The Weinstein Company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (May 2008) |
| The Weinstein Company | |
|---|---|
| Type | Production/Distribution |
| Founded | October 5th, 2005 |
| Headquarters | New York, New York, USA |
| Key people | Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein |
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Website | http://www.weinsteinco.com/ |
The Weinstein Company is an independent American film studio founded by Harvey and Bob Weinstein in 2005 after the pair left the Disney-owned Miramax Films, which they had co-founded in 1979. The Dimension Films label of Miramax followed the brothers to their new company. Advisors to the new studio include Paul Newman and Robert Redford.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
Their first releases in 2005 included the dramatic thriller Derailed (starring Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen), the offbeat comedy-drama Transamerica (starring Felicity Huffman) the computer-animated family film Hoodwinked, the World War II-era dramedy Mrs. Henderson Presents (starring Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins) and the caper comedy The Matador (starring Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear).
In March 2006, The Weinstein Company announced a distribution pact with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. MGM will distribute the product domestically in theaters, while the Weinstein Company will retain long-term ownership of their product.
The Weinstein Company holds 70% stake of Genius Products, which releases all of The Weinstein Company's movies on DVD. [2]
In July 2006, the Weinsteins and Robert L. Johnson announced the creation of a joint venture studio titled Our Stories Films, which will distribute African-American-oriented films. [3]
In late August 2006, it was announced that the Weinstein Company and co-investors Hubbard Media Group had purchased Ovation TV, an arts-focused cable channel [4].
In November 2006, the Weinstein Company announced a three-year deal with Blockbuster Video to give the video renting company exclusive rights for rentals starting on January 1, 2007. [5]. However, under the First Sale Doctrine, other rental companies are able to rent the company's movies. Rental companies besides Blockbuster must purchase the product at full retail price and then convert the product into rental which can exclude exclusive material such as deleted scenes, alternate endings and other features.
The company is the co-producer, along with Miramax, of the Bravo reality series Project Runway.
In recent months, rights to films originally produced by Miramax (under the leadership of the Weinsteins), as well as some films either distributed by or had rights reverted to Miramax now lie with the Weinstein Company. For example, Genius Products/Weinstein Company Home Entertainment has reissued both released versions of Cinema Paradiso, originally distributed theatrically and on home video by Miramax.
On May 24, 2007, The Weinstein Company announced the launch of three new direct-to-video labels: The Miriam Collection, Kaleidoscope TWC, and Dimension Extreme.[6]
[edit] Weinstein films
[edit] Weinstein releases
- Derailed (2005) (The studio's first release)
- The Libertine (2005)
- Transamerica (2005)
- Hoodwinked (2005) (The studio's first animated film)
- Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)
- The Matador (2005)
- Miss Potter (2006)
- Stormbreaker (2006)
- Doogal (2006) (The studio's second animated film)
- Pulse (2006)
- Shut Up & Sing (2006)
- Border War: The Battle Over Illegal Immigration (2006) (DVD)
- Lassie (2006) (DVD) (theatrically released by Samuel Goldwyn Films)
- Hannibal Rising (2007) (distribution only) (produced by DDLC Dino De Laurentiis Company)
- Sicko (2007, co-distributed with Lionsgate)
- The Hunting Party (2007)
- Farewell Bender (2007)
- Thunderpants (2007) (American distribution)
- Dedication (2007)
- The Elite Squad (2008)
- Rogue (2008)
- Rambo (2008, co-production with Lionsgate)
- Venice Party Animals (2008)
- Diary of the Dead (2008, as Third Rail Releasing)
[edit] Dimension releases
- Wolf Creek (2005)
- Scary Movie 4 (2006)
- Pulse (2006)
- School for Scoundrels (2006)
- Feast (September 2006)
- Black Christmas (2006)
- Grindhouse (2007) (also titles: Death Proof and Planet Terror only on DVD)
- 1408 (2007)
- Who's Your Caddy? (2007)
- The Mist (2007)
- Halloween (2007)
[edit] Titles distributed by MGM
- Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
- Clerks II (2006)
- School for Scoundrels (2006)
- Stormbreaker (2006)
- Killshot (2007)
- Breaking and Entering (2006) (with Miramax Films)
- Black Christmas (2006)
- Bobby (2006)
- Factory Girl (2006)
- Miss Potter (2007)
- Arthur and the Invisibles (2007)
- Hannibal Rising (2007) (USA Distribution Only) (produced by DDLC Dino De Laurentiis Company)
- The Ex (2007)
- 1408 (2007)
- Who's Your Caddy? (2007)
- The Nanny Diaries (2007, co-production with FilmColony)
- Halloween (2007)
- Virgin Territory (2007)
- The Mist (2007)
- Crossing Over (2007)
[edit] Other films
- The Thief and the Cobbler (1995) (DVD) (theatrically released by Miramax Family Films)
- TMNT (2007) (with Warner Bros. and Imagi Animation Studios)
- The Promise: acquired North American distribution rights, then sold them to Warner Independent Pictures
- Lovewrecked: acquired the North American rights from Media 8 Entertainment and then sold them to the ABC Family Network.
- Nomad: acquired North American distribution rights.
- All the Boys Love Mandy Lane: acquired North American rights but shortly thereafter sold them to Senator Film.
- The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) (with Lionsgate and Relativity Media)
[edit] Soon to be released
- Boy A (2008, distribution only, produced by Cuba Pictures for Channel 4)
- Black Hole (2008)
- Quelques jours en septembre (English: A few days in September) (TBA)
- Four Knights (TBA)
[edit] Weinstein Books
Upon leaving Disney, the Weinstein's reached an agreement to bring over Rob Weisbach, the CEO of their publishing imprint, Miramax Books, to The Weinstein Company. Weisbach would continue to manage all of Miramax Books' existing titles until they were published but would acquire all new titles for Weinstein, while Disney would acquire new titles under their Hyperion imprint.[1]
Weinstein Books published its first book, Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, on September 4, 2007.[2]
