Screen Media Films

  • Deadline: Screen Media Acquires Tom Berenger-Starring Thriller ‘Blood And Money’

    • Posted on 30th Mar
    • Category: Acquisition

    EXCLUSIVE: Screen Media has landed all North American rights to Blood and Money (formerly titled Allagash), an indie thriller starring Emmy-winning Hatfields & McCoys actor Tom Berenger. Long-time cinematographer John Barr wrote and directed the film, his feature directorial debut, which will be released sometime in May.

    The plot follows a retired veteran (Berenger) hunting in the Allagash backcountry of Northern Maine who discovers a dead woman with a duffle bag containing a large sum of money. Things spiral out of control when he encounters a group of criminals in search of the money after a botched casino robbery lands them in the middle of the wintery woods while trying to escape to Canada. As they hunt one another over the course of a few days, the stark and frigid landscape frames a test of will and survival where the hunter becomes the hunted.

    Kristen Hager and Paul Ben-Victor co-star. Suza Horvat produced.

    “We are so excited to be partnering with Screen Media,” said Horvat. “Their support and enthusiasm for the film has equaled that of our New-England-based investors, our friends, and our crew involved with making this happen. We are looking forward to getting Blood and Money out there for people to see.”

    Said Seth Needle, SVP of Global Acquisitions and Co-Productions for Screen Media: “We’re really impressed with the strong filmmaking and riveting story and are excited to be working with John and Suza to bring Blood and Money to audiences very soon. Plus, who doesn’t love watching Tom Berenger take action?”

    Screen Media’s upcoming slate includes Suicide Tourist, a mystery-thriller starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, a historic drama Robert the Bruce with Angus MacFadyen, and Willy’s Wonderland starring Nicolas Cage.

  • Deadline: Chicken Soup For The Soul Entertainment Acquires Mark Damon’s Production & Sales Outfit Foresight Unlimited

    • Posted on 5th Nov
    • Category: Acquisition

    EXCLUSIVE: Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment has acquired Mark Damon’s film sales and production company Foresight Unlimited and as part of the deal has brought the international film vet into the fold.

    Foresight will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chicken Soup’s distribution wing Screen Media but will continue to operate under its current name. The company will still be run by Damon, who remains chairman, and president and COO Tamara Birkemoe, in close association with Screen Media President David Fannon. Kyle Bellinger, Foresight’s director of sales and development, is also moving across.

    The new relationship will kick off on the ground at AFM this week, where the company will be shopping two upcoming projects: Best Sellers starring Michael Caine, set to go into production next month, and Wally’s Wonderland starring Nicolas Cage, set to start filming in January.

    Screen Media has also bolstered its library through the deal, acquiring 13 Foresight titles including Peter Berg’s Oscar-nommed Lone Survivor with Mark Wahlberg, and rom-com And So It Goes, starring Diane Keaton and Michael Douglas.

    “I am very excited to add the very knowledgeable and capable Foresight team to Screen Media,” said Fannon. “Mark and his team bring a new degree of independent film intelligence to the company, and on a personal level, I am very happy to be working with good people that I respect, admire and like very much.”

    “Given that Screen Media has acquired almost 40 films that I have produced and distributed over the years, and given my nearly 40-year relationship with Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment’s Chairman, Bill Rouhana, this evolution seems a natural one for Foresight,” said Damon. “The respect and admiration that David Fannon mentions is mutual. We very much like the Screen Media team, and know that this relationship should enrich both of our companies. For us, it’s the right movement, at the right time. And we are very excited about it.”

    In addition to the Foresight acquisition, in the past 12 months Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment has launched Landmark Studio Group, a television development and production arm run by David Ozer, and has taken a majority interest in the ad-supported video-on-demand joint venture, Crackle Plus, run by President of VOD Networks Philippe Guelton.

  • Deadline: ‘Anti Life’: Sci-Fi Thriller Starring Bruce Willis, Thomas Jane, Cody Kearsley & Rachel Nichols Launched For Sales — AFM

    • Posted on 28th Oct
    • Category: Acquisition

    EXCLUSIVE: Screen Media has boarded international sales rights to under-the-radar sci-fi thriller Anti Life, starring Bruce Willis, Cody Kearsley (Riverdale), Thomas Jane (The Predator) and Rachel Nichols (Titans). Film Mode Entertainment will continue to work with Screen Media as its sales agent and will co-rep sales at the American Film Market in Santa Monica next week. 

