually invest" #uclaentertainmentsymposiym
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
Declining European distribution market. #uclaentertainmentsymposiym
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
Supergap is savior to indie financing but very expensive. "Teen money" interest rates. Lots of mez, P&A funds from hedges/family offices.
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
Still remember seeing Harvey 5 years (?) ago at #tiff walking alone on the street post-Miramax Disney separation. He rebooted well.
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
Say this about Harvey: portfolio approach to material/breadth of players/stakeholders in Weinstein projects (inside/outside biz) impressive
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
You can deliver that if you're Bob and Harvey bc they leverage their substantial track record. Not so much for others.
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
@Dealfatigue Disney dumped the Weinsteins because their profits weren't good enough – I side with Disney. Admiration smacks of desperation
— Edward Anthony Rayne (@rayne_ea) March 8, 2014
.@rayne_ea don't know enough of the details on that. I think the Weinsteins on a leash as Disney had was a great long game but …. 1/2
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
.@rayne_ea shareholder value (for many public companies) usually requires shorter-term thinking 2/2
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
@Dealfatigue Now that's the truth. What about people at no table? Where's the leverage & access?
— Fay Hauser-Price (@Hauslightsfay) March 8, 2014
.@Hauslightsfay need to execute with high production values on work that matters or art with authentic vulnerability. No cutting corners.
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014
Q&A questioner thanked Harvey for his contributions. Harvey said, "thank you, though some of the lawyers in this room may disagree"
— Peter Kaufman (@Dealfatigue) March 8, 2014