The Owl
- 15 Jun 2005 18:26
Finger trouble: S/be Electonic Arts in Title! Edited for you. A moderator
Intandem Films PLC
15 June 2005
Intandem Films Plc (the 'Company')
Directorate change
The Board is pleased to announce that Alastair John Kennedy has been appointed
as Finance Director with immediate effect. Mr Kennedy is a Chartered Accountant
having trained at Ernst and Young. Mr Kennedy was previously employed by
Electronic Arts UK Studio where he was finance director for four years.
Save as disclosed below, there are no further details required to be disclosed
pursuant to schedule 2(f) of the AIM rules.
Andrew McWhirter, the previous Finance Director, resigned as a director of the
Company and the Board accepted his resignation 14 June 2005. Mr McWhirter's
part time consultancy contract with the Company has been terminated.
Alastair John Kennedy, age 41
Current Directorships Past Directorships
Vacationer Ltd None
End
IFM is a film finance company which joined AIM this quarter. It creates a revenue stream and turns a profit by taking a % cut of feature films - helping with both production & promotion/marketing activities. Several films on the books this year including films previewed at Cannes in May 2005.
New Finance Director announced today previously with Electronic Arts (ERTS on NASDAQ) - over 5 years seeing a share price climb from ~$28 to the $60 mark today. One to watch - literally! DYOR
Further info: www.intandemfilms.com
moneyman
- 28 Aug 2005 00:18
- 14 of 100
Intandem Films is involved in "Executive production" and "International sales" of films. They aim to charge a fee, payable out of the budget, of 1-2% so a 5M pound film would amass them 75K. They will also take a commission on all sales of circa 10-25%. This would be paid via distributors prior to release so they are not dependant upon the box office success.
Fee's are payable up front. The aim is to generate atleast 250K/film. Strategy is to handle around 5 films/year with an aggregate budget of 30M. They are presently working on two films but this should increase significantly with the recent Number 9 films consortium agreement as listed in the above news item ref agreement.
The company website is http://www.intandemfilms.com where details of films can be found. They receive around 10 films/week to access for comercial viability. They are presently in discussions with major films having budgets over $50M and they expect to exploit this market fully.
The recent agreement opens the door and also additional funding availability and ties the company ups with large consortiums such as The Irish Film Board, Channel 4 Movies and The UK Film Council. Again read the above RNS for additional details.
Gary Smith, Chairman, expects the company to have completed atleast 20 films within the next five years with budgets OVER 120M. Once established and in profit they may also move into distribution through aquisition. He continues to say that he believes that people will become much more aware of the company as new films are released and that their strategy is "very low risk". The business model yields high gross profit margins.
Just managed to get some time to have a further look around the company website. Some interesting news articles to be found;
http://www.intandemfilms.com/news/index.htm
"CANNES ROCKS!...Sure To Be The Biggest Stir...STONED" [ 10/05/2005 ]
"CANNES ROCKS!...Sure To Be The Biggest Stir...STONED" EMPIRE MAGAZINE, June 2005
intandem Films are very excited to be taking STONED to the Cannes Film Festival for its premiere market screening, which is hotly anticipated amongst buyers and press alike. The film has become a MUST SEE generating high levels of interest from the industry and the public.
Some upcomming exhibitions are also on the cards;
http://www.intandemfilms.com/festivals/index.htm
Toronto Film Festival
Sept. 817, 2005
http://www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/
American Film Market
Nov. 2 - 9, 2005
http://www.americanfilmmarket.com
Office details:
TBA
Screening schedule:
TBA
Berlin International Film Festival
http://www.berlinale.de
Office details:
TBA
Screening schedule:
TBA
They now have 5 films which they are either selling or working on up from the original 3 previosley mentioned;
Details here http://www.intandemfilms.com/int_sales/worst-nightmares.htm
All in all it looks a very interesting investment. One blockbuster could see the shareprice reach a very substantial higher level. The potential is there for all to see. It is now time for investors to take a serious look at this penny share IMHO.
intandem signs up in 1.8m partnership to develop twenty new films Aug 9 2005
Film financing and distribution firm intandem has joined up with Number 9 Films, Film Four and the Irish Film Board in a 1.8 million deal that will help develop up to twenty new movies.
