Branding/Marketing agency Omelet, production company Foundation Content, and Director James Lipetzky have teamed up to jointly produce “License to Operate,” a feature-length documentary film about former gang members who are working together to eliminate gang violence and restore peace in their communities. The new documentary is an outgrowth of the production of a promotional video shot earlier this year for non-profit “A Better LA” by Omelet, Foundation, and Lipetzky.nnThe filmmakers recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for post-production services and music licensing fees, as powerful and relevant music tracks will help tell the story. With principal photography wrapped, the filmmakers plan to finish the documentary by mid-October; the expected running time of “License to Operate” is 90-minutes. Please see: nhttp://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1220803833/license-to-operate nn
nnShot over the summer of 2013, “LTO: License to Operate” is a feature-length documentary film about former gang members in Los Angeles who have come together on a mission to stop the violence they were once part of. These men have earned a “license to operate,” based on their histories as leaders in their respective gangs. This status now empowers them to negotiate on behalf of the community, resolve conflicts, and pursue efforts to limit retaliation killings. The “LTO” filmmakers followed these men throughout LA for the entire summer of 2013, capturing their struggles as they work every day to stop violence, save lives, and rebuild a sense of hope in their communities.nnBranding, marketing, and entertainment company Omelet and production company Foundation Content were first introduced to the men profiled in “LTO” while shooting a promotional video for non-profit “A Better LA,” an organization founded by Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, which promotes peace and prosperity in inner-city Los Angeles through community-based solutions. The filmmakers felt that the profoundly moving LTO story demanded to be told on a larger scale.nnDirector James Lipetzky said, “As a filmmaker, I care about telling the story of human lives – what makes people tick, why we do certain things. While shooting the video for ‘A Better LA’ earlier this year, I realized we were in the middle of a real story that was truly transformative, and ripe with positive change.”n”The stakes have become tragically high with inner city gang-related crime in Los Angeles,” added Omelet Studio Producers Steven Amato and Michael Wallen. “Thanks in part to the efforts of the men depicted in our film, the murder rate in Los Angeles has been on a steady decline, recently hitting a twenty-year low.”nPrincipal photography was funded by Omelet and a group of private investors. Barking Owl Sound and Music Supervisor Michael Gross are currently providing audio/sound design to the film.nn
nnProject CreditsnOmeletnProducers and Omelet Creative Leads: Steven Amato, President and Chief Content Officer; Mike Wallen, EVP Content and DevelopmentnExecutive Producer: Don Kurz, Chairman and CEO nnFoundation ContentnExecutive Producer from Foundation Content: Samantha Hart nDirector: James Lipetzky nAssociate Producers: Stacy Paris and Matthew GoodhuennAbout Director James LipetzkynDirector James Lipetzky, a co-founder of Foundation Content, has recently helmed projects for such major clients as Sony, Microsoft and 3M. Over the course of his career as a noted editor, James has worked with esteemed filmmakers such as Errol Morris, Zak Snyder and Vadim Perlma
Dan Harary The Asbury PR Agency Beverly Hills, CA 310/859-1831 Contact Dan via email
Who Needs Los Angeles? We Do.
One doesn't have to be a statistician to know that there are fewer commercials being shot in the U.S. today for the American market than ever before, and a dramatic decrease in L.A. in particular. In the last five years, as reported by FilmLA (the office tasked with issuing permits), L.A. commercial production has dipped 31 percent. But here’s the thing: This doesn’t mean that L.A. has lost its importance as the production center of the world. Production in L.A. is vital. It is the go-to. It’s where you can count on access to exemplary crews, a support infrastructure second to none, varied location and backlot options, a large population of on-screen talent and (fairly) predictable weather. The fact is, with overall decline and now the devastation of the fires, we’re on the brink of losing this mainstay resource. Without employment opportunities and now many without homes, talented and trained crew are bound to leave either the industry or the LA area for other opportunities, unless there are enough job opportunities to sustain a solid living. Now is the time when we ALL must support and bolster this community. Production is needed in L.A., now! Of course, advertising is a business, and marketers’ money should be spent as efficiently as possible, BUT we have to think beyond each production and know that if we lose the incredible resource of L.A. production as we know it, then marketers, agencies and the industry loses in the long run. Over the past several days, some agencies have issued directives to production companies that are unilaterally pushing upcoming production options out of L.A. The fact is L.A. is a large area, and many sections of the city and county are not directly impacted... Read More