The MPI Original Film A Piece of Cake, starring Rich Sommer (Mad Men), earned top accolades from film festivals around the world.
2020 OFFICIAL SELECTION 1 2 4 6 8 17 10 12 14 15 16
PI’s Films Slate of Pro-Freedom Feature MPI Filmmakers for Future Success MPI Filmmaker Training of Pro-Freedom Filmmakers Next Generation The Democratic Socialism the Internet TV Tackles We for MPI Skyrockets Viewership in the Classroom Leadership Financials Inspires Audiences around the World Miss Virginia Inspires Audiences around MPI Accolades Preparing Shorts Win Original From the President 2020 Milestones M
TEAM THE TOP: Rob Pfaltzgraff, Nick Reid, Lana Link Rob Pfaltzgraff, Nick TOP: Ruth Earl and Hannah Allison Ryan, Deb Schick, Gallardy, Tara Joseph Corey, BOTTOM: TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE PRESIDENT I am proud to share with you MPI’s 2020 Annual Report, which details our successful year promoting freedom through film.
The MPI Original Film A Piece of Cake was accepted into dozens of film festivals, including seven that are Oscar-qualifying. The MPI team helped organize 109 grassroots screenings and more than two dozen online watch parties for the MPI Original Film Miss Virginia—for which we also signed several international distribution agreements, making it available in more than 90 countries. Our mini-documentary 5 Reasons Why We Need Sweden’s Democratic Socialism educated more than 1.5 million viewers about the myths of Sweden’s economic system. And MPI trained and supported 61 freedom- minded filmmakers (47 fellows and 14 interns) through the MPI Rising Filmmaker Program.
In a year that was rife with uncertainty, we focused our time and resources on maximizing the impact of our core projects and programs while positioning MPI to rapidly expand our audience reach in the years ahead. As a result, we more than doubled our slate of future MPI Original Films and increased our annual revenue by more than 50%. Our work also caught the attention of major production companies, which has resulted in a revenue generating model that few other nonprofits can boast.
We developed eight MPI Original Films for production and inked contracts that include industry leading writers, directors, and co-production partners for three new narrative feature films. Our future slate of wide- reaching films will educate hundreds of millions on themes such as free speech, inspiring entrepreneurship, constitutional rights, government overreach, and highlighting innovative, market-driven solutions to address global homelessness.
I hope you enjoy reading this report that describes all of our exciting progress which you, our partners and generous supporters, have made possible. MPI is positioned to inspire even wider audiences with captivating stories about human freedom in the years to come.
Sincerely,
Rob Pfaltzgraff, President
MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | 1 2020 MILESTONES IMPACT AT A GLANCE 91 14 47 Countries Interns Placed in Fellowships Streaming the Film Industry Awarded Miss Virginia
26 5 3 Filmmaker Feature Films Short Films Workshop Added to the MPI Acquired Sessions Held Feature Film Slate for Production
190 Years Total Watch Time of WTI TV Videos*
24 Online Watch Parties Hosted for Miss Virginia
2 MPI MAKES HEADLINES
106,377,185 Unique Views on WTI TV*
109 Grassroots Screenings Organized for Miss Virginia *to date
MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | 3 MPI’S SLATE OF PRO-FREEDOM FEATURE FILMS
MPI’s in-house production team continually works we will be producing over the next three years. The to develop our slate of films—securing intellectual MPI Original Pinball: The Man Who Saved the property from books and articles, acquiring life story Game will be the first full-length feature written and rights to adapt into screenplays, and hiring writers directed by The Bragg Brothers who are coming off to develop original screenplays. These projects are the success of their comedic MPI Original short A then produced by MPI for wide distribution with Piece of Cake. The appeal of Miss Virginia brought two goals in mind—to change minds and inspire interest from BET (a ViacomCBS company) to co- action. Our award-winning films reach an audience produce future films; The Kemba Smith Story is the of hundreds of millions and use the power of film to first resulting cooperative effort. In addition, we are tell stories that educate about what freedom is and why it matters. working on three other features (detailed below and on page 5) that will touch on the themes of inspiring MPI completed an impressive amount of film entrepreneurship, de-regulating the government, acquisition and development work in 2020. We pointing out the ridiculous nature of government secured the film rights and developed original overreach, and highlighting innovative, market- concepts for five MPI Original feature films which driven solutions to global homelessness.
Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game The true story of Roger Sharpe, the young Midwesterner who overturned New York City’s 35-year-old ban on pinball machines.
