Film Industry Leaders and Scholars Come Together to Explore the Future of the Motion Picture Industry; Discussion of 13 Research Papers on Wide Range of Film Industry Topics.

LOS ANGELES -- On November 10, 11 and 12, The DeSantis Center for Motion Picture Industry Studies at Florida Atlantic University will hold its Seventh Annual Business and Economics Scholars Workshop Summit in Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 30 top academic scholars and industry professionals will come together to discuss thirteen academic research papers that seek to identify and evaluate various economic and business issues that can impact, measure or predict potential performance or results in film financing, production, marketing, distribution and exhibition. The summit will commence on November 10 with a dinner and presentation honoring Tom Pollock, co-founder of Montecito Picture Company, and former Vice Chairman of MCA, and former Chairman of Universal Pictures.

Among the papers that will be discussed this year are: Explorations into the Impact of Critics on Movie Revenues and Returns, by Dr. S. Abraham Ravid of Rutgers University; Measuring Word of Mouth's Impact on Theatrical Admissions, by Dr. Charles Moul of Washington University; Movie Advertising and the Stock Market Valuation of Studios, by Dr. Amit Joshi, University of Central Florida, The Consumption Characteristics of Film: An Historical Perspective, by Dr. John Sedgwick, London Metropolitan University.

Attendance at the workshop is by invitation only. Previous Industry attendees have included Gary Concoff, of Troy and Gould Law offices in L.A.; Frank Davis, former Sr. Executive V.P. MGM; Peter J. Dekom, Weissman, Wolf, et. al.; Hamid Hashemi, CEO Muvico Theaters; Arthur Hiller, director; William Immerman, CAO and General Council, Yari Film Group; Thom Mount, founder of the Mount Company and former President of Universal Pictures; Barry Reardon former head of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros.; Daniel Selznick, producer.

Previously presented papers explored the profitability of films with sexual and violent content versus family-oriented films and a study exploring how big box-office openings may not be correlated to large box-office gross revenues. Other papers have included a presentation from Dr. Jehoshua Eliashberg (Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania) and Dr. Charles Weinberg (University of British Columbia) on "Movie Scheduling in Multiple Theaters with Multiple Screens: Model Extensions and Implementation Experience;" and Dr. Liran Einav (Stanford University) on "Seasonality and Competition in Time: An Empirical Analysis of Release Date Decisions in the U.S. Motion Picture Industry."

The workshop provides the attending researchers with critical peer and industry feedback and review prior to completion and publication. Past research has been published in a wide range of technical, business and academic journals including Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, and Journal of Business Research.

The Workshop is highlighted by the Louis B. Mayer Motion Picture Business Leader of the Year Award dinner honoring Tom Pollock. Previous honorees include Mike Medavoy, chairman and co-founder of Phoenix Pictures, co-founder of Orion Pictures, former chairman of TriStar Pictures; Warren Lieberfarb, former President of Warner Home Video; Alan Ladd, Jr., founder and CEO of The Ladd Company, former president and CEO of MGM, and former head of 20th Century Fox; and Amy Pascal (at that time) chairman of Columbia Pictures. In addition, the Mallen Prize for Published Scholarly Contributions to Motion Picture Industry Studies will also be presented at the dinner. This year's recipient is Dr. Tino Balio, Emeritus Professor of Film, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The workshop and dinner is presented concurrently with the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.

About Dr. Bruce Mallen, Founding Director of the DeSantis Center

Bruce Mallen, PhD., LL.D. (honoris causa), was the second longest serving Dean in the 40 year history of the College of Business at Florida Atlantic University. The College is one of the largest accredited business schools in the nation, and the largest College in the University with approximately 6,400 students. He is also the founding Director of The DeSantis Center for Motion Picture Industry Studies, as well as the InternetCoast Institute ("ICI"), which is aimed at spurring the growth of South Florida's web-based industries. At the end of 2004, Dr. Mallen retired from his Deanship to become the full-time Director of the DeSantis Center. He is Professor of Economics, Finance & Real Estate, and Marketing at F.A.U. Dr. Mallen is a member of the Producers Guild of America, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, and the Society for Cinema Studies. He is Vice Chairman of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. He is also a Senior Fellow at The Center for The Digital Future at USC's Annenberg School. As a commercial real estate developer, he conceived, financed, developed and leased the $140 million complex (now called) Sony Pictures Plaza, in Culver City, CA.

About Carl DeSantis Business and Economics Center for Motion Picture Industry Studies

The Carl DeSantis Business and Economics Center for Motion Picture Industry Studies, a unique "think tank," was established in 1997 at Florida Atlantic University's College of Business, and its goal is to focus on the business and economics of the film industry by serving as an incubator for ideas, a forum for discussion, and a center for scholarly activity in the field. The Center maintains a Los Angeles-based National Advisory Board which includes a number of prominent industry leaders, filmmakers and studio executives. Its founding chairman was director Robert Wise.