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Michael Youn

9/28/10
Q&A Series with Lionsgate Executive Michael Youn

Lionsgate executive MICHAEL YOUN came to the Judith Weston Studio to speak and answer questions on September 28th. Michael is a Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning & Business Development at Lionsgate. His responsibilities include evaluating studio strategy for theatrical pictures, direct-to-video releases, DVD, iTunes and VOD strategy. He plays a vital role in film and library financing and acquisitions – as well as helping to evaluate film greenlights and ultimates. Besides a background in managing investments prior to joining Lionsgate in 2003, Michael also at one time pursued acting and stand-up comedy. I met Michael through his wife, actress Kristen Alaniz, who has taken classes with me.

Michael was so generous, and so clear and articulate, as he shared his experience and knowledge of film financing and distribution. He was FULL of information – and many who attended told me afterwards that they got information from his talk that is not available ANYWHERE else. There were many questions, and he responded to each one with a bracing clarity, grounded in kindness and support. He took an extremely complex subject and made it understandable and real.

While stating that a well-written script is still the most important thing, Michael stressed how important it is to know and research the target audience for your film – who will it appeal to? What is the size of that audience? How expensive is it to get to that audience? It’s important, he said, for filmmakers to be able to discuss a marketing strategy in pitch meetings with distributors and financial people.

He talked about genre, he talked about New Media, he talked about Walmart. He gave specific examples of how to calculate a budget and end up making money on the project. He gave very specific advice on calculating how much a movie will make, and why you should know about these things when talking to distributors and financial people. He gave specific projections of how low, or how high, a budget needs to be in order to make money for each genre (Drama, R rated Comedy, Horror, Western, Family, Thriller, Sci-Fi, Action).

The questions were extremely thoughtful and interesting – it was a great audience! Thank you all for coming. But most especially, thank you, Michael – for sharing so graciously your knowledge and experience – it was an invaluable contribution to all who attended.

  • “I am eternally grateful for your help.”

    TAIKA WAITITI, writer-director, JOJO RABBIT, THOR RAGNAROK, HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, BOY, EAGLE VS SHARK, FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS
  • “I took a seminar with an acting teacher named Judith Weston. I learned a key insight to character. She believed that all well-drawn characters have a spine, and the idea is that the character has an inner motor, a dominant, unconscious goal that they’re striving for, an itch that they can’t scratch. I took to this like a duck to water.”

    ANDREW STANTON [from his Feb 2012 TED Talk] writer-director, FINDING DORY, WALL-E, FINDING NEMO, A BUG’S LIFE; director, BETTER CALL SAUL, STRANGER THINGS; writer, TOY STORY, TOY STORY 2, TOY STORY 3
  • "Judith's method is wonderful because it is practical. She has given me numerous tools to solve problems on the set and to earn the trust of actors. Her classes and her book are invaluable resources to any director."

    LAWRENCE TRILLING, director, GOLIATH, RECTIFY, PARENTHOOD, MASTERS OF SEX, PUSHING DAISIES, DAMAGES, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, NIP/TUCK, MONK, SCRUBS, INVASION, ALIAS, FELICITY
  • "Thank you for teaching me how to direct actors. Taking your classes made me believe I could direct. Taking your classes gave me a base, a foundation, a framework to find my own style. To step out on faith. I'm forever grateful. Love and respect to you, magnificent Judith Weston." 

    AVA DuVERNAY, director, WHEN THEY SEE US, QUEEN SUGAR, A WRINKLE IN TIME, SELMA, SCANDAL, MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
  • "Everything you taught me was more than useful. I am deeply grateful."

    ALEJANDRO GONZÁLEZ IÑÁRRITU, director, THE REVENANT, BIRDMAN, BIUTIFUL, BABEL, 21 GRAMS, AMORES PERROS