Masterclass: How To Get Your Film Independently Financed
Steve Longi is a veteran feature film and television producer based in Los Angeles, California. With over twenty years of experience, Mr. Longi has developed and produced numerous projects including the critically acclaimed "Hacksaw Ridge," which recently garnered numerous accolades, including six Academy Award (Oscars) nominations and two wins. Mr. Longi was instrumental in finding the project, securing the rights, setting it up and developing the screenplay for many years before landing director, Mel Gibson.
After years of experience running a prominent Hollywood production company and having worked with an array of talented stars such as Robert Downey, Jr., Sigourney Weaver, Rooney Mara, Whoopi Goldberg, Kat Dennings, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Long, Bob Saget, Rebel Wilson, Anton Yelchin and Ray Liotta, Mr. Longi branched out to form his own company, Longitude Entertainment. Longitude was created to produce and develop screenplays, books, true-life stories, and original film, TV and Internet properties.
The first production for Longitude was the comedy "Willie Barcena: The Truth Hurts," which was produced and directed by Mr. Longi and recently premiered on Netflix. Also on the Longitude slate is the feature film version of the off-Broadway musical comedy, "Zombie Prom." The film is being written by Vince Marcello and Mark Landry, the team responsible for creating Disney Channel's enormously successful "Teen Beach" movie franchise. Longitude is also developing the supernatural-horror film, "The Backyard" written by Jennifer West, "Flight 49," a historical drama based on true events, and other projects soon to be announced.
In addition to Longitude's development projects, Mr. Longi is attached to co produce the Will Ferrell, Josh Gad comedy, "Russ & Roger Go Beyond" for STX Studios; "Group 93" with Universal Television and Serenity Media Group; "DeLorean," about the rise and fall of auto magnate John DeLorean (script by Emmy winner Adam Mazer); "Brother Sam," an HBO biopic of cutting edge comedian Sam Kinison (Larry Charles directing); and the recent IFC release, "Match," written and directed by Stephen Belber and starring Patrick Stewart, Matthew Lillard and Carla Gugino. In addition to working with writers and packaging projects, Longi also travels to the set and is present during the entire production phase.
Originally from New Jersey, Mr Longi relocated to Los Angeles. He served as Vice-President of Permut Presentations, Inc., an independent film and television production company. He oversaw the development, production, marketing and release of Permut's entire slate. He started as the producer's assistant on the breakout hit, "Face/Off" (Nicolas Cage, John Travolta) which was one of the top ten highest grossing films of 1997. Since then, Longi has developed over one hundred film, television and theatrical projects and produced twelve feature films, including Dimension's "Youth in Revolt" (Michael Cera, Zach Galifianakis, Ray Liotta and Justin Long). He also co produced the critically acclaimed Lifetime film "Prayers for Bobby," which garnered numerous awards, including the prestigious GLAAD Best Picture Award and two Emmy nominations, including a Best Actress nomination for Sigourney Weaver. "Prayers for Bobby" is one of the highest rated cable movies in the history of the Lifetime Network.
Mr. Longi's other credits include the comedy cult hit "Charlie Bartlett" (Anton Yelchin, Robert Downey, Jr., Kat Dennings and Hope Davis); Disney's "Double Take" (Orlando Jones & Eddie Griffin); "DysFunktional Family" for Miramax; "Local Color" (Armin Mueller Stahl and Ray Liotta); "Struck By Lightning" with Chris Colfer, Allison Janney, Dermot Mulroney, Christina Hendricks and Sarah Hyland; and "The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story," a documentary about the legendary songwriters who penned virtually all the music for the Disney classics such as "Cinderella," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Sleeping Beauty."