Blog: Studio City Pictures Ready to Make Big Deals at the American Film Market Opening

The American Film Market - www.americanfilmmarket.com opens today and runs from Wednesday, October 31st to Wednesday, November 7, 2012 in Santa Monica.  It takes place mostly at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel.  Most of that hotel’s rooms are emptied of their beds and turned into film company offices and related.  Buyers from around the world looking to acquire films, television and various distributions rights walk in and out of these hotel rooms trying to make deals on product they want.  Is it spooky that AFM decided to open on Halloween? Only time will tell.

Local film company Studio City Pictures will be attending so we asked the company’s president Jim Harvey a few questions:

Gil: Why did you choose to be based in Studio City?  What benefits do you get from being based in Studio City? 

Jim: Living and finally deciding to work in the valley has saved me hours of sitting in traffic.  Studio City is very close to Hollywood and the canyon roads are (mostly) open for a late morning meeting or lunches.

Gil: A brief one paragraph on your company too. What does your company specialty?  You can include contact info if you want. 

Jim: Studio City Pictures is a sales agent specializing in worldwide distribution and licensing of independently produced feature films.

Gil: What are you expecting from this year's AFM?  How long have you been attending the AFM?  Compare this year to last year's AFM? 

Jim: I have attended every AFM since 1993.  I am expecting a very favorable market this year because the buyers are responding positively to my line up.

Gil: From the new films you are bringing to this year's AFM, which ones (1 or 2 films) are the ones you expect to be the big hits? And Why? 

Jim: I am pre selling a film called FINAL GIRL with Abigail Breslin, Wes Bentley, Andrew Ludwig, Logan Huffman, Michael Trevino, Connor Paolo and Francesca Eastwood.  This will be directed by Tyler Shields.  I am also bringing two well-made completed films called MISSION PARK and RENMANTS.  All of them are thrillers.

Gil:  What are your plans for the future? 

Jim: To grow the business by finding, developing and funding quality films.

Here is more info about the AFM that I collected to give you a better idea of what this big media trade market is all about:

The business of independent motion picture production and distribution reaches its peak every year at the American Film Market, Oct. 31 – Nov. 7, 2012.  The global film industry converges in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making on films in every stage of development and production, as well as screenings, conferences, networking and parties.  

With 8,000 industry leaders from more than 70 countries, 700 screenings and the industry’s largest Conference Series, AFM is the pivotal destination for independent filmmakers, directors, distributors, financiers, industry executives, producers, talent, writers, the international media and all those who provide services to the worldwide motion picture industry.   

The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance®, the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television industry and the voice and advocate for the Independents worldwide.  Visit www.AmericanFilmMarket.com and www.IFTA-online.org for more information. 

The 2012 American Film Market (AFM) will kick-off with more than 120 new buying companies and a 10% increase in buyers, according to AFM Managing Director Jonathan Wolf.  Additionally, a significant number of high profile projects with top talent attached will also be unveiled for pre-sales at the market.

Wolf commented, “Independents – the industry’s true entrepreneurs – are bringing the world a diverse and exciting array of films for 2013.  The 2,000 plus projects at AFM include films in every genre and budget, all destined for theaters and screens of every size around the world.  AFM is a marketplace for all – there is no gatekeeper.”

AFM will screen 442 motion pictures, including 82 world premieres and 327 market premieres for thousands of film buyers and industry professionals from more than 70 countries over the eight-day event. Films premiering include the works of Annette Bening, Helena Bonham Carter, Chow Yun-Fat, Jennifer Connelly, Roman Coppola, Elle Fanning, James Franco, Christina Hendricks, Dustin Hoffman, Kate Hudson, Julianne Moore, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Ruffalo, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Alexander Skarsgård, Juno Temple, Kristen Wiig and Elijah Wood, among many others. A complete list of films and the screening schedule is available at www.TheFilmCatalogue.com.

The 2012 Market also opens with national organizations exhibiting from Australia, Dominican Republic, Panama, Russia and Thailand making their AFM debut.

The American Film Market’s Industry Conversations program will take place at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in the AFM Studio. The sessions present intimate, interactive and exclusive conversations spotlighting many of the film industry’s prominent players, giving AFM attendees an opportunity to hear directly from key Hollywood and global players.

For more than 30 years, the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) - www.ifta-online.org is the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television industry 

IFTA Members have produced, distributed and financed many of the world's most prominent films, 20 of which have won the Academy Award® for “Best Picture” since 1980, most recently The Artist(Wild Bunch and The Weinstein Company) The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company), The Hurt Locker (Voltage Pictures and Summit Entertainment) and Slumdog Millionaire (Pathé).

IFTA is also widely recognized for producing the world's largest annual motion picture trade event, the American Film Market (AFM) - www.americanfilmmarket.com , where more than $800 million in deals are sealed each year.