Jeff Steele's Location
Chicago, Illinois, United States, United States
Jeff Steele's Contact Details
Jeff Steele work email
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Jeff Steele personal email
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About Jeff Steele
Jeff Steele boasts a diverse career spanning two decades at the nexus of creative entertainment, entrepreneurship, tech innovation, media finance, and academia. In 2021, Jeff pivoted into the dynamic world of advertising, where he started as a Sr. Business Affairs manager at Cavalry/VML, he contributed to the seamless transition of the Modelo account before joining Dentsu Creative/360i as a full-time Business Manager in April 2022.Previously, Jeff held a key role in the Business & Entrepreneurship Department at Columbia College Chicago. There, as fulltime faculty, he not only coordinated the Business of Film & TV Concentration but also created and taught the popular capstone courses, Executive Producing for Film & TV Practicum and the introductory Business of Film & TV.In 2013, Jeff co-founded 3DPX, a thriving rapid-prototyping and 3D printing service bureau in Chicago’s River North area. Serving diverse clients, including Leo Burnett, United Airlines, and the Lyric Opera, the venture flourished and was successfully sold in 2018. Jeff's entrepreneurial spirit also led him to apply for and defend patents, trademarks, copyrights, and engage with MPEG, an international standardization organization.Prior to his foray into academia and advertising, Jeff spent two decades in the entertainment industry. Notably, he served as the Head of Film Finance for a $60M equity film fund and as the Director of US Film Finance for a $300M media debt fund, overseeing the capitalization of numerous films with budgets ranging from $4M to $40M. Jeff's impressive portfolio includes being a partner in the production company responsible for the acclaimed eco-documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?"—a Sundance premiere that secured the #53 spot on PBS’s All-Time Best Documentaries. Jeff is a native of Orange County, CA, has one child, and indulges his creative side by playing Dungeons and Dragons every week.
Jeff Steele's Current Company Details
Film Closings
Production Finanace / Production Business Affairs
Jeff Steele Work Experience Details
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Film Finance ConsultantFilm Closings Oct 2009 - PresentCurrently, performing as Executive Producer. I strategically utilize expertise in tax credit assessment and monetization, as well as develop and avail business opportunities, evaluate financing structures, monitor pre-production, physical production, and post-production, and steer cost control. Responsibly lead and direct cross-functional teams to maximize productivity and profitability. I am overseeing and managing film finance packaging to ensure cost-effective processes. Thoughtfully devise and implement strategic financial plans and recoupment schedules, confirming timely deliveries. Adhere strictly to international standards for media entertainment.Some of my most significant achievements and contributions within this job role include:• Delivered effective entertainment finance advisory with specialized expertise in structured finance for mainstream, independent feature film, and television projects.• Performed in high-volume production and financing environments, offering exceptional outcomes.• Sourced millions of dollars in completion funding for independent features and television projects - allowing them to finish production on schedule.
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Senior Business ManagerHighdive Dec 2023 - Aug 2024BA for Jeep and client is a direct signatory to SAG-AFTRA. Worked collaboratively, as a partner with Producers and Account teams to ensure that all talent and third-party rights for all creative assets are secured, licensed, and compensated in accordance with Legal, Industry Guidelines and Union Agreements; as well as intellectual property, third party rights, privacy and publicity laws, copyright, and trademark laws, and an awareness of content management and contracts/licensing.BA for live action TV commercials shot in Arizona, Toronto, and Barcelona.Assisted in negotiations for talent, music rights, name & likeness and all other contracts for all platforms. Responsibilities:• Managed and consulted on all things related to hiring and tracking rights associated with talent and third party rights.• Callouts / Reviewed commercial concepts and recommend best method to hire performers and advise/consult on the most cost-effective way to produce/execute a creative asset.• Help determine the third-party rights needed and flag any issues. • Be organized, manage talent budgets and consult with agency producers on estimates & monitor talent and production budgets for TV, Radio, and integrated/digital production jobs.• Knowledgable with SAG/AFTRA commercials contract, union waivers to reduce client costs, i.e., Low Budget Waivers, Internet Only, etc.). Procured SAG/AFTRA waivers (i.e. Low-Budget, PSA, Experiential Coverage, Experiential Social Media). Prepared performer contracts/releases. Reviewed all executed contracts, licenses, and process session payments.• Providing Accounting with internal estimates, purchase orders and invoices.
