Daystar-AEI

Daystar-AEIG. Franklin Dix was Co-Producer of the successful independent feature, "Hard Justice." Following a featured run on HBO, "Hard Justice" was New Line's second-highest video rental for two weeks behind "Braveheart." Mr. Dix was responsible for the production logistics, legal affairs, financial planning, disbursement and tracking, and all insurance-related matters.

Mr. Dix, following a fine Hollywood tradition, started his career as an Agent Trainee in the mailroom of the William Morris Agency. When the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC accepted his application, he left behind a promising start at WMA to pursue a unique and coveted educational opportunity.

His filmmaking background includes script breakdown, budgeting and scheduling at 20th Century-Fox in connection with "I Ought To Be In Pictures," "Author! Author!," and "The Sender," production cost estimating at Hollywood Pictures on "Swing Kids," "Flynn," "Born Yesterday" and "Eden Close," production cost estimating for such independent projects as "When The Trumpet Sounds," "Shadow of the Phoenix," "Stay" and "Noah's Magic," the development and packaging of several independent motion picture projects, and accounting and production auditing for Production Partners and Boardwalk Pictures.

On the productions side, Mr. Dix worked as a Production Assistant for a number of TV commercial production companies for such clients as American Express, Atari, Best Foods, Cadillac, Disneyland, IBM, Mattel, Maxwell House, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Uniroyal. His later production experience includes serving as the Production Manager and First Assistant Director on several low budget projects include two award-winning projects for Gospel Films, "Shout For Joy" and "Fury To Freedom," "Citizen Jackass" a half-hour comedy short for Beacon Hill Films, "Fear Of A Punk Planet" thirty-minute episodes 104 & 105 for Kung Fu Films and "Good Kids Die Too," a twenty-minute educational (anti-drug abuse) film produced by Learning Corporation of America.

Drawing upon his command of both finance and entertainment law, Mr. Dix has drafted numerous personal services agreements and literary option/purchase agreements for himself and others, a detailed business plan for a home-video distribution venture, the non-boilerplate elements of a private placement memorandum for a motion picture limited partnership and several film project business plans. In addition to his producing experience, Mr. Dix has written several screenplays including "Caught In The Crossfire," "A Jury Of One," "Power Trap," "Law Of The West" and "Insiders Trade."

Academically, Mr. Dix has earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Finance at University of California Berkeley, a Master of Arts in Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary and a Master of Fine Arts in Cinema / Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California.

In April 2005, Mr. Dix bought an equity interest in AEI and founded, along with Ken Atchity and Chi-Li Wong, their moral stories division, DayStar Entertainment.

Daystar-AEIWith more than forty years experience in the publishing world, and over fifteen years in entertainment, Dr. Ken Atchity is a self-defined "story merchant"--writer, producer, teacher, and literary manager, responsible for launching dozens of books and films. His life's passion is finding great storytellers and turning them into bestselling authors and screenwriters. ..More



Daystar-AEIChi-Li Wong, AEI President and Partner, came to Los Angeles in 1992 after serving as associate administrator of the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival. She began as story editor and analyst at AEI then, after specializing in treatments and acquisitions, became VP of Development and Production (1995-1999)...More