06.06.08
$15 Million Joint Venture Between Little Chicago, LLC and Structured Capital Group Inc.
In a June 1, 2008 press release, Little Chicago, LLC, announced the company has embarked on a $15 million joint venture with Structured Capital Group Inc., an investment advisory and equity participation firm in New York to produce the upcoming feature film entitled “Little Chicago.” Structured Capital Group Inc. (SCGI) will provide funding through a secured credit facility and will assist with obtaining avenues for distribution of the film.
The$15 million budget movie, based on the true story in a chapter of “Invisible Ink” written Carl A. Veno, Little Chicago, LLC’s manager and the film’s executive producer, depicts the fortunes made moving alcohol in small towns in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania during the time of Prohibition. Speak-easies, bootleg whiskey and ambitious young thugs battling for power give the film a blend of history and action that will give it a world wide appeal. Mr. Veno commented:
“The Little Chicago team worked very hard to find the right company to assist with the full funding, and we are very pleased that SCGI has joined us. They are very enthusiastic about this movie and will work hard, as we are, to make it a success. We are now ready for a major movie with financing that will move production into high gear.”
“Structured Capital Group is committed to the production and distribution of the film as well as the financial success of the joint venture with Little Chicago,” stated President of SCGI, Basem Zakariya.
“This film is one of several productions being developed and produced through Structured Capital Group. The quality of this film along with the fine production team provides great financial potential,” added Michael Clarner, Executive Vice President of SCGI.
The feature is being filmed in Bradford, Pennsylvania, Olean, New York, and Niagara Falls, New York. Principle photography continues through August, 2008. The film is directed by Terence M. O’Keefe with Joseph Middleton of Middleton Casting, Inc., serving as casting director. Mr. Middleton has served in this capacity for films such as “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Old School,” and “The Bourne Identity.”
The infusion of millions SCGI will bring to the independent film venture allows the Little Chicago crew to pursue big name talent for the feature. Actor Scott Speedman, recently in “The Stranger,” is of high interest for one of the lead roles. In addition, Rapper DMX has expressed interest in the film in both an acting and musical capacity; fellow rapper 50 Cent has also been given consideration. The role of lead character Al Ritchie has yet to be cast. The production crew is looking for the right actor to bring to life Ritchie’s Valentino-like appearance paired with a cunning and ruthless ability to wear a smile on his face but harbor a sinister hate in his heart. The combination of Structured Capital Group’s financing strategies, a completed script, seasoned casting director and the anticipated Screen Actors Guild strike at the end of June will provide Little Chicago with a vast pool of available star talent.
The film project will also utilize Pennsylvania’s film tax credits for $2 million of its funding, as well as the production team pre-selling the movie to the overseas market. Pennsylvania Governor, Edward G. Rendell, created the “Creativity in Focus” program in July, 2007 which enhanced the existing PA Film Tax Credit of 2004 providing tax credits to film and television productions who agree to spend a minimum of 60% of their total production cost in Pennsylvania.
For information regarding Little Chicago, LLC and film production contact Linda Luther-Veno at 610-776-8411 or Carl A. Veno at 484-951-1091.
For information regarding the Motion Picture Funding Program of Structured Capital Group contact Michael Clarner or Basem Zakariya at 212-935-3041 or 230 Park Avenue, Suite 810, New York, NY 10169
04.18.08
Structured Capital Group CEO, Basem Zakariya, Named Executive Producer for Three Film Project
U.S.-based production outfit Red Ridinghood Prods., headed by producer Jerry Wolff, has sealed a three-picture production and distribution deal with U.K. indie production and sales banner 111 Pictures. www.111pictures.com
In a move away from traditional release patterns for movies, the companies said Sunday that they are opting for a day-and-date distribution plan for the trio of titles. It will see each movie debut theatrically and on VOD at the same time through 111 Pictures’ Filmon platform.
The plan was unveiled by 111 Pictures chairman and CEO Alki David at the American Film Market.
Under the deal, 111 Pictures will co-finance and distribute three films produced together with Wolff (“The Hostage”). The executive producer on all three projects will be Basem Zakariya of Structured Capital Group.
The first film, “The Contract,” is slated to begin principal photography in January in New Mexico with David directing the action thriller. Casting is under way.
The thriller “Adrift” will be the second film produced under the agreement and will be shot in Fiji in the spring. The producers are now in talks with directors.
The third film is in the works but has yet to be announced.
Filmon.com, a subsidiary of 111 Pictures, is a full-scale media download portal with close to 20,000 titles under management.
“We’re especially keen to move forward with this innovative new day-and-date distribution model as we really believe this is what the market is moving toward,” David said. “The Filmon.com platform is taking off around the world and will soon be debuting films from around the world through similar day-and-date programs.”
