Revolution Studios has acquired the Cold Spring Pictures motion picture library, comprised of eight films produced by the studio from 2007 to 2012 and 46 titles produced during label founder Joe Roth’s reign, as well as the 64-title Morgan Creek library acquired last year. Revolution also bought 50% stake in Clooney’s The Ides of March from Cross Creek Pictures, completing a two-picture deal with that company following a 50% purchase Black Swan.
Maryland-based RC Theaters, which has 10 venues with 89 screens has signed an exclusive deal with MovieTickets. RC Theaters COO David Phillips says his new partner “offers best-in-class support and continues to develop cutting edge technologies, improving the entire moviegoing experience.” His company’s venues are mostly in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.
Cohen Media Group has bought the 30 titles from Merchant Ivory Productions partners Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory. There are 21 features, nine documentaries and shorts with plans to restore and rerelease them as part of the Cohen Film Collection. Among the films in the library are Howards End, Maurice, Shakespeare Wallah and Heat and Dust.
Warner Bros. Television Group has signed an exclusive multi-year development and production pod deal with celebrated broadcaster, author and producer Tavis Smiley. Under the agreement, WBTVG and Smiley will develop new scripted television series projects for the broadcast networks and cable. The first projects to be developed under the new pod deal will be television series adaptations of two of Smiley’s books: My Journey with Maya and the upcoming Before You Judge Me: The Triumph and Tragedy of Michael Jackson’s Last Days.
Founding partners Scott Waugh/Bandito Brothers, Studio veteran Simon Swart, and real estate developer Brad Pilz have launched a development, production and distribution venture named Rock Pile Studios. Its goal is to create inspirational and aspirational family friendly films that feature an element of action is exemplified in the first film from the new venture titled I Believe in Love, based on the gripping near death experience of Amy Purdy and her inspiring story of surviving and thriving, despite the loss of both of her legs.
Matt Alvarez has become an In-House Producer at Broad Green Pictures and signed an exclusive pact with the company. He recently produced the hit movie, Straight Outta Compton. He previously worked at Relativity Media where he was the EVP. Alvarez has produced the Friday, Barbershop, Are We There Yet? and Ride Along series among other features.
Producer Caryn Mandabach has signed an exclusive multi-year pact with MGM Television to develop new hour and half-hour scripted content via her U.S.-based Caryn Mandabach Productions. Her credits include Roseanne, Nurse Jackie and Peaky Blinders. “Caryn is a prolific veteran of the industry and is the driving force behind some of television’s most creative and intriguing series,” said Roma Khanna, President of Television Group and Digital. “We are thrilled to work together on bringing new stories to the marketplace.”
StudioCanal and Red Production Company have teamed with producer Spencer Millman, Simon Bird and actor-writer Jonny Sweet to launch a new film and TV production company named Guilty Party, a new film and TV production company to be operated under the creative supervision of RED exec producer and founder Nicola Shindler. StudioCanal will have a 25% stake in Guilty Party, and will also handle worldwide distribution.
Film/TV distributor and MCN The Orchard has signed a distribution deal with Nitro Circus, the action sports entertainment collective led by 17-time X-Games medalist Travis Pastrana. Under the agreement, The Orchard will have worldwide distribution rights to Nitro Circus’ eight-film catalog and three upcoming releases, which it will make available to purchase as a digital downloads and rent to stream on-demand on a multitude of outlets.
Producers Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz have inked a multiple-year first-look overall deal with Lionsgate Television. Under the deal they will create and produce scripted programming for the company. Their TV credits include My So-Called Life, Thirtysomething and Once and Again.