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NATPE "Television Producers' Boot Camp News Release" (PDF)

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Beverly Hills, CA - William Morris Independent (WMi), a division of the William Morris Agency, will represent the Pelican Film Fund, an independent feature fund operating since 2005 in Louisiana, bringing $300 million of productions to the state capital of Baton Rouge.
WMi will serve as a consultant to the fund, identifying producers with films that are ready-for-production and meet the Fund’s requirements in addition to helping put together all creative elements for films eligible for the Fund’s benefits.
Michele LeBlanc, senior partner of Baton Rouge-based Art & Entertainment Law Group of LeBlanc & Associates, negotiated the alliance on behalf of the Pelican Film Fund. Art & Entertainment Law Group of LeBlanc & Associates PLC, is a Louisiana entertainment tax credit and film financing law firm whose senior counsel are former Los Angeles and New York studio and network executives. “We are very pleased to be a part of this exciting venture with William Morris Independent,” said LeBlanc. “The Pelican Film Fund is the single largest production commitment to Louisiana since the tax credits were initiated in 2002.”
LeBlanc’s firm transacts the state tax credit sales for the Fund, which is a one-stop producer shop, coordinating local crew, in-state expendables, preferred vendors, business affairs and local and state government liaison.
WMi puts together the creative elements and helps arrange innovative financing for approximately 25 films each year. The group has been responsible for putting together and obtaining financing and distribution for more than 100 films since it was established in 1998. Among the films WMi has been involved with are “Thank You for Smoking,” “The Good Girl,” “Monster’s Ball,” “The Apostle,” “The Cooler,” “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” and the upcoming “Bobby” and Sundance Film Festival award winner, “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints.”
Alex J. Schott, Executive Director of the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Film and Television adds: "Recruiting new investment and productions to the Baton Rouge area will further strengthen the industry's presence in Louisiana, stepping stones which are crucial to the development of a solid local infrastructure. This results in a multiplier effect that impacts the entire state economy."
“We’re delighted that such a highly respected industry leader has embraced Baton Rouge and we are truly excited to assist their number of film commitments,” Said Paul Arrigo, President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
State Senator Jay Dardenne concluded: “Recognizing the post-hurricane growth of our area, our aggressive tax incentives program is a magnet for those who invest in the Fund’s projects. We are proud to support the efforts of the William Morris Agency and Art & Entertainment Law Group in the Baton Rouge region.”
The first films under the arrangement will be announced shortly.

Cannes, France - Senior Partner Michèle LeBlanc of Art & Entertainment Law Group of LeBlanc & Associates (“AELGLA”), Louisiana entertainment attorneys, was a featured panelist at the 6th Film Finance Seminar sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter and peacefulfish during the Cannes International Film Festival. Set on a yacht in the Mediterranean, the seminar covered current industry methods of structuring film financing, including soft monies, tax credits and other incentives, as well as product placement and brand imaging.

Beverly Hills, CA- Senior Partner Michèle LeBlanc was a panelist invited by the Beverly Hills Bar Association Entertainment Law Section speaking at their Continuing Legal Education seminar, “Film Financing Options for Producers: Learn from Key Players how to Access Current and Emerging Sources of Non-bank Film Funding.” Ms. LeBlanc spoke on Louisiana’s tax credits and incentives. Moderated by entertainment attorney Pamela Forster, the panel also featured Doug Hansen, Chief Operating Officer, Endgame Entertainment, Eric Reid, Chief Operating Officer, Lakeshore Entertainment Group, Roy Salter, Founder & Managing Member, The Salter Group, Brand Advisors LLC, and Andreas Grosch, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Film & Entertainment VIP Medienfonds Geschäftsführungs, Germany.

Hollywood, CA - The Hollywood Film Festival Film Finance Mart at the Arclight Theatre in Hollywood, sponsored a film financing conference, “Show Me the Money: International Co-productions, Subsidies, and Production Incentives,”. Moderated by Los Angeles entertainment attorney Mark Litwak, the panel included Michèle LeBlanc who spoke on production incentive program in Louisiana, and international film producer and financing consultant Peter Wetherell and Comerica Bank Vice President Jared Underwood.

New Orleans, LA - Senior Partner Michèle LeBlanc of Art & Entertainment Law Group of LeBlanc & Associates, Louisiana entertainment attorneys, was a Panelist and Moderator at the Entertainment Law Conference sponsored by Art, Entertainment & Sports Law Section of La. State Bar Association and La. Governor’s Office of Film & Television Development, held in New Orleans. Ms. LeBlanc moderated and spoke on the panel for “International Film Distribution”, as well as speaking on film financing entitled, “Lions and Tigers and Banks, oh my.”

Los Angeles, CA - Senior Partner Michèle LeBlanc of Art & Entertainment Law Group of LeBlanc & Associates, Louisiana entertainment attorneys, was a Panelist at the National Association of Television Production Executives (NATPE) BootCamp, held in Los Angeles, California. Ms. LeBlanc participated on a panel entitled “Think Outside the Shoestring,” speaking to a standing room only crowd of television producers and production executives on the benefits and maximization of Louisiana tax credit incentives in television production financing.

Los Angeles, CA - Senior Partner Michèle LeBlanc of Art & Entertainment Law Group of LeBlanc & Associates, Louisiana entertainment attorneys, was a Panelist at the LA Film School seminar on “Networking and Surviving in the Entertainment Industry” sponsored by the Hollywood Global Entertainment Network (HGEN ™).

Los Angeles, CA - Senior Partner Michèle LeBlanc of Art & Entertainment Law Group of LeBlanc & Associates (“AELGLA”), Louisiana entertainment attorneys, and Michael A. Mayhall, Louisiana State Bar Certified Tax Specialist were presenters at recent tax credit seminars about Louisiana production incentives for film and television producers in Los Angeles. The Louisiana attorneys were the featured presenters and explained how to “Take a Bite Out of Your Budget: Nuts & Bolts of the Louisiana Motion Picture Incentive Act.”

New Orleans, LA - Senior Partner Michèle LeBlanc of Art & Entertainment Law Group of LeBlanc & Associates, Louisiana entertainment attorneys, was a Panelist at the Continuing Legal Education seminar entitled "Legal Matters and the Performing Arts", sponsored by Arts Council of New Orleans and The Entertainment Law Society of Tulane University Law School, and held at the Tulane University Law School.

New Orleans, LA - Senior Partner Michèle LeBlanc of Art & Entertainment Law Group of LeBlanc & Associates, Louisiana entertainment attorneys, was a Panelist and moderator for the Cutting Edge Music business Institute Continuing Legal Education Seminar, "Negotiating Entertainment Contracts in the 21st Century: Important Issues and Negotiating Tactics for Film, Television and Video.”

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