The writing and directing duo Austin and Meredith Bragg will helm Pinball. Together they won the 2016 HP Masters of Short Film competition at the Cannes Film Festival. As producers for Reason TV, their work has garnered three first place wins for Best Comedy at the Los Angeles Press Club Awards and a National Magazine Award nomination.
4 The Kemba Smith Story A college student falls in love with a man, only to learn he is a drug kingpin who leads her down a path of abuse and manipulation, placing her in the middle of the government’s “war on drugs,” and ultimately landing her in federal prison.
Award-winning filmmaker Christine Swanson is attached to write and direct the film. Swanson most recently directed the record-breaking, smash-hit film, The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel, which earned her a nomination for Outstanding Directing in a TV Movie or Special from the NAACP Image Awards. The film was also nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best Movie Made for Television.
Freedom Hair: The Melony Armstrong Story A mother who works at a shelter for battered women decides to start a natural hair braiding business to achieve financial independence for herself and others. To do so she must overcome unexpected obstacles imposed by a powerful cartel and the state of Mississippi.
Oscar-nominated Dianne Houston will write and direct Freedom Hair. Her first film Tuesday Morning Ride was nominated for an Academy Award, and she is the first and only African American woman to be nominated for an Oscar for directing. She also wrote the acclaimed miniseries When We Rise as well as Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge and Michel’le for which she won a Gracie Award and received a Writers Guild nomination.
Project Home: 3D Printing the Future Striving to solve the global housing crisis, a group of social entrepreneurs use 3D printing technology to build houses and create communities.
This feature documentary comes from MPI filmmakers Davis Huber and Tyler Schiffman. Huber and Schiffman are award-winning photographers and filmmakers, who are united by a mutual desire to spur positive change in the world.
No Knock A man’s life is turned upside down when a team of DEA agents erroneously raid his house looking for drugs. When he seeks restitution, the feds launch an orchestrated harassment campaign to shut him up and shut him down.
The script was written by MPI filmmakers Lou Perez and Greg Burke. The longtime collaborators are behind countless satirical videos for MPI’s comedy news channel We the Internet TV.
MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | 5 MISS VIRGINIA INSPIRES AUDIENCES AROUND THE WORLD
The MPI Original Film Miss Virginia, starring the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and three-time Emmy award-winning actress Uzo most of Africa. Aduba (Mrs. America, Orange Is the New Black), is a case study for what MPI can accomplish. Released Film Screenings Go Virtual in October 2019, this critically-acclaimed feature MPI facilitated 109 grassroots screenings and 24 about Virginia Walden Ford’s heroic efforts to bring online watch parties for Miss Virginia across the educational opportunity to disadvantaged children country. In light of COVID-19 restrictions, many continues to enjoy commercial and grassroots organizers pivoted to utilize virtual platforms, success, far exceeding expectations. including Zoom, Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party), and Google Hangouts to rally parents Miss Virginia is now streaming in more than and community leaders all from the safety and 160,000,000 homes over 1,000 on Netflix and on comfort of home. Virginia Walden Ford herself additional digital streaming platforms , including has joined many post-screening events to discuss Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video. The film her experiences and continued advocacy. These made its television debut on BET in conjunction screenings have allowed Virginia to reach and with Black History Month. It continues to air engage even larger audiences with the film’s regularly and is available to their viewers on BET+. inspiring message of hope and courage during MPI also signed multiple international distribution these trying times. Learn how to host a screening agreements for Miss Virginia which has made it at MissVirginiaMovie.com/screenings. available to audiences in 91 countries, including
NOW AVAILABLE ON:
For more viewing options, please visit Virginia Walden Ford MissVirginiaMovie.com.
6 Audiences React The audience response to Miss Virginia has been overwhelmingly positive on social media platforms such as Twitter.
Vicky kwameh @victoriaieshia @GuruSmokee
Watching #MissVirginia on Netflix! This is such @UzoAduba you did amazing on your film an amazing movie. Fight for your children to get a #MissVirginia ... The Universe needs these stories proper education. CONTINUOUSLY cause we “WILL BE HEARD!!!”
