Other Larta Events:

Larta University February Session: Pitching Your Company
Feb. 13 in Irvine (8-noon) and Feb. 14 in Santa Monica (8:30-12:30 PM)

Investors, customers, and strategic partners often hear pitches with too much of the wrong information (or just too much information) and not enough of the essentials. This workshop focuses on how to translate complex, broad technology business concepts and plans into succinct messages that intrigue and interest for each type of business audience from venture capitalists to corporate partners. The session will also address how to do an elevator pitch, refine the business plan, and more. Speakers Include: Todd Jerry and Greg Bonfiglio (Anthem Venture Partners), Stephen D. O’Connor (Nanostream Inc.)
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February 27: Digital Media Wire presents Interactive Games on the Internet: An Industry Poised for the Future
This panel discussion, moderated by Victor Hwang, Larta COO, will address recent developments and new business opportunities and challenges from the emerging industry of online gaming. Confirmed Speakers: Tracy Fullerton, President, Spiderdance, Chris Kantrowitz, CEO, Co-founder, 7ate9 Productions, Mark Kapczynski, Principal Consultant, Microsoft. February 27, 2002, 8:30 am- 10:30 am, Four Seasons, Beverly Hills. Registration: $50 includes program and breakfast.
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March 7: Venture Salon
The Venture Salon is a quarterly conference that showcases select technology companies and presents an exclusive analysis of the venture industry in Southern California. Once a year at the Venture Salons, in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Larta will present the Sand Dollar Report: a regional analysis of MoneyTree venture capital data. The PricewaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree Survey is designed to take the cleanest measure of 'core' investments in venture-backed companies in the United States, thereby providing reliable, meaningful statistics on the venture industry. This event is open to accredited investors only. Location TBA.
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Dec. 17, 2001: "Congressional Bill Might Endanger ISPs", The Los Angeles Business Journal
Local Internet service providers are lobbying hard to defeat a bill pending in Congress that would deregulate the high-speed Internet business. In its proposed budget for fiscal year 2003, the White House recommended reducing funding for the Advanced Technology Program by 42 percent, from $185 million in 2002 to $108 million in 2003.
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Jan. 28, 2002: "Who's going to pay for the digital evolution?", Screen Digest
"The Hollywood Unstrung 2 panel discussion (Who's going to pay for the digital evolution?) seems to have gone well, though the digital cinema silver bullet is as elusive as ever. Russ Ferstandig, associated with Miramax's D-cinema efforts predicted that exhibitors would pay (!), though Chris Cookson (WB), Michael Karagosian (MKPE/NATO) and Bob Mayson (Kodak) injected some real-world economic sense into the debate.

Adding my two euro cents (not my standard consultancy fee), I hasten to add to the debate, I feel it is important to stress that you cannot consider the issue of 'cost' without also taking the other c-word (control) into consideration. Every teenager would like to have a T-bird car (well, they did in the fifties), but it is usually up to Dad to pay for it. Now substitute Dad for Disney (or any other studio) and a DLP Cinema projector for the T-Bird and you have fun, fun, fun till Daddy takes the proverbial T-bird away. Particularly if Disney-dad catches exhibitor-daughter sneaking alternative entertainment-boys into the projector-car."
-Patrick von Sychowski, editor
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Other News

White House Aims to Slash Technology Grant Program, Reuters
The Bush administration Monday proposed sharp cuts in a program that provides grants for high-tech research, saying it amounts to corporate welfare and could be replaced by private venture-capital efforts.
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Digital Sensor Is Said to Match Quality of Film, The New York Times
If Carver Mead is right, photographic film is an endangered species. Dr. Mead, who is 67, was a pioneer of the modern computer chip industry in the 1970's. But he has never stopped inventing. And on Monday his Silicon Valley start-up, Foveon, plans to begin shipping a new type of digital image sensor that outside experts agree is the first to match or surpass the photographic capabilities of 35-millimeter film.
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Unresolved Issues Slow Digital Recording, The Los Angeles Times
As the transition from analog to digital TV grinds along, one key piece remains stubbornly out of place: a digital successor to the VCR. Consumer electronics companies have put a handful of HDTV-capable digital videotape recorders on the market, and four Hollywood studios recently announced that they'll release HDTV videotapes that will work in some of these D-VHS machines. But those devices can't record off the vast majority of today's digital TVs and receivers.
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Other Larta Announcements

Pre-Orders now being taken: Hollywood Unstrung 2 digital cinema panel session video
Pre-order your copy of the official videotape of the Hollywood Unstrung 2 launch event for $40. Just email us with your name and contact information. This sold-out event, held on January 24, featured at panel discussion, Digital Cinema, Hollywood's Emerging Challenge, addressing the business challenges involved in implementing a digital theatrical distribution system. Read about this event in a Hollywood Reporter article, Who's Going to Pay for The Digital Evolution?

Freelance Copy Editor
Larta is seeking a freelance copy editor to proofread and edit Larta's written materials, including the LA VOX newsletter, research reports, and marketing information. 1-2 years staff or regular freelance proofreading/copy editing experience required. Please send resume with reference information and salary history to jjohnson@old.larta.org.

Call Center for sale
Larta is selling a Harris 20-20 Call Center, including switch, control station, and 40 government spec phones. This top-of-the-line call center includes a dual tower, redundant switch, which can handle 1000 simultaneous incoming and outgoing phone calls. Bought in 1998 for over $400,000 and used for only a few months (estimated having ever handled only 1000 calls TOTAL), the Center includes videos, manuals, etc. Dozens of photos of the unit can be seen at more information. Contact Steven Klein at sklein@old.larta.org to make an offer or get further details. Selling for $75,000 or best offer.

Marina Del Rey Commercial Property Available
This offering consists of three buildings, each unique, which may be leased separately, or combined in several ways to accommodate a wide variety of uses. The entire exterior of this campus has just been completely renovated. The property is located 2 miles west of the 405 Freeway and 1 mile from the Marina Freeway, and is within minutes of LAX and blocks of the Pacific Ocean.
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