Inspired Student Tattoos Survivor’s Anti- Hate Message on Her Spine

“People get tattooed because something monumental has happened in their lives. They get a tattoo to mark an event..” L.A. Ink Star Kat Von D. in the April 17, 2009 Entertainment Weekly.

“You Never Know What Effect Your Words Will Have on Some People!” tells the story of why an 18 year old Christian girl tattooed an Anti-Hate message on her spine in Hebrew – “If you absolutely have to hate, hate HATE ” was written by 88 year old Holocaust Survivor, Author and Teacher, Dr. Henry Oertelt. Henry’s book, An Unbroken Chain, My Journey Through the Nazi Holocaust in is the works to become a feature film with us at launch flix. We are sharing it in honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 21.

Eighty-eight year old Henry Oertelt was liberated by General Patton’s Third Army during the Flossenburg Death March in April, 1943. He arrived in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1949 and has spent 40 years speaking about his experiences and the importance of tolerance, political involvement, and confronting hatred. Oertelt is past chairman of the Jewish Community Relations Council’s and Holocaust education committee and recipient of JCRC’s “Volunteer of the Year” award, as well as receiving the distinguished “Eleven Who Care Honor” from KARE 11 in Minnesota in May, 2006. St. Paul, Minnesota honored him with the key to the city and proclaimed “Henry A. Oertelt Day” on April 23, 2006. You can find out more about his film project on the blog An Unbroken Chain: The Movie or join the Facebook page!

This week we went to Creative Connect at Zischke Studio in the middle of Scottsdale. If you have ever passed this eclectic gallery, I’m sure you wondered what it’s all about. Jeff Zischke, the owner and artist is a designer who has filled his home and art gallery with many unique objects and artifacts. The W, Axis/Radius and Zen 32 are among some of his local infamous design projects. He had a collection of sculptures that I assumed he created, that all were labeled with different professions – the lawyer sculpture looked like a snake, for example.

In the middle of the evening, we gathered to see our host show us his latest project. He was inspired by a fine Japanese paintbrush to see what it would be like to use a female and her hair to paint. He built a contraption, and with a few assistants, loaded a petite Japanese woman so that she hung upside down and then with the help of a crane, he dipped her hair into black paint and proceeded to paint.

It was definitely a night to remember. Thanks Dan, for all your efforts to support the creative community of Phoenix with Creative Connect. You rock.

The Independent Film Project (IFP) Phoenix sponsored a fantastic session Saturday with our attorney, Jill Ormond, of Baird, Williams and Greer and Noel Paynter of Film Production Capital, L.L.C. They each took turns speaking to the group about their areas of expertise, respectively, legalities of your film production and financing. Noel’s company offers assistance with transferable tax credits in every state, including Arizona. He spoke at length about the process in Arizona, the restrictions, etc. It sounds like the program is gaining traction but unfortunately it is only due to go until 2010 right now. You can click here to see how many tax credits are left for 2009.

Jill covered the legal issues every step of the way through forming your L.L.C. and copyright issues all the way through distribution and marketing. Jill discussed getting the right agreements in place, clearances, music rights, etc. and keeping your attorney in the loop through out the process to keep you out of trouble. Thanks, Jill for all you have done for us and all we hope to have you do in the future!

Today we are in “Two if by Sea” a cover story in the Phoenix Business Journal. Thanks Chris!

Friday, February 20, 2009
Unlikely journeys lead to creation of film businesses
Phoenix Business Journal – by Chris Casacchia

Stephanie Houser Silverman embarked on a new career in the movie business during a shipwreck odyssey in the British West Indies.

Carole Bartholomeaux’s job with a New York Times best-selling author led her to a treasure hunter in Australia.

Eventually, both established film production companies in Phoenix.

The two businesswomen took circuitous routes –– filled with tales of shipwrecks and the open seas –– to the film industry. One day, their own stories may end up on the big screen. But for now, they’re working on movies about other people, and they just struck their first major deals.

