Ben Murray Email & Phone Number

Toronto, On, Ca

Toronto, Canada Area

Toronto, Canada Area

• Reporting to CEO Andrew Barnsley, oversaw and managed all aspects of P10’s development and production slates, along with day to day operations of the Toronto office;• Identified, hired and managed relationships/workflow with key third party vendors including accountants, lawyers, auditors and post production labs; • Provided creative notes and feedback on: drafts of written material during development; dailies during production; and on cuts during post;• Worked closely with show creators to design and edit pitch decks, prior to market presentations; • Drafted and ensured adherence to funded development budgets; • Collaborated with CEO and P10 legal team in negotiation of broadcast development deals, licenses and other domestic/international distribution agreements;• Prepared final cost reports for broadcasters/CMF in connection with development projects;• Managed P10 business affairs, legal and accounting teams in timely preparation/submission of CMF development and production financing applications;• Worked with Line Producers to generate budgets on all productions;• Hired and obtained b'caster approval for key crew/department heads and cast on all productions;• Negotiated agmts with key personnel and/or their representatives;• Monitored production cost reports to ensure adherence to overall budget and managed specific subsections therein (such as star cameos, travel and music licensing et al);• Served as rep of P10/bridge between showrunners/creators and broadcasters/other key stakeholders throughout development and/or production. Often involved travel to production hubs across Canada;• Attended mix playback sessions and provided notes on all P10 post production projects;• Managed Biz Affairs, Publicists and Post Production Supervisors in the delivery of all elements to broadcasters/distributors;• Managed publicity/social media teams and liaised closely with b'caster marketing & publicity departments to ensure successful launch of projects.

Toronto, Canada Area

• Reporting directly to the President, managed creative, financing, legal and business affairs matters from development through to production and delivery for all scripted television projects on Halfire’s slate;• Served as Ontario Producer on the ½ hour comedy series “Working the Engels” - contributed to casting discussions and selections; contributed to key crew selections and oversaw negotiation of agreements related to their services; oversaw completion of financing applications to various funders (CMF, broadcasters, tax credits, interim lender and international distributor) and ensured timely delivery of materials tied to financing drawdowns; in conjunction with music house Grayson Matthews, oversaw music licensing and creation of all original compositions used in connection with the series; oversaw all clearance matters; was primary point of contact for network executives at Shaw/NBC regarding approvals and various production matters; oversaw development and production of all CMF Digital Media Component elements created in connection with the series;• Attended broadcaster pitch meetings and provided creative feedback on various Halfire development projects, including “ROPE” (Shaw/NBC); “PRONS” (Bell/Corus); and “Billy the Kid” (FOX) among others.• Prepared development budgets for all projects on Halfire’s slate; negotiated development agreements with broadcasters and services agreements for key creative talent related to those projects;• Oversaw the preparation of development and production financing applications for all major Canadian broadcasters and the Canada Media Fund;• Worked closely with Halfire and production finance teams to ensure writers/vendors were paid in timely fashion, financial records were kept up-to-date, projected cash-flow was accurate and WGC/WGA, ACTRA and other remittances were submitted;• Established Toronto office of Halfire Entertainment and oversaw all day-to-day operational matters.

Toronto, Canada Area

* Support EVP Mark Musselman in all commercial matters relating to SPF's corporate activities, in particular: acquisition of underlying rights; engagement of creative talent during development and production; securing of financing from domestic and international sources; and securing of domestic and international distribution and broadcast sales agreements. * Contribute to business & legal affairs relating to the theatrical motion pictures “Fugitive Pieces”; “Eastern Promises”; “Real Time”; “Adoration”; “You Might As Well Live” and “Barney’s Version”; and the upcoming “Stage Fright”; and “The Right Kind Of Wrong”; along with the TV series’ “G-Spot”; “Men With Brooms” and the upcoming “Solomon Gursky Was Here”. * Contribute to creative development of Serendipity’s various filmed projects through the timely coordination and filing of financing applications and deliverables, provision of creative notes, generation of cast lists, selection of writers, liaising with agents etc.* Execute Digital Media Component concept and deliverables for all Canada Media Fund-supported SPF projects. * Oversee digital media presence for SPF, including but not limited to, its corporate website, Facebook page and other social media platforms, and project-specific websites.* Prior to the acquisition of Maximum Film Distribution Inc. and Maximum Film International Inc. by eOne in September 2008, served as frontline administrator in the formation and sale of Maximum and assisted Mr. Musselman in the negotiations of exclusive output agreements between Maximum and its various suppliers of filmed entertainment.* Additionally responsible for assisting in the drafting and processing of all cast, crew & employment agreements, corporate & banking documentation etc. entered into by both Serendipity and Maximum.* Coordinate the delivery of legal & film elements for both Serendipity and Maximum’s various motion pictures to domestic and international distributors & broadcasters.

* Headed selection committee for Canadian short films at the Toronto International Film Festival: supervised fellow programmers and overall selection process; tracked and requisitioned film titles; coordinated screenings; distributed selection and rejection notices to filmmakers; wrote programme notes; promoted awareness of Short Cuts Canada programme at annual press conference and subsequently in local, national and international media outlets. In time as lead programmer, media hits and interest in the Short Cuts Canada programme increased exponentially, along with 5% increase in audience attendance.* Primary coordinator of the Volkswagen Canadian Short Film Showcase: curated and acquired outstanding short films for national screening showcase; wrote programme notes; organized, promoted and attended launch screening events in cities across Canada.* Assisted Associate Director, Canadian Programming in coordination of all elements related to Canada's Top Ten initiative: identifed and recruited jury; requisitioned and shipped tapes for viewing consideration; planned & initiated December announcement event; booked films for Cinematheque Ontario screenings with respective film distributors; planned and organized panel discussions at Cinematheque Ontario. * Co-programmed the annual Student Film Showcase: selected final lineup of films from various Universities and Colleges across Canada; selected and wrangled jury; assisted in coordination and promotion of launch screening/event.

* Programmed films for some seventy (70) Film Circuit groups in Ontario and Quebec.* Liaised with distributors, exhibitors, Film Circuit groups and TIFF print traffic department to ensure the timely flow of film prints.* Previewed films for programming consideration.* Maintained an extensive database of booking and print traffic files.* Negotiated booking rates/runs with Canadian and international film distributors.* Travelled to Film Circuit-related events throughout Canada with filmmakers and other film industry professionals.* Wrote film synopses, programme notes and Film Circuit newsletter items.* Assisted with the development and promotion of new Film Circuit groups across Canada.

* Assisted Manager, Festival Programming Steve Gravestock in tracking and sourcing film titles for programming at the Toronto International Film Festival, and maintained several databases of relevant titles.* Liaised with distributors, sales agents, producers, and filmmakers, in coordinating film schedules and travel to and from the Festival.* Assisted in preparing the public and press & industry screening schedules for over 900 screenings of 300 Festival-selected films. Performed data entry and final proofreading of the Official Film Schedule prior to publication.* Coordinated all Festival programmers' film introduction and Q&A schedules during the Festival.* Functioned as an adaptable front line problem solver and trouble shooter before and during the Festival.* Organized and facilitated several dinners for visiting filmmakers, talent, and programmers.* Performed general office duties and administrative tasks as required.