Testimonials

“Working again with Steve and Peter and the team at 120dB was great.  We had a very short window to make it all happen and start shooting on time, and they made it work!”

Claude Dal Farra, Co-President
BCDF Films


“We have nothing but great respect for the 120dB team.  They are to-the-point, fast and most importantly straight up about their investment.  If you're lucky enough to work with them, expect a hard-working team that is very detailed and understanding of the demands of independent film finance.”

Jason Möring, President & CEO
Double Dutch International


"As a Banker, with some experience in the Entertainment Business, and specifically in the film and television production, I have valued my relationship with 120 dB Films. My Bank has participated in a number of film and television projects and have found 120 dB and both Steve Hays and Peter Graham to be professional, client oriented, and very knowledgeable. They utilize their knowledge and skills to figure out a way to found a transaction not how to not do so.

Of course, this last statement could be because I trained Peter at The Lewis Horwitz Organization many years ago.

Should you require financing for a State Subsidies or funding against contract receivables, or have need of funding against future sales (Gap), 120 dB should be your first stop for funding. They have the contact to bring in Bank lender, such as my Bank, to provide an overall cost effective method of funding."

Art Stribley, Former Executive Vice President
Pacific Mercantile Bank

“Peter, Steve and the 120dB team understand the market. They understand what it takes to get a film sold and they also understand the pressure a producer can be under when closing finance.It is that understanding that makes them such good partners: direct, quick, knowledgeable. In other words, user-friendly. We look forward to making many more films together.”

Cyril Megret, Partner
The Salt Company

“I have found that working with 120dB is a blessing. Why do I say this? Because we all know how difficult it is to piece the financing together of an independent film and when this happens the negotiations that take place can be cumbersome and eternal. Not with 120dB. Steve and Peter are fast, efficient and professional. When they board a film you know you can't wish for a better team and the best part: you know the film will happen.”

Marina Fuentes Arredonda, Co-founder & Partner
Dreamcatchers

"120DB is an incredibly filmmaker friendly partner - offering a structured finance solution while also being nimble and understanding the real-time needs of closing a films financing. Peter and Steve are first-class partners, and great guys as well."

Robert Barnum, Producer
e2b Capital

"It is with great pleasure that I write this letter to you in hopes it spawns more interest in your services.

Only a few weeks ago I was up against a remarkably stressful situation. I was in production and my financing began to unravel. I sent you guys an e-mail asking for help and you did. In a remarkably short period of time you pulled me from a brutal situation and helped save the film and the people I was responsible for.

We work in a business ripe with people who don't always have your best interests in mind and you both shot that concept down and helped me get my film back on track.

No testimonial will truly express my gratitude but I look forward to the day when people ask me about your company and whether or not I would recommend working with you. My only fear is, my recommendation will be so overwhelmingly good some people may not believe me!

Thank you again and I cannot wait to do another with you!"

Tim J. Brown, CEO
Joker Films Inc.

“120dB has been and continues to be a terrific partner on our films, including MOTHERHOOD starring Uma Thurman, ANSWER MAN starring Jeff Daniels, and our most recent venture AN INVISIBLE SIGN starring Jessica Alba. You have both been readily accessible in all aspects of creating our deals together and providing an efficient, fast way to access debt financing. 120dB has our strongest recommendation, and we look forward to continuing our long standing relationship.”

Jana Edelbaum
iDeal Partners

“Nobody likes to talk about money or think about money. Well, maybe some people do, but not filmmakers. And I, being a filmmaker, fall into the category of I don’t want to worry about such mundane, annoying things, I just want to make films! But, as we all know, that’s not possible. Financing is an essential part of filmmaking. And 120 dB Films understands this and at the same time understands filmmakers.

That makes 120 dB Films a rare entity in this business. You helped to make our film Sweet Land possible and yet allowed it to be the film it needed to be without constraint. Thank you for that. I would recommend your company to producers, one and all.”

Ali Selim, Writer & Director
Sweet Land

“I have had the privilege of working with 120dB on five motion pictures - one as a bank that financed the film where we paid them our pre-buy minimum guarantee when the film was delivered, and four where they lent money to my company against specific distribution projects. I am happy to report that all experiences thus far have been more than positive. They are fair, decent, honorable businessmen who are a pleasure to work with.

There is no question that I would recommend them to any potential borrower in the most positive of fashions, and would invite anyone to contact me for a reference.”

Gary Rubin, President
First Independent Pictures


"Thank you for helping us out when another financier called me to say that he actually cannot come up with the promised cash. We were obviously running a full shoot by then. Without wasting time thinking about suing the other bloke I picked up the phone to you and in less then 24 hours you gave us the thumbs up and we continued filming. You stuck to your word and delivered the financing as promised. What a difference! Thanks again for taking us out of the dark place we were in and enabling us getting the movie in the can. We are now done editing and will deliver soon.  Looking forward working with you in the future."

Jan Vocke
DP Films Ltd

"I wanted to let you know that from my perspective our experience with you and Peter Graham on the film that you financed JACK AND JILL VERSUS THE WORLD was very positive. I felt like that we were on the same team from pre-production through production and then throughout the initial sales cycle. The way in which you both helped to manage the process, including working with the various lawyers, producers and bankers was very efficient and timely.