Silverman’s company, launch flix, finalized an option agreement with Minneapolis-based Lerner Publishing Group for a feature film based on the story of Holocaust survivor Henry Oertelt, author of the award-winning book “An Unbroken Chain: My Journey Through the Nazi Holocaust.”

Oertelt, a Berlin native, was 12 years old when Adolf Hitler came to power. He witnessed the devastation of Kristallnacht, “the Night of Broken Glass,” on Nov. 9, 1938, with his mother and brother. Many consider that night the start of the Holocaust, as Hitler’s troops burned and demolished Jewish businesses, homes and temples and forced the first 30,000 Jews into concentration camps.

Silverman stumbled upon the opportunity to tell Oertelt’s story onscreen during a serious travel predicament.

In September 2006, she sold her firm, launch PR, to Allison & Partners. On March 1, 2007, she embarked on a sailing trip around the world with her husband, Hayden, an avid sailor, and their golden retriever, Celis (named after a Texas beer).

But four months into their voyage, their 42-foot Fountaine Pajot Venezia catamaran, aptly named Plan B, was hit by lightning, wiping out the electrical system, radar, VHF radio and lighting.

Stranded on the Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos for three months, Silverman began chronicling their mishap. She rented numerous movies from a store miles inland and read books about screenplays and the film industry in her spare time. The pair’s only real communication with family was via the Internet.

After her husband fixed the boat (the auto pilot had to be shipped back to its manufacturer in France), they continued their journey, traveling to many island nations, including St. Thomas. There, she had a chance encounter with Oertelt’s granddaughter, who told Silverman her grand­father was looking for a screenwriter.

In June 2008, the couple sold their boat in the Virgin Islands. Two months later, Silverman returned to the U.S. and opened the downtown Phoenix office of launch flix.

Oertelt’s screen adaptation is in development. The company is scouting locations in Europe and looking for talent and investors.

“My main concern is putting out a great film on the lowest budget possible,” said Silverman, who also is working on a screenplay dubbed “Plan B.”

Independent movie budgets can range from $2 million to $12 million.

We bought our Canon XH A1 video camera from BKW Corporated last year, in preparation of our first trip to meet Dr. Henry A. Oertelt, a Holocaust survivor who we are working with on on adapation of his book, An Unbroken Chain: My Journey Through The Nazi Holocaust. Recently we finished our first short from the footage we took during that trip but our editor couldn’t export the finished film to a DVD. I wanted to enter the ASU Short Film Festival and the deadline was almost up. After we called around and asked a few people, H suggested we call Jim Weingarden at BKW (pictured). We had paid for “education” when we purchased our camera, so we knew he wasn’t opposed to helping his clients. We ended up going to his office where Jim walked us through the process – twice – and helped us successfully complete our DVD and enter the contest on time. If you ever need to purchase video equipment, we highly recommend Jim. It was nice having a local contact who helped us when we really needed it rather than a faceless out-of-state Internet company. Thanks Jim! We should have the short up on the Internet very soon and will share the link then.

I was sitting at the notorious “Bean” on Sunset Boulevard today waiting for a meeting with a cool guy, another producer, when I decided to type up my notes from this event last night and share them with anyone interested in funding a film project in today’s climate.

Panelists included an investor, Bernard Kinsey, Brenda Doby-Flewellyn, president, Film Bankers International, a consultancy for introducing investors and producers, and Schuyler M. Moore, an investment banker for Strook & Strook & Lavan LLP, who has worked with Summit Entertainment, and Reliance Films. Moore wrote a book called The Biz and teaches at UCLA in addition to his day job.

Key points
• Develop a criteria for projects, Repeat that process
• Hollywood does well in a recession
• However, nobody can do well with confidence credit issues like now
• Moderator commentedIdeas Don’t Stop
• DVD sales way down
• Piracy out of control
• Skylar predicts all states will be wiped out of tax incentive programs
• What is the return on capital?
• Get someone with biz sense to partner with you
• Don’t pitch angels/investors on “greed,” (making lots of money) demonstrate they will get their money back
• Some equity outside America: India, China, Hong Kong
• mariage made in heaven – advertisers and indie film makers: pitch ad people on sponsoring your film, product placement, other tie ins. They are desperate to get their brands out and their ads are being Tivoed and fast forwarded through.
• A good line producer is really important to investors
• Get an experienced partner in the industry if you are new
• Piracy is a huge issue – DVD sales are decreasing at the rate piracy is increasing
• Pay attn. to Internet shorts, there is a huge demand for shorts, people don’t have time for full movies, time for 5, 10 minute breaks.
• Research: Go deep/wide web series and Youtube, and see what’s popular
• Watch what Apple TV is doing with films, will be like what they did with music
• Five million dollar films that need twenty five million in marketing are not money makers

