City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 05/23/11 Item Number: J-2
JOINT CITY COUNCIL / REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD AGENDA ITEM:
Consideration of a Sponsorship Request from The Method Fest Film Festival.
Contact Person/Dept.:
Todd Tipton / Community Development
Susan Obrow / Community Development
Phone Number:
(310)253-5783
(310)253-5762
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: _______________
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas – City Council (05/19/11); (E-Mail)
Meetings and Agendas – Redevelopment Agency (05/19/11), Method Fest Film Festival
(04/19/11), Culver City Chamber of Commerce (05/09/11), Downtown Business
Association (05/09/11), Cultural Affairs Commission (05/09/11)
Department Approval:
Sol Blumenfeld (05/11/11)
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (05/18/11)
Agency General Counsel Approval:
Murray Kane (05/11/11)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir: (by K. Marsden) (05/18/11)
City Manager/Executive Director Approval:
John M. Nachbar (05/19/11)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council and Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board
(Agency Board) consider the sponsorship request from The Method Fest Film
Festival (The Method Fest) for a film festival proposed to be presented during Fiscal
Year 2011/2012 and provide staff with direction.
BACKGROUND:
On March 22, 2010, the Agency Board directed staff to prepare a policy related to
event sponsorship. Staff returned to the Agency Board on September 13, 2010 and
December 6, 2010 for further review.
On March 4, 2011, representatives from The Method Fest|1010| submitted a proposal to
the Agency for the City of Culver City to become a Presenting Sponsor of the
festival, which is proposed for March 22-29, 2012 and spring or summer 2013.
Previously, The Method Fest was presented in the City of Calabasas as well as the
City of Burbank.
On April 11, 2011, the Agency Board and the City Council approved policies related
to the financial support of City-and Culver City Redevelopment Agency (Agency)-
sponsored special events. Additionally, Members expressed interest in reviewing
proposals separate from the application process. City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
The Method Fest was established in 1999 and has been presented in Calabasas
since 2005. Over the years, the City of Calabasas has reduced the funding for The
Method Fest, and in 2010 it provided approximately $35,000 in the form of a cash
sponsorship.
DISCUSSION:
The Method Fest is requesting an annual $75,000 cash contribution and $15,000 in-
kind support from the City/Agency. In-kind support could include staff time|1010| and the
use or access to City and Agency-controlled facilities. The Method Fest organizers
have expressed interest in securing at least three screening rooms including ones
that would accommodate approximately 100, 200 and 300 patrons. The proposal
and sample budget are attached (Attachments 1 and 2). As a Presenting Sponsor of
The Method Fest, the following rights and benefits would be provided:
• Naming Rights - The Method Fest independent film festival presented by the
Culver City Redevelopment Agency or City of Culver City
• Presenting Sponsorship Status (second line billing)
• Right of first refusal to renew for the 2014 festival
• Use of The Method Fest logo and trademarks for branding and marketing
• Preferred position in all collateral materials for the festival
• Agency-produced 30-second commercial, shown at festival screenings
• Logo inclusion (preferred position) in all Method Fest advertising
• Logo in festival film trailer shown in theatre before each festival screening
• Reserved table at sponsored event and other special events
• Name/logo on daily events board on display at all major venues
• On-site permanent signage (banners) at all festival venues
• Agency-produced banners prominently displayed at The Method Fest
• Opportunity to provide inflatable at the Opening Night Party
• Acknowledgment as presenting sponsor in all festival press releases
• Verbal acknowledgment as presenting sponsor before all festival screenings
• Exhibit space area in the filmmaker/VIP lounge
• Full-page color program ad (premium position)
• Opportunity to include promotional materials in VIP/Filmmaker goodie bags
• Logo and hotlink on The Method Fest website (home page)
• Access to festival databases
• 10 V.I.P. festival passes - 25 individual screening passes
• 50% discount on festival tickets and passes for City employees
• Naming of festival award with City representative presenting the award
• Other benefits as mutually agreed upon
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Please note that when redevelopment funds are used to sponsor an event, the
resulting positive economic benefit must be clearly identified. In the case of The
Method Fest, some economic benefits that might be realized are: increased
exposure for the City via the marketing campaign and additional visitors who would
patronize downtown restaurants and businesses. If the City Council and Agency
Board are interested in sponsoring The Method Fest, staff will work with The Method
Fest to clearly identify and quantify the resulting positive economic benefits
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
Staff is proposing to include approximately $40,000 in the City Manager’s
Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2011/2012 (Program 90200, Economic
Development - Special Events and Meetings) for the following special events:
Culver City Car Show, with funding assistance of up to $12,000; Taste of the
Nation, with funding assistance total of up to $15,000; and IndieCade with funding
assistance of $10,000, with the remaining $3,000 of funds available to cover
additional requests by those organizations to meet any cost increases or to cover
additional requests from separate entities.
