Incline techie turns movie mogul

It didn't take long for Robert Gryphon of Incline Village to learn one of the great truths of Hollywood: "If you have money, everyone loves you," says the software-developer-turnedmovie- producer.

More important than his money, however, has been Gryphon's methodical effort to learn about the film industry.

The four-year effort paid off with an Oscar nomination this year for supporting actor Alec Baldwin in "The Cooler," the first theatrical release from Gryphon Films LLC.

Equally important, Gryphon says "The Cooler" is in the black after grossing something more than $8 million since its release in December.

Here's how he got there: Four years ago next week, E.piphany Inc.

announced it would pay $3.2 billion in stock for Octane Software Inc., a company Gryphon had built in San Mateo, Calif.

After about 30 days of retirement "I get bored very quickly," Gryphon says he decided to get into the film business.

"I always wanted to write novels and short stories," says Gryphon, who'd written about 90 articles for trade publications while he built Octane.

Hooking up with longtime friend Brett Morrison, the duo launched Gryphon Films with a Hollywood office and began making calls to develop connections in the industry.

Morrison serves as president of the company; Gryphon, who's also busy developing a major new software project, is based at Incline Village.

The money from the sale of Octane Software opened many a door for the new production company.

"Money is what makes films get made.

It's nothing without money," Gryphon says.

But still, the new production company was cautious.

Its first project was a lowbudget, low-risk direct-to-video film, "Lady Jayne Killer." With the experience Gryphon Films developed on that project, the independent studio went looking for a larger production.

"The Cooler" met its standards a quality film with a quality cast that could be produced on a tight budget.

Along with Baldwin, the film stars William H.

Macy, Maria Bello and Paul Sorvino.

Bello and Baldwin were nominated for Golden Globe Awards to accompany Baldwin's Oscar nomination.

Early on, "The Cooler" had drawn the attention of veteran film producer Edward Pressman.

He, in turn, played a key role in winning distribution of the film through Lions Gate Films.

With wide distribution, the film drew the attention of critics who either loved it or hated it a sign, Gryphon says, that the film touched a chord in audiences.

In the pipeline for the company is a variety of projects ranging from sciencefiction to comedy and a couple of the stories have been developed by Gryphon himself.

(The company develops all its stories in-house; it's not interested in unsolicited submissions.) As he puts together deals to produce those films and others, Gryphon says he learned to be patient with Hollywood paperwork.

"There's a reason that the contracts for a typical movie create a stack three or four feet high," he says.

"And there are standard ways of doing things.

If you violate those ways of doing things, it makes people suspicious."