TBBrad Alexa T. @lachon2 @iamAlexaMonae There is no opportunity if there is no education The Virginia Walden story is truly motivation for #MissVirginia ALL! Poverty doesn’t discriminate #MissVirginia #KidsComeFirst #BlackHistoryMonth
Jacobi @JKliveTweets
Marsha B. #MissVirginia @marshahbarnes
Inspired to research this while watching It’s A Movement ---- ups and downs, work together #MissVirginia now on @netflix. but keep it moving! Per Pupil Spending By State 2020 https://worldpopulationreview.com/states/per-pupil- spending-by-state/
Tony Suber @TonySuber22
#MissVirginia is a must watch! On Netflix... School Keta Choice is the only way forward. @FabM_M
What an awesome movie!! I saw not only an advocate for better educational opportunities, but also an exceptional example of how to positively fight for what you believe in and empower others!! A++ CherronRambles.com @UzoAduba @nilesfitch @aunjanuejlt @CherronLampkins @MatthewModine @missvirginiamov #MissVirginia on @BET should be required watching #MISSVIRGINIA for politicians all over this country. Our kids deserve decent and safe schools and the same opportunities as all other kids.
Smiley Sidney @SmiIeySidney Mz Bailey [#MissVirginia] is a powerful movie and if you have @SNMCeCe children, nieces, nephews, cousins and etc you’ll see why this movie is important. @nilesfitch did an #MissVirginia I will always fight for my children’s amazing job, and his storytelling was great as well. education! Watching this was the universe letting me i’ve always been an @UzoAduba fan and i love her know I’m on the right path... The children are even more w this one! the future!
MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | 7 MPI ORIGINAL SHORTS WIN ACCOLADES PREPARING MPI FILMMAKERS FOR FUTURE SUCCESS
A Piece of Cake A Piece of Cake’s success is a major accomplishment The MPI Original dramedy short A Piece of Cake stars for MPI and the Braggs. MPI will harness this Rich Sommer (GLOW, Mad Men) as a father who momentum by producing Pinball: The Man Who turns to illicit means to get dragées for his daughter’s Saved the Game, the brothers’ first narrative feature birthday cake after discovering that the bite-sized silver film. Our work with the Braggs is a great example of confections are banned in the state. This funny, smart MPI’s mission in action. We invest in talented, like- take on overregulation comes from MPI filmmakers minded filmmakers and work with the best of them Austin and Meredith Bragg and was developed in to produce culture-changing MPI Original Films that MPI’s 2019 Short Film Creative Development and reach broad audiences with the ideas of freedom. Production Lab.
The short was accepted into dozens of festivals including seven that are Oscar-qualifying—the Tribeca Film Festival, the Cleveland International Film Festival, the HollyShorts Film Festival, the Show Me Shorts Film Festival, the Edmonton International Film Festival, the Foyle Film Festival, and the Indy Shorts International Film Festival. It was nominated for Best Narrative Short at Tribeca, won Best Comedy and the Audience Choice Award in Comedy at Indy Shorts, and won the Wedgie Award for Best Comedy at Edmonton. It had its television debut on ShortsTV and a limited theatrical run. MPI also hosted a virtual screening of the film and Q&A with the Braggs during its popular Short Break with MPI event, which attracted over 630 registered participants. Rich Sommer in A Piece of Cake
8 Bottom: Image from The Perfect One
The Perfect One Also from MPI’s 2019 Short Film Creative Development and Production Lab is the Oscar-qualifying MPI Original short The Perfect One. Written and directed by MPI filmmaker Matthew Szewczyk, the film follows a young painter who takes an innovative risk to save his family’s failing business. The short was accepted into the Asian Film Festival Los Angeles and will continue its festival run into 2021. The Perfect One also had a limited theatrical run alongside A Piece of Cake.
MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | 9 MPI FILMMAKER TRAINING
The MPI Short Film Creative Development and Production Lab is a comprehensive program that provides filmmakers with hands-on training and mentoring to take their initial film concepts through the process of developing, producing, and releasing a short film.
Each year we put out a call for applications on a specific theme for the Short Film Creative Lab, which connects the MPI Rising Filmmaker Program to MPI Original Films. Filmmakers accepted into the Lab receive fellowship grants and attend MPI Screenwriting Workshops to write and refine their scripts and compete to have the top two or three scripts produced as MPI Original Films with budgets up to $150,000. Filmmakers who have scripts greenlit for production are guaranteed placement in MPI’s directing and cinematography workshops.
stage MPI Screenwriting Workshops: In these ten-week virtual workshops, filmmakers develop and rewrite original concepts and scripts under 01 the guidance of award-winning screenwriters.
stage MPI Directing Workshop: The filmmakers with the top scripts in the MPI Screenwriting Workshops advance to this workshop that is led by award-winning directors and teaches the skills needed to effectively manage a crew, communicate 02 with a cast, and prepare for pre-production, production, and post-production.
stage MPI Original Films: The top projects from the MPI Directing Workshop are acquired and produced by MPI. Filmmakers are 03 mentored through the process of shooting, editing, sound mixing, and color correcting their films.
stage Film Festival, Marketing, and Distribution: Once complete, the short films are prepared to be released: MPI creates film assets, supports a full festival 04 run, and creates a distribution plan to market each film to a broad audience.
