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Tag: Jim Gianopulos

  • Brian Robbins to lead Paramount Pictures as chairman & CEO: Reports

    Brian Robbins to lead Paramount Pictures as chairman & CEO: Reports

    Mumbai: ViacomCBS Inc, the parent company of Hollywood-based Paramount Pictures, is expected to name Brian Robbins as next chairman and chief executive officer of the film studio. Currently serving as ViacomCBS’ president of kid and family entertainment, Robbins will succeed Jim Gianopulos, who has run the company since 2017, reported The Wall Street Journal.

    In addition to leading the studio, Robbins will reportedly retain his roles at Nickelodeon and Paramount+ streaming service.

    The move comes as ViacomCBS is bolstering its presence in online streaming against the likes of Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, etc. Paramount+ currently has 42 million subscribers and aims to have a subscriber base of 65-75 million by 2024.  According to media reports, Gianopulos will stay aboard to assist with the transition of the leadership team.

    Robbins took the reigns of Paramount’s kids channel Nickelodeon as president in 2018. Prior to that, he served as president of Paramount Players, a production division of the studio that develops, produces and markets feature films from original source material and in collaboration with Viacom flagship brands Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, and BET.

    Paramount is likely to announce the change soon.

  • Paramount TV chief Amy Powell fired over alleged insensitive remarks

    Paramount TV chief Amy Powell fired over alleged insensitive remarks

    MUMBAI: After 14 years, chief of Paramount TV Amy Powell has been fired over alleged insensitive remarks – which she has emphatically denied.

    The incident occurred during a studio notes call for Paramount Network’s First Wives Club reboot, which is being penned by Girls Trip co-writer Tracy Oliver and will feature a predominantly black cast.

    Paramount CEO Jim Gianopulos was quoted stating, “Last week, multiple individuals came to us to raise concerns around comments made by Amy Powell in a professional setting, which they believed were inconsistent with our company’s values. Having spent the past several days conducting a thorough investigation into this matter and speaking to those who were present, our human resources and legal teams came to the same conclusion, and we have made the decision to terminate Amy’s employment, effective immediately,” according to Hollywoodreporter.com.

    The company immediately started looking for Powell’s replacement. In the interim, Paramount COO Andrew Gumpert will provide operational support.

    “There is no truth to the allegation that I made insensitive comments in a professional setting — or in any setting. The facts will come out and I will be vindicated,” Powell responded in a statement.

    Powell joined Paramount in 2004 and was appointed as chief of its relaunched TV division in 2013.

  • Viacom names Gianopulos CEO of Paramount Pictures

    MUMBAI: Viacom Inc. has announced the appointment of Jim Gianopulos as the chairman and chief executive officer of Paramount Pictures, effective 3 April, 2017. Gianopulos will report directly to Viacom president and CEO Bob Bakish.

    In his new role, Gianopulos will oversee the studio’s film and television operations worldwide, including production, marketing, distribution and all other facets. He also will be charged with setting a new strategy for Paramount, including developing new content, strengthening Paramount’s slate with co-branded releases from Viacom flagship brands, and expanding the studio’s global footprint.

    Bakish, said, “Jim is a remarkably talented executive with all the tools – strategic vision, strong business expertise, deep industry and creative relationships – to bring films to life that resonate throughout culture and deliver commercial results. I’m thrilled we will have the benefit of his experience, savvy and global expertise as we lay out a clear path forward and begin the next chapter in Paramount’s storied history.”

    Gianopulos said, “Paramount is one of Hollywood’s truly iconic studios, and the role it has played in shaping the entertainment industry cannot be overstated. Looking ahead, I see a strong opportunity to position the studio for success by creating valuable franchise opportunities, developing fresh creative ventures, and mining Viacom’s deep brand portfolio to bring exciting new narratives to life.”

    Gianopulos has been a leading figure in the global entertainment industry for more than 30 years. For 16 years, he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment, overseeing Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox International Productions, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation/Blue Sky Studios. During his tenure, he oversaw numerous box office hits, ranging from “Avatar” and the “X-Men” series, to “The Descendants” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” and most recently “Deadpool” and “Hidden Figures.”

