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|caption=Jeffrey Konvitz
|caption=Jeffrey Konvitz
|birth_name=
|birth_name=
|birth_date={{birth year and age|1944}}
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1944|07|22}}
|birth_place=[[Brooklyn, New York]], United States <ref name="BobThomas"/>
|birth_place= [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S. <ref name="BobThomas"/>
|death_date=
|death_date=
|death_place=
|death_place=
|alma_mater=[[Cornell University]]<br />[[Columbia University School of Law]]
|alma_mater=[[Cornell University]]<br />[[Columbia University School of Law]]
|spouse=
|spouse= Jillian “Jill” McWhirter
|occupation=[[Writer]], [[Film Producer]], [[Lawyer|Attorney]]
|occupation=[[Writer]], [[film producer]], [[Lawyer|attorney]]
}}
}}
'''Jeffrey Konvitz''' (born 1944 in New York) is an American attorney, writer, and film producer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Jeffrey Steven Konvitz #112184 - Attorney Licensee Search|url=http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Licensee/Detail/112184|access-date=2020-12-29|website=members.calbar.ca.gov}}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130629085243/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/174955/Jeffrey-Konvitz The New York Times]</ref> He was raised in [[Woodmere, New York]]<ref name="BobThomas">{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Bob |title=Konvitz decides on job |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26299449/the_clarksdale_press_register/ |accessdate=27 October 2019 |publisher=Clarksdale Public Register |date=August 7, 1974}}</ref> and graduated from [[Hewlett High School]] in 1962. He continued his education at [[Cornell University]] (BA 1966) and the [[Columbia University School of Law]] (1969). Konvitz is probably best known for writing the novel ''[[The Sentinel (Konvitz novel)|The Sentinel]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4_IiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pswFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2796,4636386&dq=jeffrey+konvitz&hl=en|title=The Sentinel|date=August 11, 1979|work=Modesto Bee|accessdate=4 March 2012}}</ref> published in 1974. It was followed by a film [[The Sentinel (1977 film)|adaptation]] in 1977, which he produced and adapted from the novel.
'''Jeffrey Konvitz''' (born July 22, 1944)<ref>{{cite book|title=Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature|volume=2|page=964|last1=Reginald|first1=Robert|last2=Menville|first2=Douglas|last3=Burgess|first3=Mary A.|publisher=[[Wildside Press]]|location=Cabin John, Maryland|year=2010|isbn=978-0-941-02877-6}}</ref> is an American attorney, writer, and film producer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Jeffrey Steven Konvitz #112184 - Attorney Licensee Search|url=http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Licensee/Detail/112184|access-date=2020-12-29|website=members.calbar.ca.gov}}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130629085243/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/174955/Jeffrey-Konvitz The New York Times]</ref> He was raised in [[Woodmere, New York]]<ref name="BobThomas">{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Bob |title=Konvitz decides on job |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26299449/the_clarksdale_press_register/ |accessdate=27 October 2019 |publisher=Clarksdale Public Register |date=August 7, 1974}}</ref> and graduated from [[Hewlett High School]] in 1962. He continued his education at [[Cornell University]] (BA 1966) and the [[Columbia University School of Law]] (1969). Konvitz is probably best known for writing the novel ''[[The Sentinel (Konvitz novel)|The Sentinel]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4_IiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pswFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2796,4636386&dq=jeffrey+konvitz&hl=en|title=The Sentinel|date=August 11, 1979|work=Modesto Bee|accessdate=4 March 2012}}</ref> published in 1974. It was followed by a film [[The Sentinel (1977 film)|adaptation]] in 1977, which he produced and adapted from the novel.


He married [[Vicki Peters]] in 1980, but they were divorced after parenting one child, Kristen Nicole (1983) who is a Motion Pictures Packaging Agent in Los Angeles. Later, he married [[Jill McWhirter]] in 1998 and fathered a second child with her, Katherine Arielle (2002). He is Jewish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-lineup/satan-at-the-door-the-sin_b_9029536.html?guccounter=1|title=Satan at the Door: The Sinister Events Surrounding The Sentinel|work=The Huffington Post|date=20 January 2016 }}</ref>
He married model [[Vicki Peters]] in 1980, but they were divorced after parenting one child, Kristen Nicole (1983) who is a motion pictures packaging agent with United Talent Agency in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2022-08-02 |title=ICM's Kristen Konvitz Joins UTA Independent Film Group As Agent |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/kristen-konvitz-joins-uta-independent-film-group-as-agent-1235082732/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> Later, he married actress [[Jillian McWhirter]] in 1998 and fathered a second child with her, Katherine Arielle (2002). He is Jewish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-lineup/satan-at-the-door-the-sin_b_9029536.html?guccounter=1|title=Satan at the Door: The Sinister Events Surrounding The Sentinel|work=The Huffington Post|date=20 January 2016 }}</ref>