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Business Affairs & Talent ManagementDentsu Creative Apr 2022 - Dec 2023BA for Burger King (BK) and 7/11.Oversee entire Font Licensing and Compliance Process for Dentsu Creative US• Maintain suppliers relationships, secure vendor quotes, and manage ongoing license agreements, along with legal.Independently support producers on non-union productions, domestic and foreign• Support VP on high stakes/high budget union and non-union productions.• Work with producers to create estimates and assess talent requirements per project.• Worked on social, influencer and digital productions.• Experience with online and social media usage and rights in all facets for business affairs for all social and digital work within the integrated production department.• Work with legal to ensure teams are following process for vetting all materials for infringement risks.• Work with clearance service to vet anything related to an execution.• Advise account team on talent and third- party rights agreements that will come up for expiration.• Draft purchase orders, production contracts, releases, affidavits, music rights agreements and other production/vendor documents together with agency legal counsel.• Resolves production billing-related questions from staff, clients, vendors, and performers.• Understanding insurance requirements and special insurance needs for productions.• Work with production companies and all third- party vendors in obtaining all COI's or client's insurance companies to provide insurance to vendors when needed.• On-board / setup freelance crew within Extreme Reach Crew Services payroll company.• Familiar with network clearance process.• Experience working with third-party payroll companies and ability to create all necessary session and usage payments for processing through the payroll company.• Knowledge of copyright and licensing of rights for commercial usages.• Ensure appropriate rights are secured to protect the agency and client from potential infringements• Work with producers and A/P to setup new vendors. -
Sr. Production Business Affairs ManagerOkrp 2022 - 2022Chicago, Il, UsSupported the Business Affairs team managing signatory and non-signatory clients.Creating estimates, booking VO and OCP talent. Researched crypto and NFT projects. -
FounderFirebrand Collective Apr 2019 - Aug 2021Chicago, Il, UsFirebrand Collective is a lifestyle brand that builds community around activism and social change, focusing on amplifying marginalized voices. -
Sr. Production Business Affairs ManagerCavalry 2021 - 2021BA for Modelo Beer.Agency is signatory to SAG-AFTRA.Supported the agency's production process (for their Beer and and Wine brands), by putting to use best practices to ensure an efficient, reliable and accurate workflow.Built a strong and positive working relationship with Producers, Creatives and Account teams to review work, resolve issues, and provide solutions.Managed procurement of all production services, e.g., Bid Specs, Production Contracts, Purchase Orders etc.Worked with internal accounting processes, procedures and relevant software.Developed skills in creating and reviewing performer contracts and releases, reviewed finished commercials to ensure all rights were obtained, developed final cast reports / completion reports, and renegotiate contracts when necessary.Supported other business production needs as they arise.Worked collaboratively with production and post production teams.Working knowledge of the SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract and the American Federation of Musicians Contract. Some experience with integrated, non-broadcast and offshore productions.Exceptional organizational skills.