    Previously, Gianopulos served as the president of 20th Century Fox International. Prior to joining the company, he held senior positions at Columbia Pictures and Paramount. He began his career as an attorney specializing in entertainment law. Gianopulos is the treasurer of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, chairman of the Motion Picture & Television Fund, and a trustee of Carnegie Melon University and the American Film Institute. He also serves on the USC School of Cinematic Arts Board of Councilors.

    Gianopulos attended the LLM program at the New York University School of Law and received his JD from Fordham University School of Law. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston University.

  • Disney, Fox, Lionsgate invest $50 million in Atom Tickets

    Disney, Fox, Lionsgate invest $50 million in Atom Tickets

    MUMBAI: Three Hollywood studios namely The Walt Disney Company, 20th Century Fox and Lionsgate have invested $50 million in a theatrical mobile ticketing platform and app company Atom Tickets.

    Atom Tickets is a social, mobile ticketing platform designed to make movie-going simple. Movie fans can use the service to purchase tickets and concessions, coordinate and invite friends without having to pay for them, and skip the lines at the theater. The app is available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

    “We’re thrilled to partner with some of the most forward-thinking media companies, exhibitors and trailblazers in the entertainment business. By bringing convenience to consumers and innovation to theaters, we will enhance the movie-going experience and bring additional revenue to studios and exhibitors,” said Atom Tickets co-founder and executive chairman Matthew Bakal.

    “The Atom Tickets app and platform is bringing innovation to the ticketing market by empowering social networks and mobile devices to make the movie-going experience seamless and convenient. Their technology not only adds value to the consumer, but also helps movie studios and theaters by providing deep consumer insights, advanced analytics, and concession and ticket couponing,” added The Walt Disney Company chief strategy officer Kevin Mayer.

    “Our innovative e-commerce platform utilises cutting edge data analysis and targeting techniques to help connect movie-goers to films that they and their friends will love,” said Atom Tickets co-founder and CEO Ameesh Paleja.

    “This is an exciting opportunity for us and more importantly, for our audiences. Atom Tickets provides an enhanced social experience for consumers to discover and purchase tickets to movies, designed for ease of use on mobile devices. Atom’s unique interface and integration with movie fans’ social networks creates a streamlined, fun way to go to movies with friends,” said 20thCentury Fox chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos.

    “We believe that Atom Tickets has the potential to revolutionize the way audiences go to the movies, and we’re delighted to partner with blue chip studios like Disney and Fox in this cutting edge initiative for the theatrical business. More than four billion seats go unsold in theaters each year, and Matthew, Ameesh and the Atom team have developed a state-of-the-art app that offers exciting new opportunities to pre-purchase tickets and concessions as well as paving the way for the successful introduction of dynamic ticket pricing,” said Lionsgate vice chairman Michael Burns.

    Established in 2014, Atom Tickets’ Series A funding was led by Lionsgate. The app is currently available in select test markets, with a full national rollout planned for later this year.

  • Disney, Fox, Lionsgate invest $50 million in Atom Tickets

    Disney, Fox, Lionsgate invest $50 million in Atom Tickets

    MUMBAI: Three Hollywood studios namely The Walt Disney Company, 20th Century Fox and Lionsgate have invested $50 million in a theatrical mobile ticketing platform and app company Atom Tickets.

    Atom Tickets is a social, mobile ticketing platform designed to make movie-going simple. Movie fans can use the service to purchase tickets and concessions, coordinate and invite friends without having to pay for them, and skip the lines at the theater. The app is available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

    “We’re thrilled to partner with some of the most forward-thinking media companies, exhibitors and trailblazers in the entertainment business. By bringing convenience to consumers and innovation to theaters, we will enhance the movie-going experience and bring additional revenue to studios and exhibitors,” said Atom Tickets co-founder and executive chairman Matthew Bakal.

    “The Atom Tickets app and platform is bringing innovation to the ticketing market by empowering social networks and mobile devices to make the movie-going experience seamless and convenient. Their technology not only adds value to the consumer, but also helps movie studios and theaters by providing deep consumer insights, advanced analytics, and concession and ticket couponing,” added The Walt Disney Company chief strategy officer Kevin Mayer.

    “Our innovative e-commerce platform utilises cutting edge data analysis and targeting techniques to help connect movie-goers to films that they and their friends will love,” said Atom Tickets co-founder and CEO Ameesh Paleja.