Konvitz was Managing Partner of VX119, a financing company in the entertainment industry.<ref name="VX119">{{cite web |title=Jeff Konvitz J.D. |url=https://www.vx119.com/jeff-konvitz |website=VX119 |accessdate=27 October 2019}}</ref>
Konvitz was Managing Partner of VX119, a financing company in the entertainment industry.<ref>{{Cite press release |last=Management |first=Crayhill Capital |title=Versa Media Capital Closes $100 Million Financing Facility for Independent Film and Television Production |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/versa-media-capital-closes-100-million-financing-facility-for-independent-film-and-television-production-300274697.html |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref>


==Film career==
==Film career==
[[File:JK Picture 2.jpg|thumb|Jeffrey Konvitz 1974]]
[[File:JK Picture 2.jpg|thumb|Jeffrey Konvitz 1974]]
⚫
Konvitz worked as an agent for CMA, general counsel for the Jerry Lewis theatre chain, a production executive for MGM, and as a film producer. As a producer, it would have been usual for Konvitz to option properties and put a package together. Konvitz saw that anything good was being snapped up by studios before it was ever seen by him, so Konvitz set out to create original projects. Konvitz wrote the screenplay for “Silent Night, Bloody Night” which he also produced. Konvitz showed the treatment to the financier on a Friday and told them the screenplay was being typed. The financiers asked to see the script but Konvitz didn't have a script or a writer, so he wrote the script himself in 3 days. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/385546216/?terms=jeffrey%20konvitz&match=1 | title=The Los Angeles Times 23 Nov 1974, page 33 }}</ref>


⚫
Konvitz first pitched The Sentinel as a movie but was turned down by several studios, so he decided to write The Sentinel as a novel, staying up writing until 4am each night while he practiced law in New York during the day. Simon and Schuster bought the rights to The Sentinel in September of ’73 and within six months he received an offer of $200,000 for the paperback rights and $500,000 for the movie rights from Universal. A first-time author had never before been hired by a major studio to adapt and produce a film from the author's own novel before.
⚫
Konvitz worked as an agent for CMA, general counsel for the Jerry Lewis theatre chain and a production executive for MGM. As an agent, it would have been usual for Konvitz to option properties and put a package together. Konvitz saw that anything good was being snapped up by studios before it was ever seen by him, so Konvitz set out to write original projects. Konvitz wrote the screenplay for “Silent Night, Bloody Night” which he also produced. Konvitz showed the treatment to the Producers and told them the screenplay was being typed. The Producers asked to see the script on Monday so Konvitz wrote the script himself in 4 days. <ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/385546216/?terms=jeffrey%20konvitz&match=1</ref>
⚫
<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/145580969/?terms=jeffrey%20konvitz&match=1 | title=Asbury Park Press 05 Aug 1974, page Page 6 }}</ref> <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/255437234/?terms=jeffrey%20konvitz&match=1 | title=The Ithaca Journal 26 Nov 1974, page 19 }}</ref>

⚫
The Sentinel would go on to sell over 7 million copies.
⚫
Konvitz first pitched The Sentinel as a movie but was turned down by Studios. Konvitz decided to write The Sentinel as a novel, staying up writing until 4am while he practiced law in New York during the day. Simon and Schuster bought the rights to The Sentinel in September of ’73 and within six months he received an offer of $200,000 for the paperback rights and $500,000 for the movie rights from Universal. A first-time author had never before been hired by a major studio to adapt and produce a film from their own novel.
⚫
<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/145580969/?terms=jeffrey%20konvitz&match=1</ref> <ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/255437234/?terms=jeffrey%20konvitz&match=1</ref>
⚫
The Sentinel would sell over 7 million copies.


