The latest in innovative ways to raise budgets for feature film and tv projects is the subject of discussion at Creative Financing For Film and Television, a one-day conference produced by Brunico Marketing Inc.

Set for Dec. 1 in West Hollywood, guest speakers will include The Shooting Gallery coo Jonathan Marshall (Slingblade); Franchise Pictures president Andrew Stevens (The Confession, Battlefield Earth); Rick Mischel, producer of Suicide Kings and president of The Harvey Entertainment Company; Trimark Pictures vp business affairs Wayne Levin; Encore Entertainment Group president Robert Leighton; Jeffrey Konvitz, producer of 2001: A Space Travesty; Gullane Pictures cochairman Charles Falzon, producer of Thomas and The Magic Railroad; Carlton America/Hamdon Entertainment president Stephen Davis; Andrea Sperling, a partner with actress Christina Ricci in Blaspheme Films; Peace Arch Entertainment Group president Tim Gamble; Destination Film Distribution’s Barry London; and Jed Daly, a consultant for Cinevisions/ICE Media/ Chaross Pictures.

Banking and financing reps speaking are Imperial Entertainment Group president Morgan Rector; The Motion Picture Bond Company head Joe Hobel; Film Finances Canada president Bob Presner; and Neal Clarance, a partner in Entertainment Industry Services, Ellis Foster; Carolyn Stamegna, partner with Gowling, Strathy & Henderson; and Andrew Kay, managing partner Kay & Warburton.

The panelists will host breakfast roundtables, allowing attendees to ask questions and network in smaller groups.

Conference sessions will explore issues relating to the financing of tv and feature-length projects, the various ways to successfully raise capital, and how to manage the high costs of distribution.

Specific topics include Anatomy of a Deal: Making the Most of your Production Budget, in which producers and financial advisers will highlight recent projects as examples of ways to put together deals using presales, deferrals, and tax credits, and explain how private investment, gap financing and rights negotiations came into play. The panelists will also discuss various means to lower production budgets while maintaining high production values.

A Co-Production and Co-Financing panel will use case studies to show various ways of putting together partnerships in both the television and feature film arena.

Broadcasters and distributors will take the stand at an Alternative Financing session where they will offer tips on the types of projects they are prebuying, the licence fees they offer and the rights they take when bringing films to the small screen.

The pros and cons of insurance-backed financing are up for discussion as well. In addition to laying down what producers gain and lose in the deals, the session will offer insight into what banks and insurance companies are looking for in terms of budget, company track record and overall package before okaying these deals. The future of insurance-backed financing will also be debated.

Creative Financing For Film and Television is sponsored by Playback, KidScreen and RealScreen magazines.