The contract has been awarded by the UK Film Council as part of their Super-Slate Development Funding Award.
The council will provide the consortium with 300,000 per annum for the next three years, with the companies providing their own matchfunding. intandem's contribution to the consortium will be up to 100,000 per annum.
intandem, which floated on the AIM market in April, will take on the role of executive producer and international sales agent.
Number 9 Films, which has produced films such as Scandal, Interview With A Vampire, The Crying Game and Ladies In Lavender, will
produce the films in conjunction with various other selected producers.
Film Four will acquire the UK television rights.
The consortium is already in negotiations for four projects. One of which is based on a best-selling book in the style of Bridget Jones's Diary.
Twenty-eight consortia applied to the UK Film Council for the award with only four, including Number 9, being offered the highest level of funding. Gary Smith, chairman of intandem, said the funding was great news for the company and for Birmingham.
"We are delighted and honoured to be part of such an exciting and talented group of film makers. This is an important step in intandem's strategy of securing international distribution rights in film projects at an early stage, which we expect to result in a valuable film catalogue.
"We also want the films we produce to be premiered in Birmingham, which will raise the profile of the city."
intandem hopes to continue to expand its list of films and is working with firms in Los Angeles and Canada to create a portfolio of horror movies. The company is to hold the UK launch of Stoned - a biopic of Rolling Stone Brian Jones - in the autumn. Directed by Stephen Wooley from Number 9 Films, it was screened in Cannes in May.
altoid
- 01 Sep 2005 21:31
- 15 of 100
Great post moneyman. I think that the model for this company is firmly established . There is no doubt that the potential is for a substantial increase in the share price. I am still waiting for evidence of more films to show that the model can be put into practice and for evidence of a decent distribution del for the Brian Jones film. If they can achieve that then they will be a raging buy.Frankly I would rather buy at 5 or 6p with the evidence available than the current price without the evidence. I'm definitely watching out for news.
moneyman
- 01 Sep 2005 23:13
- 16 of 100
Hello altoid,
I prefer to get in at the bottom but thats me. A poster on ADVFN stated that Stoned got a raving review in last weeks Sunday press so hopefully it will result in distribution deals to be announced.
Do you not think that the recent RNS constitutes that IFM will get a host of films in the future ?
altoid
- 02 Sep 2005 10:32
- 17 of 100
Yes, it should do. But if those come in, the shares will be much higher than 5p! As soon as they announce films from the Film Council and/or Stoned distribution, I reckon there'll be a window of opportunity, on a lower risk basis, to get in before the market realises what's happening at this company.
stockdog
- 02 Sep 2005 10:48
- 18 of 100
The deal with UKFC is for development funding. Film development is like oil exploration - pouring money into a hole in the ground. It takes on average 5-7 years to get a development project from scratch financed and into production, although with this consortium that could be 2-3 years - if they ever agree on what they all like, which is a typical problem of consortium development. Of every 1000 scripts, 1 gets made. Of every 10 films made, in this context, as many as half will not break even.
"Announcing films from the Film Council" - sorry guys, you have no idea what you mean.
good luck
sd
altoid
- 03 Sep 2005 09:51
- 19 of 100
Maybe your right on a general basis sd but surely with proven active companies like Stephen Woolley and Channel 4 together with the team at Intandem, the process will be quicker and as soon as they make announcements, it is a demonstration of that activity. I have read an interview with Mr Woolley that Stoned was in development for several years before Intandem came along and put it together in six months. At least they're getting funding from third parties for development. Like I said, I will wait for more positive signs before taking the plunge, but this has huge upside potential as, like an oil exploration company, it only needs one strike to make a massive difference....just look at Cairn!
stockdog
- 03 Sep 2005 13:05
- 20 of 100
With oil, when you look for it right through to when you find it, you know it's worth $65 a barrell. With a film, when you start it right through to when you've fininshed it, you have no idea what it's worth until you start to market it. Big difference.