    Anti-Life, which wrapped shoot last week, follows a young stowaway (Kearsley) aboard an interstellar ark to New Earth. With the help of a seasoned crewmate (Willis), he must outwit a malevolent cosmic terror intent on using the spaceship as a weapon.

    Pic was written by Edward Drake (True Detective) and Corey Large (November Man), and is produced by Large and Danny Roth (The Hurricane Heist). Suits’ previous films include upcoming 3022, starring Kate Walsh and Omar Epps, and Pandemic. 

    Daniel Calvo at Aldea VFX is overseeing special effects. Calvo’s credits include work on On The Milky Road, The Clan, El Angel and 3022.

    Danny H. Chan (River Runs Red) is executive producing alongside Mary Aloe (Killerman), Johnny Messner (Tears of the Sun), and Seth Needle, Screen Media’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Acquisitions.

    Mike Donovan and Ryan Griffin serve as executive producers and arranged the film’s financing via MEP Capital.

    “Anti-Life answers the age-old question of what would it would look like to come-of-age in space while being hunted by blood-thirsty aliens,” said Drake. “With a first-class cast anchored by Cody Kearsley, Bruce Willis, Thomas Jane, Rachel Nichols, Corey Large, and Kassandra Clamenti, I’m excited for audiences to step into our universe.”

    “Bruce Willis is synonymous with sci-fi action films such as Armageddon and Fifth Element and we know our distributors will be thrilled to be a part of this one,” said Clay Epstein, President of Film Mode.

  • Deadline: Chicken Soup For The Soul Entertainment Teams With David Ozer On New Studio

    • Posted on 15th Oct
    • Category: Acquisition

    Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment has teamed with former IDW Entertainment President David Ozer to launch Landmark Studio Group. The new company will be focused on the ownership, development and production of entertainment franchises in both TV and film. Ozer will serve as CEO for the company, which will be headquartered in New York with offices in Los Angeles.

    Landmark content will be funneled through outlets such as Crackle, which Chicken Soup took majority control of last spring in a new arrangement with Sony. The company also owns Screen Media, which will distribute Landmark titles.

    Landmark will develop, produce, distribute and own all of the intellectual property it creates. The studio will be independent, having the ability to sell its content to any network or platform, while hanging onto worldwide rights.

    Cole Strategic Partners will co-fund Landmark with Chicken Soup for the Soul. “We are thrilled to join forces with Bill [Rouhana] and David to launch Landmark, which we anticipate will become a major force in the entertainment industry,” said Simon Misselbrook, president of Cole Strategic Partners.

    Landmark has set several television and film projects in development including The Fix, a scripted drama series based on the book by Declan Hill, docuseries The History of Gangster Rap, based on the book by Soren Baker, and Safehaven, a supernatural horror series based on the graphic novel, directed by Brad Turner (Homeland, 24). See details below. Landmark will also be producing various stand-up comedy specials and animated series.

    “All of us at Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment are thrilled to be in business with David Ozer. He has the ability and talent to turn Landmark into a high-volume content production operation that we anticipate will provide an additional revenue stream for our company while mitigating production risk,” Chicken Soup for the Soul CEO Bill Rouhana said. “We expect Landmark to provide valuable original content to Crackle and the other six AVOD networks that are part of our Crackle Plus subsidiary, as well as our other Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment divisions.”

    “It’s incredible what Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment is creating in the AVOD space, and I’m excited to launch Landmark as an important studio operation for tomorrow’s media consumers,” said Ozer. “With the support of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, we are poised to become a significant player in the global content marketplace.”

    As Landmark CEO, Ozer will spearhead its content development and production operations. During his time at IDW Entertainment, he was credited with the independent mini-studio’s expansion, and the success of its two most prominent series, overseeing the development and production of three seasons of Wynonna Earp for Syfy, and two seasons of Dirk Gently for BBC America. He also oversaw the development of Locke & Key and V-Wars for Netflix.

    Ozer has also previously held executive level positions at multinational media corporations including Starz Media, RHI Entertainment, Sonar, DIC Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television.

    Landmark’s television projects in development:

    THE FIX – A scripted drama series that explores the most explosive story of sports corruption in a generation based on the book by Declan Hill. The Fix is written by David Dilley and produced by Calamity Jane’s Ellen Pompeo and Laura Holstein. THE HISTORY OF GANGSTER RAP – A documentary series based on the bestselling book by Soren Baker, who serves as producer along with Jorge Hinojosa and Ice-T, and features Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and many others.