[[File:Konvitz & Nielsen.tif|thumb|Konvitz & Nielsen - Spy Hard 1996]]
[[File:Konvitz & Nielsen.tif|thumb|Konvitz & Nielsen - Spy Hard 1996]]


Konvitz’s sequel to The Sentinel, The Guardian, sold out entirely in 10 days. It’s publisher, Bantam, went back to immediately print a million extra copies.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/484986716/?terms=jeffrey%20konvitz&match=1</ref>
Konvitz’s sequel to The Sentinel, The Guardian, sold out entirely in 10 days. Its publisher, Bantam, went back to immediately print a million extra copies.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/484986716/?terms=jeffrey%20konvitz&match=1 | title=Daily News 02 Feb 1979, page 6 }}</ref>
Konvitz dedicated The Guardian to Rufus, who is credited with editing Chapter 27. Rufus was Konvitz’s 170-Pound Great Pyrenese who ate the problematic Chapter, forcing Konvitz to successfully rewrite it.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/384965010/?terms=jeffrey%20konvitz&match=1</ref>
Konvitz dedicated The Guardian to Rufus, who he credited with editing Chapter 27. Rufus was Konvitz’s 170-Pound Great Pyrenese who ate the problematic Chapter, forcing Konvitz to successfully rewrite it.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/384965010/?terms=jeffrey%20konvitz&match=1 | title=The Los Angeles Times 08 Feb 1979, page 89 }}</ref>


Konvitz rose to become one of the top Executives in Hollywood in the 1980s and 90s, leading two Nasdaq listed Entertainment companies: Kings Road Entertainment and Communications and Entertainment Corp <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-14-fi-740-story.html | title=* Jeffrey Konvitz has been named executive | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=14 June 1992 }}</ref>. Konvitz was at the forefront of a new wave of film-financing in the 1990s. This new model of film financing, packaging and gap financing spread throughout Hollywood <ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/1997/biz/news/more-banks-fall-into-gap-1116677038/ | title=More banks fall into gap | date=10 July 1997 }}</ref>.
Konvitz rose to become one of the top independent production executives in Hollywood in the 1980's and 90's, leading two Nasdaq-listed Entertainment companies: Kings Road Entertainment, and Communications and Entertainment Corp./Odyssey Entertainment<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-14-fi-740-story.html | title=* Jeffrey Konvitz has been named executive | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=14 June 1992 }}</ref> Konvitz was at the forefront of a new wave of film-financing in the 1980s. This effective new model, structured financing including gap financing, quickly spread through Hollywood and abroad, and remains a popular strategy for independent film production even today.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/1997/biz/news/more-banks-fall-into-gap-1116677038/ | title=More banks fall into gap | date=10 July 1997 }}</ref>


==Works==
==Works==
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===Screenplays===
===Screenplays===
*''[[Silent Night, Bloody Night (film)|Silent Night, Bloody Night]]'', 1972
*''[[Silent Night, Bloody Night]]'', 1972
*''[[The Sentinel (1977 film)|The Sentinel]]'', 1977
*''[[The Sentinel (1977 film)|The Sentinel]]'', 1977
*''[[Gorp (film)|Gorp]]'', 1980
*''[[Gorp (film)|Gorp]]'', 1980


===Producer===
===Producer===
*''[[Silent Night, Bloody Night]]'', 1974
*''Silent Night, Bloody Night'', 1974
*''The Sentinel'', 1977
*''The Sentinel'', 1977
*''Gorp'', 1980
*''Gorp'', 1980
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*''[[Berlin, I Love You (film)|Berlin, I Love You]]'', 2018
*''[[Berlin, I Love You (film)|Berlin, I Love You]]'', 2018


== MMG v. AXQG ==
== Legal career ==
=== General ===
Konvitz was admitted to the State Bar of California on October 27, 1983 and has been an active member in good standing since 1997.<ref name=":0" /> Since at least 2017, Konvitz has represented Malek Media Group LLC (MMG) and Matthew Malek in a business dispute against AXQG Corp. and Anita Gou, among others.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=California Court of Appeal Decision|date=December 16, 2020|title=Malek Media Group LLC v. AXQG Corp|url=https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B299743.PDF|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=}}</ref> Matthew is the principal of MMG, and Gou owns AXQG. The two companies had agreed to start a film production company, Foxtail Entertainment, LLC, but the relationship quickly soured.<ref name=":1" /> The parties arbitrated their dispute, AXQG won, and the Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed the arbitration award.<ref name=":1" />
Konvitz was admitted to the State Bar of California on October 27, 1983. He is, and has been, an active member in good standing since 1983.<ref name=":0" /> His practice consists of entertainment finance law and business and entertainment litigation. He has also written major articles on tax shelter film financing for various legal publications <ref>https://www.lacba.org/docs/default-source/lal-back-issues/2004-issues/may-2004.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=September 2022}}</ref>

