What's New at MEC Update as of September 2007
Dear Friends & Associates:
FIAT EMPIRE When we produced FIAT EMPIRE, we had no idea that one of our experts would become a presidential candidate, but indeed such has transpired with RON PAUL'S announcement on the Republican ticket.
Not only that, FIAT EMPIRE, won a Telly Award in March and has now been downloaded on Google Video 168,000 times with a 5 star out of 5 star rating. The last week of August FIAT EMPIRE broke into the top 100 of Google and hit number 4 for three days and number 1 for two days. Since then it has remained in the top 50. Portions of the show have been downloaded on YouTube over 128,000 times and the documentary has been screened by over 1 million people when the thousands of mirror sites, blogs and my space accounts are taken into consideration.
This documentary was inspired by the book, "The Creature From Jekyll Island" by well-known author and FREEDOM FORCE founder, G. EDWARD GRIFFIN and produced by attorney William L. Van Alen, Jr. FIAT EMPIRE, with a running time of about 1-hour, is a co-production between Matrixx Productions and Cornerstone Entertainment. In addition to interviews by G. Edward Griffin and Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas), FIAT EMPIRE features interviews with MOVIEGUIDE Founder, DR. TED BAEHR and constitutional attorney, EDWIN VIEIRA (4 degrees from Harvard). FIAT EMPIRE was written and directed by Hollywood filmmaker, James Jaeger, and narrated by Kris Chandler. Associate producers are Ted Pollard, author and former Commissioner of Radnor Township and James E. Ewart, well-known author of MONEY.
To order a high-quality DVD or VHS tape, with up to 160-minutes of unedited ADDITIONAL interviews, go to http://www.FiatEmpire.com/screener.
A synopsis of FIAT EMPIRE - Why the Federal Reserve Violates the U.S. Constitution is as follows:
Find out why some feel the Federal Reserve's practices are a violation of the U.S. Constitution and others feel it's simply "a bunch of organized crooks." Discover why experts agree the Fed is a banking cartel that benefits mainly bankers and their corporate clients as well as a Congress that would rather increase the National Debt to $9 trillion than raise taxes. Find out how the corporate media facilitates the partnership between the Fed and Congress and why it fails to disclose what's going on. Lastly, find out how the Federal Reserve Member Banks are owned and controlled by an elite group of insiders.
For updates on Matrixx Production's release of the RON PAUL Volunteer Edition of FIAT EMPIRE, stay tuned to this UPDATE site at www.mecfilms.com/update.htm
A free screener of FIAT EMPIRE is also up at Google Video and, as mentioned, has already been downloaded by over 100,000 people. It's apparent that citizens are becoming more concerned about this subject especially as the National Debt approached an unprecedented $9 trillion. Accordingly, we are looking for a distributor who specializes in DVD marketing, so if you are a distributor and wish to have a screener sent, please contact us contact@mecfilms.com.
Screeners of this show may be displayed in private settings for the purpose of promoting for distribution and/or funds for future shows based upon the works of G. Edward Griffin and possibly others.
For more information on FIAT EMPIRE visit http://www.FiatEmpire.com or, in the event that site is ever down, visit the mirror site at http://www.mecfilms.com/fiat.
ORIGINAL INTENT We are pleased to announce the development of a new documentary entitled ORIGINAL INTENT - What Americans May Have Forgotten About Their Constitution.
ORIGINAL INTENT will cover the consequences of failing to heed the Founders' intent when they wrote the U.S. Constitution. The documentary will touch on the Federal Reserve System as well as other issues we now face as a result of "losing our way" from Constitutional money and Constitutional principles.
TESLA James Jaeger completed the first draft of TESLA - The Poet of Electricity at the end of 2006. Subsequently a number of revisions of the first draft have occurred. Also, a number of log lines have been piloted, such being:
He electrified a world that was not yet ready for his brilliance.
He electrified a world that was not yet ready for his genius.