    SAFEHAVEN – Directed by Brad Turner (Homeland, 24), Safehaven, a supernatural horror series based on the graphic novel about a female comic book artist whose drawings come alive to haunt her. Safehaven is produced by Turner, Thomas Vitale (Pandora), Jessica Petelle (V-Wars, Hawaii Five-0), James Seale (30 Below), Kevin Duncan and Michael Bay’s 451 Media.

  • Variety: Screen Media Nabs ‘The Sonata,’ Thriller With Rutger Hauer (EXCLUSIVE)

    • Posted on 6th Sep
    • Category: Acquisition

    Screen Media has picked up all North American rights to “The Sonata,” a thriller that features one of the late actor Rutger Hauer’s final film roles.

    “The Sonata” centers on young violinist Rose (Freya Tingley) who inherits an old mansion after the death of her composer father (Hauer). After moving in, she discovers that his final work was a mysterious musical score with strange symbols that unlock keys to her father’s shadowy past, unleashing a horror beyond imagination. Screen Media is planning a theatrical and VOD release in early 2020.

    The film has already sold key foreign territories and played as part of Lincoln Center’s “Scary Movies” summer series and at the Popcorn Frights Film Festival. “The Sonata” was co-written and directed by Andrew Desmond, marking his first time behind the camera for a feature-length production. “The Sonata” was co-written by Arthur Morin.

    Tingley, best known for her work on “Hemlock Grove,” appears opposite Simon Abkarian (“Casino Royale”). Hauer, whose credits include “Blade Runner” and “Nighthawks,” died in July at the age of 75.

    The film is produced by Laurent Fumeron, Rodolphe Sanzé and Daniel Goroshko from The Project Film Club; Julien Loeffler, Fabrice Smadja and James Kermack from Featuristic Films; Sergey Selyanov from CTB Film Company; and Aija Berzina and Alise Gelze from Tasse Film.

    Screen Media has been active on the acquisitions front. In recent months, it nabbed North American rights to John Turturro’s “The Jesus Rolls,” a spin-off of “The Big Lebowski,” as well as Charlie Lightening and Gavin Fitzgerald’s feature documentary “Liam Gallagher: As It Was” and Alec Baldwin’s crime thriller “Crown Vic.”

    Seth Needle, senior VP of worldwide acquisitions at Screen Media, negotiated the deal with Moritz Hemminger at ARRI Media on behalf of the producers. ARRI Media is handling international sales for the film.

  • Deadline: The Big Release Date: John Turturro’s ‘The Jesus Rolls’ To Hit Theaters In 2020

    • Posted on 8th Jul
    • Category: Acquisition

    Screen Media has acquired North American rights The Jesus Rolls, the movie from John Turturro that returns his Big Lebowski character Jesus Quintana to the big screen more than 20 years later. Turturro wrote, directed and stars in the pic, which the indie distributor now plans to release in early 2020.

    The movie — part Big Lebowski spinoff, part remake of Bertrand Blier’s 1974 pic Going Places (this film’s original name) — follows a trio of misfits whose irreverent, sexually charged dynamic evolves into a surprising love story as their spontaneous and flippant attitude towards the past or future backfires time and again, even as they inadvertently perform good deeds. When they make enemies with a gun-toting hairdresser, their journey becomes one of constant escape from the law, from society and from the hairdresser, all while the bonds of their outsider family strengthen.

    Bobby Cannavale and Audrey Tautou also star in the film, which features Jon Hamm, Susan Sarandon and SNL‘s Pete Davidson.

    “It feels like a good time to release a transgressive film about the stupidity of men who try and fail and try better to understand and penetrate the mystery of women,” Turturro said in a release Monday announcing the deal. “I look forward to working with Screen Media and bring our work and the character of the Jesus to American audiences.”

    Turturro played Jesus Quintana in the Coen brothers’ 1998 The Big Lebowski opposite Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and Steve Buscemi. He was only in a couple of scenes but stole them both as the foul-mouthed, purple-clad, sex-offender rival to the bowling team led by Bridges’ The Dude. The Coens were not involved in The Jesus Rolls, though they gave Turturro their blessing to further explore the character.

    The new pic is produced by Robert Salerno, John Penotti, Fernando Sulichin, Sidney Kimmel and Paul-Dominique Win Vacharasinthu. Max Arvelaiz, Lawrence Kopeikin, Michael Lewis, Bruce Toll and Robert S. Wilson are executive producers.