10 MPI 2021 Short Film Slate In 2020 the theme was “Standing Up for What You Believe In, Even When It’s Unpopular.” From over 70 applications, twelve filmmakers were selected to develop their projects in three screenwriting workshops and eight were chosen to move on to the MPI Directing Workshop. From there, MPI selected three scripts which will be produced as MPI Original Films in 2021.
Melons A jolly, but meek, grocery store manager learns to stand up for himself after a sexual harassment misunderstanding brands him as public enemy #1. Melons will use humor to tackle cancel culture in a way that is sure to challenge preconceptions.
Melons was written by MPI filmmaker Matthew MacDonald in our 2020 Comedic Shorts Screenwriting Workshop. He holds an MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. As a director and editor, he has helmed digital projects for Skybound Games, Warner Bros. Digital, and Lionsgate. Matthew’s films have screened at over 40 film festivals around the world.
Unloaded Before he can propose, a man who will say anything to gain his future in-laws’ approval must stop his girlfriend’s little sister from disclosing a deal-breaking secret—he owns a gun. Unloaded is a fast-paced, clever story that will tackle political correctness, freedom of expression, Second Amendment issues, and cancel culture.
Unloaded was written by MPI filmmaker Claudia Murray in our 2020 Comedic Shorts Screenwriting Workshop. Claudia directed and co-wrote the MPI Original short film Gringa, which screened widely at film festivals. Claudia’s directorial skills won the Award of Excellence in Directing at the Southern Shorts Awards, Best Director at the UCLAxFilmFest, and Best Shorts Director at the Georgia Latino Film Festival. She is also the founder of her production company Colada and earned a JD from the University of Florida.
Infraction When a prison guard is murdered on the job, his replacement and an inmate form an unlikely relationship with life-altering ramifications. Based on a true story, Infraction will grapple with the timely topics of racial equity and criminal justice reform.
Infraction was written by MPI filmmaker Timothy Blackwood in our 2020 Dramatic Shorts Screenwriting Workshop. MPI supported Timothy’s 2019 film The Conqueror, which won Best Documentary Short at the Oxford International Film Festival, Best Documentary Short at the Munich Film Festival, and Best International Documentary at the British Documentary Film Festival. A graduate of the European Film College, Timothy participated in MPI’s Business of Film Workshop in 2019.
MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | 11 THE NEXT GENERATION OF PRO-FREEDOM FILMMAKERS
The Hollywood Career MPI intern Sophie Yass interned with the development Launch Program and production teams at New York-based Moxie Pictures MPI’s Hollywood Career Launch Program is (Wormwood) and participated in the Academy Gold an entry-level talent-development program for mentorship program. college students and recent graduates who share the MPI vision of promoting freedom in film. Interns “ MPI’s relationship with the Academy Gold program are placed on the sets of MPI Original productions definitely enhanced or at partner production companies, such as my summer internship. Skybound (The Walking Dead), BRON Studios Through their partnership (Joker, Bombshell), and Bold Films (Drive, Whiplash). I was able to learn about To accompany their internships, participants attend the film industry through regular talent development seminars hosted by MPI two amazing and very where top industry professionals advise how to credible programs.” navigate the entertainment industry. —SOPHIE YASS
MPI also sponsors the Academy Gold program, which provides additional mentorship to select MPI interns from members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. This program gives all MPI interns access to Academy programming such as curated panels, private film screenings, networking opportunities with industry professionals, studio tours, and educational workshops.
12 Rising Filmmaker Program MPI offers industry-leading workshops to help pro- freedom filmmakers take their craft to the next level.
The Mindful Editor Hosted in partnership with Smock Media, this workshop offers a select group of film editors the opportunity to sharpen the vital skill of editing. They are taught to craft emotionally powerful stories while also addressing ways to reduce the burnout that comes with an editor’s demanding schedule. Participants are tasked to edit a short video each for a different genre and audience, all pulling from the same pro- freedom source material. The workshop culminates with fellows sharing their short films and reflecting on their creative decisions.