I will also that in as much as there were a few bumps along the way with some of the distributors of this film that you both continued to be helpful in working with us to make sure that we were able to collect as the financial world changed drastically over the past 18 months. I was very happy that we acted together to maximize the collections and to do so in a timely manner.I am looking forward to working with both again soon especially now also regarding the financing of tax incentives.

I wish you both much continued success."

Kirk Amico, President
Myriad Pictures

“On behalf of Electric Entertainment, I would like to thank you for your hard work, commitment and professionalism. Your expertise in financing and business has enabled us to deliver two groundbreaking seasons of Leverage.

Despite a tough economic climate that has undoubtedly affected us all, 120dB has continued to deliver results on our behalf, a task most other financiers in this climate would not have been able to complete.

Your contributions to our series and our company have been priceless and we hope to be working with you again for our upcoming third season of leverage as well as our other television and feature film projects at Electric Entertainment.”

Dean Devlin, CEO
Electric Entertainment

"I have had the pleasure of knowing Stephen Hays since we made films together in junior high school when we both live in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Over the past decades, through my production company Farmhouse Films and through the Woodstock Film Festival, I have been fortunate to get advice from Stephen on business related matters and to work with him on several projects. His standing as an advisory board member of the Woodstock Film Festival, which boasts some of the top creative and business names in the entertainment business, is unparalleled.

Over the past several years, I have recommended many business associates in the film trade to contact him and results been positive. I have always been amazed by Stephen's uncanny ability to combine his passion for creativity with his ability to work within a team framework. He brings a sense of fairness, respect and calm composure, which results in a timely, respectful and professional business acumen.

I look forward to working with Stephen on many future projects and intend to refer many others his way."

Laurent Rejto, Co-founder & Director
Woodstock Film Festival

"I wanted to let you know what a pleasure it has been working with you on our feature film "Drop Dead Sexy". Your professionalism and dedication to the project has been a valuable asset to the entire team. I lookforward to working with you on future project."

Charles Acosta, President & Producer
Arrival Pictures

“While I would love to keep him to myself, I will attest that Stephen Hays has been great to work with so far on our movie LOGGERHEADS. He is one of the few money guys in the business that I have met who delivers as promised, and is good for what he says. And he has good ideas as well, so can be more than just a financier if you need. We are now in post-production and I hope to bring him on many more projects. As a matter of fact, barring unforeseen catastrophe, he will be the first stop!!

Please contact me for a more in depth reference if needed.”

Gill Holland
Lasalle Holland

“In the past year, I've had the great pleasure of working with Stephen Hays on the financing of an independent feature film entitled CONFESS. Mr. Hays brought in gap financing for the film and he did so with the highest level of courtesy and professionalism. He was proactive and helpful, moving the process and paperwork along with the utmost respect for our needs while remaining faithful to all aspects of our initial understandings. And he was always easy to communicate with, even when he was traveling out of the country.

But Mr. Hays became more than a financier (and Executive Producer). He was a welcome active participant in the remainder of the film's production and post-production, as well as a much-appreciated source of support and cheerleading. He visited the set, attended screenings, and invested many hours of his own time in order to be of help to the film. His advice regarding distribution and other aspects of the business end of filmmaking have been invaluable.

In short, my experience with Mr. Hays showed me that he invests each film with the care and energy that are a gift to all involved. Perhaps most important, I learned to count on him - his word, his opinions, his advice - all gold. I hope to work with him on many films in the future.”

Jon Stern
Centrifugal Films

“I've been a close friend of Steve Hays' for nearly twenty years and had the good fortune to be his partner on Wall Street for eight of them. Steve is a rigorous, fertile, independent thinker who possesses the rare combination of detail, perspective and imagination. He's a unique talent and will be a winner at whatever his passion dictates. As an avid movie-goer, I look forward to seeing what he endorses.”

Douglas Hirsch, Managing Partner
Seneca Capital

“I wanted to take a moment to let you know how pleased I am for 120db Films to have been a part of making this movie. As you witnessed, this was a project that faced every hurdle possible on its way to production. Your company was a perfect fit to our project's mix of traditional bank financing and private equity investors. Your assuming the 'gap' portion of our loan was instrumental is making our lender comfortable with our project.

It was a pleasant surprise to have you come in, perform your due diligence, make a decision, and fund in such a short time frame. It was a relief dealing with the one person who can make decisions and not have to rely on a committee with a laundry list of conditions.

I would definitely recommend you to other producers.”

Rick Lashbrook
Rick Lashbrook Films

“We want to offer our sincere thanks for everything that you and 120dB have done to support our film, HENRY'S CRIME. Your accessibility and open communication have truly made you a dream to work with. It was wonderful to partner with such a filmmakerfriendly team who genuinely cared about the film and made the process so easy.

We would be first in line to recommend 120dB to other filmmakers and look forward to working with you on future projects.”

Lemore Syvan & Alison Palmer
Henry’s Crime