The Weinstein Co. has formed a strategic alliance with Exodus Film Group to develop, produce and finance a multi-picture slate of CG-animated feature films, DVDs, and television series.
The Weinstein Co. is handling worldwide distribution for Exodus’ CG-animated film “Igor” and will handle all distribution under the new pact. “Igor,” with voices by John Cusack, Jay Leno, Jeremy Piven and Molly Shannon, is set for a wide release on Oct. 24, 2008.
“With ‘Igor’ looking so strong we thought the timing was right to further the relationship and to begin work on an ‘Igor’ sequel,” said Harvey Weinstein, co- chairman of The Weinstein Company, when making the announcement. “(Exodus Film Group CEO) John Eraklis and his team, led by Max Howard, have the unique ability to create dynamic animated entertainment that attracts kids, parents and everyone in between.”
The Weinstein Co. has made several noteworthy business moves recently, including the acquisition of fashion brand Halston in partnership with Hilco Consumer Capital, and a four-year deal with Blockbuster to make the video retailer the rental outlet for all its releases.
Most of the headlines this year, however, have been generated by the high-profile box office flop of “Grindhouse” double feature its marquee collaboration with directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. The film cost $100 million to make and market, and has so far taken in around $25 million at the box office.
Gower Power
The 20th Century Fox feature film “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” a combination of live-action, animation and CGI effects, is in production on several of the Sunset Gower Studios sound stages.
It’s the first animated film to be shot on the lot in its 86-year fabled history and is also the centerpiece of a planned Alvin and the Chipmunks comeback, engineered over the past five years by Ross Bagdasarian Jr. and his wife, Janice Karman. The Chipmunks movie is slated for release in 2008, the Chipmunks’ 50th anniversary. The film stars actor Jason Lee (“My Name Is Earl”) with the voices of “Alvin” and “Simon” supplied by Ross Bagdasarian Jr. Janice Karman is the voice of the third chipmunk, “Theodore.”
Sunset Gower Studios is currently undergoing an extensive multi-million dollar refurbishing and updating of its 12 sound stages, adjacent support rooms and 300,000 square feet of office suites. Construction is also under way on a 96,000-square-foot, six-floor building to house Technicolor post-production facilities, being readied for occupancy in December.
The independent Hollywood studio is a busy place of late. Among the TV shows shooting at Sunset Gower are NBC’s “Heroes,” Showtime’s “Dexter,” HBO’s “Rome” and “Comics Unleashed.”
Taking Off
A pair of new videos could be just the thing for those too modest to go out and take stripper-dancing fitness classes.
First National Pictures has released a twin set of “sensual workout” DVDs from the Felinity Core Sensuality Series, which encourage women to “rediscover their inherent femininity” as they increase core strength and flexibility.
Stripper-style dancing classes have gained popularity in recent years, fueled in part by celebrities heading to the stripper-pole equipped studios.
Created by Felinity founder and professional dancer Alyson Joy, the Core Sensuality Series is already popular in Canada. It combines dance-based exercises, Pilates and yoga.
If the DVDs don’t sell on the first go-round, they’ll have another chance. First National is owned by Ryan Kugler, the man behind Burbank’s Distribution Video & Audio, and a kingpin in the video closeout business with more than 17 million video units sold a year. Kugler launched the film unit last year.
Royalty Treatment
RoyaltyShare, a provider of digital royalty solutions to the entertainment industry, has acquired Los Angeles music content management company Independent Digital Entertainment & Arts.
Independent Digital was founded in 2004 as an entertainment content aggregator, though the firm shifted its model over the past year to become a provider of outsourced content management solutions, including metadata management, ripping, encoding, storage, delivery and digital supply chain management.
RoyaltyShare plans to maintain Independent Digital’s offices in West Hollywood for business development, sales and customer service operations. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced.
Staff reporter Anne Riley-Katz can be reached at [email protected] or at (323) 549-5225, ext. 225.
