Program Success May 2009 | Page 31

PROGRAM SUCCESS – MAY 2009 with the downturn of the real estate market. Based on the advice and research guided by GPF, these investors have found there are great returns and tax advantages to investing in movies. The income is not just generated on the big screen, but with several sources such as DVD’s, cable, and internet feeds. In fact, there are movies that make greater returns after the theater, or do not even go to the theater. We are moving into a leisurebased society and baby boomers are watching more movies on wider screens and surround sound. With international distribution, more and more English movies are being watched and circulated around the world. New markets such as China are projecting 1.2 billion new potential moviegoers, and India is projecting 900 million new potential English-speaking moviegoers. The concept of GPF business model was inspired by experiencing the power of the masses, which helped the president of the United States get elected. This same principle is applicable in getting the funding for films and providing investors with great returns. Independent film producers are proving that the old Hollywood production model is in many cases too costly and does not guarantee automatic success. Independent filmmakers such as Tyler Perry are completing the production time of a film in 45 days and thereby has created a new business model. On the creative side and niche side, there is definitely room for target audiences that have been consistently ove r l o o k e d b y Hollywood. There are now independent studios that focus on Christian, African American, Hispanic, and other minorities, that are out of Atlanta, Louisiana, and Florida, which are becoming the south eastern film capitol. Another part of GPF’s mission is to develop DVD’s of historical and biographical themes to be distributed to libraries and schools for students. There are those who would look at a film, rather than read a thick book of history or biography, and be positively impacted. There is a lot of work that can be done and GPF is developing partnerships that see and understand this vision. PAGE 31 The final principal of GPF is the creative director Guss Gerald Williams, who you probably have seen in many feature film presentations. He was in “Boyz in the Hood,” “Terminator 2,” “The Family that Preys,” and “Madea Goes to Jail”, just to name a few. He is a veteran in the industry for many years. Grassroots Productions & Funding is presenting 4 Minutes film at a red carpet premier on May 2nd at 6:30 p.m. at the Garden Theatre, 160 W. Plant St. Winter Garden, Florida, 34787. Moviegoers will get a