    Screen Media’s Seth Needle negotiated the deal with ICM Partners on behalf of the filmmakers. Cornerstone Films Limited is handling international sales.

  • Variety: Cannes: Screen Media Buys ‘Liam Gallagher: As It Was’ (EXCLUSIVE)

    • Posted on 20th May
    • Category: Acquisition

    Screen Media has acquired North American rights to Charlie Lightening and Gavin Fitzgerald’s feature documentary “Liam Gallagher: As It Was.” The film follows the former Oasis frontman as he finds himself on the periphery of the rock ‘n’ roll world after years spent at the white hot center of the music world. Screen Media will release the film in the fall and will time it with the debut Gallagher’s upcoming second solo album.

    “Liam Gallagher: As It Was” premiered at the Cannes Market this week. Lightening, who previously directed the video for Gallagher’s video “Chinatown,” and his co-director Fitzgerald were granted behind-the-scenes access as Gallagher mounted a comeback. For years, Oasis topped the charts with catchy songs such as “Wonderwall” and “Champagne Supernova,” but Gallagher also dominated headlines with his loutish behavior and feuds with his brother and bandmate Noel. He was able to recapture some of that heat with the 2017 debut of his solo album “As You Were,” a critical and commercial success.

    The deal was negotiated at Cannes by Seth Needle, senior VP of worldwide acquisitions at Screen Media, with Mike Runagall at Altitude Film Sales on behalf of the filmmakers. The movie is set for release in the U.K. and Ireland on June 7, including a screening at the legendary Alexandra Palace venue, a special event that sold out in 90 seconds.

    “Liam is one of the most influential and accomplished musicians of the last 30 years,” said Needle. “‘Liam Gallagher: As It Was’ showcases his talent and personality like nothing before.”

    Lightening previously directed projects about Paul McCartney and Jamiroquai. Fitzgerald directed “Conor McGregor: Notorious,” as well as “The Fighting Irish,” a look at MMA fighters. “Liam Gallagher: As It Was” is produced by Steven Lappin.

    Screen Media also bought the sci-fi/horror anthology movie “Portals” at this year’s Cannes.

  • Variety: Screen Media Comes of Age With New Parent Company, Splashy Deals

    • Posted on 20th May
    • Category: Acquisition

    With a new parent company and a mandate to back bigger films with A-list casts, Screen Media is raising its profile. Historically, the company has been known for releasing genre titles that lacked visibility. Many of these made money, particularly when DVDs were a major business and in the early days of on-demand.

    But that’s no longer the case. Over the past two years, Screen Media has worked on prestige fare such as “Bel Canto,” a well-reviewed drama with Oscar-winner Julianne Moore and Oscar-nominee Ken Watanabe, and Terry Gilliam’s “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote,” a fantasy adventure that stars Adam Driver and Jonathan Pryce. It’s the kind of fare you’d expect from blue-chip indies like Sony Pictures Classics, and it hints at the changes afoot at the company.

    “When I started it was a DVD business with a license to print money,” said David Fannon, president of Screen Media. “We needed to evolve.”

    Fannon says the company, now in its 20th year, has been granted a fresh life after it was sold in 2017 to Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, a publicly traded company that recently made headlines with its acquisition of Crackle.

    “Chicken Soup was looking for us to really grow our revenue, grow our business,” said Fannon. “For a couple of years before that we were really acquiring small niche product. Some did well for us, but it wasn’t enough to move the needle.”

    Now, the New York-based Screen Media is looking to release between 16 to 18 movies a year, many with top-shelf talent, and is hoping to establish a presence in Los Angeles.

    “Screen’s had a volatile ride, but there’s a big difference between where we are versus where we were three years ago,” said Seth Needle, senior VP, worldwide acquisitions, at Screen Media.

    The company has been busy at Cannes, announcing it had nabbed global rights to the sci-fi/horror anthology movie “Portals,” which features segments directed by genre veterans such as Eduardo Sanchez (“The Blair Witch Project”) and Liam O’Donnell (“Skyline”). And it’s still looking to make a few more deals before the festival closes. It also went into the festival having picked up rights to Alexandre O. Philippe’s documentary feature “Memory: The Origins of Alien,” an exploration of the making of the Ridley Scott classic that will be released in conjunction with the film’s 40th anniversary. The company is partnering with Legion M, a company that allows fanboys and and fangirls to invest in content.