Yes, it’s true. My friend and mentor Howard Lindzon, of Wallstrip.com. and Stocktwits.com fame is releasing his first book, The WallStrip Edge, on Feb. 18, 2009. Howard was my boss at my first job after graduating college and we worked together a few more times over the years. Most recently, in 2006, my PR firm, LAUNCH, represented Golfnow.com, one of Howard’s many successful investments. (The company was sold to Comcast in March, 2008.) When I returned from being off the grid on my sabbatical a few months ago, it didn’t take long to hear about Wallstrip.

Like most non-professional investors, I was hoping to get some solid investment tips from the book. Howard has a great sense of humor and the book was an easy read. Of course, although the current climate is radically unappealing, it’s still important to get the basics so that you’re ready to jump in when the time is right.

Howard shares practical ideas for new and non-professional investors to get started following trends and investing. He discusses the risks and the commitment level needed to manage your own portfolio including to do lists at the end of every chapter. He has a lot of ideas about trend following and uses examples like Crocs, Apple, and Chipotle to make his case. (Let me share my trend idea for all: privately owned Ed Hardy! Keep your eye on that brand, it’s been growing and just hit Costco.) Mid way through the book we learn Lindzon’s secret weapon – “The All-Time-High list.”

The book talks about using trends to make money. Howard starts with some basic and maybe surprising advice, “Turn off the T.V.” and explains why he will show a better, quieter and more peaceful way to invest. As on his blog, Howard freely shares stories of his mistakes through out the book.

The book is filled with gems that are pure Howard: “If you want to invest, be prepared to suck at times!” and “The market is a giant mood ring” come to mind. How says that money spent by consumers and flow from the institutions is all you need to follow to beat the market.

Through out the book he shares some of his rules:
• Never let trades turn into investments, but be willing to let investments become trades.

• Sell when you can

• don’t be a pig

• booking profits and paying taxes is fine.

• The trend is your friend.

As mentioned, each chapter is followed by a To-Do List that summarizes the information he’s shared. In fact, he devotes a whole chapter to doing homework, although contradicts himself when he later warns against doing too much homework, because the data can talk you out of any stock position. He shares four sources of information that he uses himself:

1. My own experience – am I excited, disappointed, indifferent?
2. On-line financial info web sites
3. Social networking and other web sites where I can gauge people’s involvement with products
4. A network of investors who think out loud on-line and whose opinions I trust

Most readers will be able to easily follow his ideas and suggestions. Some may even start the research and thought processes that Howard describes in order to put together a fitting plan. Personally, I felt inspired enough to log onto StockTwits.com and make a purchase after reading through the current threads on the company I chose – even in the current economy.

Today we announced our option is finalized for the award winning book, An Unbroken Chain: My Journey Though the Nazi Holocaust.  You can read more at my special blog, An Unbroken Chain: The Movie where I am blogging along with my friend, 88 year old Holocaust Survivor, and author of the book, Dr. Henry Oertelt.  

(Pictured is Phoenix 100 Rotary’s Carl Balderson and Rotary International president D.K. Kee, with author!)

As some of you may know, I was heavily involved in Phoenix non profits and business groups prior to my sabbatical including sitting on the boards and or being a member of:

Enterprise Network

National Association of Women Business Owners

Arizona Angels

American Marketing Association

Phoenix Advertising Club

Enterprise Women’s Golf Association

You get the picture. So, now that I’m back, I’m looking for ways to contribute. I’ve decided to try to do some more volunteering rather than just joining a club for networking. 