Altoid - you must be able to find better shares to invest in somewhere in the UK markets.
However, I do wish IFM well, since I am a well-invested champion of their broker/NOMAD DGT.
sd
moneyman
- 03 Sep 2005 22:05
- 21 of 100
Screen International reviews STONED [ 10/08/2005 ]
Mike Goodridge in Los Angeles 10 August 2005
Dir: Stephen Woolley. UK. 2005. 102mins.
Veteran UK producer Stephen Woolley makes an accomplished directorial debut with Stoned, an absorbing portrait of Brian Jones, the founding member of The Rolling Stones, and the events surrounding his death on July 2, 1969. Rich in period atmosphere and music, the film possesses the same knowing style and historical intrigue as Scandal and Backbeat, both of which Woolley produced.
Like those titles, Stoned should cause a stir in theatrical markets (it is pencilled in for a November 11 release in the UK), especially given the publicity that will be generated by its rock legend subject, the salacious alleged murder at its heart and the enduring popularity of the Stones themselves who have a new CD and tour which kicks off later this month.
Playing at a slew of film festivals this season it enjoys a world premiere at Edinburgh, followed by Toronto, San Sebastian, Rio De Janeiro, Dinard and Stockholm Stoned will pick up attention wherever it screens, setting tongues to wagging and journalists to scribbling.
Based on three books published in the 1990s, the film explores the last three months of Jones life in which Frank Thorogood, the builder renovating his country pile, developed a close relationship with his new boss and was present the night when he drowned in his swimming pool. Both Thorogood and Jones had been taking large quantities of drugs and alcohol. A verdict of death by misadventure was recorded at the time.
In 1993, on his deathbed, Thorogood allegedly confessed that he murdered Jones. The subsequent books, including one by Jones Swedish girlfriend Anna Wohlin, who was also at the house on the fateful night, all asserted that the death was not accidental.
Playing Thorogood and proving again that he is one of the UKs most compelling actors is Paddy Considine, this time sporting a thick London accent. A veteran of World War II, Thorogood was a fairly straight fellow who lived a dreary life in post-war suburbia.
When his best friend, the slick, dubious Stones manager Tom Keylock (Morrissey) enlists him to supervise some home improvements at Cotchford Farm, the East Sussex house where Jones (Gregory) lives, Thorogood is reluctant to take on the job and immediately resistant to the neuroses and apparent helplessness of the rock star.
Slowly, however, he becomes intoxicated by Jones charisma, sexual magnetism and louche lifestyle. Despite continuous mockery and taunts from Jones and his entourage, Thorogood proves a dependable housekeeper, cook and friend, and even becomes sexually enamoured of his boss.
But Jones, who had long since stopped working with the band and was burning through money fed him by the Stones organisation with increasing resistance, never treats his builder as anything more than a glorified servant.
Jones himself is cursed by a lack of work ethic and self-discipline, some extreme sexual peccadillos and an increasing propensity to self-destruction. Although the unquestioned guiding hand behind the creation and musical direction of the Stones, he was fired from the band shortly before his death and had lost the love of his life Anita Pallenberg (Mazur) to Keith Richards (Whishaw).
The film is most beguiling as a portrait, never more relevant than in todays celebrity-obsessed popular culture, of that mysterious star quality possessed by figures like Jones and the allure it holds for the people around them. The glamour, affluence and sexual shenanigans of the famous are in this case dangerously bewitching to the common man.
The chief shortcoming with the film lies in its narrative structure. As scripted by Robert Wade and Neil Purvis, Stoned attempts to tell the history (in flashback) of Jones and the bands rise to fame, in parallel with the Jones/Thorogood story.
