If you are interested in SPONSORING the event, please call Alex Cameron on 07986 373177 or email alex.cameron@michaelsresignation.com. If you would like to ATTEND, please email Clare Beaumont (clare.beaumont@michaelsresignation.com) for a place on the guestlist.
Michael’s Resignation Limited has created a unique social enterprise project where UK companies can invest £1,000 chunks in the total £500k production budget of the feature film “Michael’s Resignation” with prior agreement that after their initial investment is recouped in full, any profits, returns or ongoing revenue is donated to their chosen charity.

They will also receive product placement, national press coverage, tax relief and free film materials for staff.

We aim to bring up to 500 key executives and decision-makers (drawn from a major list of the top 2000 UK corporate charity donors) to a day conference at Pinewood Studios in November 2009 where we can tell them about the project, showcase our partners’ products and services, and persuade them to be involved by investing.

FILM INFO

To learn more about the film "Michael's Resignation", please read the following downloads:

PRESS RELEASE (EMBARGOED)

Contact: Alex Cameron
Tel: 07986 373177
Email: alex.cameron@michaelsresignation.com

BUSINESSES INVEST IN BRIT FLICK TO HELP UK CHARITIES

Pinewood producers use film investment to generate profits for charity

LONDON - Producers of the independent British film “Michael’s Resignation” have invited private companies to invest in their movie’s £500,000 production budget in order to donate any profits and returns they make from the film’s success to charity. The producers themselves are donating 40% of their returns to a team at St Mark's church in Battersea, who will distribute the revenues to over 100 "smaller" causes.

Up to 500 “slots” are being made available for investments of £1,000 and over that will be registered as private equity at Companies House. Companies who invest must agree to have any additional profit they make distributed to their chosen charity on their behalf once their original investment has been returned to them in full.

The producers of “Michael’s Resignation” spectacularly raised over £50,000 in early 2009 from the ordinary UK public to put the film into development so that it could be prepared for filming.

The director is aiming to recruit a celebrity star cast who will take part to raise money for their own chosen charities.

Along with having their initial investment repaid, all those who have contributed will be given free product placement in the movie, thanked in full-page advertising taken out in the national press and listed in the film’s credits. Staff will be entitled to free tickets, DVDs, events and accompanying materials.

“Michael’s Resignation” is being directed by Philip Walsh and produced at Pinewood Studios for release in UK and US cinemas in early 2010. The psychological thriller is based around the collapse of HBOS and features a real building assault by UK Special Forces personnel, a soundtrack composed exclusively of unsigned bands, as well as advanced 3D technology.

The production team hope to start work in Autumn 2009 with a stunning array of feature film specialists responsible for titles such as “James Bond 007”, “Slumdog Millionaire”, “The Da Vinci Code”, “The Golden Compass” and “Occupation”.

Producer Alex Cameron said “What better way to resist the banker bonus culture than to lead the way by example.”

--ENDS--

Notes to Editors:

  • Interested parties can contact the producer of “Michael’s Resignation” on [number] or by email on alex.cameron@michaelresignation.com.
  • “Michael’s Resignation” is a registered trademark of Michael’s Resignation Limited (6931067). 83c Trinity Road, London SW17 7SQ.

LEGAL INFORMATION

MICHAEL'S RESIGNATION LIMITED has applied for status as a COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY (CIC). For more information on CICs, please visit: http://www.cicregulator.gov.uk/ or http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk.

The regulation of financial services and markets in the UK is carried out by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

The activities and investments are specified in The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 ("the RAO"), which is secondary legislation under FSMA. Specified activities are defined in Part II of the RAO and include establishing, operating or winding up a collective investment scheme. Specified investments are defined in Part III of the RAO and include units in collective investment schemes. Therefore, if a company is conducting a specified activity, i.e. establishing etc a collective investment scheme, in relation to a specified investment e.g. units in a collective investment scheme, they need to be authorised, or exempt.

A full list of activities regulated by the FSA is available in the Perimeter Guidance Manual (PERG) of the FSA handbook http://fsahandbook.info/FSA/html/handbook/PERG.

Any company can obtain relief from its corporation tax liability for donations paid to charities provided the qualifying conditions are met. Guidance concerning the qualifying conditions are available on the HMRC website at the following links:

The prospective investing companies, and also the film company, can obtain tax relief for any profits or returns to which they are entitled from their investment in the film that they donate to a registered charity.