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Talk of the bay
Lawyers solicited to invest in independent film
By WILLIAM R. LEVESQUE
Published January 10, 2005
Some Florida attorneys used to hearing pitches from potential clients in need of a good lawyer have gotten a decidedly glitzy spiel in recent months.
Strata Productions in Evanston, Ill., has been soliciting lawyers to invest in the independent film company's new movie, Heavens Fall, which stars Timothy Hutton in a story about the Scottsboro Nine in Alabama.
The case involved a group of young black men falsely accused of gang raping two white women in 1931.
For $15,000 each, investors are offered "units" in the film, which faced costly production delays when Hurricane Ivan played havoc with filming in Alabama and Tennessee.
If the film brings in revenues of $5-million, an investment of $20,000 will earn a return of $3,810, according to a prospectus. If the movie earns $30-million, investors stand to make $87,200.
The prospectus said the company has sought more than $4-million in private capitalization.
It also warns movies are unpredictable and risky. Ben Gonzales, an associate producer with Strata who has contacted at least one Tampa Bay area lawyer, declined to comment. Documents sent to investors say the movie will be released this summer.
Largo lawyer John Trevena, who said Gonzales called him in December, said he plans to send a check. He said Gonzales told him the production company is soliciting prominent lawyers in Florida and around the nation.
"It's an excellent project that deals with a very important legal case," Trevena said.
[Last modified January 7, 2005, 19:36:03]
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