reported by Brian Scott, CyberScreenwriter.com

OwnAFilmCompany.com is a new website that intends to get 100,000 members of the public together to make fund a feature film. Initial registration is free, and open to anyone in the world. Once the site has 100,000 registered free members, they will be asked to pay a £30 (£35.25 with VAT) membership fee, which will be put towards the running of the website and the funding of a £2.5m feature film.

In return for paying their £30 membership fee, members get to vote for the script as well as the lead actors and main crew members. A Limited company will be set up, with all paid up members owning 1 share, this means that if the film fails or the company goes into debt, members will not be liable. All they will "lose" is their £30 membership fee.

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reported by Brian Scott, CyberScreenwriter.com

Sandlot Venture Group has partnered with Red Bird Cinema to fund a variety of future movie ventures. Founded in 2007, Sandlot Venture Group is focused on the financing and development of high profile film projects. Its first act in alliance with Red Bird Cinema will be to produce a feature film based on the life story of boxing legend, Sugar Ray Leonard, with Pulitzer Prize winning author H.G. "Buzz" Bissinger to write the screenplay.

Based in Silicon Valley, Sandlot Venture Group (SVG) is a $25 million private equity fund to procure, develop and package its high-profile film projects. Comprised of individual investors from technology, entertainment and professional sports as well as several successful business entrepreneurs, SVG will combine outstanding deal flow, great experience in optimizing investment terms and an investor base that is focused on developing outstanding feature films and a solid return on investment.

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reported by Brian Scott, CyberScreenwriter.com

Sony Pictures Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights as well as distribution rights in a significant number of foreign territories, including all English speaking territories, to the Peter Jackson produced sci-fi motion picture "District 9" from QED International. The announcement was jointly made today by Peter Schlessel, President of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group, and QED International CEO Bill Block.

Academy Award(R) winner Peter Jackson is producing "District 9" through his WingNut Films production banner. QED International, the Los Angeles based production, financing and international sales company, is fully financing the film. Jackson's manager Ken Kamins of Key Creatives is serving as executive producer along with Bill Block.

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