Earth Lion Productions' principal, Bonnie has extensive experience in business, and a fast growing knowledge and experience in the Entertainment industry. Graduating in 1990 from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, concentration in Fiction Writing, Bonnie worked full-time in the Telecommunications Industry while spending free time writing short stories. After receiving her MBA from Averett University in Virginia in 1995, Bonnie felt equipped to start and successfully operate three online/internet businesses since then, while still maintaining full-time employment.
It wasn’t until she was presented with the opportunity in 1996 to write a spec script for Pressman Films (for a 3rd installment to "The Crow" series), that her passion for writing morphed into a desired career in screenwriting. For the past three and a half years, she has worked at 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, MGM, Universal, Lions Gate, Disney, NBC studios, and State Street Pictures. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2001, Bonnie has worked on several screenplays, from various stages of development to the ones in a finished draft stage. It is evident, Ms. Rutherford brings to the table both a highly creative and experienced business mind.
Michael graduated cum laude from York
University’s film school in Toronto, Canada in 1999. Upon graduating, he
received the highest award as a filmmaker by the Academy of Canadian Cinema &
Television, designating him as one of Canada’s top graduating students from a
film academy. In 2002, Michael graduated with a Masters degree in Directing
from the American Film Institute. His short film, The Legend of Razorback stars
Kevin McCarthy, was mentored by producer/director Robert Wise and was funded by
Jay Leno. It is distributed by Doug Liman’s Hypnotic Films. It has screened at
over fifteen film festivals around the world and has won awards in Hollywood,
Yorkton, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Temecula and Rochester, N.Y. Most recently it
played to a sold out audience at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
His other films have won awards in Toronto, Germany, Tel Aviv and Montreal
including the Gold Special Jury award at Houston Worldfest in 2003, best short
in Fort Lauderdale, an audience choice award and four Kodak cinematography
awards. Michael is currently writing and producing a feature film for
Canadian-based Valkyrie Films and producer Bruce Johnson. He has a syndicated
talk show and several reality-based shows in development through his own
production company, Starfilm Entertainment. He is also in development with his
first feature film as director.
Ivy has 10+ years of office management experience. She graduated from the University of Colorado in 1995 with a BA in Communications. After graduation she worked for the University of Colorado, Denver campus in the International Training, Education, and Research Academy. She was the Program Administrator for the Dept. of Research Administration. While there, Ivy coordinated several committees dealing with internal and external funding for research programs. She was also managed the Welfare to Work and Career Development training sessions held nationwide.
Ivy moved to Los Angeles in February, 2000. While in LA, she has worked for Tribe Management Partners, Digital-Reign, and Fox Studios. These companies have given her a lot of Industry experience with managing people, departments and projects.
Shortly after graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara with degrees in both English and Film Studies, Jeff moved to Los Angeles in search of his dreams like so many before him. Within a year of graduating, Jeff worked as a PA in the IMAX field, and as an Executive Assistant with a well known Management firm, all the while balancing these jobs with his true passion; working as a reader with an independent film company. Using the education he received in college, Jeff quickly escalated to the rank of Junior Development Executive, and his desire to work in development has only grown since.
The Company will hire independent consultants and contractors during the development, production, and distribution processes for each project. Some of the current resources include:
And over 100 Script Coverage Readers/Analysts as independent contractors (as needed basis) for our Coverage services.
Earth Lion Productions (the "Company") has established a Board
of Advisors, which includes highly qualified business and industry
professionals. The Board of Advisors will advise the Management team in making
appropriate decisions and taking effective action. However, the Board of
Advisors will not be responsible for Management decisions and has no legal or
fiduciary responsibility to the Company.
Business Management
Audrey Blackmon of Roseville, California, has over 20 years experience in sales
and marketing, and has been a central force in helping start-ups companies get
to profitable status ($8+ million annual revenue at POS Portal, Inc. in less
than two years; $80+ million annual revenue at Resource Leasing/Leasecomm Inc.;
and $20+ million annual revenue at St Anthony's Publishing Company).
Currently as Vice President of ISO/Rental Finance (POS Portal), Audrey is in charge of a successful sales staff and overseas the distribution sales channels as well as heading the Rental/Lease program. Before joining POS Portal, Mrs. Blackmon developed a sales department at Resource Leasing/Leasecomm Inc., a leading bankcard leasing company with over 400 employees. Prior to that, Audrey led a successful sales department at St. Anthony’s Publishing Company, a leader in medical publishing. Audrey also serves as Vice President of the Southeast Acquirers’ Association and is recognized as a leader in the bankcard industry. She is a member of several other professional organizations and serves on several boards.
As a senior advisor, Audrey brings to the Company the strongest business knowledge base for growing a successful start-up business into a multi-million dollar corporation. Her marketing and sales background will be an integral resource for planning successful marketing campaigns.
Entertainment Banking
The Company has initiated a dialogue with a major entertainment bank in an
advisory relationship. The Entertainment Bank will assist the Company in the
evaluation of collateral (if ever needed in the future), obtaining current
domestic and international earnings data relative to emerging market trends, and
evaluating the credit worthiness of distributors and banks in foreign
territories.
Entertainment Attorney
The Company has initiated a dialogue and continues to participate in
conversations with an entertainment industry attorney serving at a major law
firm with a global presence. This firm is regarded as a leading entertainment
law firm and represents independent production companies, directing and acting
talent, international distributors, entertainment lending banks, and insurance
organizations. It is anticipated that the Company will formally engage this firm
to provide legal counsel and prepare documentation for the Company on its
project during all phases (development through distribution).
Public Relations/Advertising
The Company has initiated a dialogue and continues to participate in
conversations with an entertainment industry public relations firm that
currently manages the publicity of major independent production companies,
international distributors and performs project-based publicity for major U.S.
studio features and major U.S. broadcast network episodic television shows. It
is anticipated that the Company will formally engage this firm to manage the
Company's publicity and assist in the pictures’ trade marketing during
development and distribution.
Physical Production
The Company has initiated dialogue with successful motion picture and television
producers in an advisory capacity. These producers will assist the Company in
reality-check evaluations of the project’s script, budget, shooting schedule,
crew line up, and distribution plan. Certain phases may warrant retaining the
paid services of one or more producers for executive or co-producer roles to
ensure successful distribution.
Completion Bond
Currently the Company has initiated a dialogue with a leading motion picture
completion guarantor in an advisory capacity. The Completion Guarantor will
assist the Company in the evaluation of the budgets and shooting schedules of
the projects and in meeting all the Company’s motion picture bonding
requirements.
Entertainment Accountant
The Company has initiated dialogue with entertainment accountants in an advisory
capacity. Upon funding one will be retained to oversee the Company’s accounting
records and ensure all federal and state requirements are met. The designated
accountant will likely handle any subsequent audits for investment purposes, or
another shall be retained with a concentration in securities audits.
Note: List (and respective bio’s if available) of current
and anticipated Advisory Board Members available upon request and upon his/her
approval. Some candidates require retainer fees to have his/her name or company
listed in published business documents or on websites.