Guest speakers: James Katz, CPA, Christine K. Walker, Producer, and Aaron C. Young, J.D., LL.M. Moderated by Andrew Peterson. FREE event; RSVP required (space is limited – only one spot per registrant, please).

Are you a filmmaker considering starting a production company for a movie, TV series, or miscellaneous freelance work? You probably should if you’re producing a project for which you’re receiving funding, and you wish to protect the personal assets and limit the personal liability of the filmmakers and shareholders/members.

So where to begin and what type of entity should you form? A sole proprietorship? General partnership? LLC, LLP, LLLP, S Corp, or C Corp? CPA James Katz, award-winning film producer Christine Walker, and entertainment attorney Aaron C. Young will help demystify the process and cover topics like company formation, taxation, liabilities, plus trademark and copyright issues and creating a brand identity.

James Katz, CPA/ABV, MBT, CVA, BerganKDV
Jamie Katz is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 25 years of public accounting experience. He is with BerganKDV, a CPA firm that solves complex business, financial, and technology challenges, all under one roof. Jamie has helped save film clients time and create greater confidence with their plans and strategies. His film production experience includes startup planning and operations through exit strategy. Jamie is a resource to outsource accounting, income tax, and payroll, which allows creators and financers to focus on what they do best: developing and producing their projects.

Christine Walker, CEO/Executive Director, Provincetown Film Society
An award-winning producer, Walker is the president of New Globe Films and the CEO and Executive Director of the Provincetown Film Society. She is also the founder and former president of Werk Work Works, a feature film finance and production company. Walker has dedicated her career to supporting independent production and independent makers of film. In addition to working on opportunities for hundreds of independent filmmakers, Walker’s own films have premiered at virtually every major international film festival and have garnered more than 100 awards and recognitions.

Her film credits include: STAY THEN GO, directed by Shelli Ainsworth, starring the WEST WING’s Janel Moloney as a mother of a child with autism; DARLING COMPANION (Sony Pictures Classics), directed by Lawrence Kasdan, starring Diane Keaton and Kevin Kline; THE TURIN HORSE by Hungarian auteur Bela Tarr, which was awarded the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize and the Fipresci International Press Prize at the 2011 Berlin Film Festival; the Sundance Film Festival premiere film THIN ICE (ATO), directed by Jill Sprecher, with Greg Kinnear, Alan Arkin and Billy Crudup; HOWL, directed by academy award winning directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, starring James Franco as the beat poet Alan Ginsberg along with Jon Hamm, and David Straithairn; the Todd Solondz-directed LIFE DURING WARTIME, which won Best Screenplay at the Venice Film Festival in 2010 and was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards. Walker also co-wrote and produced OLDER THAN AMERICA, starring Adam Beach and Bradley Cooper; FACTOTUM, starring Matt Dillon, Lily Taylor, and Marisa Tomei, and line produced the Academy Award-nominated AMERICAN SPLENDOR, which garnered more than 32 international awards.

Aaron C. Young, J.D., LL.M., Young Entertainment Law, PLLC
Aaron C. Young is the principle and founder of Young Entertainment Law, PLLC with clients that include the Twin Cities Film Fest, Warbux Sports & Entertainment, Born Into Royalty, Greenwich Vintage Co., and Reload Entertainment, LLC. In addition, Aaron represents award-winning filmmakers, producers, authors, painters, sculptors, songwriters, recording artists, professional sports executives, professional athletes, and coaches.

Aaron obtained his Juris Doctor (JD) from Marquette University Law School, in 2001, and his Master of Laws (LLM) from Southwestern Law School, in 2003, specializing in Entertainment & Media Law. He also has certificates in Sports Law, from the National Sports Law Institute, and Comparative Law, from the University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia). Aaron received a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Minnesota in 1997.

Aaron is a former Adjunct Professor of Law at Hamline University School of Law teaching Sports Law, Adjunct Professor of Law at William Mitchell College of Law teaching Client Representation, and Adjunct Professor at McNally Smith College of Music teaching Legal Aspects of Music & Entertainment.

Active in the business and charitable world, Aaron sits on the Boards or Committees of several for profit and nonprofit Organizations including the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Legal Advisory Committee for Springboard for the Arts in St. Paul, MN and the Board of Directors of Independent Filmmaker Project Minnesota.