111 Pictures will handle worldwide sales for the films.
03.03.08
$10 Million Investment by Structured Capital Group in Lumiere Film
New York based Structured Capital Group partnered for a successful 10 million investment in the Brazil based Lumiere Film Distribution Company. As part of this successful investment, SCGI become shareholders in Lumiere which is the biggest film distribution company in Brazil. The following press release was distributed detailing the investment as well as the involvement of Infinity FCS in the project and further information about Lumiere.
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Variety Weekly: International
Lumiere Relights Business
By Marcelo Cajueiro
RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil’s Lumiere has resumed operations as both a distrib and producer, with new partners and a $10 million slate deal.
The company, which has been inactive for the last two years, was once Brazil’s No. 1 indie distrib, and theatrically released some of the country’s most important local pics, including “Central Station” and “City of God.”
Lumiere (which isn’t related to the former U.S. production shingle) will resume distribution in January with the release of Palme d’Or winner “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.” Lumiere’s founder and CEO, Marc Beauchamps, bought Brazilian rights at Cannes before the pic received the prize.
The company is set to announce the first of the six to eight features it will co-produce, spread between projects from Brazil, other Latin American countries and other regions. Lumiere will distribute the pics in Brazil and other Latin American countries.
Mumbai-based investment fund Infinity India Advisor and NYC-based investment advisory and equity participation firm SCGI Financial Partners, both of which became Lumiere shareholders, will make the $10 million investment. Other new shareholders of Lumiere are Joshua Skurla, who conducted the negotiations with the investors, and Christian de Castro, formerly chief financial officer of international sales agent Vereda Filmes.
“Lumiere will be a large player in Brazil and other Latin American countries. The company will help streamline the Brazilian market, as we will use not only local incentives, but also private financial mechanisms common in Europe and the United States,” Beauchamps tells Variety.
In fact, virtually all Brazilian pics are funded with government incentives. Local distribs, including U.S. studio branches, also access incentives to co-produce and gain distribution rights to local pics.
Founded in 1989 as Initial Brasil, Lumiere grew in the late 1990s, thanks to an output deal with Miramax. The company also co-produced local pics with strong B.O. performance and festival play. But in 2003, Beauchamps took a leave of absence for health reasons.
Next, Beauchamps and company partner Bruno Wainer got involved in a shareholders’ feud. In 2005, Wainer founded his own indie distrib, Downtown Filmes, and Lumiere ceased to operate. This May, the partners negotiated an agreement, and Beauchamps is now ready to bring Lumiere back to its former role as an influential distributor.
For more information regarding Structured Capital Group contact Basem Zakariya or Michael Clarner at 212-935-3041 or 230 Park Avenue, Suite 810, New York, NY 10169.
Structured Capital Group ~ Innovative Film Financing
Structured Capital Group Inc. is an investment advisory and equity participation firm that specializes in creative financial engineering techniques to raise capital for its clients. SCGI’s worldwide industry activities are focused in real estate, motion picture, manufacturing, technology, energy, service, distribution, among many others.
SCGI’s innovative financing involves structural funds, risk syndication, creative financing and traditional banking and insurance elements that are successfully implemented on each project undertaken.
Our film financing program represents debt and equity elements arranged in a risk free environment through a special purpose vehicle pledged as collateral for a bank credit facility. This will include Domestic and Foreign markets, tax credits and rebates, along with gap and equity commitments which are then monetized and backed by letters of credit or bankable guarantees.
We look at advanced projects from experienced producers with significant attachments (talent, director etc.) and a quality commercial script. We prefer to be involved in film projects geared towards family carrying an MPAA rating of no more than PG-13.
We require a minimum of 15% of the budget to be covered by the borrower in cash collateral or equivalent guarantee in the form of a letter of credit. The investors can expect a significant return depending on their specific role in the transaction. Ultimately, our goal is to reduce the risk exposure with the production and filming of the picture in a tax beneficial state or province. The risk is essentially controlled and the upside can be virtually unlimited, depending on the quality of the film. The risk is spread among all the deal participants and secured by sales, deferred sales, tax benefits, excess risk coverage, leading to significant cost reduction.We plan to keep revenues from Domestic and approximately 50% of revenues from foreign territories to apply as a risk reduction to the investors.
Through alliances and ventures, we are currently involved in various levels of production and distribution and are exploring others with quality groups and organizations to further our capacity and make an indelible mark in the film industry.
