Latest news with #AmyBaker
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Cannes Film Festival & Market Reaffirms One Persisting Trend
Amy Baker, CEO and co-founder of Winston Baker, speaks to the audience during the 15th International ... More Film Finance Forum in Cannes. Cannes Film Festival represents the epitome of the film festival experience. It boasts old Hollywood glamour (and an even stricter dress code) from one of the most alluring red carpets in the world to larger-than-life premieres like Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, one of the hottest tickets in this year's lineup, But beyond the silver screen and behind the giant red carpet and gowns, there is a well-attended and robust market centered around the Palais just on the edge of the La Croisette. For nearly two decades, this central meeting hub has provided a space for industry professionals and festival goers alike to educate, discuss and pontificate over networking events, panels and more. Amy Baker, CEO and co-founder of Winston Baker, has led the development of this programming with the company's annual International Film Finance Forum in Cannes in partnership with Marché du Film. Winston Baker is a globally recognized entertainment content curator, specializing in strategic solutions across entertainment finance, music, innovation, sports and various pockets of the industry. And as the 15th annual finance forum, this year's program did not disappoint. Set on the Festival Main Stage, Baker's company led candid conversations with thought leaders, established executives and talent to demystify and predict trends in the ever-changing film marketplace. I had a chance to connect with Baker following the whirlwind market to get her sense of how this year compares in Cannes past. She noted a surprising amount of support for their artificial intelligence (AI) panel which focused on China. 'In years past, that was not as well attended but this year the crowd showed up with real interest.' AI topics still appear to be a charged issue within the industry—especially after the strikes of 2023— as attendees often questioned the panel itself and yet inquired about AI uses. Baker says that while there is a 'strong interest in figuring out the use of AI,' it is still met with skepticism and concern (with enough hope to reinforce that AI in film is not going anywhere). An image of panelists at the 15th Annual International Film Finance Forum in Cannes. After 15 years of hosting this event series, Baker notes that the main change is that the industry 'newbies' now bring fresh materials and greater sophistication than in previous years, thanks to increased access to technology. She is impressed with early creators' sizzle reels and sample artwork that look 'just as good as a studio.' With newcomer trailers matching the level of those screening in the professional sales booth, how does the industry discern and pinpoint where the talent lies? Baker was also excited about the Cannes audience's continued support for disruptors and advancement in her disruptors and advancement in her Shifter(s) Series with The Shift. For instance, Lars Knudsen and Ari Aster, Square Peg co-founders and filmmakers known for horror hits like Hereditary and Midsommar, received wide coverage from the press for their latest film screening at the fest Eddington. While the film industry is contracting, this is one example of how there are still seasoned professionals who continue to reinvent the business and draw in eyes. But we were both amused to find that disruption can sometimes be overlooked or judged. Baker remembers back to 11 years ago when Ted Sarandos, the CEO of Netflix, took the stage at her event and proclaimed that streaming movies would take over distribution, and the audience's skepticism was blatantly apparent. Baker has excelled in providing a forum where new ideas and observations are welcome, and the progressive Cannes Film Festival is especially supportive of her programming. When asked about the viability of Cannes for both seasoned industry vets and newcomers, Baker still believes that this is one of the preeminent festivals and markets as it is always on her radar. Her advice to newcomers is that the human experience of attending these markets still rises above any AI algorithm and there is nothing like 'being there in person to run into people and just talk as you never know who you will meet.' Those who prepare and do their Cannes homework can make the most out of this still relevant human experience where one can meet the past, present and future of filmmaking in one beautiful beach setting. Next up for Baker is the inaugural International Film & Television Finance Forum during the Venice Film Festival in August and another forum at the Busan International Film Festival in September. With the American Film Market (AFM) back in Los Angeles this fall, she is also receptive to that being another great watering hole—not just for selling films, but for bringing the industry together through her company to collectively navigate the future of entertainment.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Draconian restrictions on citizen-led amendments pass Florida House
The Financial Impact Estimating Conference discusses on July 1, 2024, the financial analysis of the abortion-rights amendment. Chief economist Amy Baker is at left. (Screenshot from Florida Channel) The Republican controlled Florida House of Representatives has passed a measure that will make it prohibitively harder for a citizen-led constitutional amendment to get on the ballot. The vote was for 76-31. Its passage comes just four months after two constitutional amendments that would have respectively enshrined abortion rights and legalized recreational cannabis for adults narrowly fell short of passage. The bill (HB 1205), sponsored by Lee County Republican Jenna Persons-Mulicka, includes a number of provisions that Democrats and voting-rights advocates say could essentially kill most attempts to place citizen-led constitutional amendments on future ballots. At the heart of the argument by advocates is the need to prevent fraud. The Office of Election Crimes and Security published a report in January asserting that more than 100 representatives of the group attempting to pass the abortion-rights last year committed crimes related to gathering petitions. And last week the Office of Election Crimes and Security informed Smart & Safe Florida, the group working to get a constitutional amendment regarding the adult use of cannabis on the 2026 ballot, that the Division of Elections was fining them $121,850 for allegedly submitting petitions more than 30 days after voters signed them — a violation of existing law. 'We have seen widespread and rampant fraud in this state and in this process,' said Persons-Mulicka. 