=== Major Litigation ===
In 1997, Konvitz was retained by Regent Entertainment as lead finance counsel and the lead litigation council in a dispute with Showtime over the financing of the motion picture ''Gods and Monsters.'' The dispute addressed whether or not Showtime could force Regent, under the terms of its domestic license agreement, to release the film directly to television as a Showtime premiere instead of the planned theatrical release. Konvitz and Regent prevailed and the picture was released theatrically. ''Gods and Monsters'' went on to garner dozens of awards including an Oscar,<ref>{{Citation |title=Gods and Monsters - IMDb |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120684/awards |access-date=2022-10-24}}</ref> and became an LGBTQ+ film classic for its portrayal of openly gay film director James Whale.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-10-01 |title=Arsenal Pulp Press Title Info Page |url=http://arsenalpulp.com/bookinfo.php?index=306/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001011553/http://arsenalpulp.com/bookinfo.php?index=306/ |archive-date=2010-10-01 |access-date=2022-10-24 }}</ref>

On August 24, 1998, Konvitz as Plaintiff and co-counsel/pro-se, commenced a lawsuit in the United States District Court, California Central District in Los Angeles against Canadian investment bank, Midland Walwyn Capital, for fraud in a busted public merger. The jury found for Konvitz and judgement was entered against Midland and its successors-interest, Merrill Lynch Canada and Bank of America.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1034126108749729276|title= Merrill Must Pay Damages of $4.75 Million for Advice|newspaper= Wall Street Journal|date= 9 October 2002}}</ref> {{cite court |litigants=Konvitz vs. Midland Walwyn Capital |vol= |reporter= |opinion= |pinpoint= |court=United States District-Court/California Central District |date=8/24/1998 |url=www.pacer.com/ |access-date= |quote=Case Number 98-cv-06913 |postscript= }}.

Commencing in 2002, Konvitz was retained as lead trial defense counsel representing The Ave Maria Foundation and Thomas Monaghan, the founder of Domino's Pizza, in a motion picture financing collapse wherein defendants Ave Maria and Monaghan were sued in the United States District Court, Central District in Los Angeles. The case was entitled ''Fulcrum Entertainment and Williams v. The Ave Maria Foundation et al.'' Defendants Ave Maria and Monaghan prevailed on all counts against it. {{cite court |litigants=Fulcrum Entertainment and Williams v. The Ave Maria Foundation et al. |vol= |reporter= |opinion= |pinpoint= |court=United States District Court/California Central District |date=8/24/1998 |url=www.pacer.com |access-date= |quote=Case Number 02-cv-6028 |postscript= }}.

In 2009, Konvitz represented Regent Entertainment and Here Network, the preeminent LGBTQ+ streaming service in a complicated German Tax shelter arbitration before IFTA. {{cite court |litigants=Christopher Filmcapital GmbH 6 KG ("Claimant") v. Regent Worldwide Sales, LLC. ("Respondent") |vol=09-99 |reporter= |opinion= |pinpoint= |court=IFTA |date= |url= |access-date= |quote= |postscript= }}


In 2011, Konvitz filed a bank fraud lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of Blue Rider Finance Inc., ("Blue Rider") a Konvitz-represented, transactional film finance company, against Harbor Bank and various individuals on allegations of bank fraud. {{cite court |litigants=Blue Rider Finance inc. v. David Odom et al. |vol= |reporter= |opinion= |pinpoint= |court=Santa Monica Courthouse |date=07/26/2011 |url=https://www.lacourt.org/ |access-date= |quote=Case Number SC113530 |postscript= }} Konvitz oversaw companion cases in Illinois and Maryland while securing a judgment against the defendants in this Los Angeles action.
Konvitz proceeded to file an appeal on behalf of his clients. The appeal of the Superior Court's confirmation judgement of Arbitrator Huebner's final award was grounded on alleged violations by the arbitrator of Code of Civil Procure, Section 1286.2. There were issues raised in the appeal as to the improper exclusion of evidence but the primary challenge arose under Section 1286.2(6), which requires a potential arbitrator to disclose ''"grounds for disqualification of which the arbitrator was then aware."'' AXQG's Notice of Arbitration cited as a principal cause of action of sexual harassment of a prospective employee by Malek. The Notice was filed after the rise of the ''MeToo''movement which was supported by GLAAD. Arbitrator Huebner was a Founding GLAAD member, general counsel and GLAAD Person of the Year.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-hails-selection-of-david-huebner | title=Human Rights Campaign Hails Selection of David Huebner }}</ref> Malek argued that these background facts should have been disclosed due to the Notice's harassment allegations and they were not.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=California Court of Appeal Decision|date=December 16, 2020|title=Malek Media Group LLC v. AXQG Corp|url=https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B299743.PDF|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=}}</ref>