So far, I’ve joined the Independent Film Project in Phoenix and the Phoenix Holocaust Survivors Association. I now have an office that the IFP referred me to, so I’m loving them along with my monthly free movie screenings, workshops and, great networking. (Oh well.)  The PHSA suggested I join, due to my involvement with a Holocaust film, and I am continually doing research, so it made sense.

I still have some time, so I am researching local organizations.  I really like WasteNot but it turns out that my former business partner is on the board.  I will wait for her invitation to become involved, (and, I may be waiting awhile, apparently..)

I accompanied a fellow filmmaker to the Rotary Club in Phoenix, called the Phoenix 100, last week.  I have never been to a meeting and it was basically a meal during a number of announcements and awards, and then a speaker, fairly typical, I guess. It felt a little long to sit that long although I liked hearing the speaker. Luckily for me, it was the president of Rotary International for 2009, Dong Kurn (D.K.) Lee, whose message his Make Dreams Real. I like that!  I think he means others, not my own, but its definitely catchy. (Just kidding.)

After our meal, my friend wanted her photo taken with D.K. After I snapped the shot, and thanked him, he invited me to take a photo with him and noticed I had a guest badge. The next thing you know, he handed me a Rotary pin and a membership application, introduced me to Carl Balderson, of the Phoenix group, and made me feel like the most important person in the room. He absolutely would not take no for an answer and demanded I promise to join the group. I did.  (I didn’t say when.)

My friend, member Barbara A. from New York, is a great representative and promises she only invited me for make up points, and not to sign me up.  (Hmmm.)

So, I’ve taken a glance at the web site, and membership fees (about $1,000.00 for the first year) and I have some feedback for D.K. and the club to attract new young blood to the group.

I absolutely LOVE your four way test. I would like to be a member of a club whose members feel that way:

THE FOUR WAY TEST:

Of the things we Think, Say or Do:

1. Is it the Truth?

2. Is it Fair to all concerned?

3. Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?

4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

I love the diversity and amount of groups you support. Including the golf tourney! Sign me up!

Of course, in this economy, that seems like a hefty amount for a new professional membership. For a non profit, it is a nice contribution, and I think it is reasonable. I wish I wasn’t starting a new venture, but I am, so it would go in the future pile.  Every dime is being directed at making my first feature film, see An Unbroken Chain: The Movie.

But, if money wasn’t an object, I guess, I would say off the top of my head, besides my guest, the speaker made me feel important. I didn’t get that feeling from others at my table, not that they weren’t nice but they didn’t seem to care whether they saw me again or not. No one offered their card, nor did I offer mine.

Attire. It was Friday, and many were in business suits. I am at a point where I’d rather dress down, even wear jeans on Friday, and I don’t think I’m alone, especially in Arizona.

Location. I like the Heard, and I love Tradicionales. I would definitely love to go there every Friday for lunch!

Frequency.  Weekly? Seriously? That feels like such a huge commitment! The last person who asked me for that kind of commitment was my husband, and I dated him for seven years before accepting his proposal!  Can’t we just be friends and see each other casually? (Maybe  a casual membership for the commitment phobes?)

Web Site. Needs an overhaul, along with a blog, Twitter, Facebook account, maybe a NING group, and the rest of today’s Internet tools to keep the ADD generation interested. Then, link with all the charities you support, have them do the same, and now you’re talking!

OK I used to get paid a lot of money for this advice, DK so I hope you will share it with your board, and whoever else cares, and have them call me, and we can barter my membership this year in return for my efforts to update your web presence and advise you on my generations’ hot buttons.

Please feel free to comment, or contact me directly to discuss! D.K., thank you for the invite and the pin, and I do hope to keep in touch!

Today, in honor of Dr. Henry Oertelt’s 88^th birthday we shared the link to our new movie blog and Facebook page with our family and friends. Dr. Oertelt is the author of An Unbroken Chain: My Journey Through the Nazi Holocaust.  We will be blogging about our new project together over the coming months.  The “official” announcement will be going over the wire on January 26 at the National Association of Television Production Executives.