Filmmaker and bestselling author Maxie D. Collier has announced the launch of the Paper Chasers Workshop Tour, beginning Sat. Feb. 25th in Austin, TX. In this all day program, Collier and his guests offer a motivational and informative, multimedia event for independent filmmakers, recording artists, entertainment executives, activists, publishers and entrepreneurs.

Collier is the author of the IFILM DIGITAL VIDEO FILMMAKER'S HANDBOOK, one of the first guides to desktop digital filmmaking. Collier most recently completed Paper Chasers, a documentary on Hip-Hop entrepreneurs, starring Ludacris, Fat Joe, Sway, Flavor Flav, and more than 50 successful rap artists and business owners. The film was co-produced by the Independent Film Channel and premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. The first volume of the DVD series was released nationwide by Koch Entertainment.

Collier has interviewed and been interviewed by leading radio personalities like: Sway (World Famous Wake-Up Show, LA), Donnie Simpson (DC), Frank Ski ( Atlanta), Kool DJ Red Alert (NYC), and Steph Lova (NYC).

"From the start, more than five years ago, the Paper Chasers Project was about education. I had worked professionally in TV and film for 10 years at that time, I had seen many famous and little known artist lose everything as a result of failing to understand business. I wanted to learn from those who succeeded and failed. So me and my crew took a cross country trip to talk to these people. Little did I know we would catch emerging superstars, like Ludacris."

Along the way, Collier documented every step and misstep he experienced while taking his project from the idea stage through finished product. The Paper Chasers Workshop Tour shares these lessons, and others that he has learned during his 16 year career as an independent media maker.

"I've worked at a major TV outlet, self published a bestselling book, taught college classes, partnered with a major dotcom, benefited from a co-production with a respected cable company, had long talks with some of the most successful people in hip hop, along the way experiencing and studying countless good and bad business deals.

Now I'm ready to share everything-- from the first query letters and proposals, to budgets, production notes and my real life financing and distribution contracts. I'm calling up some of these other Paper Chasin' folks to join me in discussing the art and business of turning ideas into profitable realities. Business owners from any industry can learn from these examples."

The workshop begins with a screening of the Texas cut of the Paper Chasers DVD, featuring new and extended interviews. The film will be followed by a short QA and lunch break, which includes live entertainment from local hip-hop artists. The afternoon program is a lively multimedia presentation on topics like:
-Planning Your Artistic, Non Profit and Business Ventures.
-Bootstrap Financing Strategies
-Funding Models
-Seeking and Securing Reputable Investors
-Building Your Management Team
-Building Your Production Team
-Building Your Legal and Financial Team
-Guerilla Marketing & Promo Strategies
-Internet Promotion and Community Building
-Researching Distributors
-Preparing For The Battles With Distributors
-Alternative Distribution Strategies
-International Business and Art Opportunities
-Tips On Jumpstarting Your Entertainment Career

The program ends with an opportunity to introduce and showcase the projects and companies of a select number of emerging local hip hop artist and business owners. Networking will be encouraged the entire day.

The Paper Chaser Workshop will be on Saturday February 25th, 2006 at:
The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema- Downtown
Austin, TX

For tickets or additional information visit:
www.originalalamo.com
www.paperchasers.net

or, call 512-445-1900.

After debuting in Austin, the Paper Chasers Workshop Tour will travel to Houston, Atlanta, Nashville, DC, Baltimore, Philly, NYC, New Orleans, Denver, Oakland, and end in Los Angeles.