In 2015 Konvitz filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of Plaintiff Foreign Language Center Inc. et al v. National Geographic, 20th Century Fox and David Hasselhoff et al. The case, which concerned a breach of contract and interference with contract for an ongoing film about the fall of the Berlin Wall, was settled in 2017 before trial. {{cite court |litigants=Foreign Language Center INC vs David Hasselhoff et al |vol= |reporter= |opinion= |pinpoint= |court=Santa Monica |date=2014 |url=https://www.lacourt.org/ |access-date= |quote=Los Angeles Superior Court Case Number BC551154 |postscript= }}
The Court of Appeal issued harsh criticism to both Konvitz and his client: "MMG and its counsel are equally culpable for pursuing this frivolous and bigotry-infused appeal. MMG’s counsel had numerous opportunities to dismiss the appeal and to withdraw its baseless claims, but chose not to. Instead, MMG’s counsel persisted in its efforts without any legal or factual support, filing wholly deficient briefs and nonsensical requests for judicial notice, supported by declarations from Malek and his counsel. As stated above, this court is not the forum for MMG or its counsel to rant about conspiracies or their politics. This court has wasted its time and resources considering MMG’s appeal, which has only served as a drain on the judicial system and the taxpayers of this state."<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=Shaun|date=2020-12-17|title=California Appellate Report: Malek Media Group LLC v. AXQG Corp. (Cal. Ct. App. - Dec. 17, 2020)|url=http://calapp.blogspot.com/2020/12/malek-media-group-llc-v-axqg-corp-cal.html|access-date=2020-12-29|website=California Appellate Report}}</ref>


Since at least 2017, Konvitz has represented Malek Media Group LLC (MMG) and Matthew Malek in a business dispute with AXQG Corp. and Anita Gou, among others. Malek is the principal of MMG, and Gou owns AXQG. The two companies had agreed to start a film production company, Foxtail Entertainment, LLC, but the relationship quickly soured.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=California Court of Appeal Decision |date=December 16, 2020 |title=Malek Media Group LLC v. AXQG Corp |url=https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B299743.PDF |access-date=December 28, 2020 |website=}}</ref> The parties arbitrated their dispute, AXQG won, and the Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed the arbitration award and entered judgement. The arbitration was a JAMS arbitration.<ref name=":1" /> Konvitz proceeded to file an appeal on behalf of his client. The appeal of the Superior Court's confirmation judgement of Arbitrator Huebner's final award was partially grounded on the improper exclusion of evidence. The primary challenge, however, arose under Code of Civil Procedure Section 1286.2(6), which requires a potential arbitrator to disclose ''"grounds for disqualification of which the arbitrator was then aware"''. The Court of Appeal affirmed the Superior Court judgement.<ref name=":1" /> The State Bar was supplied with all the Appellate Briefs, which were reviewed by State Bar trial counsel. No action was taken. The State Bar closed the file in June 2021.
GLAAD has stated that it is closely allayed to the MeToo Movement<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.glaad.org/releases/glaad%E2%80%99s-inaugural-ariadne-getty-ally-award-be-presented-lgbtq-ally-and-metoo-advocate | title=Press Releases }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.glaad.org/amp/queer-survivors-guide-after-sexual-violence | title=A queer survivor's guide to intimacy after sexual violence | date=30 April 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.glaad.org/together | title=Together | date=23 March 2018 }}</ref>.


