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Highlights"Investing in Media that Matters - A Gathering at Sundance"
In January of 2003, more than 240 creative artists and funders assembled in Sundance Village, Utah to strategize ways to transform the mass media industry in order to stimulate more positive social change.
Coinciding with the opening of the Sundance Film Festival, this first-
r conference, entitled "Investing in Media that Matters", drew a groundswell of interest from commercial and independent film as well as from television executives, producers, directors, screenwriters, creative artists, angel investors, venture capitalists, and foundations.
Throughout three days on convenings, they took a think-tank approach to the challenge of funding, marketing, and distributing visionary social mission entertainment in American cinema and television. Their vision: the collective influence of private angel investors, funds, foundations, entertainment executives, producers, directors, screenwriters and actors could develop a process to:
- pool funds (both philanthropic and for profit) for entertainment media that includes cross-cultural social and environmental themes dedicated to supporting and improving society;
- address issues of distribution and marketing; and,
- work together to prove that socially themed media can be entertaining, informing and commercially viable.
They collectively recognized that socially responsible entertainment can raise the public's consciousness and awareness of important social issues while presenting money-making opportunities that attract wide audiences. Social messages are limitless and can include energy conservation, respect for diversity, healthcare improvements, underserved communities, child labor practices, corporate responsibility, environmental conservation and human rights.
"Investing in Media that Matters" was the vision of Spartacus Media Enterprises which co-hosted this "standing-room only" event with Investors' Circle, the nation's only national social mission angel network, and the Hollywood-respected Environmental Media Association.
• Related Research
• Press Release
• Conference Hosts
• Conference History
• Speakers
• Key Players
• Agenda-at-a-Glance
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s p o n s o r s
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Event Snapshots
Click pictures for an enlargement.
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Co-hosts Carol Atwood (CEO, Spartacus Media Enterprises), Debbie Levin (Executive Director, Environmental Media Association), and Woody Tasch (Chairman, Investors' Circle) join actor Robert Redford after he welcomes 240 attendees to Sundance Village, the home of Redford's Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival.
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Actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. meets with Ben Cohen (Co-founder, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream) to discuss their shared interest in advancing feature films and television shows that entertain as well as inform viewer about issues of relevance to society. |
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Debbie Levin, EMA's Executive Director, congratulates Pierce Brosnan on his inspiring keynote speech. Brosnan expanded into social mission media with Evelyn, a feature film based on Desmond Doyle's fight against the Family Act of 1941, an Irish law that deprived single fathers of their parental rights. Brosnan starred in Evelyn which was recently released by his production company, Irish Dreamtime.
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Luncheon keynoter Carla Shamberg, Executive Producer of Erin Brockovich, shares stories about the challenges she faced as a new producer. "Erin Brockovich is one of those films that prove you can make an entertaining and financially successful Hollywood movie that is both socially and environmentally relevant," Shamberg commented.
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Robert Greenwald, producer and director of over 35 socially themed films including the made-for-television movie The Crooked E, shares words of wisdom as a conference panelist. Joining Greenwald are Carl Folta, Senior Vice President of Viacom; Sheryl Leach, creator of "Barney"; and Alec Lorimore, Producer of IMAX films Dolphins and Everest. |
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Jim Kearns, screenwriter of the blockbuster hit John Q, speaks about the challenges of scriptwriting as he shares the stage with Paula Silver (marketing adviser to My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Bill Gerber (Producer/Former President, Warner Brothers Worldwide Theatrical Production), and Ray Halbritter (CEO/Representative of Oneida Indian Nation). |
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Actors Harry Hamlin (LA Law, Clash of the Titans), Ed Begley, Jr. (Batman Forever, Best in Show, Six Feet Under) and Frances Fisher (Titanic) discuss their like-minded commitment to advancing an environmental agenda through the media.
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Pierce Brosnan pauses to speak with a young performer of an American Indian drumming group that entertained conference attendees.
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John Norris, MTV news correspondent, and Stephen Friedman, MTV Vice President, celebrate the successful live satellite interview of Walter Cronkite. Norris' adept interviewing skills and Mr. Cronkite's articulate views on the role of media in advancing social issues made for a stimulating dialogue.
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Robert Redford enjoys the fireside reception after urging attendees to take more meaningful action after the conference's conclusion.
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Award-winning director Louis Schwartzberg shares a light moment with Patie Maloney, publicist for Environmental Media Association, and actor Pierce Brosnan during the live auction that benefited the work of Investors' Circle and the Environmental Media Association.
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Walter Cronkite responds (via live feed) to questions from interviewer John Norris, MTV news correspondent, during the Thursday morning breakfast kick-off. |
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Pierce Brosnan explains the importance of the theme of his new film entitled Evelyn, an epic tale of one man's ability to change a nation's view on parenting.
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