Michael Lentine
Seneca, SC (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal
EarthArtist Mountain Studio-Campus LLC
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Startup
Location:
Seneca
Industry:
Entertainment
Year Founded:
2002
Number Employees:
1-10 people
Description:
EarthArtist Studios™ Master Plan
Abstract
EarthArtist Studio™ Master Plan creates a story-driven business, infrastructure and art model that reduces production and corporate costs, thereby justifying the demand-driven establishment of a competitive motion picture and television studio-complex in the Southeastern U.S. EarthArtist Studios™ is producing its own products while partnering with major studios and producer-clients.
Mission
- EarthArtist Mountain Studio-Campus LLC purchased the former WestPoint Stevens’ Seneca Plant (500 ksf) in S.C. and is converting it into the largest motion picture soundstages in the world, automated by DeSisti’s mobile light-grid system. EarthArtist Lowcountry Studio-Campus is located at our investor’s property, The Borough Plantation (4,200 acres);
- Provide the means of production to accomplish all stages of production at our facilities while providing ready-access to natural, urban and historic settings in a right-to-work state;
- EarthArtist Equity Fund™, a rotating credit facility, provides packaging lines of credit to producer-clients in order to qualify for production finance;
- Produce Keeper of the House, Nom de Plume, Blood & Bone, Pretty Penny & Denmark Vesy
- Establish EarthArtist Post-house (45% state + 40% federal tax credits);
- Establish the Film Institute of the South with $3 million of recurrent state funds as an alliance of colleges partnering with the private sector;
- Develop EarthArtist Preserve™ @ Highlands - Cashiers as a green mountain community for talent and executives ($6m tax credit) and EarthArtist Hamlet™ for production technicians;
- Infuse guiding principles of artistic integrity, accurate GAAP accounting and intrapreneurial executive empowerment into the matrix of our corporate culture;
- Strengthen the S.C. Motion Picture Industry Incentive Act’s infrastructural incentives; and
- Create an economic benefit to preserve precious natural and historic settings, considered infrastructure assets by producers. (S.C. film bill entitles producers to shoot on state property, parks, political sub-divisions and universities at no cost.)
EarthArtist envisions phased development of an international filmmaking community with rapid expansion in Phase 2. Phase 1 investment of $120 million for studio construction, film projects and operational costs will be profitable and approach full-capacity levels before expanding further. Investors have the right of first refusal to participate in demand-driven studio expansion and EarthArtist Equity Fund’s slate of film projects.
EarthArtist Fair Deal guarantees profits to participants after coverage of incurred direct, observable production and distribution costs. Participants include investors, associates, producer-clients, talent and technicians. All non-direct, allocated development, production and distribution costs will be covered with either explicitly defined, pre-stated fees or will be covered by EarthArtist’s share of net proceeds. With true net participation, EarthArtist Fair Deal strives to minimize excessive “first dollar gross” talent guarantees that force excessive production costs and the no net proceeds phenomenon, thereby yielding true profit participation while motivating all participants to share risk and deliver quality product at reasonable costs.
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