On December 18, 2013, Blue Rider was sued by Geringer Capital Inc. ("GFI") in Los Angeles Superior Court with respect to a busted financing arrangement on the motion picture, ''Boot Camp''. Blue Rider cross-complained. Konvitz successfully filed a summary judgement motion for Blue Rider against GFI in the trial court but Blue Rider's cross-complaint was dismissed. {{cite court |litigants=Geringer Capital, inc. vs. Blue Rider Finance, Inc |vol= |reporter= |opinion= |pinpoint= |court=Santa Monica Superior Court |date=2013 |url=https://www.lacourt.org |access-date= |quote=Case Number SC121803
Konvitz challenged Arbitrator Huebner's failure to disclose his close ties to both GLAAD and the MeToo Movement as his client was accused of sexual harassment.
|postscript= }} GFI appealed the summary judgement against it to the Court of Appeal, Second Appellate Division. Blue Rider cross-appealed the dismissal. Konvitz was not only trial counsel, but also appellate counsel. The Court of Appeal affirmed the judgement for Blue Rider and overturned the dismissal of the cross complaint. {{cite court |litigants=Geringer Capital, inc. vs. Blue Rider Finance, Inc |vol= |reporter= |opinion= |pinpoint= |court=Santa Monica Courthouse |date= |url=https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/nonpub/B269378.PDF |access-date= |quote= |postscript= }} The cross-complaint filed by Blue Rider is still ongoing.
As required, the State Bar of California investigated the appeal with respect to potential disciplinary action.
The State Bar was supplied with all the Appellate Briefs, which were reviewed by State Bar trial counsel.
No disciplinary action was taken by the State Bar, and they closed the file in June 2021.


Konvitz is currently Plaintiff's trial counsel on the ongoing Los Angeles Superior Court film finance litigation, among other cases, entitled Trinity Media Financing International Ltd, a film finance company, v. Every Breath LLC et al. {{cite court |litigants=Trinity Media Financing International Limited vs. Every Breath LLC, et al. |vol= |reporter= |opinion= |pinpoint= |court=Santa Monica Courthouse |date=11/12/2020 |url=https://www.lacourt.org/ |access-date= |quote=Case Number 20SMCV01720 |postscript= }}
Konvitz remains a California State Bar member in good standing.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://apps.calbar.ca.gov/attorney/Licensee/Detail/112184 | title=Jeffrey Steven Konvitz # 112184 - Attorney Licensee Search }}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/k/jeffrey-konvitz/Fantasticfiction.co.uk]
*[https://www.fantasticfiction.com/k/jeffrey-konvitz/ Fantasticfiction.com]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:George W. Hewlett High School alumni]]
[[Category:George W. Hewlett High School alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Writers from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Novelists from New York City]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]

Latest revision as of 22:49, 29 July 2023

Jeffrey Konvitz
Jeffrey Konvitz
Born (1944-07-22) July 22, 1944 (age 79)
New York City, New York, U.S. [1]
Alma materCornell University
Columbia University School of Law
Occupation(s)Writer, film producer, attorney
SpouseJillian “Jill” McWhirter

Jeffrey Konvitz (born July 22, 1944)[2] is an American attorney, writer, and film producer.[3][4] He was raised in Woodmere, New York[1] and graduated from Hewlett High School in 1962. He continued his education at Cornell University (BA 1966) and the Columbia University School of Law (1969). Konvitz is probably best known for writing the novel The Sentinel,[5] published in 1974. It was followed by a film adaptation in 1977, which he produced and adapted from the novel.

He married model Vicki Peters in 1980, but they were divorced after parenting one child, Kristen Nicole (1983) who is a motion pictures packaging agent with United Talent Agency in Los Angeles.[6] Later, he married actress Jillian McWhirter in 1998 and fathered a second child with her, Katherine Arielle (2002). He is Jewish.[7]

Konvitz was Managing Partner of VX119, a financing company in the entertainment industry.[8]

Film career[edit]

Jeffrey Konvitz 1974

Konvitz worked as an agent for CMA, general counsel for the Jerry Lewis theatre chain, a production executive for MGM, and as a film producer. As a producer, it would have been usual for Konvitz to option properties and put a package together. Konvitz saw that anything good was being snapped up by studios before it was ever seen by him, so Konvitz set out to create original projects. Konvitz wrote the screenplay for “Silent Night, Bloody Night” which he also produced. Konvitz showed the treatment to the financier on a Friday and told them the screenplay was being typed. The financiers asked to see the script but Konvitz didn't have a script or a writer, so he wrote the script himself in 3 days. [9]

Konvitz first pitched The Sentinel as a movie but was turned down by several studios, so he decided to write The Sentinel as a novel, staying up writing until 4am each night while he practiced law in New York during the day. Simon and Schuster bought the rights to The Sentinel in September of ’73 and within six months he received an offer of $200,000 for the paperback rights and $500,000 for the movie rights from Universal. A first-time author had never before been hired by a major studio to adapt and produce a film from the author's own novel before. [10] [11] The Sentinel would go on to sell over 7 million copies.