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Head Of Special ProjectsWorld Future Society Presents Feb 2017 - Aug 2019Chicago, Illinois, UsManaged administrative and compliance for legacy non-profit and new for-profit startup entities, including GDPR and other regulations governing global membership data. Facilitated non-profit audits, spearheaded employee and contractor onboarding and termination policies, operations, and strategic plans. Setup and admin for Google Suite, Slack, Basecamp and other administrative and operations software solutions. -
Assistant Professor Of Instruction, Head Of Film Business ProgramColumbia College Chicago Aug 2014 - May 2018Chicago, Il, UsTaught four courses per semester, at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the Business and Entrepreneurship Dept.:-- Created the popular Executive Producing for Film and TV Practicum (Graduate and Undergraduate)-- Business of Film and TV (Undergrad)-- Entrepreneurship (Undergrad)-- Strategic Management (Undergrad)-- Strategic Planning (Grad)Coordinated the Film Business BA Concentration.Member of the Departmental Curriculum Committee, DEI Committee, and Student Engagement Committee -
Adjunct FacultyColumbia College Chicago Sep 2013 - Aug 2014Chicago, Il, UsInstruct the following courses in the Business and Entrepreneurship Department:-- Executive Producing for Film and Television Practicum (Teaches executive producing, financial management, deal making, and investor/lender relations for film, TV & digital media fields.)-- The Business of Film and TV-- Entrepreneurship
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Finance Lead For Startup Launch Team3Dpx Additive Manufacturing Nov 2012 - Dec 2017Chicago, Illinois, UsHelped launch the 3DPX (The 3D Printer Experience), which started as a pop-up shop, and grew to become the top high-end, retail, product innovation and 3D printing service bureau in Chicago. 3DPX services all of Chicago's top advertising and marketing firms, airlines, universities, architects, designers, crowdfunding entrepreneurs, inventors, and more. 3DPX was sold in 2018, but is still going strong!I was the founding general manager, where I created and managed business operations, overseeing 11 employees at its peak, which included 3D modelers, 3D printing technicians, administrative and retail staff. Also setup and managed Quickbooks, POS and Salesforce systems as well as other operational technologies.In 2015 I segued from GM to advisor to the Founder/CEO, until the company was sold in 2018. -
AdvisorThe Metaspace Jul 2012 - Aug 2014Making social enterprises sustainable and measurable.The MetaSpace is a social enterprise ecosystem that helps social-entrepreneurs launch for-profit businesses that have social missions, by providing impact-funding, back-office support and shared resources.
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Head Of Film FinanceMagnet Media Group Oct 2009 - Sep 2010$60m Equity & Distribution Fund specializing in higher-budget, mainstream, feature film and television properties that were produced and distributed by its affiliate companies: Magnet Media Productions and Dignity Distribution.Assessed the commercial viability of film and television projects that were submitted for financing. I would also identify other lending and investment parters for projects under consideration. Also performed tax credit assessments, recommended U.S. and international tax incentives for physical and post-production. Assessing budgets and performing revenue analyses.Executive Producer on "Dark Tide":-- MMG was the equity investor for $14m feature film starring Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez. Directed by John Stockwell.-- I facilitated the UK and South African bilateral treaty co-production, so the film could shoot physical production in South Africa with post-production in the UK.-- Structured, managed and closed highly complex, six-party financial closing that included 35 foreign presale contracts.Other film that MMG invested in and produced were "The Experiment" starring Adrian Brody and Forrest Whittaker; and "13" starring Mickey Rourke and Jason Stathem.
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Director, Us Film FinanceScreen Capital International Nov 2006 - Nov 2008Managed $93mm US tax credit pipeline:-- Successfully facilitated the certification of $40mm in gross tax credits and rebates.-- Served as in-house tax incentive expert.-- Provided signoff on amount of tax credits to be advanced.-- Applied production experience with granular knowledge of statutes to provide line-item analysis of production budgets, so as to determine exact amount to be advanced to producers, as well as appropriate hold-backs and turnaround times.-- Provided statutory risk assessments for each state, country or other jurisdiction.-- Developed and maintained reporting on tax credit funding commitments, loan tracking, production and contingency status, delivery, etc.-- Advised producers on the best locations and spending to maximize incentive benefits.-- Forged long-term relationships with film commissioners and film offices.-- Leveraged relationships to expedite numerous tax credit filings and certifications.-- Successfully prevented the recapture of a $3mm rebate.Oversaw $150mm of production financing of 15 US-based pictures that were financed over a two year period, with production budgets ranging from $4m - $40m:-- Instrumental in sourcing and vetting material for financing, as well as monitoring production spending, delivery, sales, and recoupment. Also, involved in day-to-day of the $200mm, non-US, loan book.-- Worked with foreign sales companies to assess sales estimates and pre-sales, as well as follow-up for payment on US-based films.-- Worked with collection account managers to track sales payments and recoupment.-- Worked with senior lenders to get best rates on pre-sales, gap, etc.-- Developed in-depth financing models, which were applied to each project to assess risk, pricing, and the requisite amounts of equity, debt, and incentives, as well as analyses of ROI and timeline projections.Sign-off on each project's finance plan, which became a standard part of the credit approval process.
