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Charlotte`s Film Foundry and The Ultimate Gift

It was Thanksgiving, 2004 when Jim Stovall`s novel "The Ultimate Gift" hit bookstores, leaving an indelible impression on readers and, many agree, on an entire industry. To date, the book has sold close to two million copies, been translated into 15 languages and distributed in 14 countries.

Charlotte`s Film Foundry owner Rick Eldridge announced that his firm has received a letter of intent from the Houston-based Stanford Financial Group (SFG) to underwrite a full-length feature film based on Stovall`s novel. According to Eldridge, SFG has agreed to provide the $10 million dollars needed to produce the film with a vision to furthering themes from the book, which advocates a holistic approach to building wealth, together with non-financial elements affecting personal fulfillment and the creation of a positive legacy. SFG is a global network of affiliated companies with a common goal of providing innovative financial products and services.

At 41, Jim Stovall is a best-selling author and national speaker. His array of successful careers includes that of Olympic weightlifter, investment broker and co-founder and president of the international Narrative Television Network (NTN), which makes movies and television accessible for the visually impaired. Stovall, who is blind, is the recipient of numerous honors, including Entrepreneur of the Year in 1997 and, in 2005, an Emmy for his work at NTN.