While the Jones/Stones background gives context to the Jones character, it distracts from the Jones/Thorogood story which in itself is more dramatic. Likewise the films point of view veers between Jones and Thorogood, who is arguably ironically - a more fascinating character.
Woolley displays a second-nature grasp of his camera and his actors and pulls off some memorable scenes, notably one in which Wohlin (Novotny) is goaded by Jones to seduce Thorogood as well as the tense climactic build-up to the drowning.
Leo Gregory, a young English actor with upcoming credits including Green Street Hooligans and Tristan And Isolde, is generally successful at creating a seductive character in the amoral Jones, a former public school boy who commanded the respect of his musical peers like Hendrix and Lennon before his death at the age of 27.
The director did not enlist the participation of the surviving Stones in the production, and ensures that Richards and Mick Jagger are secondary characters with little part to play in the downward spiral of Jones life.
Like with The Beatles in Backbeat, there is no Stones music on the soundtrack; instead the film effectively employs the blues standards which were covered by the Stones in Jones time as well as other classics of the period like White Rabbit, Lazy Sunday Afternoon and Time Is On My Side.
More news
moneyman
- 03 Sep 2005 22:09
- 22 of 100
Stockdog you are correct but you are also wrong ! Oil exploration companies are worth little until they find that pool of oil. Then they become mighty giants. It is exactly the same with IFM. One blockbuster will see this trading in the teens two...three...who knows ! The whole of the stockmarket is a gamble however with this priced at less than the floatation price it is certainly worth buying at these levels prior to any news which may drive the stock higher.
BP and SHELL were minnows previosely ! So was FOX and TIME WARNER
The real answer is you or I really do not know but in terms of risk/reward it is certainly worth a punt.
stockdog
- 03 Sep 2005 23:18
- 23 of 100
My point was that each new film is an entirely new product - it may be oil - it may be rocks - you don't know till you've spent all the money - their price in the market is different. Tell me where the futures market in films is - Chicago, New York, Toronto - it's not a commodity, it's a consumer product.
Fox and Warners make films for $40-140million until they get it right and then spend 10's of millions marketing them. STONED probably cost 4 million and I bet the budget was skin tight and they had to compromise ont he script and when they'd found out what they'd got there was no extra money available to make it better than it was. It will be lucky of it gets a half decent US release which will cost at least $10million - who is releasing the film in the US? This is crucial not jsut in terms of how it does there, but as platform to underpin the entire rest of world release.
STONED - festival darling - box office, who knows (or cares)? I've known Steve Woolley since he was a teenager running the Scala Cinema - great chap - but he has had mixed fortunes to say the least.
Interesting book to read about Steve and Nick Powell (now runs National Film School) from their Palace Days, called "The Egos Have Landed" - enjoy.
Wish him, you, it all the best, but it is not a business to be relied upon for your pension plan.
sd
moneyman
- 04 Sep 2005 20:05
- 24 of 100
I get the feeling that you should be holding premium bonds SD or just going for FTSE100 stocks !
stockdog
- 04 Sep 2005 21:30
- 25 of 100
Not sure you get very far in life throwing childish insults out at people who offer genuine advice - just need to quietly decide not to follow it. Not to jump into a river full of rapids is not necessarily the same as being afraid to swim.
altoid
- 05 Sep 2005 11:28
- 26 of 100
SD, I respect your views as you clearly have experience of the film world and the stockmarket. My whole reason for looking at this share is that the gearing potential is huge. I am working on the basis that if the company can get a flow of projects, one of them will generate at least the market cap in revenue and provided they keep control of overhead, most of that revenue will flow through to profits. I have looked into the film world a great deal over the last few months and I believe that the main driver at the moment is DVD but in the future the internet will help to drive revenues higher by bringing in more customers, albeit at a lower price. You've made it clear that for whatever reason you don't like the company but you're obviously fascinated otherwise preumably you wouldn't waste your time posting on the board.
