Walden Media
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Walden Media is a film production company best known as the producers of The Chronicles of Narnia film series. Its films are based on notable classic or award-winning children's literature, compelling biographies or historical events, documentaries and some original screenplays.
The corporate headquarters of Walden Media are located in Los Angeles, California, and the Education, Outreach, Interactive, and Publishing office is in Boston, Massachusetts.
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[edit] Company history
Walden Media was created in 2001 by Micheal Flaherty and Cary Granat. Granat was president of Miramax's Dimension Films division, and Flaherty came from the world of education. Flaherty was called an “entrepreneur in education” by the Boston Globe for his work with innovative programs meant to help underprivileged students gain access to quality education.[1]. The two were housemates at Tufts University before following different paths and then reuniting to form Walden Media[2] as a movie, television, publishing and Internet enterprise whose goal is to teach and entertain kids.
The company came to prominence with the release of film adaptations of Louis Sachar's Holes in 2003, Kate Dicamillo's Because of Winn Dixie for Twentieth Century Fox in 2004, C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 2005, Thomas Rockwell's "How to Eat Fried Worms" in 2006 and E. B. White's Charlotte's Web starring Dakota Fanning and Julia Roberts in 2006 and Katherine Paterson's Bridge to Terabithia, released by Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media on February 16, 2007.
Currently in development are movies based on Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising series.
On August 8, 2006, Walden Media announced a joint venture with 20th Century Fox.[3] Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium and The Dark Is Rising will be the first films released under the venture. Previously announced films at other studios will remain in place.[4]
[edit] Education program
Walden Media is unique among film production companies in that it works with teachers, museums, and national organizations to develop supplemental educational programs and materials associated with its films and the original events and/or novels that inspire the films.[5]
Walden Media offers in-class teaching tools like educational guides and teacher kits[6] and sponsors seminars and forums for teachers to discuss their craft and to trade ideas on using media in the classroom. Directors, writers, and stars of the productions participate in these events.
In 2006, Walden Media sponsored the "Break the World Reading Record with Charlotte’s Web". At noon on Wednesday, December 13th, 547,826 readers in 2,451 locations, 50 states and 28 countries read an excerpt from Charlotte’s Web, breaking the world record of 155,528 students from 737 schools in the United Kingdom who read William Wordsworth’s poem, "Daffodils" in 2004.[7]
[edit] Etymology and logo
It is named after Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Its logo is a rock skipping across a pond.
[edit] Filmography
- Kidsstuff 4 (1988) with Walt Disney Pictures
- Kidsstuff (2000) with Walt Disney Pictures
- Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey (2002) with Giant Screen Films
- Ghosts of the Abyss (2003) with Walt Disney Pictures
- Holes (2003) with Walt Disney Pictures
- I Am David (2003) with Lions Gate Films
- Around the World in 80 Days (2004) with Walt Disney Pictures
- Because of Winn-Dixie (2005) with Twentieth Century Fox
- Aliens of the Deep (2005) with Walt Disney Pictures
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) with Walt Disney Pictures
- Hoot (2006) with New Line Cinema
- How to Eat Fried Worms (2006) with New Line Cinema
- Charlotte's Web (2006) with Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies
- Bridge to Terabithia (2007) with Walt Disney Pictures
- The Waterhorse (2007) with Columbia Pictures, Revolution Studios, Beacon Pictures, and Ecosse Films
- Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (2007) with Mandate Pictures
- The Dark Is Rising (2007)
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) with Walt Disney Pictures
- Journey 3D (2008) with New Line Cinema
- Nim’s Island
- Carlisle School
- The Giver
- Manhunt
- Tortoise and Hippo
[edit] References
- ^ "Who we are". Walden Media corporate site
- ^ Jensen, Jeff. "The Family Business". Entertainment Weekly, 28 April 2006: 58-61.
- ^ Schein, Amy. Walden Media, LLC. Hoover's.
- ^ "Fox Filmed Entertainment and Walden Media Enter into Joint Venture to Market and Release Films for the Family Audience". Walden Media press release.
- ^ "Our Company". Walden Media corporate site
- ^ Deahl, Rachel. "Walden Media Works to Make Moviegoers Readers". Publisher’s Weekly, 16 January 2006.
- ^ Toomey, Shamus. "I’ve Never Broken a World Record". Chicago Sun-Times, 14 December 2006.