    “This is an exciting opportunity for us and more importantly, for our audiences. Atom Tickets provides an enhanced social experience for consumers to discover and purchase tickets to movies, designed for ease of use on mobile devices. Atom’s unique interface and integration with movie fans’ social networks creates a streamlined, fun way to go to movies with friends,” said 20thCentury Fox chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos.

    “We believe that Atom Tickets has the potential to revolutionize the way audiences go to the movies, and we’re delighted to partner with blue chip studios like Disney and Fox in this cutting edge initiative for the theatrical business. More than four billion seats go unsold in theaters each year, and Matthew, Ameesh and the Atom team have developed a state-of-the-art app that offers exciting new opportunities to pre-purchase tickets and concessions as well as paving the way for the successful introduction of dynamic ticket pricing,” said Lionsgate vice chairman Michael Burns.

    Established in 2014, Atom Tickets’ Series A funding was led by Lionsgate. The app is currently available in select test markets, with a full national rollout planned for later this year.

  • 21st Century Fox eyes $250 million cost cut via staff buyouts

    21st Century Fox eyes $250 million cost cut via staff buyouts

    MUMBAI: The Rupert Murdoch owned 21st Century Fox is looking at reducing costs by approximately $25 million in the 2017 fiscal by offering enhanced benefit packages to employees of its film (Twentieth Century Fox Film) and TV networks (Fox Networks Group) divisions if they resign voluntarily.

    In an internal email memo, Fox Networks Group chairman and CEO Peter Rice said, “Our industry is changing rapidly, presenting new challenges and even more opportunities at every turn. For a company that has always embraced change and innovation, these are exciting times. To ensure we make the most of this new world, we need to adjust, adapt, and organize for the future. With this in mind, through the remainder of this fiscal year, we will be undertaking some structural changes, increasing investment in some parts of the company while making cost reductions in other areas.”

    “As the next step in this reorganization, colleagues who fit a specific set of criteria will be offered a generous benefit package if they decide to voluntarily resign from the company, effective May 23, 2016. Colleagues who are eligible for this offer will receive a confidential email in the next few hours with specific terms and benefits. Again, the program is completely voluntary,” Rice added.

    Twentieth Century Fox Film chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos wrote in his memo, “As we all know, the film industry is facing many significant changes, and we are no exception. While we continue to succeed on many fronts, such as garnering an extraordinary 30 Academy Awards nominations and; last year, setting an all-time industry box office record, we must be cognizant of the industry’s transformation and position ourselves to continue our success in this new environment. To that end, we are reviewing our organizational structure and looking at potential cost reductions to position us for sustained future growth.”

    “This comes at a time that is both exciting and challenging for the company. We are the best at what we do and will continue to excel, but we also have to be fearless about transforming, and embrace both change and opportunity. If we structure our organization for the media world ahead of us, we will continue to thrive and make 20th Century Fox a stronger and more agile company going forward,” Gianopulos added.

  • 21st Century Fox eyes $250 million cost cut via staff buyouts

    21st Century Fox eyes $250 million cost cut via staff buyouts

    MUMBAI: The Rupert Murdoch owned 21st Century Fox is looking at reducing costs by approximately $25 million in the 2017 fiscal by offering enhanced benefit packages to employees of its film (Twentieth Century Fox Film) and TV networks (Fox Networks Group) divisions if they resign voluntarily.

    In an internal email memo, Fox Networks Group chairman and CEO Peter Rice said, “Our industry is changing rapidly, presenting new challenges and even more opportunities at every turn. For a company that has always embraced change and innovation, these are exciting times. To ensure we make the most of this new world, we need to adjust, adapt, and organize for the future. With this in mind, through the remainder of this fiscal year, we will be undertaking some structural changes, increasing investment in some parts of the company while making cost reductions in other areas.”

    “As the next step in this reorganization, colleagues who fit a specific set of criteria will be offered a generous benefit package if they decide to voluntarily resign from the company, effective May 23, 2016. Colleagues who are eligible for this offer will receive a confidential email in the next few hours with specific terms and benefits. Again, the program is completely voluntary,” Rice added.

    Twentieth Century Fox Film chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos wrote in his memo, “As we all know, the film industry is facing many significant changes, and we are no exception. While we continue to succeed on many fronts, such as garnering an extraordinary 30 Academy Awards nominations and; last year, setting an all-time industry box office record, we must be cognizant of the industry’s transformation and position ourselves to continue our success in this new environment. To that end, we are reviewing our organizational structure and looking at potential cost reductions to position us for sustained future growth.”

