Biography
Jeff Steele is a noted film financier, turned social entrepreneur, who specializes in independent film finance, 3D printing, media technologies and social-enterprise startups.
As a full-time lecturer in the Business & Entrepreneurship Dept, Jeff teaches The Business of Film; Executive Management for Film & Television; Entrepreneruship; and Strategic Planning.
Since moving to Chicago two years ago, Jeff helped launch The 3D Printer Experience (in April 2013) -- a 3D printing pop-up in Downtown Chicago, which relaunched (in October 2014) into its flagship location in River North, with three-times the space. 3DPX (an IL Benefit Corp.) is an experiential retail storefront, whose mission is to educate and accelerate adoption of 3D printing technology, to create a new hyper-localized manufacturing economy within local communities.
Jeff is the owner of the entertainment consulting firm Film Closings, Inc. and is publisher of the film finance blog, FilmClosings.com. Most recently, Jeff was the executive producer of "Dark Tide" ($25-million feature film, starring Halle Berry) and "About Cherry" (starring James Franco). Jeff was also CFO of Los Angeles based Magnet Media Group, a $30-million equity fund (for investment, production, and distribution of mainstream independent features).
Prior to MMG, Jeff worked as the Director of US Film Finance for Screen Capital International, a leading entertainment financier and founding shareholder of Aramid Entertainment (a $300-million debt financing fund), where he focused on gap, pre-sale, tax credit, and bridge funding, for mainstream independent films. During Jeff's tenure, 17 films were financed in the US, with budgets from $10-$40 million, each.On the producing side, Jeff was a partner at Plinyminor, a production company, where they produced the hit eco-documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car?” (which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics and released theatrically in the top 50 markets), as well as the creature-feature “Mammoth” for NBC Universal’s SyFy Channel, which was somehow nominated for an Emmy.Jeff got his start in Los Angeles, working for the likes of Tom Freston, Mike Medavoy, and Lynda Obst to name a few. He is a frequent panelist for film financing forums and he’s known for telling audiences what they need to know, but don’t want to hear.
Instructional Areas
Digital Media Technology, Content Monetization, Consulting, Physical Production, Producing, Development, Acquisitions, Social Enterprise, New Technologies, 3D Printing, Entertainment Financing, Startups, Entertainment Finance, Tax Credits, Business Development, Film Presales, International Co-Productions, Film Lending, Equity Investing, Film and Television Financing, Corporate Strategy, Film Investors, Film Markets, Festivals
Creative Practice and Research Interests
Digital Media Technology, Content Monetization, Consulting, Physical Production, Producing, Development, Acquisitions, Social Enterprise, New Technologies, 3D Printing, Entertainment Financing, Startups, Entertainment Finance, Tax Credits, Business Development, Film Presales, International Co-Productions, Film Lending, Equity Investing, Film and Television Financing, Corporate Strategy, Film Investors, Film Markets, Festivals
Degrees
B.A., Arts Management Columbia College Chicago 2017