Formerly Vice President of Corporate Finance at Smith Family Circle and Vice President of Studio Finance at Westbrook Studios, Steve Bender graduated from USC film school in 2000, co-produced eight films, and is credited on more than 30 films that earned a cumulative worldwide box office of $1.1 billion. In 2006, Steve assisted the structuring of a $240 million film portfolio fund with numerous institutional investors and lenders to produce more than ten feature films and to be distributed globally by Warner Bros. In 2014, he helped partner the independent film production company Silver Pictures with the multi-billion-dollar Oilers Entertainment Group in a $75 million new venture to provide funding and overhead for major motion pictures, television and digital projects. During his 13 year tenure at Silver Pictures, Silver produced such epic franchises as The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows, and cult favorites V for Vendetta, RocknRolla and Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. Steve is well versed working with A-list talent as well as institutional investors and high net worth individuals. In 2018 Steve joined Smith Family Circle to head up finance for Will Smith's media ventures and coordinate development and corporate strategy for Will’s ongoing productions. in 2021, Steve was recruited by Ken Block to build out Hoonigan in the film, tv and podcast space to expand revenue streams around his mastery of the automotive segment. Currently part of a team strategizing and building a new model for an intellectual property and talent driven multi-platform film and television business.