    “This comes at a time that is both exciting and challenging for the company. We are the best at what we do and will continue to excel, but we also have to be fearless about transforming, and embrace both change and opportunity. If we structure our organization for the media world ahead of us, we will continue to thrive and make 20th Century Fox a stronger and more agile company going forward,” Gianopulos added.

  • MPAA extends CEO Chris Dodd’s contract to 2018

    MPAA extends CEO Chris Dodd’s contract to 2018

    MUMBAI: The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) has extended chairman CEO Chris Dodd’s contract to 2018.

     

    In a joint statement, MPAA member companies’ representatives namely – Twentieth Century Fox chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos, Paramount Pictures chairman and CEO Brad Grey, Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn, Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman and CEO Michael Lynton, NBC Universal vice chairman Ron Meyer, Universal Filmed Entertainment chairman Jeff Shell, Warner Bros. Entertainment chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara said, “We are pleased to announce that Chris has agreed to extend his contract into 2018. He has been an impactful leader and a vigorous champion for the industry. We are confident he will continue to effectively help steer our interests through a challenging media and policy landscape and represent our member companies around the globe.”

     

    Dodd added, “I am grateful to our member companies for their continued support. This is an exciting time of almost unparalleled creativity and innovation in film and television and I look forward to continuing to promote and protect that creativity, and the jobs of the men and women who go to work in this industry every day.”

  • Fox rechristens its music building in honour of composer Lionel Newman

    Fox rechristens its music building in honour of composer Lionel Newman

    MUMBAI: Steven Spielberg, John Williams and Jim Gianopulos were among the big names attending the dedication of the Lionel Newman Music Building. The building on the Fox lot in Century City has been renamed in honour of the late composer, conductor, pianist and longtime head of Fox’s music department, whose tenure with the studio spanned nearly half a century and more than 200 films, including his Oscar-winning score for 1969’s Hello Dolly!

     

    He also earned 10 other Oscar nominations for such films as Doctor Doolittle and There’s No Business Like Show Business. He also worked on numerous TV series including Batman and M*A*S*H.

     

    Spielberg talked about meeting Newman during the scoring of Jaws, and five-time Oscar winner Williams spun tales of Newman’s colorful career at the studio.

  • 20th Century Fox Celebrates 25 Years of Die Hard

    20th Century Fox Celebrates 25 Years of Die Hard

    MUMBAI: Twentieth Century Fox marked the silver anniversary of its blockbuster movie franchise Die Hard with a ceremony on the historic studio backlot. During the event a mural depicting the film‘s iconic lead character John McClane was unveiled in front of Stage 8. It joins murals celebrating The Empire Strikes Back, The Simpsons, The Sound of Music, The Seven Year Itch, and The Ox-Bow Incident, which adorn other Fox stages.

    Separately, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment also released the Die Hard 25th Anniversary Blu-ray Collection including the first four Die Hard films and featuring an all-new 60 minute bonus disc, “Decoding Die Hard,” on 29 January.

    When DIE HARD exploded into theaters during the summer of 1988, it launched a new cinematic hero, John McClane, and changed the paradigm of action movies. McClane is identifiable and relatable – an ordinary man forced by circumstances to attempt extraordinary tasks. That is what separates him from the comic book heroes of most action movies, and has made McClane one of the most endearing characters in film history.

    The character has been essayed by action hero Bruce Willis in all five DIE HARD pictures, including the latest installment, A Good Day to Die Hard. The ceremony saw the presence of the actor along with his co-star Jai Courtney, who portrays McClane‘s son Jack in the new film, and its director, John Moore.

    The festivities also included a reception on the 21st floor of the Fox Plaza.

    Willis said, “One of the most exciting things about playing McClane is that he‘s definitely not a superhero. He has no special powers or abilities. He‘s a regular guy to whom anybody can relate. While we‘re always pushing the envelope to create great action sequences, I think it is McClane‘s relatability and sense of humor that really draws in people.”

    20th Century Fox Film chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos added, “Twenty-five years ago, Die Hard, John McClane, and Bruce Willis thrilled audiences around the world and set a new template for action and adventure. Now, on the eve of the release of A Good Day to Die Hard, we were delighted to celebrate and honor this enduring part of our studio‘s legendary history with this mural unveiling.”