Elizabeth Avellan –Producer of the SPY KIDS franchise, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN franchise, SIN CITY, PREDATORS, MACHETE, WHEN ANGELS SING, and THE FACULTY invests in DF Indie Partners (DFIP) and joins DF Indie Studios Advisory Board. DF Indie Partners is the partnership that owns DF Indie Studios.
NEW YORK, December 15, 2011 – Elizabeth Avellan expressed her strong belief in DF Indie Studios and the benefits it can bring to Indie film producers and investors by investing herself today. Elizabeth is a highly respected Hollywood film producer who titles have aggregated over $1 billion in box office worldwide. Some titles include: SPY KIDS, SIN CITY, MACHETE, PREDATORS, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, WHEN ANGELS SING, and THE FACULTY.
Elizabeth (a good friend of DF Indie Studios CEO Mary Dickinson) has a variety of exciting film projects that she would like to bring to DF Indie Studios. The New York-based venture (DFIS), guided by seasoned industry consultants and an experienced advisory board, embraces a transparent and unlevered business model that combines the best features of major studios with the cost efficiencies of independent film.
But most importantly Elizabeth points out: “DF Indie studios provides a holy grail of support to talented producers and is a producer centric model. “
“We could not be more excited to have a producer as talented as Elizabeth as both and investor and Advisory Board member” says CEO, Mary Dickinson. “Elizabeth’s ability to identify, produce and deliver highly commercial projects both on time and on budget is exactly what we love to work with in a producer”.
DFIS aims to finance, and distribute between 10 to12 multi-genre, commercially viable films per year, budgeted up to $10 million and backed by a guaranteed U.S. theatrical release, foreign sales, P&A revolver, as well as distribution across all platforms. This film financing model contains a core value that is very appealing to investors, and unique to the industry – investors’ return will be based on all the revenue streams of the company, including distribution fees and exit value.
The DFIS distribution strategy was developed in conjunction with veteran Ira Deutchman, a three-decade distribution and marketing expert who has worked on over 150 films and helped launch Fine Line Features and Cinecom Entertainment Group.
Elizabeth is also a long time friend with another DFIS advisory board member John Hadity. DFIS engaged respected studio finance executive John Hadity from his early days at Miramax to guide them through the intricate world of film financing, tax incentives and production planning. Hadity, currently the Chairman of the Producers Guild of America East, served 12 years as EVP of production for Miramax and currently Heads Entertainment Partners new Financing Division.
The DFIS advisory board includes Ben Silverman, Head of Electus and former Head of NBC Universal; David Wiederecht, President of Investment Strategies and Chief Investment Officer for GE Asset Management; Clark Hallren, head of preeminent entertainment finance consulting firm Clear Scope Partners; Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton; and now A-List producer Elizabeth Avellan