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Investing in Media that Matters —

A Gathering at Sundance Village

History and Development

The "Investing in Media that Matters" conference was the collective development of four passionate leaders dedicated to social change: Carol Atwood of Spartacus Media Enterprises, Woody Tasch of Investors' Circle, Debbie Levin of the Environmental Media Association (EMA), and Geralyn Dreyfous of Salt Lake City Film Center. They recognized that feature films and television have tremendous power to affect positive social change, yet their potential remained largely untapped. They envisioned bringing together social mission investors and funders with Hollywood executives and independent filmmakers to reshape the face of mass media through a new formula for doing business. The potential of the groundbreaking conference captured the imagination of powerbrokers in the entertainment, investment, philanthropic, and related communities. With Sundance Village Resort as its venue, the conference quickly sold out.

Carol Atwood spearheaded this visionary gathering. Her dedication to advancing the greater good, plus her appreciation of the factors that influence social thought and behavior, brought this event to fruition. Atwood combined her two passions— marketing and social issues — into a package designed to affect change. Her interest in media and social paradigms peaked after rereading Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. "With the publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin, I saw a model for public change," explained Atwood. "The book caught America's attention and refashioned the view of African Americans

in social thought back in the 1800's. I wanted to find my own vehicle to educate and inspire people about other social issues — to uplift people's hearts and empower them to make positive change. Investing in feature films and television entertainment with social and environmental messages has the potential to achieve this goal."

Atwood established Spartacus Media Enterprises in May 2000 to incubate new social mission media projects and ventures while serving as a link between investors and the media industry. Spartacus educates both communities on the importance of financing Hollywood and independent media projects by using components such as incubation money, program-related investing, angel investing, and non-profit financing. With 17 years as CEO of a premiere international sales and marketing outsourcing firm, Atwood encourages those who launch social mission feature films to use strategies, such as press materials and the Internet, to stimulate the public's consciousness, awareness, and action related to important social issues.

At the suggestion of friend and Social Venture Partner colleague Meryl Bralower, Atwood laid the groundwork for the "Investing in Media that Matters" conference. In the weeks and months that followed, the conference grew at a rapid pace and attracted a host of highly talented professionals who volunteered their time to turn this dream into a reality. Investors' Circle and the Environmental Media Association joined as co-hosts, lending their support and networks to the cause.

"Investors' Circle is the only national social mission angel network that has a history of encouraging the growth of non-traditional industries," said Woody Tasch, Investors' Circle Chairman. "Media investing has risks and rewards that are very different from other types of investing, but we recognize that media can also be a unique tool for change. We look forward to seeing how the lessons we have learned in other sectors can be applied here."

Debbie Levin, EMA's executive director, affirmed that many people in positions of power have a misconception that a film can't have a meaningful theme, be entertaining, and commercially viable at the same time. "This conference can begin the process to shatter these myths."

Investors' Circle member Geralyn Dreyfous, Director of the Salt Lake City Film Center, introduced the new partnership to Sundance Village and confirmed it as the perfect venue for the inaugural event. Sundance's success in transforming all aspects of cinema, from writing and directing to production and distribution, was a welcomed fit.

"As we all know, the investment and entertainment communities have tremendous power to shape our culture. With the breathtaking Wasatch Mountains as a backdrop, I'm hoping that we'll be inspired to use our power in the best interests of society," shared Atwood. "Working together to create feature films and television series worth viewing, we can reach for a higher bar in mass media that many of us have dreamed about for a long time."