For information regarding the film financing program of Structured Capital Group or any other investment opportunity contact Basem Zakariya or Michael Clarner at 212-935-3041 or 230 Park Avenue, Suite 810, New York, NY 10169
02.07.08
Structured Capital Group Partners in $60 Million IPA Film Fund
Structured Capital Group Announces 60 Million Film Partnership
Basem Zakariya, CEO; Michael Clarner, Exec. Vice President; Larry Paul, Senior Vice President
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http://www.ipafilms.com/main.html
October 9, 2007 Charlotte, NC –
The Charlotte-based Independent Producers Alliance, LLC (“IPA”), which represents a growing number of award-winning independent producers reminiscent of the original United Artists venture, has entered into partnership with Structured Capital Group, Inc., a New York City financing firm, to provide financing for a slate of family-friendly, independently-produced films.
IPA Chief Executive Jim Van Eerden confirms that the studio’s recent partnership with Structured Capital Group (“SCG”) will infuse IPA with the production financing required to produce an anticipated 5-6 films, each in the $8-$10 million range, and that it will be a revolving fund designed to roll forward into subsequent film slates as well.
“SCG was the right partner for this strategic effort,” Van Eerden noted, “because they created a model for the financing structure that was the best we have seen from an investment point of view.”
SCG’s participation complements the role of Stanford Financial Group in the first IPA Film Fund, which led to the recent productions of The Ultimate Gift, Running the Sahara, and The Perfect Game (see summaries following). Veteran media executive and IPA President Rick Eldridge noted that the funding of this second slate of films provides the studio, which includes state-of-the-art post-production facilities and a developing distribution and marketing arm, with point-to-point capacity for top producers.
“We’ve created a unique and supportive environment for some of the industry’s best producers to do great films that merge the indepentant filmmakers approach to storytelling with a studio model of distribution and support for film projects,” noted Eldridge.
“We were impressed with the quality and financial potential of the projects hand-picked by IPA and their partnering producers,” said SCG CEO Basem Zakariya.
“We recognized the unique leverage that IPA represents in facilitating and supporting the entire scope of film production capacity — from financing, production and post-production to marketing and distribution services,” added SCG Executive Vice President Michael Clarner.
The IPA – SCG partnership was arranged and negotated by IPA Board member Marcia Allen, CEO of Allen & Assoicates, LLC (“A&A”) an LA-based corporate finance advisory firm. Ms. Allen formed The Movie Group with Frank Giustra and Peter Straus, which was the predecessor company to LionsGate. A&A has subsequently been an investor and advisor for many notable film and television properties. “This combination is a natural,” Allen said, “and will help establish IPA as one of the leading independent film-making brands in the world.”
ABOUT INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS ALLIANCE, LLC (“IPA”) IPA (www.ipafilms.com), based in Charlotte, NC, “with offices in Los Angeles, operates a state-of-the-art production and post-production facility, as well as administrative and distribution/marketing service units. IPA helps to fund, produce and champion the work of award-winning independent producers who make films that “inspire people to good things.”
ABOUT STRUCTURED CAPITAL GROUP. INC. (“SCG”) SCG, based in New York City, is an investment advisory and equity participation firm that specializes in creative financial engineering techniques to raise capital for its clients. SCG’s worldwide industry activities are focused in the real estate, motion picture, manufacturing, technology, energy, and distribution industries. SCG’s innovative financing involves structural funds, risk syndication, creative financing and traditional banking and insurance elements that are implemented through replicable strategies for its investment ventures.
ABOUT ALLEN & ASSOCIATES, LLC (“A&A”) A&A (www.allen-assoc.net) is a Los Angeles-based corporate finance advisory firm which has broad-based experience in funding entertainment and media projects, as well as private equity initiatives in other sectors. A&A has established a network of experienced partners who build long-term strategic relationships for their clients and partners.
Recent Release: In the Spring of 2007, IPA released the award-winning feature film “The Ultimate Gift,” starring 10-year old Oscar-award nominee Abigail Breslin and TV and film veteran James Garner. On August 21, the film was released on DVD by 20th Century Fox, with a great reception.
Next Scheduled Release: IPA is in post production with its next project, with Executive Producer and Narrator Matt Damon and production companies LivePlanet and Allentown. “Running the Sahara” is a documentary feature film directed by Oscar-winner James Moll. The film debuted during the Toronto International Film Festival in September and will be released in theatres in early 2008.
Now in Post Production: Also due for release in 2008 is “The Perfect Game” starring Clifton Collins, Jr., Cheech Marin and other names of note. The film is based on the true story of a group of Mexican boys who fifty years ago became the first non-US team to win the Little League World Series. William Dear, who also directed the popular “Angels in the Outfield,” directs the film.
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Chuck Robbins
aro (www.consultaro.com)
crobbins@consultaro.com
704.839.3520 ###
For information regarding Structured Capital Group contact Basem Zakariya or Michael Clarner at 212-935-3041 or 230 Park Avenue, Suite 810, New York, NY 10169.
