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Tag: Rich Ross

  • Animal Planet & Lionsgate acquire rights to ‘Million Dollar Duck’

    Animal Planet & Lionsgate acquire rights to ‘Million Dollar Duck’

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications’ Animal Planet and Lionsgate have partnered to acquire the rights in the US, Canada and the UK to the documentary film sensation Million Dollar Duck.

     

    Animal Planet has acquired television rights to the film while Lionsgate will distribute Million Dollar Duck on a limited basis theatrically and on digital home entertainment and packaged media.

     

    Directed by Brian Golden Davis, the film had its world premiere recently at the 2016 Slamdance Film Festival and will air on Animal Planet in the fall following its theatrical run. 

     

    Million Dollar Duck dives into the wonderfully eccentric world of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest—the only juried art competition run by the US government. The Duck Stamp is among the most successful conservation tools ever created, simultaneously spawning a uniquely American subculture brimming with talent, ego, art, controversy, big money, and migratory waterfowl. Following six wildlife artists striving to win “the Olympics of wildlife art,” Million Dollar Duck brings to life the high tension competition as one by one each is eliminated, leaving a winner whose life will be changed forever.

     

    “From the moment I saw Million Dollar Duck, I knew Animal Planet would be the perfect home for this heartfelt and humorous film. Showcasing this film brings to light this special program that supports wetlands conservation and aligns with our network’s goal to activate people on animal welfare concerns,” said Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and Science Channel group president Rich Ross.

     

    “We’re proud to extend our strategic partnership with Discovery on this terrific film. Poignant, quirky, hilarious and tremendously engaging, Million Dollar Duck is the perfect property to kick off our alliance with Discovery on documentary films and other long-form content that creates tremendous opportunities for both our companies,” added Lionsgate president of worldwide television & digital distribution Jim Packer.

     

    “I’m thrilled to have Million Dollar Duck find a home with Animal Planet and Lionsgate,” said Golden Davis. “I made this film because I wanted to explore the quirky world of The Federal Duck Stamp Contest, where the artists were motivated by their sheer love of nature and conservation, and I can’t think of better platforms to help share our ‘duck tale’ with the world than Animal Planet and Lionsgate.”

     

    The deal was negotiated by John Hoffman and Ryan Harrington on behalf of Discovery Communications, EVP theatrical acquisitions & co-productions Eda Kowan and acquisitions executive Lauren Freeman for Lionsgate and Abby Davis and Adam Galen of Preferred Content on behalf of the filmmakers.

     

    Million Dollar Duck is executive produced by multiple Academy Award winning filmmaker Mark Jonathan Harris and Richard Prager. The editor is Derek Boonstra, the cinematographer is Christian Bruno and Laura Young Lee and Kye Woo Lee are co-producers.

     

    The partnership on Million Dollar Duck is the latest in Discovery’s expanding relationship with Lionsgate. Discovery and Liberty Global invested in Lionsgate in November 2015, and Lionsgate and Discovery have also announced a home entertainment distribution agreement under which Lionsgate distributes Discovery programming on packaged media platforms in the US.

     

  • Animal Planet & Lionsgate acquire rights to ‘Million Dollar Duck’

    Animal Planet & Lionsgate acquire rights to ‘Million Dollar Duck’

    MUMBAI: Discovery Communications’ Animal Planet and Lionsgate have partnered to acquire the rights in the US, Canada and the UK to the documentary film sensation Million Dollar Duck.

     

    Animal Planet has acquired television rights to the film while Lionsgate will distribute Million Dollar Duck on a limited basis theatrically and on digital home entertainment and packaged media.

     

    Directed by Brian Golden Davis, the film had its world premiere recently at the 2016 Slamdance Film Festival and will air on Animal Planet in the fall following its theatrical run. 

     

    Million Dollar Duck dives into the wonderfully eccentric world of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest—the only juried art competition run by the US government. The Duck Stamp is among the most successful conservation tools ever created, simultaneously spawning a uniquely American subculture brimming with talent, ego, art, controversy, big money, and migratory waterfowl. Following six wildlife artists striving to win “the Olympics of wildlife art,” Million Dollar Duck brings to life the high tension competition as one by one each is eliminated, leaving a winner whose life will be changed forever.

     

    “From the moment I saw Million Dollar Duck, I knew Animal Planet would be the perfect home for this heartfelt and humorous film. Showcasing this film brings to light this special program that supports wetlands conservation and aligns with our network’s goal to activate people on animal welfare concerns,” said Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and Science Channel group president Rich Ross.