Konvitz & Nielsen - Spy Hard 1996

Konvitz’s sequel to The Sentinel, The Guardian, sold out entirely in 10 days. Its publisher, Bantam, went back to immediately print a million extra copies.[12] Konvitz dedicated The Guardian to Rufus, who he credited with editing Chapter 27. Rufus was Konvitz’s 170-Pound Great Pyrenese who ate the problematic Chapter, forcing Konvitz to successfully rewrite it.[13]

Konvitz rose to become one of the top independent production executives in Hollywood in the 1980's and 90's, leading two Nasdaq-listed Entertainment companies: Kings Road Entertainment, and Communications and Entertainment Corp./Odyssey Entertainment[14] Konvitz was at the forefront of a new wave of film-financing in the 1980s. This effective new model, structured financing including gap financing, quickly spread through Hollywood and abroad, and remains a popular strategy for independent film production even today.[15]

Works[edit]

Novels[edit]

  • The Sentinel, 1974
  • The Guardian, 1979 (the sequel to The Sentinel)
  • The Apocalypse, 1979
  • Monster: A Tale of Loch Ness, 1982

Screenplays[edit]

Producer[edit]

Legal career[edit]

General[edit]

Konvitz was admitted to the State Bar of California on October 27, 1983. He is, and has been, an active member in good standing since 1983.[3] His practice consists of entertainment finance law and business and entertainment litigation. He has also written major articles on tax shelter film financing for various legal publications [16]

Major Litigation[edit]

In 1997, Konvitz was retained by Regent Entertainment as lead finance counsel and the lead litigation council in a dispute with Showtime over the financing of the motion picture Gods and Monsters. The dispute addressed whether or not Showtime could force Regent, under the terms of its domestic license agreement, to release the film directly to television as a Showtime premiere instead of the planned theatrical release. Konvitz and Regent prevailed and the picture was released theatrically. Gods and Monsters went on to garner dozens of awards including an Oscar,[17] and became an LGBTQ+ film classic for its portrayal of openly gay film director James Whale.[18]

On August 24, 1998, Konvitz as Plaintiff and co-counsel/pro-se, commenced a lawsuit in the United States District Court, California Central District in Los Angeles against Canadian investment bank, Midland Walwyn Capital, for fraud in a busted public merger. The jury found for Konvitz and judgement was entered against Midland and its successors-interest, Merrill Lynch Canada and Bank of America.[19] Konvitz vs. Midland Walwyn Capital (United States District-Court/California Central District 8/24/1998) ("Case Number 98-cv-06913"), [www.pacer.com/ Text]..

Commencing in 2002, Konvitz was retained as lead trial defense counsel representing The Ave Maria Foundation and Thomas Monaghan, the founder of Domino's Pizza, in a motion picture financing collapse wherein defendants Ave Maria and Monaghan were sued in the United States District Court, Central District in Los Angeles. The case was entitled Fulcrum Entertainment and Williams v. The Ave Maria Foundation et al. Defendants Ave Maria and Monaghan prevailed on all counts against it. Fulcrum Entertainment and Williams v. The Ave Maria Foundation et al. (United States District Court/California Central District 8/24/1998) ("Case Number 02-cv-6028"), [www.pacer.com Text]..

In 2009, Konvitz represented Regent Entertainment and Here Network, the preeminent LGBTQ+ streaming service in a complicated German Tax shelter arbitration before IFTA. Christopher Filmcapital GmbH 6 KG ("Claimant") v. Regent Worldwide Sales, LLC. ("Respondent"), 09-99 (IFTA).

In 2011, Konvitz filed a bank fraud lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of Blue Rider Finance Inc., ("Blue Rider") a Konvitz-represented, transactional film finance company, against Harbor Bank and various individuals on allegations of bank fraud. Blue Rider Finance inc. v. David Odom et al. (Santa Monica Courthouse 07/26/2011) ("Case Number SC113530"), Text. Konvitz oversaw companion cases in Illinois and Maryland while securing a judgment against the defendants in this Los Angeles action.

In 2015 Konvitz filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of Plaintiff Foreign Language Center Inc. et al v. National Geographic, 20th Century Fox and David Hasselhoff et al. The case, which concerned a breach of contract and interference with contract for an ongoing film about the fall of the Berlin Wall, was settled in 2017 before trial. Foreign Language Center INC vs David Hasselhoff et al (Santa Monica 2014) ("Los Angeles Superior Court Case Number BC551154"), Text.