    “It’s not really a volume play,” said Michael Messina, executive vice president of distribution. “We want to make sure every single release is handcrafted and we’re trying to build up our reputation for being able to release these movies with care.”

    Of course, it’s tough out there for an independent studio. Other companies such as Broad Green or Relativity have marched into the space with grand ambitions only to close up shop in short order. Screen Media’s leaders say they’re aware the film business has a high rate of failure, but they also point to their longevity as a sign they have what it takes.

    “We’re survivors,” said Fannon. “We’ve seen a lot of changes and we’ve kind of been ‘Steady Eddie’ throughout. You’ve seen a lot of flavor of the day come in and they make a big splash and two years later they’re nowhere to be found. We stick to our knitting.”

  • Variety: Screen Media Nabs Sci-Fi/Horror Anthology ‘Portals’ (EXCLUSIVE)

    • Posted on 13th May
    • Category: Acquisition

    Screen Media has acquired worldwide rights to the sci-fi/horror anthology movie “Portals.” The film features segments directed by genre veterans Eduardo Sanchez (“The Blair Witch Project”), Gregg Hale (“V/H/S 2”), Timo Tjahjanto (“The Night Comes For Us”) and Liam O’Donnell (“Skyline”).

    Created by Chris White, the genre-bending story is set around a series of worldwide blackouts — after which millions of mysterious cosmic anomalies appear everywhere across the planet. While many flee from the sentient objects, some people are drawn toward — and into — them with horrifying consequences.

    Produced by Brad Miska and Chris White alongside BoulderLight Pictures’ J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules, the distributor is planning a fall multi-platform release, and will be begin handling foreign sales at Cannes under its partnership with Film Mode Entertainment.

    Lifshitz and Margules produced together with Miska, White and Bloody Disgusting’s Tom Owen.

    Seth Needle, senior VP, worldwide acquisitions, at Screen Media, negotiated the deal with BoulderLight Pictures on behalf of the filmmakers.

    Miska, co-founder of Bloody Disgusting, previously produced the “V/H/S” film trilogy as well as “Under the Bed,” “A Horrible Way to Die” and “Southbound.” White first collaborated with Miska on “V/H/S Viral.” His other credits include “The ABCS of Death” and “My Super Psycho Sweet 16.”

    BoulderLight, which will handle sales on a few select Asian territories for the film, recently produced IFC Midnight’s “Pledge.” Pigrat’s Griffin Devine and Alyssa Devine also serve as producers with O’Donnell, while Screen Media’s Mike Messina, Seth Needle and Conor McAdam are on board as executive producers.

    “We are thrilled to be working with Screen Media to help bring this innovative new anthology to life with so many creative collaborators we admire,” said Lifshitz.

  • Deadline: Sundance Horror Comedy ‘Corporate Animals’ Acquired By Screen Media

    • Posted on 21st Feb
    • Category: Acquisition

    Screen Media has acquired North American rights to Corporate Animals, the horror comedy from Patrick Brice that bowed in January in the Midnight section of the Sundance Film Festival. Demi Moore, Jessica Williams, Karan Soni, Isiah Whitlock Jr, Dan Bakkedahl, Calum Worthy, Nasim Pedrad, Martha Kelly, Jennifer Kim and Ed Helms (and the voice of Britney Spears) topline the film, which is now getting a summer day-and-date theatrical release.

    Moore plays Lucy, the egotistical, megalomaniac CEO of Incredible Edible Cutlery, America’s premier provider of edible cutlery. In her infinite wisdom, she leads her staff, including her long-suffering assistants Freddie (Soni) and Jess (Williams), on a corporate team-building spelunking weekend in New Mexico. When disaster strikes, not even their useless guide Brandon (Helms) can save them. Trapped underground by a cave-in, this mismatched and disgruntled group must pull together in order to survive. Sam Bain wrote the script.

    Seth Needle, SVP Worldwide Acquisitions at Screen Media, negotiated the deal with ICM Partners and UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers.

    Helms and Mike Falbo of Pacific Electric Picture Co. produced with Jess Wu Calder and Keith Calder of Snoot Entertainment.

    “This is a really special movie and Screen Media gets that,” Helms said. “I know we’re in great hands, and I can’t wait for the world to see what the warped minds of Patrick Brice, Sam Bain, and this epic cast have served up.”

 1 2 3 >  Last ›

Categories