'We have evidence that we cannot take a blind eye to. We must take further action to put integrity back into the initiative process.' Among the most contentious provisions is a requirement that the state Office of Elections Crimes and Security investigate if more than 10% of submitted petitions during any reporting period are deemed invalid. The requirement amounts to a 90% validity rate, which Democrats say is impossible to overcome. Orlando Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani offered an amendment to reduce the percentage of submitted petitions deemed invalid to trigger an investigation to a 60% validity rate. It was struck down. Other provisions include: Requiring the petition sponsor to post a $1 million bond payable to the Division of Elections once the sponsor has obtained a letter from the department confirming that 25% of the requisite number of signatures has been obtained. If a person who is collecting or handling initiatives petitions is found to not be a U.S. citizen or has been convicted of a felony without having his right to vote restored, the petition sponsor is liable for a $50,000 fine for each person. The bill revises the deadline by which petitions must be delivered by the sponsor to a supervisor of elections from 30 days to 10 days and increases the fines from a $50 flat fee for each late petition form to $50 for each day late for a total fine of up to $2,500 per late petition form. If the sponsor or petition circulator acted 'willfully,' the bill increases the penalty from $250 for each petition form to $2,500. The bill requires all petition circulators — volunteers as well as paid staffers — to be residents of Florida. It says that before a paid petition circulator is registered, he or she must submit to a criminal background check to be paid for by the applicant or petition sponsor. Removes the coordinator of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research from the Financial Impact Estimating Conference, which prepares financial impact statements to accompany any proposed constitutional amendment. (The sitting coordinator of the office, Florida chief economist Amy Baker, is the only member of the Financial Impact Estimating Conference not directly appointed by a Republican politician). To get a proposed amendment by initiative on the general election ballot, currently a petition must be signed by 891,589 voters and the signatures must come from at least half of Florida's 28 congressional districts. To pass, it must win 60% support from the voters. During debate on the House floor, Broward County Democratic Rep. Robin Bartleman argued it would be unfair to make an onerous process even harder to accomplish. 'You are shutting out our fellow Floridians,' she said. 'If we really are about the free state of Florida — which is we always like to say we are — then it's our duty that the power remains in the hands of the people. Every hurdle that you are putting up here today takes it out of their hands. Our citizen-led constitutional amendment provision is already the strictest in the country.' Before the floor debate, voting rights groups held a news conference in the Fourth Floor rotunda of the Capitol, where they blasted the bill as 'undemocratic.' 'They are trying to silence us,' said Amy Keith with Common Cause Florida. 'They are trying to make it impossible for everyday Floridians to put citizen-led amendments on the ballot. They don't want us to be able to directly pass policies that we know our communities need. They think that they have the right to silence us but we are here to say, 'No.'' 'Why are the legislators afraid of the average citizen talking to their neighbor?' said Cecile Scoon, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Florida. 'Who are the legislators listening to? It appears when you look at these bills to limit citizen's constitutional amendment process, they're listening to big companies, they're making it so that only big money can use the citizen process, which is supposed to be for the everyday person.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida revenue estimates up amid ‘uncertainty', according to economist
Florida economists Friday warned that 'uncertainty exists' as they increased general-revenue projections that lawmakers will use in negotiating a new state budget. A panel of economists known as the Revenue Estimating Conference updated general-revenue projections, which were last issued in August, by about $1.3 billion for the current fiscal year and next year. But in an executive summary of its report, the panel pointed to 'weaker' state and national economic variables and said the 'forecasting environment is considerably less stable over the short run than it was in the summer. Further economic uncertainty exists from this point forward.' Economist Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature's Office of Economic & Demographic Research, said the new revenue forecast comes with 'a strong caveat' that the 'greatest risks going forward are all to the downside.' 'There's a lot of uncertainty on how things are going to unfold, both at the federal level, and that includes not only new policies that are being put into place, but also, what is the Federal Reserve going to do next,' Baker said. The Revenue Estimating Conference meets periodically throughout the year to update projections of general revenue, which includes such things as sales taxes and plays a critical role in funding schools, health programs and prisons. Lawmakers will use Friday's estimates in crafting the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget, which will take effect July 1. Legislative leaders have repeatedly said spending in the budget won't be as robust in past years, in part because federal COVID-19 pandemic money is no longer available. In August, Baker said some economic uncertainty remained about consumer saving levels and global issues, such as conflicts in the Middle East that could have a spillover effect on oil and gas prices. Now, concerns include the Trump administration's decisions to cut government operations and impose tariffs on traditional trading partners. The state economists added $768.3 million to projected revenue for the current fiscal year, which started July 1, and $503.5 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The gains are based on sales-tax revenue that has mostly come in higher than anticipated in August and higher-than-expected earnings on state investments. 'I think uncertainty in and of itself causes people to, you know, kind of hunker down,' Baker said. 'In addition to that, you know a lot of folks have money that's at least tangentially in the stock market. Retirement bonds, 401(k)s. So, they watch those balances. They feel those balances coming down. They know that it's a time of uncertainty. They feel less wealthy. They feel less better off as a result of that.' The sales-tax estimate was increased by $510 million for this fiscal year. An increase of $385.4 million was added to the forecast for 2025-2026. Meanwhile, projected revenue from corporate income taxes faced the biggest reduction --- $221.8 million --- over the two years. The state's figures, in part, reflected survey numbers by the University of Michigan, which on Friday indicated national consumer sentiment reached its lowest reading in over two years. 'The sentiment numbers are the latest sign of worry caused by (President Donald) Trump's trade wars alongside sustained drops in the stock market as investors react to the fallout from higher tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada, and on steel and aluminum from U.S. allies,' Joanne Hsu, director of the survey, said in a news release. 'There's also the prospect of more duties on countries across the globe.' Last week, the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research found a 'sharp' decline in consumer confidence among Floridians after three consecutive months of increases following the November presidential election. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