Moving Picturecraft Co-led by award-winning MPI filmmaker Benjamin Gaskell and members of the American Society of Cinematographers, this workshop educates filmmakers on how lighting, camera, and lens technologies can help them achieve their artistic intentions. Fellows learn about the necessity of pragmatism and tangible wisdom in the craft of cinematography, how to capture the emotional focal point of a scene, and the importance of decision making behind the lens.
“ The fact that MPI really focuses on supporting filmmakers and making it a filmmaker first program is incredible. At the end of the day, stories that come out of MPI’s filmmaker workshops are different because not only are they entertaining but they have a point of view on the world, which is what sets MPI films apart.”
—MATTHEW MACDONALD, MPI FILMMAKER
MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | 13 TACKLES DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM
Along with its regular videos satirizing politics, culture, Mini-Doc by the Numbers and current events, MPI’s internet comedy news channel We the Internet TV released 5 Reasons Why We Need Sweden’s Democratic Socialism. The mini- 5 MILLION+ documentary uses humor and investigative reporting MINUTES OF TOTAL WATCH TIME to debunk the myths about democratic socialism being spread in the US by politicians like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The mini-doc went viral and was promoted by media outlets across the country. 1.5 MILLION+ TOTAL VIEWS *to date
Swedish expert Johan Norberg in WTI TV’s mini-doc 5 Reasons Why We Need Sweden’s Democratic Socialism Click to Watch
14 Left: Images from FI$H, MPI’s animated series on economics Right: Image from 2081 VIEWERSHIP SKYROCKETS FOR MPI IN THE CLASSROOM
As COVID-19 restrictions disrupted daily lives MPI in the Classroom Milestones across the country, many parents were faced with the challenges of homeschooling and teachers had to pivot to online-only lesson plans. During this time, MPI 775,410 reached out to parents and educators to inform them STUDENTS REACHED of MPI’s free educational resources, and as a result, BY MPI IN THE downloads of our film offerings and corresponding CLASSROOM* easy-to-follow lesson plans multiplied exponentially. 2081, the MPI Original short film adaption of Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron,” touches on themes of freedom, resistance, equality, and the role 105% of the government. The ten-part animated series 2020 INCREASE IN FI$H: How An Economy Grows brings free market VIEWERSHIP economics to life using humor to tell the story of how three people on an island gradually develop an *to date advanced economy. MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | 15 LEADERSHIP
STAFF
ROB PFALTZGRAFF, PRESIDENT NICK REID, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT LANA LINK, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH COREY, DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENTS ALLISON RYAN, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING TARA GALLARDY, DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT HANNAH EARL, TALENT ASSOCIATE DEB SCHICK, OPERATIONS MANAGER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADVISORY COUNCIL
SARAH ATKINS HOWARD S. HOGAN ROBERT BALZEBRE JOHN E. KRAMER VIRGINIA WALDEN FORD FRAYDA LEVY, COFOUNDER MICHAEL J. FRIEDMAN JEFF YASS KEVIN HARPER KRISTI KENDALL CREATIVE COUNCIL ROB LONG PETER BILLINGSLEY STEPHEN MODZELEWSKI MICHAEL MANDAVILLE STACEY PARKS TANNER MOBLEY ROB PFALTZGRAFF CECILIA DEMILLE PRESLEY MARY BETH WEISS S. LEIGH SAVIDGE
FOUNDER THOR HALVORSSEN
375 GREENWICH STREET | NEW YORK, NY 10013 PHONE: 646–926–0674 • EMAIL: [email protected] MOVINGPICTUREINSTITUTE.ORG
16 FINANCIALS
The Moving Picture Institute is governed by an independent board of trustees and is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. MPI relies on the private financial support of the general public—individuals, foundations, corporations, and program revenue—for its income and does not accept government funding. This report is a statement of MPI’s financial position for the 2020 fiscal year, January 1–December 31, and does not use final audited numbers.
INCOME: $8,037,386 TOTAL 5% PROGRAM REVENUE
FOUNDATIONS 29% 66% INDIVIDUALS
EXPENSES: $3,983,909 TOTAL 6% ADMINISTRATION
94%
PROGRAMS
ASSETS: $5,779,208 YEAR-END TOTAL
*MPI’s significant assets are dedicated to the multi-million dollar production budgets of our future feature-length films.
MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | 17