Business Of Creating

Happy Holidays from The Business of Creating Institute!

2025 was a very exciting year! We continued to grow and stay true to our Mission: to provide professionals with practical action steps and up-to-the-minute information (which was sometimes controversial this year!).

We dipped our toes into online career coaching after so many layoffs in our industry, continued with both in-person and live-streaming panels with our longtime partner Writers Guild Foundation and welcomed a new host The Los Angeles Film School.

We also welcomed a new corporate partner imgn! They've got some really cool production software geared toward creatives (more coming in a separate email). Check them out here app.imgn.co

UPCOMING EVENT: We can't wait to see you at our Networking Mixer on 13 January. We'll be sending out a separate email later, but you can also RSVP here: https://givebutter.com/n0yT2x

Looking to make a tax-deductible donation before the end of the year? We can help with that: http://www.businessofcreating.org/donate.html #/

Thank you for being a positive part of our community.

We wish you joy, peace, loads of fun, fabulous prezzies, and perhaps a nap or two during this festive season. 2026 promises to be exciting!

Educate, Empower, Succeed.

Jennifer Mangan and Michael Fisk

We learned so much at the November Business of Creating Institute panel on AI, we're excited to partner with the folks at Genvid Holdings Inc. and Kling AI for an in-depth discussion about the future of filmmaking with AI and Generative Video tools, and in particular, whether an AI film could win an Academy Award by 2029.

​​We agree--this is a controversial topic. Having said that, it's not going away, so why not take advantage of the experts on the panel and get a front row seat to hearing about what lifelong animators, film makers, and creators think about these tools, their challenges and opportunities.

​​​This select group of leaders, including an Emmy award winner, will share firsthand perspectives from the front lines—what’s working, what’s breaking, and what comes next.

PANELISTS:
- Stephan Vladimir Bugaj, Chief Creative Officer, Genvid
- Jeff Clanagan, President & Chief Distribution Officer, Hartbeat ​
- Sharad Devarajan, Founder & CEO of Graphic India and Co-Creator of Indian Spider-Man

MODERATOR:
- Tony Pu, Product Marketing & Operations, Kling AI ​​

DATE: Wednesday 17 December
TIME: 6:00-9:00 pm
LOCATION: The Upstairs
1415 S Los Angeles St Suite C, Los Angeles, CA 90015, USA

RSVP: https://luma.com/e81g19lf

Educate, Empower, Succeed.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at LA Film School for “Lights, Camera… AI!” Such a great conversation about how actors, writers, directors, producers, and marketers are already using new tools to boost creativity in film and TV.

Big thank you to our panelists:
- Caleb Ward (Curious Refuge)
- Daniel Rojas (Rafy)
- Larry Cutler (Baobab)
- Yaron Klainer (imgn)
- Michael Fisk (Business of Creating Institute)

And to our moderator Jennifer Mangan (Business of Creating Institute) and the amazing team at LA Film School. Special thanks to our sponsor imgn!

Replay coming soon on our YouTube channel at BusinessOfCreating.org.
Next mixer is January 13. Follow for updates.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on September 29 at the The Writers Guild Foundation for 🎮 Leveling Up Your Gaming Career: Producing & Writing Video Games.

The room was filled with energy, curiosity, and insight as panelists shared their expertise on breaking into and thriving in the world of video game storytelling and production.

From the collaboration between designers and narrative designers, to indie vs. studio workflows, to funding, pitching, and crafting pillars, the discussion offered practical guidance and inspiration for creators at every stage.

A special thank you to our panelists for sharing their experiences:
-Stephan Vladimir Bugaj (Genvid)
- Jeffrey Yohalem (Ubisoft)
- Connie Brammeier (Interactive Entertainment Executive)
- Christian Cantamessa (Day 4 Night Studios)
- Russ Nickel (OmniMegaSuperCorp)
- Adam Dolin (Narrative Designer & Game Writer)

And to moderators Jennifer Mangan and Michael Fisk for leading such an engaging conversation. And to Dustin Fleischmann and his team at WGF.

For those who were not able to attend, we plan on posting it soon to our YouTube page (the link you can find here: www.BusinessOfCreating.org).

We look forward to seeing you at future events. Be sure to follow us on socials to stay updated about upcoming panels, including our next one on AI in Entertainment happening November 18.

🎮 Leveling Up Your Gaming Career: Producing & Writing Video Games

Presented by The Business of Creating Institute in partnership with Writers Guild Foundation

Join us for a dynamic, interactive panel + live Q&A with top-tier entertainment professionals as we explore how to break into and thrive in the world of video game storytelling and production. Whether you're indie-curious or studio-bound, this event is designed to elevate your creative career.