Since at least 2017, Konvitz has represented Malek Media Group LLC (MMG) and Matthew Malek in a business dispute with AXQG Corp. and Anita Gou, among others. Malek is the principal of MMG, and Gou owns AXQG. The two companies had agreed to start a film production company, Foxtail Entertainment, LLC, but the relationship quickly soured.[20] The parties arbitrated their dispute, AXQG won, and the Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed the arbitration award and entered judgement. The arbitration was a JAMS arbitration.[20] Konvitz proceeded to file an appeal on behalf of his client. The appeal of the Superior Court's confirmation judgement of Arbitrator Huebner's final award was partially grounded on the improper exclusion of evidence. The primary challenge, however, arose under Code of Civil Procedure Section 1286.2(6), which requires a potential arbitrator to disclose "grounds for disqualification of which the arbitrator was then aware". The Court of Appeal affirmed the Superior Court judgement.[20] The State Bar was supplied with all the Appellate Briefs, which were reviewed by State Bar trial counsel. No action was taken. The State Bar closed the file in June 2021.

On December 18, 2013, Blue Rider was sued by Geringer Capital Inc. ("GFI") in Los Angeles Superior Court with respect to a busted financing arrangement on the motion picture, Boot Camp. Blue Rider cross-complained. Konvitz successfully filed a summary judgement motion for Blue Rider against GFI in the trial court but Blue Rider's cross-complaint was dismissed. Geringer Capital, inc. vs. Blue Rider Finance, Inc (Santa Monica Superior Court 2013) ("Case Number SC121803"), Text. GFI appealed the summary judgement against it to the Court of Appeal, Second Appellate Division. Blue Rider cross-appealed the dismissal. Konvitz was not only trial counsel, but also appellate counsel. The Court of Appeal affirmed the judgement for Blue Rider and overturned the dismissal of the cross complaint. Geringer Capital, inc. vs. Blue Rider Finance, Inc (Santa Monica Courthouse), Text. The cross-complaint filed by Blue Rider is still ongoing.

Konvitz is currently Plaintiff's trial counsel on the ongoing Los Angeles Superior Court film finance litigation, among other cases, entitled Trinity Media Financing International Ltd, a film finance company, v. Every Breath LLC et al. Trinity Media Financing International Limited vs. Every Breath LLC, et al. (Santa Monica Courthouse 11/12/2020) ("Case Number 20SMCV01720"), Text.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Thomas, Bob (August 7, 1974). "Konvitz decides on job". Clarksdale Public Register. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  2. ^ Reginald, Robert; Menville, Douglas; Burgess, Mary A. (2010). Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature. Vol. 2. Cabin John, Maryland: Wildside Press. p. 964. ISBN 978-0-941-02877-6.
  3. ^ a b "Jeffrey Steven Konvitz #112184 - Attorney Licensee Search". members.calbar.ca.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  4. ^ The New York Times
  5. ^ "The Sentinel". Modesto Bee. August 11, 1979. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  6. ^ Grobar, Matt (2022-08-02). "ICM's Kristen Konvitz Joins UTA Independent Film Group As Agent". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  7. ^ "Satan at the Door: The Sinister Events Surrounding The Sentinel". The Huffington Post. 20 January 2016.
  8. ^ Management, Crayhill Capital. "Versa Media Capital Closes $100 Million Financing Facility for Independent Film and Television Production". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  9. ^ "The Los Angeles Times 23 Nov 1974, page 33".
  10. ^ "Asbury Park Press 05 Aug 1974, page Page 6".
  11. ^ "The Ithaca Journal 26 Nov 1974, page 19".
  12. ^ "Daily News 02 Feb 1979, page 6".
  13. ^ "The Los Angeles Times 08 Feb 1979, page 89".
  14. ^ "* Jeffrey Konvitz has been named executive". Los Angeles Times. 14 June 1992.
  15. ^ "More banks fall into gap". 10 July 1997.
  16. ^ https://www.lacba.org/docs/default-source/lal-back-issues/2004-issues/may-2004.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  17. ^ Gods and Monsters - IMDb, retrieved 2022-10-24
  18. ^ "Arsenal Pulp Press Title Info Page". 2010-10-01. Archived from the original on 2010-10-01. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  19. ^ "Merrill Must Pay Damages of $4.75 Million for Advice". Wall Street Journal. 9 October 2002.
  20. ^ a b c California Court of Appeal Decision (December 16, 2020). "Malek Media Group LLC v. AXQG Corp" (PDF). Retrieved December 28, 2020.

External links[edit]

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