Staff is currently preparing Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) for each of the
above mentioned special event producers, which will be presented to the City
Council and Agency Board for consideration on June 13, 2011. Should the City
Council and Agency Board enter into a sponsorship agreement with The Method
Fest, $75,000 would need to be identified in the City and/or Agency budget, which
will result in the reduction or elimination of other programs.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. The Method Fest Film Festival Proposal
2. The Method Fest Film Festival Sample Budget
3. The Method Fest Film Festival 2010 Program
MOTIONS:
That the City Council and Agency Board:
Provide direction to staff regarding sponsorship for The Method Fest Film
Festival.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Notes:
|1010| The Method Fest features the work of more established independent directors, producers, writers
and actors. The Method Fest presents over 100 films each year and celebrates story-driven films with
outstanding performances. Organizers have estimated that there were over 16,000 attendees at the
last festival. Awards are presented at the festival including jury prizes and an audience award. Also,
there are several youth programs targeted towards student filmmakers, writers and actors. There are
many events presented during The Method Fest including opening and closing nights, the awards
ceremony, Indie Music night, and special tribute receptions to distinguished actors and directors.
|1010| If a sponsorship package is approved by the Agency Board, staff anticipates this effort will require
approximately 40 hours in staff assistance due to it being a new event to Culver City in multiple
locations.
MEETING DATE: May 23, 2011
AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of a Sponsorship Request from
The Method Fest Film Festival.
ATTACHMENTS
Pages
1. The Method Fest Film Festival Proposal 1-17
2. The Method Fest Film Festival Sample Budget 18-19
3. The Method Fest Film Festival 2010 Program 20
ATTACHMENT 1
12345678910111213141516178/5/10 11:45 PM TMF 2011 Projected Budget.htm
Page 1 of 2 file:///Users/vladimirmoraru/Desktop/TMF%202011%20Projected%20Budget.htm
The 2011 Method Fest Film Festival
(for fiscal period July 1 2010- June 30 2011)
Pojected Budget
A. PROJECTED COSTS
I. LODGING
Festival Staff $5,000
Festival Guests (Filmmakers, Actors) $5,000
TOTAL PROJECTED LODGING $10,000
II. THEATRE
Film theatre rental $20,000
Projectionist $4,000
Digital projectionist $1,500
Technical Director $1,500
TOTAL THEATRE COST $27,000
III. OPENING NIGHT GALA
Entertainment (Band, other music) $750
Technical (speaker rental, other) $250
Stage, Décor, Design $1,000
Food and Beverage (400 people) $2,500
Possible Site Rental fee $2,500
TOTAL OPENING NIGHT GALA COSTS $7,000
IV. OFFICE EXPENSES
Office Supplies $2,000
Postage, Mailing $3,000
Phone, Cell, Fax $3,000
Copies $500
Shipping $3,000
TOTAL OFFICE EXPENSES $12,500
V. PRODUCTION COSTS
Call for Entry Flyers $500
Posters $575
Postcards $750
Schedules $1,250
Program $5,000
Badges $300
Streetpole/Banners $2,000
Merchandise $3,000
Awards $1,500
Promo/Trailer $1,200
Producer/Editing $1,000
Sound $750
Production (editing film) $1,000
Dubs (video) $200
Commercial (video) $350
Photo Services $400
TOTAL PRODUCTION COSTS $19,425
VI. ADVERTISING
ATTACHMENT 2
188/5/10 11:45 PM TMF 2011 Projected Budget.htm
Page 2 of 2 file:///Users/vladimirmoraru/Desktop/TMF%202011%20Projected%20Budget.htm
Variety $3,000
Radio $3,000
L.A. Times $5,600
LA Weekly $2,500
Daily News $2,000
Filmmaker $1,200
MovieMaker $600
Independent Film & Video Monthly $495
TOTAL ADVERTISING $18,300
VII. ENTERTAINMENT
Food & Catering $10,000
Indie Music Night (local bands, event producer) $500
Technical (equipment, staff) $500
Advertising, Ticketing $500
TOTAL ENTERTAINMENT $11,500
VIII. AWARDS CEREMONY (PRODUCTION, RENTAL) $5,000
IX. STAFFING
Festival Director $20,000
Festival Associate Director $10,000
Festival Producer $10,000
Program Director $6,000
Associate programmer $3,500
Creative Director / Design $3,000
Publicist $5,000
Celebrity Recruiter $7,500
Event Manager $5,000
Operations Staff $5,000
Development Director / Community Liaison $5,000
Volunteer Coordinator $1,500
TOTAL STAFFING $86,500
X. MERCHANDISE PRODUCTION $1,000
X. FESTIVAL INSURANCE $3,000
XI. MISCELLANEOUS COSTS $5,000
TOTAL PROJECTED COSTS $206,225
B. PROJECTED REVENUE
Sponsorship (goal) (City, $75K, other, $75K) $150,000
Entry fees $22,000
Ticket, Programs, Merchandise Sales $19,225
TOTAL PROJECTED REVENUE $206,225
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DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE DOCUMENT ATTACHMENT 3 (THE METHOD FEST FILM
FESTIVAL 2010 PROGRAM) WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT THE CITY CLERK’S
OFFICE LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF CITY HALL (9770 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA
90232)
ATTACHMENT 3
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