📍 In-person + Livestream Access Available

💡 Topics We'll Cover:
• The roles of Designer, Narrative Designer & how they collaborate
• Game creation: Indie vs. Big Studio workflows
• How a game concept comes together
• Funding strategies for games
• Cross-platform development tips
• Pitching & financing for indie games
• Landing interviews at major studios
..and more!

🎤 MODERATORS
Jennifer Mangan – Writer/Producer, Beautiful Day Productions & Co-Founder, The Business of Creating Institute
Michael Fisk – Producer, Pangram Entertainment, former Studio Marketing Exec & Co-Founder, The Business of Creating Institute

🎮 PANELISTS
Stephan Bugaj – Chief Creative Officer, Genvid
Jeffrey Yohalem – Narrative Director & Lead Writer, Ubisoft
Connie Brammeier – COO, Interactive Entertainment Executive
Christian Cantamessa – Founder & Game Director, Day 4 Night Studios
Russ Nickel – CCO & Game Director, OmniMegaSuperCorp
Adam Dolin – Narrative Designer & Game Writer

📅 DATE: Monday, September 29, 2025
🕖 TIME: 7:00–8:30 PM PT
📍 LOCATION: Writers Guild Foundation
7000 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90048
💵 COST: $25
🔗 RSVP Now to secure your spot and access the livestream: https://www.wgfoundation.org/events/all/2025/9/29/wgf-x-boc-level-up-writing-and-producing-for-video-games

✨ Whether you're a writer, producer, designer, or just game-curious—this is your chance to connect, learn, and level up.

Join The Business of Creating Institute, in partnership with The Los Angeles Film School, for a dynamic, interactive panel and Q&A designed to help you publicize your work and get your Film/TV project to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

🗓️ Thursday, August 7, 2025
🕖 7:00–8:30 PM PT
📍 Los Angeles Film School (6363 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood)
💻 In-person and Live-streamed
🎟️ RSVP: givebutter.com/Lr3Bph

What you’ll learn:
• Crafting a press strategy: press releases, outreach, interviews, and media coverage
• Maximizing awards and festival visibility
• Social media that works: using TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and more
• Studio vs. Indie: Different approaches, same goals
• Hiring a PR agency: When, why, and what to watch out for
• Measuring success and evaluating campaign results
…and more

👥 Panelists:
Mark Pogachefsky – President, MPRM Communications

Marisa McGrath Liston – EVP Publicity & Communications, Legendary Entertainment

Andrew Seth Cohen – Co-founder & Director of Publicity, Impact24 PR

Ariel Sara R. – Media & Marketing, BLOOM XO

Michael Fisk – Producer, Pangram Entertainment, Interstellar Entertainment, & Co-Founder, The Business of Creating Institute

🎙️ Moderator:
Jennifer Mangan – Writer/Producer, Beautiful Day Productions & Co-Founder, The Business of Creating Institute

Whether you’re launching your first short or gearing up for a festival run, this is your chance to learn from top-tier pros in publicity and marketing.

👉 Educate. Empower. Succeed.

This Tuesday, come celebrate with us ✨-- it's the first annual Business of Creating Institute Summer Networking Mixer! 🥂🌞

Join us as we mix, mingle, raise a few glasses (hopefully several!🍷😉) to celebrate successes, and plant the seeds for future collaborations.

DATE: Tuesday May 20th, 2025
TIME: 6:30-8:30 pm
LOCATION: All Season Brewing Company
800 S. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036

COST: Free, but donations are greatly appreciated to help cover our costs.

RSVP: https://givebutter.com/6U76AF

Let's toast to creativity, connections, and new opportunities! 🥳

🎮 We had a great night the other week! ⭐ A huge thank you to our amazing creative community for showing up and filling the room for the panel “Press Start: Building Your Career in Video Game Writing and Narrative Design.” The turnout was phenomenal, and the insights shared? Next-level.

Our panelists shared invaluable behind-the-scenes insights, delving into the nuances of Game Writing versus Narrative Design, the art of crafting compelling games, breaking into this dynamic industry, and much more.

Kudos to: Andrew McClain, Ashley Poprik, Justin M. Sloan, Stephan Vladimir Bugaj for their wisdom, and to our moderator and Co-Founder, Jennifer Mangan, for guiding the conversation like a pro. 👏

We couldn’t have done it without Dustin Fleischmann and his team at The Writers Guild Foundation (WGF) for partnering with and hosting us on this event (and past events). 📽️✨

A hats off to Mitch Bradford from Brand Your Story Online and his talented team for delivering a phenomenal sizzle reel.