In the dawning age of electricity, Mark Twain became his best friend while J.P Morgan, Thomas Edison and Marconi ganged up on him.
Blinded by love, he thwarted the advances of numerous beautiful women, to give to humanity gifts for which it wasn't ready.
He was an immigrant who obtained the American Dream only to be crushed by the powers that be.
He was an immigrant who obtained the American Dream only to be crushed by JP Morgan.
An immigrant who obtained the American Dream, Nikola Tesla was ultimately blackballed by the powers that be.
Idiots, morons and money-grubbing businessmen misunderstood him. Are you one of them?
Brainwashed beyond reason, a planet's population fails to recognize the one man who created much of their future.
In a world crazed by lust for money, creative genius is often suppressed.
He electrified a world that was wasn't very bright. This screenplay has undergone many years of research and writing and we believe it's the most authoritative and interesting version of Nikola Tesla's incredible life story to date. If you are interested in the project, go to http://www.inktip.com and execute their buyer agreement.
NON-LINEAR EDIT STUDIOS Post Digital Group has for the 5th time upgraded its hardware and software in Studio B. New additions are Sennheiser and Behringer condenser microphones; Alesis mixing consul for VO and looping; Canopus/Grassvalley switchers; and ADOBE's new Creative Suite 3 Production Premium. We have also upgraded to 2 terabytes of storage and the following applications:
Premiere Pro CS3
After Effects CS3 Pro
PhotoShop CS3
Flash CS3 Pro
Illustrator CS3
Soundbooth CS3
Encore CS3 Display is on 3 simultaneous monitors using two Nvidia double-head video cards with simultaneously outputs to a 52-inch high-definition TV, an NTSC monitor and 5:1 surround sound.
With Premiere you get full digital audio sweetening/mixdown and ADR capabilities on-the-fly and high definition editing. The response time and action of CS3 is every bit as good as Final Cut Pro and AVID. Studio B is located at our Main Line offices and available to clients at an introductory rate.
To book time or to look at the studios, click here.
OTHER SCREENPLAY DEVELOPMENT Also re-written and completed are ECOSPHERES and GOING OUT. ECOSPHERES is a high budget space-opera, the logline of which is: Two brothers inherit an off-world gemstone from their astronaut-father and are able to transmute lead into gold, an act that upsets the powers that be -- just in the nick of time. GOING OUT is a low-budget romantic comedy which will be shot on the Main Line. The log line is: Nothing like your crass, horny friends messing up the field when all you're trying to do is get a date. James Jaeger is attached as director and local talent will be used to round out the cast and crew. Anticipated budget is $50,000 - $100,000 as a high-def feature, $200,000 - $300,000 as a 16mm feature or $500,000 as a 35mm feature. If you are interested in co-financing this, Matrixx Entertainment will put up the first $50,000. Contact us at contact@mecfilms.com.
STUDIO COMPLEX Matrixx Entertainment has drawn up a Business Plan and preliminary blueprint for a studio complex tentatively called OAK STUDIOS. Combined with better tax credits and the Internet distribution of movies, this complex could create a production environment on par with Los Angeles. Further, it could generate net export revenues for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania well in excess of revenues generated by gambling. (Would Ben Franklin condone one of the country's most important founding states in the business of gambling?)
In order to further refine the business plan for OAK STUDIOS, Matrixx Entertainment is currently seeking the sum of $250,000 to conduct an extensive feasibility study. If you are interested in reviewing the OAK STUDIOS business plan (which includes a preliminary blueprint for a more extensive set of sound stages, construction & operating budget and proforma P&Ls) and/or the MEC PRODUCTION business plan (which includes the proceeds of about fifteen years of research into the organizational structure and financial projections for a major production studio capable of producing 50 features per year), please contact James Jaeger or Mark Hamilton at 212/933-9374. We are interested in meeting with potential investors and distribution entities with a view towards funding the feasibility study and/or the business plans for the above projects. We have made available the sum of $6,083,585 in finder's fees for the OAK STUDIOS project and the sum of $13,750 for finders fees for the feasibility study. You will be asked to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to receiving or seeing any materials.