By the way, presumably you're an investor in Circle Oil
moneyman
- 08 Sep 2005 08:51
- 27 of 100
Distribution Agreement
Intandem Films Plc ( "Intandem" or the "Company")
Distribution Agreement
The board announces that the Company has secured the UK distribution for the
feature film Stoned (the "Film") in a co-distribution agreement between
Intandem and Vertigo Films.
It is anticipated that the Film will be launched in cinemas in the United
Kingdom and Ireland in November 2005 followed by a DVD release in the Spring of
2006.
Under the terms of the agreement with the Film's financier, Audley Films,
Intandem will be entitled to revenue from the direct distribution of the Film
in the United Kingdom and Ireland from cinemas, DVD, all forms of television
and airlines.
Intandem is the worldwide sales company for the Film and the UK distribution
agreement follows sales to Japan, Benelux, Brazil and several other
territories. Intandem is also in negotiations for distribution agreements in
the United States, Germany and France.
Following the Films premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival, Stoned has also
been invited to several prestigious, international film festivals that take
place during September and October of 2005 including Toronto, San Sebastian,
Dinard, Chicago and Rio de Janeiro.
Intandem is also pleased to announce that it has secured a worldwide
distribution agreement for a soundtrack of the music from the Film with Milan
Music, a specialist soundtrack company whose offices are in Paris and Los
Angeles. The soundtrack album for Stoned is planned for release in the UK
through Warner Records to coincide with the cinema release in November.
Internationally, the soundtrack will be distributed through Universal Music.
Stoned is a feature film based on the last three months of the life of Brian
Jones, the founder of The Rolling Stones, who died in his swimming pool in
1969. It has generated controversy in the media as it challenges the official
verdict of "Death by Misadventure."
Gary Smith, Chairman of Intandem, commented:
"We are delighted to be linking up with Vertigo Films for the UK release of
Stoned. They share our marketing vision for the film and we are looking forward
to the release in November. The soundtrack deal will ensure that we have a
comprehensive campaign for the release of Stoned featuring the internet,
targeted publicity, advertising and a soundtrack album available in the record
stores. As Brian Jones was an original rock'n' roll rebel who died at the age
of 27, the film should appeal to young people as well as the audience who were
around in the 1960s"
Notes
Intandem was established in November 2003 and was floated on AIM in April 2005.
It is a feature film company which arranges finance for the producers of films
and acts as an international sales company. It does not invest in the
production of films.
Vertigo Films is a UK producer and distributor of films. It has previously been
responsible for The Football Factory which to date has sold over 500,000 units
on DVD and is the producer of The Business which is currently on general
release and this week entered the U.K box office charts at number 5.
Audley Films is a film production and finance company that financed the
production of Stoned.
Stoned was directed by Stephen Woolley and stars Leo Gregory, David Morrissey,
Paddy Considine, Monet Mazur Amelia Warner, Tuva Novotny, David Walliams, and
Ben Whishaw.
Contact
Gary Smith Intandem 020 7851 3800
07834 965 323
Liam Murray City Financial Associated 020 7 090 7800
Limited
stockdog
- 08 Sep 2005 11:24
- 28 of 100
Sadly, films that premiere at Edinburgh are not usually highly rated on the commercial circuits. What is crucial is the November American Film Market where any critical success of the festival circuit can be used to help sell the remaining territories w/wide. Don't know what the budget was - about 4million is my memory/guess - so maybe there are another $2-3 million primary sales left to make - yielding probably 20% to IFM = 250k ish in turnover. A US deal is critical - anything over $250,000 minimum guarantee should probably be accepted now - $.5m would be high end - my guess.
sd
altoid
- 08 Sep 2005 13:27
- 29 of 100
What do you think of this distribution deal sd. Presumably it should yield some decent revenue particularly on dvd. The tie up with Vertigo who have had success with Football Factory and The Business is interesting. Also they say they are in negotiations with three other countries. Still not dealt but am getting more tempted with this sort of news
stockdog
- 08 Sep 2005 20:22
- 30 of 100
"Under the terms of the agreement with the Film's financier, Audley Films,
Intandem will be entitled to revenue from the direct distribution of the Film
in the United Kingdom and Ireland from cinemas, DVD, all forms of television
and airlines."
