Company:
Inspired Films, aka Latte-Da Ltd. Partnership, aka Blue Hill Avenue Ltd. Partnership, aka Cahoots Productions
750 E. California Street
Jacksonville, OR 97530
Website: www.mbefilms.com
E-Mail: [email protected]
Owners: Mike Erwin, Max Kirishima, Sam Baldoni
Investment: $314,642.00 Total two films:
Blue Hill Avenue and Cahoots
This is an investment matter wherein I am attempting to recover my money from a film production company going by the following names: Inspired Films, aka Latte-Da Ltd. Partnership, aka Blue Hill Avenue Ltd. Partnership, aka Cahoots Productions, Inc.
Mike Erwin, J. Max Kirishima and Sam Baldoni are film producers who the film production company which is now located in Jacksonville, Oregon.
At the time I made my investment, the company was called Cahoots Productions, Inc./Blue Hill Avenue Ltd. Partnership located in Beverly Hills, California. My investment consisted of incremental amounts paid from approximately 2000 through 2002 in the total amount of $314,642.00.
They utilized a venture capital group headed by Rand Chortkoff to raise money for two film projects, Blue Hill Avenue and Cahoots, both of which I purchased ownership in. It was learned that Chortkoff's group of brokers were pocketing money raised and failing to issue respective units in designated films to investors.in addition they were allegedly guilty of selling unregistered securities. There was a cease and desist order issued against them subsequently for this activity. There have been no profits or returns issued whatsoever on my investment in either movie.
In addition, they broke SEC rules in that I was not a qualified investor under their strict guidelines. The investment was solicited through cold calls by brokers promising substantial, quick returns which never materialized. They violated Federal Blue Sky laws, FTC and FCC laws in soliciting investor money.
I have been requesting copies of signed documentation indicating ownership units for monies invested. I received only two signed Subscription Agreements from them reflecting a total of approximately $90,000 out of the $314,642 investment. I have credible information that the venture capital brokers were pocketing investor money as it came in without issuing paperwork on any ownership in the movies. I believe that's called embezzlement.
I have made repeated requests for the return of my money based on the above. They have strung me along promising returns but have provided none.
They have indicated recently that they have a couple of documentary film projects they are supposedly closing on (spring/summer) and that 2nd quarter profits should be out the end of June on Blue Hill Avenue by Artisan Films who bought the film. They indicated that there should be money to distribute but I have heard nothing in that regard.
The last communication I had from Mike Erwin was in June promising to follow-up once again on my request for ownership documentation.
I have copies of all of my canceled checks reflecting my entire investment.
Note that one of the checks was made out to Waterman & Harris, attorneys for the film company at the time they were headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA (address below), for $15,000 at the request of one of the venture capital brokers, Steve Canino, for post production costs. No receipt or acknowledgment or documentation was received by me from the attorneys for that check and there was no accounting of where the money actually went or what it was used for.
Note also that when repeatedly asking Mike Erwin for copies of ownership documents based on my units of investment ownership, he referred my requests to Howard Harris of Waterman & Harris. There was some vague reference by Waterman & Harris to the fact that the documents were located in a storage area. I do not believe that the documents actually exist. Therefore, the law firm has become a co-conspirator in covering up the truth as to unlawful activities committed by their client in deceiving and de-frauding their investors.
Address: Inspired Films, aka Latte-Da Films,
aka Blue Hill Avenue Ltd. Partnership, aka Cahoots
Productions, Inc.
750 E. California Street
Jacksonville, OR 97530
Phone: 541/899-9191
Fax: 541/899-9930
(former office address and where I initially made investment)
Cahoots Productions, Inc., aka Blue Hill Avenue
9107 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Former MBE Film Attorney: Howard Harris, Esq.
Waterman & Harris
12304 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Phone: 310/553-3309
0 comments