So far the OAK STUDIOS plan has been presented to a number of government representatives, potential financiers and entrepreneurs, among which were MERV GRIFFIN ENTERTAINMENT and Night Shyamalan's company, BLINDING EDGE PICTURES c/o Jose Rodriguez. On May 21, 2004 a letter (with a copy of the OAK STUDIOS executive summary) explaining the economic advantages of such a production complex was sent to Governor Ed Rendell with a CC to the following: Hon. John W. Fichter, Chairman on Telecommunications; Hon. Robert W. Godshall, Sponsor HB 83; Hon. Carol A. Rubley, Tredyffrin Rep.; Hon. Thomas L. Stevenson, Sponsor HB147; Hon. Robert J. Thompson, Tredyffrin Senator; Philadelphia Film Office ED, Sharon Pinkenson. At least two studio plans are now moving forward in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, both of which will be welcomed by filmmakers, business entrepreneurs and talent around the state as well as the nation. The OAK STUDIOS/MEC PRODUCTION plans will expand and complement these current activities, thus providing additional opportunities for many.
HOLLYWOOD WARS: A NEW BOOK Author, John W. Cones, announces release of his long anticipated new book, HOLLYWOOD WARS -- How Insiders Gained and Maintain Control Over the Film Industry. In HOLLYWOOD WARS, securities-entertainment attorney, John Cones, takes us inside one of the most closed business communities in America and reveals publicly what every Hollywood insider knows privately: that a small group of insiders controls the Hollywood film industry and often engages in unethical, predatory and often illegal business practices that hurt independent filmmakers as well as the movie-going public.
Cones' historical research is thorough and thoroughly convincing. He shows how Hollywood insiders lure outside investors and companies into financing films and then discard them when the film loses money (as 8 out of 10 do), and how insiders destroy most outsiders (including William Randolph Hearst, Howard Hughes, Orson Welles, Kirk Kerkorian) who want a stake in movie-making. After reading this book, you will never want to partner with, buy stock in, or work for a major, Hollywood studio.
"This book," Cones writes in the Introduction, "is dedicated to the proposition that it is not in the best interest of this nation or the world for any single, or even a few narrowly defined interest groups ... to dominate or control any of our significant communication media."
HOLLYWOOD WARS was published by MARQUETTE BOOKS and is available at Amazon and all major book stores. You may also get a copy by going to http://www.marquettebooks.com/massmediabooks/hollywoodwars.html. You MUST mention that you were referred by Matrixx Entertainment in order to get the 33% discount off the list price however.
The publisher, Dr. David Demers, associate professor of communication, had this to say about the book: "I confess I was a skeptic when I first saw the proposal for this book. But Cones' evidence is overwhelming. Every filmmaker, actor and screenwriter should read this book, which also is ideal for college courses in film studies and critical and cultural studies."
John W. Cones is located in Los Angeles, where he advises clients who produce independent feature films, videos, television shows and plays. He has written eight other books on Hollywood and he lectures frequently on film finance and distribution. Cones operates one of the most popular legal forums on the Internet at Investor Financing of Independent Film. The forum, which can be accessed at http://www.mecfilms.com/coneslaw/archives, is hosted by MOVIE PUBS, the publishing division of Matrixx Entertainment.
VIDEO WORKSHOP PRODUCTIONS RE-OPEN Originally founded by Andrew S. Cofrin, Ft. Howard Paper Company heir and producing partner of James Jaeger, we are pleased to announce the re-opening of the Video Workshop. This is made possible because of the new equipment acquired by the Company. See section entitled "New Production Equipment". If you are a local actor or technical person who would like to gain experience doing non-commercial Workshop Productions, contact us at contact@mecfilms.com and let us know you are interested and available.
