Overture Films
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[edit] Overview
Overture Films [1] develops, produces, acquires, and distributes motion pictures worldwide. The studio will form collaborative relationships with filmmakers and empower them to produce quality films that take creative risks and break new ground. Its affiliated companies, Starz Home Video and Starz Entertainment, make the films available to viewers via home video, premium television, Internet and other outlets. Overture Films is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation that is attributable to Liberty Capital Corp. With $500 million in funding, Overture Films was founded in Fall of 2006 and run by industry veterans Chris McGurk (CEO) and Danny Rosett (COO). The President of Worldwide Theatrical Marketing, Distribution and New Media is Peter Adee. Executive Vice Presidents of Production and Acquisitions are Sean Furst and Robert Kessel and Bryan Furst is Senior Vice President of Production and Acquisitions.
[edit] Mission
Overture Films is adopting an independent film model not unlike New Line Cinema, aiming to produce mainstream commercial films under the $30 million mark targeted at distinct marketing niches. “I believe that this economic model is favorable for setting up a business that can take creative risks,” McGurk said. “We will forge the kind of alliances that made UA so strong years ago. We will create a haven for great filmmakers and let them make movies.”[1]
In keeping with Overtures objective to be a company dedicated to empowering filmmakers and to produce films outside of the boundaries of the big studio system, McGurk and Rosett hired Kessel and the Fursts because of their unique hands on filmmaking and acquisitions experience and felt that their experience was crucial to meeting their filmmaker-friendly objective.[2] That same philosophy is why they hired Adee to run marketing and distribution because of his creativity, strong leadership ability and deep talent relationships as well as his cutting-edge marketing campaigns and talent-friendly approach.[3]
In setting up the studio, McGurk and Rosett have taken a “distribution centric” approach. Overture has five-year deals in place for pay-TV at Starz and home video distribution at Anchor Bay Entertainment, both part of Liberty Media Corporation.
[edit] Movies
[edit] Ferris Wheel
One of Overture’s first release’s will be Ferris Wheel, a drama produced by Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron’s production shingle Denver and Delilah Films and Film Engine. Ferris Wheel tells the story of a young girl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s AnnaSophia Robb) who comes to terms with her mother’s abandonment by forming an unlikely bond with her Uncle (Nick Stahl), who is struggling to deal with his own troubled life. Woody Harrelson and Dennis Hopper co-star. Theron, who stars as the mother, produced the film with Denver and Delilah Productions partners J.J. Harris and Beth Kono. Film Engine’s A.J. Dix, Bill Shively and Mike Stirling are also producers on the project. No release date has been set.
[edit] Miscellaneous
In 2007, Hollywood Reporter named Chris McGurk and Danny Rosett #37 on their Indie Power 50.[4]
[edit] Notes and References
- ^ Malone taps McGurk to run new studio-distrib; Anne Thompson; The Hollywood Reporter; November 14-20, 2006
- ^ Overture Films announces production and acquisition leadership team; Starz Media Press Release; January 22, 2007
- ^ Peter Adee joins Overture Films; Starz Media Press Release; February 21, 2007
- ^ Rule makers: The Hollywood Reproter's Indie Power 50; Hollywood Reporter; January 18, 2007
