INDUSTRY 101 EVENT SERIES
Finance 101: What Screenwriters Need to Know
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 | 5-6:30 PM PT | Online
You’ve done it. You’re making money by writing. The studio’s check even came on time. But you’re nervous. You’re not sure what you need to know about managing your income.
Is that what a savings account is for? What are these index funds you’ve been hearing so much about? Do you need to incorporate? Doesn’t Limited Liability Company imply an Unlimited Liability Company? Wait. Should I have an LLC or something else? What does the S in S-Corp stand for? And–oh no–taxes. You didn’t do quarterly taxes. Is Uncle Sam going to be angry?
This panel conversation will cover the basic financial concerns of early-to-mid career writers. The information, content, and discussion are for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, tax, or investment advice. The only investment advice we can give is never buy a bridge from a man in a trench coat.
PANELISTS
Belva Anakwenze
Founder & Principal of Abacus Financial Business Management
Belva Anakwenze is a California native and the proud Founder & Principal of Abacus Financial Business Management. Belva handles the financial affairs of entertainment professionals, creative corporate executives, and their closely-held businesses. This includes the facilitation and management of her clients’ accounting & bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, and nonprofit agencies. As the middle child of three siblings, Belva learned early on how to stand out and be different; her clients appreciate her ingenuity and aptness for managing financial matters.
Marcie Cleary
Partner, Entertainment Group, Frankfurt Kurnit
Marcie Cleary is a partner in the Entertainment Group at Frankfurt Kurnit, representing clients in the film, television, digital, and book publishing industries.
Ms. Cleary has significant experience representing comedians in connection with deals for stand-up specials, television and digital series, motion pictures, and recorded albums. Ms. Cleary also has become one of the podcast industry’s go-to lawyers. She represents a number of successful podcast creators, hosts, on-air talent, and producers, as well as underlying rights holders.
Ms. Cleary is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading entertainment lawyers. The Hollywood Reporter includes Ms. Cleary in its 2024 and 2023 “Power Lawyers” list of the top 25 entertainment lawyers in New York, and included her in its 2021 “Power Lawyers” list of the top 20 entertainment lawyers in New York. Variety has recognized Ms. Cleary in its 2022 & 2021 Dealmakers Impact Reports, and in its Legal Impact Reports for the past five consecutive years. Variety also recognized Ms. Cleary in its 2024 Women’s Impact Report: New York.
Jonathan Drubner, CFP®
Advisor, Lindbrook Capital
Jonathan Drubner, CFP®, joined Lindbrook Capital as a wealth advisor in 2022 after serving more than five years at Intersect Capital and more than four years at L&S Advisors. Previously, Jonathan spent 17 years as writer, producer, and host for the entertainment, sports and video game industries. He was the host and producer of ESPN Road Trip, as well as the head writer and co-producer of the ESPY Awards. Jonathan’s work on the show earned him an Emmy nomination.
Jonathan is an executive board member of The Guardians of The Los Angeles Jewish Home and The Life Rolls On Foundation. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and is a graduate of the Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, son and goldendoodle.