To launch the re-opening of the Video WorkShop, we would like to present some oldies and a debuting short:
JUST LIKE OLD FRIENDS (1985)
This is a little 6 minute short was directed by James Jaeger for the Video Workshop Productions back in 1985. It stars Andy Cofrin, Ari Ross and Patricia Duff (who since then has married Mike Medavoy, divorced him and re-married Ron Perlman). One of Andy's brothers, Doug Cofrin, wrote the script while visiting Santa Monica from Easter Island. One of Andy's other brothers, John Cofrin, got into the movie business and financed the development of CHINA SYNDROME. Unfortunately, this project ended up in litigation after Jane Fonda got involved, through no fault of her own. John, however worked loosely with Steven Reuther for a while. Reuther was later a partner with Michael Douglas in DOUGLAS-REUTHER PRODUCTIONS and that company was together for many years. You can screen JUST LIKE OLD FRIENDS, which was shot at the offices of Matrixx Productions in Santa Monica, by going to http://www.mecfilms.com/mid/movies/just.wmv (RT is 6:25)TESTY PILOT (1984)
Video Workshop Productions are often excerpts from famous and well-done past movies. Can you guess which one this is a "re-make" from? You can screen TESTY PILOT at http://www.mecfilms.com/mid/movies/testy.wmv (RT is 3:48)THE ASSIGNMENT (1984)
The ASSIGNMENT SERIES stars Ari Ross, Andrew Cofrin and the star of BLOOD THEATRE whose name is lost possibly forever. Directed by James Jaeger, this short was also filmed at the offices of Matrixx Productions in Santa Monica (were James Jaeger resided from time to time as part of a remuneration package). This 5,000 SF, 5-story complex was owned by Andrew Cofrin, heir to the Fort Howard Paper Company fortune, who later sold the house to SONY PICTURES for the use of Tristar President of Production, Jeff Saganski. You can screen this short at http://www.mecfilms.com/mid/movies/assigment.wmv (RT is 17:58)PEER PRESSURE (1985)
This Workshop Production actually turned into a pilot was also shot at the offices of Matrixx Productions in Santa Monica. Bear in mind this was produced in 1985, long before any of the stuff you are now seeing everyday on the DISNEY channel targeted for this age bracket. Produced by James Jaeger, this visionary piece was written and directed by Andrew Cofrin. You can screen PEER PRESSURE at http://www.mecfilms.com/mid/movies/peer.wmv (RT is 26:31)REVENGE OF THE MAD SCIENTIST (1964)
This short is being displayed for the first time as it was shot on regular 8mm film but only recently transferred to the digital medium. REVENGE OF THE MAD SCIENTIST was written, directed and produced by James Jaeger when he was about 14 years old. This was his third narrative dramatic short and stars Mark Lund, Doug Gough and Anson Downes. Lund and Gough aren't in the biz now, but Downes later became an actor-writer and moved to LA where he befriended John Travolta on CARRIE and works for him to this day. In a Première interview a number of years back, Travolta called him "my best friend." Anson Downes heads up Travolta's development division with Linda Flavil and gets an associate producer credit on all his pictures. Anson plays the part of the werewolf and you can screen REVENGE OF THE MAD SCIENTIST by going to http://www.mecfilms.com/mid/movies/revenge.wmv (RT is 10:36)SHIPWRECKED & THE BARREL SCENE are two other shorts directed by James Jaeger in 1964. SHIPWRECKED stars Doug Gough and Bunker Jaeger. Bunker Jaeger occasional executive produces films with Matrixx Productions and is an active stockholder of MEC. In the cast of the BARREL SCENE is Susan Ross. The Ross family, 4 girls with an ex-army captain father, lived in a pink house across the street from where James Jaeger grew up. They lived there for about 10 years. Susan Ross and her sister, Leslie, are in the scene where they are going into the barrel and other scenes as well. The youngest sister, Lee Ross, is the little girl shooting the missile and "causing" the big explosion. There are other movies which haven't been transferred from regular 8 yet. Interestingly, Susan Ross later dated John Davis, the son of Marvin Davis. Marvin Davis was the entrepreneur from Texas that purchased TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX for some $500 million in the 1980s. John Davis is now a major producer in the Biz. Susan's sister, Leslie, lives in Beverly Hills and works in the TV industry to this day. All of these films were shot on regular 8mm as super 8 had yet to be invented. You can screen SHIPWRECKED and THE BARREL SCENE together by going to http://www.mecfilms.com/mid/movies/revenge.wmv (RT is 5:00 and 1:00 respectively)
POD (2006)
On the new front is POD, a first effort of 10-year old Warren Jaeger who wrote and directed this short after talking to Oscar-winning filmmaker, John Longenecker, DGA. John was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to inspire him, as he has inspired and helped many other filmmakers over the years. POD is about 3 minutes long and stars Pierce Jaeger (8 years old). Keep an eye on these emerging talents! You can screen POD at http://www.mecfilms.com/mid/movies/pod.wmv (RT is 4:45)Again, if you are a local actor or technical person who would like to gain experience doing non-commercial Workshop Productions, contact us at contact@mecfilms.com and let us know you are interested and available.