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Startup Co-FounderHot Potato, Inc. Nov 2006 - Oct 2008Created funding models, budget projections and investment decks for tech company specializing in online video search technology and online video distribution.Video Distribution Platform:-- Hot Potato was a video distribution & licensing platform for professionally produced factual video content, which used our precision video search technology to also function as a video Wikipedia.Precision Video Search Technology: -- Conceived of and helped develop a proprietary video search technology allowing web-crawlers to index professionally produced video content. Not just the words, but the music, action and more.MPEG-M: International Standard for Timecoded Post-Production Deliverable Documents-- Helped strategize and develop MPEG-M, an international standard for time-coded, post-production deliverable documents for MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group).
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Co-Productions & FinancePlinyminor Apr 2005 - Oct 2006Through the use of foreign and domestic tax credits/subsidies, foreign co-productions, and equity/gap/banking, I was in charge of procuring financing and other co-production opportunities for company's projects. In 2006, Plinyminor produced the Emmy nominated films "Mammoth" for NBC Universal's Sci Fi Channel as well as the hit theatrical documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?" (released by Sony Pictures Classics).
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Associate Producer"Who Killed The Electric Car?" Jun 2005 - Jun 2006"Who Killed the Electric Car?" is #53 of the PBS Top 100 Documentaries of all time!http://archive.pov.org/blog/news/2012/12/the-25-greatest-documentaries-of-all-time/Feature documentary that premiered at Sundance 2006 and was nominated for Writers Guild and Critics Choice Awards for Best Documentary. Released theatrically by Sony Pictures Classics in Summer 2006. Has gone on to become a Congressional cult classic in the hallowed halls of the Capital. -
Producer"Mammoth" Apr 2005 - Apr 2006Co-Produced and procured the financing for the Emmy nominated film, "Mammoth", which premiered on NBC Universal's Sci Fi Channel in April 2006. Film starred Tom Skerrit, Vincent Ventresca, and Summer Glau. Directed by Tim Cox.
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Office Of The ChairmanPhoenix Pictures Jan 2001 - Nov 2003Executive assistant to Mike Medavoy. -
Fox 2000 - Asst To Susan Landau20Th Century Fox 1999 - 2000New York, Ny, UsMy humble beginnings...
Jeff Steele Skills
Film Finance
Television
Producing
Financial Modeling
Independent Film
Business Strategy
Strategy
Blogging
Entertainment
Public Speaking
Structured Finance
Alternative Investments
Social Entrepreneurship
Business Planning
Saas
Digital Media
International
3d Printing
Investors
Tax Credits
Consultancy
Business Development
Credit Risk
Music Publishing
Higher Education
Leadership
Influencer
Impact Investing
Social Enterprise
Fund Formation
Strategic Advisory
Equity Funding
Mezzanine
Alternative Assets
Paas
Deal Sourcing
Technology Development
Business Plan Formulation
Key Opinion Leaders
Valuation Modeling
Intellectual Property Valuation
Debt Financing
Collateralized Lending
Film Funds
Faculty
Creative Entrepreneurship
Project Management
Problem Solving
Business Operations
Film
Feature Films
Crowdsourcing
Risk Assessment
Pre Sales
Gap Analysis
Crowdfunding
Expert Witness
Fairness Opinions
Debt
International Pre Sales
Unsecured Debt
Jeff Steele Education Details
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Columbia College ChicagoArts Management -
University Of The PeopleManagement And Operations
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California State University, Fullerton
Frequently Asked Questions about Jeff Steele
What company does Jeff Steele work for?
Jeff Steele works for Film Closings
What is Jeff Steele's role at the current company?
Jeff Steele's current role is Production Finanace / Production Business Affairs.
What is Jeff Steele's email address?
Jeff Steele's email address is je****@****nce.com
What schools did Jeff Steele attend?
Jeff Steele attended Columbia College Chicago, University Of The People, California State University, Fullerton.
What are some of Jeff Steele's interests?
Jeff Steele has interest in Huntington's Disease.
What skills is Jeff Steele known for?
Jeff Steele has skills like Film Finance, Television, Producing, Financial Modeling, Independent Film, Business Strategy, Strategy, Blogging, Entertainment, Public Speaking, Structured Finance, Alternative Investments.
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