CHARLOTTE, NC--The Light Factory presents "Celluloid Transformed: The Future of the Film Industry," a series of events and presentations about the egalitarian nature of how the entertainment industry operates and distributes. Presenters include renowned film financier and producer and video-on-demand pioneer, Jonathan Taplin ("Mean Streets," "The Last Waltz," "To Die For") and MarketWatch columnist Jon Friedman.

On Wednesday, March 31, The Light Factory will kick-off "Celluloid Transformed" with a discussion by Taplin and Friedman that afternoon, place and time to be determined.  That evening, The Light Factory will hold "Dinner and a Movie" with our special guests at the ReelWorks soundstage.  A catered dinner, courtesy of Plate Perfect Catering, will be served at 6:30 p.m. followed by a screening of Martin Scorsese's masterpiece, "Mean Streets," and a question-and-answer period between Taplin and Friedman.  More information about the event can be found at www.lightfactory.org.

With the advent of smaller cameras, consumer software, digital technology and wireless internet, almost anyone can become a filmmaker leading to the explosion of the indie film industry, a major tenant of the mission of The Light Factory.  With changes come challenges; "Celluloid Transformed" seeks to explore these, how "the average Joe" can become part of the industry, and how the industry can make money in a free information society.

“To put it simply – information is free – from what you read on CharlotteObserver.com to the movies that you can stream via Netflix,” explains Linnea Beyer, Director of Film for The Light Factory.  “Films and television programming work the same way.  Eventually, every piece of digital information will be available via cloud technology.  Not if, but when this happens, question number one is: how will content providers ensure they make money off of this; question number two is: who will provide that content if they don’t survive?”

In 1999, The Light Factory added film to its mission as the sister lens-based medium of photography.  In the same vein as its mission, The Light Factory specializes in exhibiting independent film and nurturing emerging video-based storytelling.  Year-round screenings include documentaries, narrative films, experimental films, animation and the Annual Carolinas Media Showcase of shorts.

The Light Factory gives free screening space to independent filmmakers from around the world, with special support for local and regional artists, many of whom have gone one to pursue full-time moviemaking careers.  The Light Factory also hosts masters of the indie film world like Charles Burnett and George A. Romero, to share the secrets of making film outside Hollywood and expose their work to a greater audience.

Jonathan Taplin began his entertainment career in 1969 as Tour Manager for Bob Dylan and The Band. In 1973 he produced Martin Scorsese's first feature film, "Mean Streets" which was selected for the Cannes Film Festival. Taplin produced 26 hours of television documentaries and 12 feature films; his films were nominated for Oscar and Golden Globe awards and chosen for Cannes seven times. In 1984 Taplin acted as the investment advisor to the Bass Brothers in their successful attempt to save Walt Disney Studios from a corporate raid  He found Intertainer, the pioneer video-on-demand company for both cable and broadband Internet markets. He is currently a professor for the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California.

Jon Friedman writes the Media Web column for MarketWatch.com. Friedman joined MarketWatch in 1999 as a reporter on the media beat. He ultimately supervised the Web site's media-news reporting team and took on Media Web. Since 2005, he has been a columnist, producing Media Web pieces two or three times each week.  Friedman is co-author of "House of Cards: Inside the Troubled Empire of American Express," published by Putnam in 1992. He has written freelance articles for The New York Times Magazine on Emily's List founder Ellen Malcolm (May 2, 1993 edition) as well as profiles of Sandy Weill, Ron Perelman and Sotheby's for the Times Sunday business section.

Celluloid Transformed: The Future of the Film Industry is sponsored by ReelWorks, Plate Perfect Catering, NC Film, and the Charlotte Regional Partnership.  The Light Factory is graciously supported by Basic Operating Grants from the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte- Mecklenburg and the North Carolina Arts Council.

The Light Factory is one of only four museums in the United States that promote the power of image through photography and film.  For more than 30 years, The Light Factory has served students, artists and the public at large by offering film screenings, photography exhibits, classes and outreach programs that promote media literacy and self-expression using the most powerful mediums of our time.  The Light Factory is a 501©3, non-profit organization.  To find out more about The Light Factory, or make a donation visit www.lightfactory.org.