2008 AOF Symposium and Free Luncheon - SOLD OUT

Join us on Sunday July 27th 2008 from 1-3pm at the incredible Manny’s Pizzeria for an in depth symposium on the State of the Industry and How you Can Make, Market and Sell your Films. This year’s symposium will be limited to only 40 guests but will feature three great speakers, fantastic free food and drinks and more information than you can imagine. Should you like to attend you will have to contact Nick Covington to reserve a place. Sorry, no large groups and of course everything is free. Sponsored by Altadis www.altadis.com Contact Nick at [email protected].

2008 Featured Speakers Are:

Sean Haley, Managing Partner, MultiVisionnaire:
"Sean is co-founder of the international film sales agency, MultiVisionnaire Pictures. He sells and licenses finished feature films to Television, DVD, and Theatrical distributors in major world territories including North America. He currently represents over 30 films to world buyers and is always looking for top quality action, sci-fi, and disaster theme films. His discussion topics will focus on international film sales, buyer expectations, and delivery."

Sean’s Topics of Discussion will be:
State of International Opportunities
What are international buyers looking for
Delivery requirements/issues
www.multivisionnaire.com

Thelma Vickroy. After graduating with a M.F.A. in film and television from New York University, Thelma began her career working for documentarian Robert Drew, a founder of direct cinema. She is an experienced award winning producer and director in both documentary and non-fiction television. These works include My Father the President, winner of a Cine Eagle and American Film Festival Blue Ribbon, and An Evening of Forbidden Books, broadcast on PBS. Extraordinarily Ordinary, was an official selection at DOCtober, the International Documentary Association film festival, Lake Arrowhead Film Festival and qualified for consideration for an Academy Award in the documentary shorts category. As a production and program manager for Falcon Cable she produced over sixty public affairs, local and special event programs. Thelma is an associate professor and head of the television production option at California State University Northridge Department of Cinema and Television Arts. She has also been a visiting professor at UCLA Department of Film, Television and Digital Media, CSU Los Angeles Department of Communication Studies and Loyola Marymount University. Thelma is a former board member of the International Documentary Association. She is also a founder of DOCS ROCK, a high school documentary production curriculum in the Los Angeles School District. Thelma has shared her knowledge and experience of documentary production and education on panels sponsored by The Society of Professional Journalist, Sun Valley Documentary Film Festival, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the International Documentary Association 3rd International Conference, Independent Feature Project/West, NYC ShowBiz Expo and Broadcast Education Association.

Thelma’s Topics of Discussion will be:
Producing Independent Film
Producing Documentaries
Connections in Film

Alan Bailiey-Major Studio Executive
Ever wonder what goes on behind the beautiful gates of a major motion picture studio? How are decisions made on what films and projects get the green light? What puts a project in turnaround? How do you break into the studio system? Well these questions and many more will be answered by the man himself at the AOF 2008 Filmmaker symposium.

Alan’s Topics of Discussion will be:
The State of the Film Industry
How to Break into the Industry
What you need to Sell Your Film

Ken Chamitoff: PRODUCER / DIRECTOR:
Ken Chamitoff has been a practitioner of film production and martial arts since the early 1980’s. He was a Film and Television Major at UCLA and paid his tuition by working as a stuntman on feature films, commercials, and television shows.
After University, Ken opened Chamitoff Studios, a photography studio. He earned a favorable reputation among several talent agencies in the Los Angeles area and over the years had the opportunity to direct and photograph thousands of actors, models and celebrities. The success of his studio helped him establish a huge talent network. Several casting directors discovered that Ken’s network was a valuable resource. They employed Ken to help them find performers who had particular skill sets or character traits. To facilitate the growing demand for talent, he decided to open Rapid Casting. Rapid Casting helped casting directors find talent and ‘wrangle‘ multitudes of actors on multiple productions, such as; MEN IN TIGHTS, HOFFA, HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, INDEPENDENCE DAY, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, and STAR TREK - NEXT GENERATION., Rapid Casting was also involved in over 200 other productions over a four year period.
The Rapid Productions Network evolved and became a resource to independent producers, helping them find production personnel such as stunt coordinators, make up artists, wardrobe directors and others. Ken invested his time by being on the set, networking and learning from production crews, directors and talent.
Ken sold the Rapid Casting Production Network, and began producing and directing music videos for local musicians (LYNNS VISION, JOHN MCGRATH and others). He sought out commercial opportunities. He directed advertising campaigns for cosmetic companies and produced retail catalogs for clothing manufacturers (SEBASTIAN, LANDMARK, KITTY, PASSION, and others).
In April 2002, Ken was hired to create commercial art work for a local martial arts studio. Ken and his wife Georgia, established Photo-Kicks, LLC., a marketing and advertising company dedicated to edifying the martial arts community. Photo-Kicks expanded internationally and currently serves over one thousand martial arts schools in North America. Photo-Kicks East and Photo-Kicks West had gross billings of over three million dollars in 2006. The company is still growing at an unprecedented rate. Fast Company Magazine, invited Photo-Kicks to be listed as one of America’s Fastest Growing Companies in its industry. Black Belt Magazine plans to do a press release sharing the Photo-Kicks success story in their magazine. Through this vehicle, Ken Chamitoff found his heart felt niche, back in touch with Martial Arts Masters and Grand Masters and those in the pursuit of excellence. His network now includes the international martial arts community.
As a writer, Ken has developed several screenplays over the years. His latest, THE RED CANVAS, is inspired by the hope, common to all martial arts instructors; a hope that their instruction will positively impact the lives of those youths around them.