This tells you everything and nothing - what %age of revenue. I've not heard of Vertigo who are definitely a niche operator, maybe stronger on DVD releasing than theatrical. Can't see that many prints going out - 20-30, or 100 prints plus the marketing spend to support it. However, theatrical release should be geared to get maximum public interest for the DVD release without losing money on it. The DVD revenues could be much more interesting bottom line.
"Intandem is the worldwide sales company for the Film and the UK distribution
agreement follows sales to Japan, Benelux, Brazil and several other
territories. Intandem is also in negotiations for distribution agreements in
the United States, Germany and France."
It is indicative that no major European territories have yet been sold (other than UK). Japan is an imprtant sale, but does not much influence the rest of world appetite or prices. Benelux, Brazil - so who are the "others"? If you can't make major territory sales as the film is being finished or first shown, the danger is buyers sit on their hands and wait for the price to drop. Don't forget, there is no absolute value to any film, it's competing against whatever else is on offer from other sales agents.
moneyman
- 15 Sep 2005 22:18
- 31 of 100
LOL Are you positive on anything ?
Intandem is also in negotiations for distribution agreements in
the United States, Germany and France.
So it is happening and a good time to buy in.
We also have other revenue generating deals;
Intandem is also pleased to announce that it has secured a worldwide
distribution agreement for a soundtrack of the music from the Film with Milan
Music, a specialist soundtrack company whose offices are in Paris and Los
Angeles. The soundtrack album for Stoned is planned for release in the UK
through Warner Records to coincide with the cinema release in November.
Internationally, the soundtrack will be distributed through Universal Music.
So that again is positive !
Following the Films premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival, Stoned has also
been invited to several prestigious, international film festivals that take
place during September and October of 2005 including Toronto, San Sebastian,
Dinard, Chicago and Rio de Janeiro.
More publicity...more potential.
I see that it is also not only IFM that you talk down so I have a bloody good idea who you are.
moneyman
- 15 Sep 2005 22:19
- 32 of 100
Oh and btw the 150K sale the other day was the Owls.
stockdog
- 16 Sep 2005 09:17
- 33 of 100
moneyman - you have no idea who I am, since you refuse to believe the evidence before you. So let me explain. I work in the film business - right at it's heart. I spend the majority of my day advising on film-financing and/or closing actual deals on films ranging from $5 to 25 million budgets, mainly across Europe, Canada and South Africa. I know an enormous amount about the subject and am moderately well-respected by the industry. I make my entire living from it - and a good one too.
I am saying what I believe to be true - it's not a reliable business for PI's to be in. The other thread I am currently debating from a bearish standpoint (not against the stock, just think it too risky an investment today at this price in these circumstances) is CHP. There are many other threads (by far the majority) where I am highly enthusiastic - look at SEO, DGT, FAO, PSG, KMR, EEN, ASC.
The record deal is worth diddly squat in $ terms - but helpful to the marketing effort with a co-ordinated release. The festivals you list frame the film within a certain well-established and commercially limited perspective as regards its profitability. There are two world events that are important for sales - Cannes in May and AFM in November. Oh, and Toronto is a good third place to be - how many sales did they conclude there last week? But Dinard, San Sebastian, Rio de Janeiro - they're local government tourist events - very flattering to be asked to attend, but not in the least sales generative - in fact there is probably a stgrong correlation between films invited to art festivals and poor commercial performance - no causality explained. This is my best advice. Maybe this one will break the pattern, just don't pin you hopes on it. It's still just one movie.
I'm happy to be argued against - even happier for you to prove me wrong and make some money, since I do not hold any position in IFM either way myself.
BUT, please do not take the argument outside the issue into the realm of personal and incipiently abusive mud-slinging - it's beneath you.
good luck
sd