THE PICKUP The company has re-edited THE PICKUP, a 30-minute romantic comedy directed by James Jaeger in 1981 which inspired a motion picture entitled THE PICKUP ARTIST and the current TV series.
If you would like to screen it, go to:
http://www.mecfilms.com/mid/movies/pickup1.wmv (56K dia-up)
http://www.mecfilms.com/mid/movies/pickup2.wmv (360K broadband)
http://www.mecfilms.com/mid/movies/pickup3.wmv (750K broadband)
LEE GARMES INTERVIEW One of the most accomplished filmmakers in history, Lee Garmes, has 111 features to his credit (14 for producing and directing and 97 for cinematography). Although officially unaccredited, Lee Garmes photographed a considerable portion of GONE WITH THE WIND.
Mr. Garmes directed the photography on 6 films nominated for an Academy Award and won an Academy Award for SHANGHAI EXPRESS. A brilliant experimenter, Lee Garmes, made many technical contributions to the industry and received the Eastman Kodak Award twice.
In a last interview, available at http://www.mecfilms.com/mid/movies/garmes.mpa, filmmaker James Jaeger inquires about turn-of-the-century Hollywood, lighting techniques, aspect ratios, working with Alfred Hitchcock and Billy Wylder, film vs. tape, the future of film education. Also on this CD is James Jaeger's commentary on what it was like to work with Lee Garmes, ASC, DGA, ISPA.
A LITTLE HISTORY A lot of our "dot com" would-be competitors are now out of business . . . but not us. . . the World's First Virtual Movie Studio. We knew from the start it would take some time for enough bandwidth to be present to support significant quality movie distribution over the Internet. . . and we are still preparing for this eventuality which we believe will occur within 5 to 10 years. Unfortunately greed drove people to do some stupid things . . . like jump the gun with their investors' money. Sad but true.
Matrixx was founded in 1981 in Hollywood, California. Below are the updates for the past several years.
DISCUSSION FORUMS If you need some legal help financing your new movie project, John Cones, Esq., has been conducting a popular discussion at Investor Financing of Independent Film.
Thank you for your continued support of Matrixx Entertainment. You are greatly appreciated.
LORRAINE STERLING,
Director of Public Relations
Although the information herein is believed to be accurate and correct, anything to be added, changed or deleted should be brought to the attention of the VP Public Relations within five business days. This Update does not and cannot constitute an offer to sell any securities of Matrixx Entertainment Corporation. Any projections, if any, made herein represent a goal only and there can be no assurance of attainment thereof. This Update replaces any earlier Updates as such may pertain to the subject matter hereof. Matrixx Entertainment Corporation, including any of its subsidiaries or divisions, does not endorse any particular philosophy, religion, political ideology or reform movement(s) and any expressed, if any, is done so with the understanding such is the sole viewpoint and responsibility of the person or entity promulgating same.
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