I really need to get around to writing up what happened at TheOneRing.Net's Oscar Party.
by : Created on Feb. 29, 2004 : Last modified Feb. 8, 2005 : (permalink)
Was just awake enough and my hotel close enough to make it to the ACE Panel Invisible Art/Visible Artists. The panel consisted of the year's Academy Award nominees for Best Achievement in Editing; namely: Daniel Rezende (Cidade de Deus), Walter Murch (Cold Mountain), Jamie Selkirk (Lord of the Rings: Return of the King), Lee Smith (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World) and William Goldenberg (Seabiscuit).
The Egyptian Theatre, was filled with a mix of film buffs, film students and film professionals (the guy in front of me is currently working on a romantic comedy with Will Smith and Eva Mendez).
The panel members took it in turns to describe how they got in to editing and what their approach generally is. They then showed clips from their respective films and talked about why they chose the clip as being representative of their work in the film.
The panel was fascinating, in large part due to the breadth of its participants. On the one hand you had Walter the veteran; arguably the best known and most eloquent. On the other hand you had Daniel the newcomer, who seemed so overwhelmed by his sudden exposure. The contrast mirrored that between their films: Cold Mountain was Miramax's most expensive solo-funded film to date and featured huge stars; Cidade de Deus was a low budget film shot using non-actors in the streets of Rio de Janeiro.
After the panel I spoke to a few of the participants. Didn't get a chance to speak to Walter (and, although I brought his book on my trip, forgot to bring it to the theatre!). Spoke to Lee Smith for a while and Jamie Selkirk for a little bit. Also met a friend of Lee's - another Australian called Matt who is currently working on I, Robot.
by : Created on Feb. 28, 2004 : Last modified Feb. 8, 2005 : (permalink)
Things are pretty crazy around the Hollywood and Highland complex at the moment. I am about the only person without a security badge. Entry to the hotel was checked by an FBI agent.
Most of the people staying in the hotel are either out-of-town press or staff of the Academy involved in running the show.
This evening went to the hotel bar. Mostly Academy staff although Catherine O'Hara was there (I'm guessing she'll be performing the song from A Mighty Wind tomorrow).
Met a rep called Chuck Holbrook who insisted on introducing me as the sound designer on Lord of the Rings. Not sure if it was because he'd had too much to drink of if he was just doing what reps do :-) He was with a crew doing an Oscar segment for MTV - same guys that had done the last couple of music videos for 50 Cent. Chuck is going to Elton John's party tomorrow night. I wonder if it will be as wild as the LoTR party :-)
Drank too many apple martinis.
by : Created on Feb. 28, 2004 : Last modified Feb. 8, 2005 : (permalink)
The symposium was definitely worth going to, even if just for the case studies, but there was some other good stuff too.
After the opening address was a panel discussion about investment in the WA context. The panel consisted of three VCs (CM Capital Investments, Foundation Capital and Innovation Capital) and two institutional investors who invest in VC funds (ING and Westscheme). More than anything it gave good insight into the "other" side of being a VC: the VC-institutional relationship. Interesting take away was that, for its population, Western Australia is under-represented in private equity but over-represented in public offerings (with many companies listing earlier than they should).
After morning tea was a case study of Immersive Technologies, makers of training simulators for equipment like mining trucks. The most amazing thing was they bootstrapped themselves from $100 and 2 people (Peter Salfinger and his brother) to profitability and 58 people before they got venture funding for expansion (from Equity Partners)
After Tim Mazzarol introduced what the UWA Graduate School of Management is doing with their Centre for Entrepreneurial Management and Innovation (CEMI), James Thompson of Quadrant Capital gave a talk on exit strategies. James gave a couple of really interesting examples of creative exit strategies. Also interesting was the breakdown of exits in 02/03: 28% trade sale; 28% IPO; 13% liquidation or write-off; buyout by other shareholders 13%; other 18%.
After lunch was another great case study of Worldwide Online Printing, another company that was large before going for its first round (again for expansion). Fascinating information about the print industry in Australia: there are over 6200 businesses in the industry and no player with more than 3% market share. WOP's model is a hub and spoke that centralises production equipment for economies of scale and low outlet setup cost. Other highlight was a very nice business modeling spreadsheet and outlet KPIs fed into a scoreboard.
This was followed by an insightful case study of the Kailis and France MBO and then, after afternoon tea, a humorous talk by Chris Golis (author of the excellent "Enterprise and Venture Capital") on what makes a good entrepreneur.
The cocktail party and buffet dinner afterwards was a good opportunity to meet a few new people and a couple of familiar faces (such as Running Code's Ashley Aitken whom I knew from Curtin University). It did get a bit tiring having to explain why mValent is in the US and I'm in Perth, though :-)
I'll definitely try to make future AVCAL events.
by : Created on Feb. 27, 2004 : Last modified Feb. 8, 2005 : (permalink)
I've just found out that ACE is running a seminar at American Cinematheque featuring all of this year's Oscar nominated attendees. It's on the morning I arrive in LA so, depending on how I feel (and smell) after flying for 24 hours, I'll try to make it. Must remember to pack my copy of Walter Murch's book to get signed.
by : Created on Feb. 26, 2004 : Last modified Feb. 8, 2005 : (permalink)
Taking the red-eye to Melbourne on my way to the US usually means I have the day to get ready and pack. However, tomorrow the Australian Venture Capital Association is running an all-day symposium in Perth. I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to find out more about what's going on VC-wise at home. The event includes dinner so it will be a pretty mad rush from the Duxton Hotel, back home to pick up my bags and then on to the airport. I'll give an update on how the symposium went from either the lounge in Perth or in Melbourne.
Proofed the artwork for my "Independent Producer and Composer" business cards to take to SxSW. The design Snap Printing came up with worked out well. I ordered 500 so hopefully there's plenty of opportunity to hand them out at SxSW.
I've finished paying bills, am currently charging various devices such as phones, iPods, laptops and cameras and am just about to start packing my clothes. I don't see myself getting much sleep tonight, which normally wouldn't be a problem as it helps me sleep on the plane - but hopefully the VC symposium will serve up lots of coffee.
by : Created on Feb. 26, 2004 : Last modified Feb. 8, 2005 : (permalink)