📅 Stay connected for more panels, mixers, and creative adventures ahead: www.BusinessOfCreating.org

We have a fantastic panel on video gaming 🕹 coming up on Tues. April 8th, and tickets are selling quickly. Early bird pricing ends this Wednesday, so get your tickets now. This panel is both in-person and live-stream!

Join The Business of Creating Institute in partnership with the Writers Guild Foundation for a dynamic, interactive panel and Q&A with seasoned Entertainment professionals to discuss "PRESS START: Building Your Career in Video Game Writing and Narrative Design."

TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:
- Overview of positions on a video game team
- Game Writing vs. Narrative Design
- Writing Your Own Material
- Writing for an Established Franchise
- Portfolios & Getting Hired
- Cross-Platforming your IP into a Video Game
... and more!

PANELISTS INCLUDE:
- Andrew McClain: BAFTA-Nominated Games Writer and Narrative Designer Neo Cab, Goodbye Volcano High, BioShock 4

- Justin Sloan: Transmedia Producer, Senior Writer, and Narrative Designer EA's Battlefield,Tales From The Borderlands, Game of Thrones

- Stephan Bugaj: Chief Creative Officer @ Genvid | Emmy & Webby Winning Showrunner

- Ashley Poprik: Senior Narrative Designer, Destiny 2; Writer, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

MODERATORS:
- Jennifer Mangan: Writer/Producer, Beautiful Day Productions & Co-Founder of The Business of Creating Institute.

- Michael Fisk: Producer, Pangram Entertainment & Co-Founder of The Business of Creating Institute

DATE: Tuesday 08 April 2025
TIME: 7:00 PM PST
LOCATION: Writers Guild Foundation, in person and live-stream!
COST: $20 Early Bird pricing until 25 March, then $25

RSVP: http://www.businessofcreating.org/business_of_creating_upcoming_events.html #/

Thank you to everyone who made the panel "From Script to Savings: Navigating Film & TV Production Incentives" such a successful event! 🎬✨

A huge shout-out to our esteemed panelists for their invaluable expertise: Nicole Ameln, Ricky Andres, Luiz Ricardo Lopez, and Michael Fisk.
And a special thanks to our dynamic moderator Jennifer Mangan.

We truly appreciate all the in-person and virtual attendees for joining us and contributing to the engaging discussions! 🙌

Thanks also to Dustin Fleischmann at Writers Guild Foundation (WGF) for partnering with and hosting us on this event (and past events). 📽️✨

During this interactive panel, we explored how producers, writers, and filmmakers can leverage production incentives, tax credits, grants, and more to maximize creative output while keeping production budgets realistic.

We also premiered our sizzle video thanks to Mitch Bradford from Brand Your Story Online. He and his talented team did a phenomenal job.

Make sure to follow us to learn about our next panels, with the next one planned in April.

www.BusinessOfCreating.org

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Join The Business of Creating Institute in partnership with the Writers Guild Foundation for a dynamic, interactive panel and Q & A with seasoned Entertainment professionals to discuss FROM SCRIPT TO SAVINGS: Navigating the New World of Film and TV Tax Incentives.
​
Learn how producers, writers, and filmmakers can leverage tax credits, rebates, and deductions to maximize creative output while keeping production budgets realistic.

Topics will include:
- The basics of film and TV tax credits, grants, and rebates.
- Best practices for applying for incentives.
- Insights into popular international filming locations offering lucrative incentives.
- How to monetize or transfer tax credits and why brokers are essential in the process.
- How to account for tax incentives during pre-production budgeting and financing.
…and more!

PANELISTS include:
Nicole Ameln - President and Founder, North Star Incentives

Ricky Andres - Production Accountant & Finance Consultant, Unsolved Productions

Luiz Ricardo Lopez - Entertainment Tax Incentives Expert and Founder, Guaraci Ventures Inc.

Michael Fisk - Producer of Pangram Entertainment, former Studio Marketing Exec., and Co-Founder of The Business of Creating Institute

MODERATOR:
Jennifer Mangan, Writer/Producer, Beautiful Day Productions and Co-Founder of The Business of Creating Institute.

DATE: Tuesday 18 February 2025
TIME: 7:00 PM PST
LOCATION: Writers Guild Foundation, in person and live-stream!
COST: $20
RSVP: https://www.wgfoundation.org/events/all/2025/2/18/wgf-x-business-of-creating-from-script-to-savings-navigating-the-new-world-of-film-and-tv-tax-incentives