     

    “We’re proud to extend our strategic partnership with Discovery on this terrific film. Poignant, quirky, hilarious and tremendously engaging, Million Dollar Duck is the perfect property to kick off our alliance with Discovery on documentary films and other long-form content that creates tremendous opportunities for both our companies,” added Lionsgate president of worldwide television & digital distribution Jim Packer.

     

    “I’m thrilled to have Million Dollar Duck find a home with Animal Planet and Lionsgate,” said Golden Davis. “I made this film because I wanted to explore the quirky world of The Federal Duck Stamp Contest, where the artists were motivated by their sheer love of nature and conservation, and I can’t think of better platforms to help share our ‘duck tale’ with the world than Animal Planet and Lionsgate.”

     

    The deal was negotiated by John Hoffman and Ryan Harrington on behalf of Discovery Communications, EVP theatrical acquisitions & co-productions Eda Kowan and acquisitions executive Lauren Freeman for Lionsgate and Abby Davis and Adam Galen of Preferred Content on behalf of the filmmakers.

     

    Million Dollar Duck is executive produced by multiple Academy Award winning filmmaker Mark Jonathan Harris and Richard Prager. The editor is Derek Boonstra, the cinematographer is Christian Bruno and Laura Young Lee and Kye Woo Lee are co-producers.

     

    The partnership on Million Dollar Duck is the latest in Discovery’s expanding relationship with Lionsgate. Discovery and Liberty Global invested in Lionsgate in November 2015, and Lionsgate and Discovery have also announced a home entertainment distribution agreement under which Lionsgate distributes Discovery programming on packaged media platforms in the US.

     

  • New Disney chief hints at making six to eight films a year

    New Disney chief hints at making six to eight films a year

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Co has named Hollywood veteran Alan Horn as chairman of its film division.

    “I’m incredibly excited about joining The Walt Disney Company, one of the most iconic and beloved entertainment companies in the world,” said Horn. “I love the motion picture business and look forward to making a contribution as part of Bob Iger’s team working closely with the dedicated and talented group at the studio.”

    Upon his appointment, Horn said that he would not desist making big budget films despite Hollywood‘s recent string of flops such as its very own John Carter and Universal Pictures‘ Battleship.

    Horn, the person who was responsible in giving hits like the Harry Potter series while he was president of Warner Brothers Entertainment, intends to focus on six to eight films a year. He follows Rich Ross, a former Disney Channel executive, who had to exit Disney for moving too slowly to put films into production and not keeping a tab on the rising budget of John Carter.

    Horn was most recently President and COO of Warner Bros. Entertainment where he had oversight of the Studios’ theatrical and home entertainment operations, including the Warner Bros. Pictures Group, Warner Premiere (direct-to-platform production), Warner Bros. Theatrical Ventures (live stage) and Warner Home Video. During his 12 year tenure, Warner Bros. Studios was the global box office leader seven times.

    Among the numerous critically acclaimed films and box office hits released during his tenure are all eight films in the Harry Potter series, The Dark Knight, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Happy Feet, Sherlock Holmes, The Departed, Batman Begins, Million Dollar Baby, the second and third Matrix films and the Ocean’s Eleven trilogy. Horn is also an executive producer of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

    Horn will assume office on 11 June.

  • Disney taps Ricky Strauss as worldwide marketing chief

    Disney taps Ricky Strauss as worldwide marketing chief

    MUMBAI: Ending its search for a replacement in place of its outgoing marketing head MT Carney, Walt Disney Co has tapped Ricky Strauss, president of Participant Media, as its new head of worldwide marketing. 

    Carney, the controversial executive who joined Disney in April 2010 with no experience in the film industry, announced her resignation this week.

    With the move, Disney chief Rich Ross has selected a seasoned executive who has worked on The Help, the DreamWorks and Participant-produced drama that Disney distributed in 2011 with much success.

    Said Ross in a statement. “I am happy to welcome Ricky Strauss to the Walt Disney Studios family.With 25 years of industry experience, he brings a deep understanding of all aspects of the film business as well as incredible skill in branding and cutting-edge marketing. He will undoubtedly raise the studios’ creative bar as we enter 2012 and look ahead at showcasing a spectacular slate of films to audiences around the world.”

    Disney had been openly seeking a replacement for Carney for months. While some insiders in the industry speculated that Carney departed simply because she was tired of the open search for a replacement, others say that War Horse‘s disappointing performance upset director Steven Spielberg and that the timing of her departure was related to his displeasure.

    Disney faces big challenges in the coming months when it will release the sci-fi action adventure John Carter in March and later The Avengers based on the Marvel Comics.