Roberta and Marty Shindler of The Shindler Perspective, Inc. have a wide range of experience in both hands on management roles and in providing professional services. They have worked on a variety of projects within creative and technology companies, analyzing complex business situations, and are able to extract the essence of the problems and recommend implementable solutions.

Companies with whom The Shindler Perspective, Inc. has worked include organizations ranging from start ups and small-medium sized businesses to multi-national, publicly traded companies.

Having served as an advisor to a variety of types of businesses in our consulting practice, we have been involved in a wide range of speaking engagements on a host of topical and future thinking subjects covering many aspects of entertainment and entertainment technology.  

Marty Shindler also speaks at private invitation only events.  Click here for more information.

The following represents an overview of the types of projects in which we have been involved.

Business/Strategic Planning and Facilitating Meetings

• Wrote/reviewed/enhanced/developed numerous business and strategic plans in a number of different entertainment and technology industry segments, including:
  • Forward thinking technologies;
  • Broadcast technologies;
  • Broadcast technology;
  • Visual effects, CGI and animation,
  • Online content distribution,
  • Online learning;
  • Software and hardware developers,
  • Movie slates and single movies,
  • Specialty content, including IMAX/large format,
  • 3D stereoscopic image acquisition and delivery,
  • Massively multi-player online games,
  • Wireless technology and content,
  • Digital cameras and related accessories,
  • Magazine publishing,
  • Production services, including production facilities,
  • Stock footage;
  • Online/e-commerce, and
  • Next generation technologies.
• Facilitated and moderated meetings with management teams and organizational groups, including:
  • Planning and strategy sessions,
  • New product/research & development prioritization, and
  • Organizational issues.
• Consulted with CEOs and CFOs on business practices and development of business models.

Management & Financial Reporting

• Designed and/or implemented with measurable positive results:
  • Management & financial reporting systems, and
  • Budgeting systems.
• Designed and implemented accountability and responsibility systems in conjunction with operational reviews.

Operational Reviews

• Assessed operations, policies and procedures at numerous creative based organizations.
• Assessed business infrastructures to support strong continued growth.
• Prepared implementable recommendations for improvement.
• Revised structure of contracts to substantially enhance cash flow.
• Improved cash flow by instituting better control over receivables and payables.
• Instituted aggressive purchasing policies; involved in establishing numerous strategic vendor relationships.

Financial Analysis

• Make or buy - Evaluated various alternatives and provided recommendations as part of a decision for the creation of significant groundbreaking visual effects for a major feature film during preproduction.
• Capital expenditures - Assisted in the planning, negotiating and purchase of significant capital expenditures in a leading visual effects company transitioning from traditional to digital technologies.
• Other - Prepared, assisted and/or analyzed various alternatives within organizations in order to recommend appropriate direction and/or purchases based on financial analysis, supported by qualitative knowledge.

Technology

• Researched and prepared an industry overview of technology on the horizon for a major studio.
• Researched digital rights management (DRM) in conjunction with several projects. Presented an overview of DRM to a multi-studio meeting.
• Consulted on future distribution technologies as a part of a film library valuation for an OTC Company.
• Researched and prepared business assessments on various hi-definition (HD) products and services, including 3D stereo imaging and lens products.
• Participated in a survey on the Future of the Living Room for a major research firm and prepared a compilation report of all participants' findings.
• Consulted with a start up telecommunications technology company and one involved in large-scale digital storage facilities on the potential for their service in the entertainment industry.
• Provided a business assessment for a media technology center for a proposed joint venture of a major university and a telecommunications infrastructure company.
• Critiqued plans for deployment of various technologies and sophisticated software and hardware products in the entertainment industry, including transitions to digital cinema and 3D stereoscopic technology.
• Designed and implemented an online view and vote system for a leading film industry organization.
• Consulted in the following additional technology industry segments:
  • High definition technology,
  • The future of electronic cinema, digital cinema & alternative cinemas,
  • Renderfarms,
  • Wireless applications and content,
  • Motion capture/performance animation,
  • Fiber optic and wide area networks,
  • Online and e-learning,
  • Interactive PC gameport devices, and
  • Massively multi-player online games.

Management

• Consulted with award winning CGI facilities on transitioning to professional management.
• Developed implementable recommendations for management improvement at several effects/animation and postproduction facilities to enhance profitability, cash flow, communications and control.
• Consulted with start up management teams on development of business models and other challenges of a start up operation.

Marketing

• Created strategic entertainment marketing plans for several high technology companies, including one financed by an RBOC/NYSE Company and one that is an Academy Ô Technical Achievement Award winner.
• Performed market assessment and market research projects for several technology companies including a specialty software developer, a broadband technology provider, a wireless technology company, a leading designer of sophisticated cameras/accessories and a visual effects company with off shore interests.
• Conducted a market assessment on a technology product for the legal profession and provided implementable recommendations as to ways to maximize the deployment of the product.
• Created direct mail marketing, advertising and PR campaigns, including the creation of collateral marketing materials and written proposals to new clients, for a major start up company that achieved revenue >$20 million and profitability in its third full year.

Due Diligence

• Performed due diligence and bid analysis/preparation/valuation on a well-known stock library with historic newsreel footage among its collections and a specialty film library; valuation of other content libraries.
• Performed due diligence in proposed investment/acquisitions.

Litigation Support/Consulting and Expert Witness

• Provided legal counsel with insight into various aspects of entertainment and related technology companies as a component of litigation, dispute analysis, and case investigation.
• Prepared expert reports.
• Served as an expert witness.

Insurance Investigations

• Worked closely with outside counsel of a major insurance company on investigation, assessment and quantification of a significant claim from an entertainment related company.
• Assessed other entertainment/technology claims.

Other

• Consult with select investment banking firms to provide insight into entertainment industry trends and business practices, including technology, trend analyses, new product assessments and competitive factors. Invited to consult based upon extent of industry experience and knowledge.
• Represent a published author for movie/TV projects.
• Wrote chapters anonymously for a book for a leading technology industry executive.
• Designed, conducted and authored an Economic Impact Study for a trade organization of specialty theaters that included strong implementable recommendations for how the industry economics could be improved for the benefit of the entire value chain.