Founding of the Studio
The year of its creation, 1986, was a turning point for David Winters. After being overruled on a casting decision for Thrashin' , Winters made the professional decision to control all aspects of future projects. AIP was organized by Winters with partners; Prior and Yuval. That year, it set up a distribution arm, AIP Distribution, and a production studio branch, AIP Studios, and decided to introduce two features at the Cannes Film Festival, and Patricia J. Pawlak as vice president of international sales that were controlled by the studio. [2]
Although Josh Brolin was ultimately cast in Thrashin', Winters' choice was a "pre-21 Jump Street", Johnny Depp. [3] [4] Winters had previously been a partner in the successful Winters-Rosen organization in the 1970s. [5]
In 1987, Action International Pictures teamed up with Sony Video Software to handle distribution on the first four AIP film titles for home video distribution, which included Deadly Prey , Mankillers , Chase and Nightwars, via AIP Distribution, before setting up its own home video label, which was AIP Home Video. [6]
Output
According to the IMDb, AIP produced 17 films and distributed 41 films and videotapes between 1988 and 1994, and were involved in a total of 46 films in this period. Fifteen of these films were written and directed by Prior. Winters directed three of the films, including Space Mutiny , and produced 28 of them. Yuval wrote, directed, and produced two of the AIP films Dead End City (1988) and Firehead (1991) and directed two more.
Like many low-budget film productions, AIP's original films used many of the same cast and crew in many of the films, including David Prior's brother Ted as an actor and writer; the apparently versatile William Zipp as actor, writer, director, producer, and stunt man; and an occasional well-known actor such as Cameron Mitchell, who appeared in Space Mutiny and three other AIP ventures. When Mystery Science Theater 3000 screened Space Mutiny, they joked that the film was "infested" by the Mitchell family, as Cameron's two children also appeared in that film. [7]
John Christopher Depp II is an American actor and musician. He is the recipient of multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for three Academy Awards and two BAFTA awards. His films, in which he has often played eccentric characters, have grossed over $8 billion worldwide, making him one of Hollywood's most bankable stars.
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Thrashin' is a 1986 American skater drama film directed by David Winters and starring Josh Brolin, Robert Rusler, and Pamela Gidley.
David Winters was an English-born American actor, dancer, choreographer, producer, distributor, director and screenwriter. At a young age, he acted in film and television projects such as Lux Video Theatre,Naked City; Mister Peepers,Rock, Rock, Rock, and Roogie's Bump. He received some attention in Broadway musicals for his roles in West Side Story (1957) and Gypsy (1959). In the film adaptation of West Side Story (1961) he was one of the few to be re-cast. It became the highest grossing motion picture of that year, and won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
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David A. Prior was an American director, screenwriter, and producer. Prior started his career with the horror film Sledgehammer (1983), and the action film Killzone (1985). Shortly after, he co-founded Action International Pictures (AIP), his first directorial effort with this enterprise were Deadly Prey, Aerobicide, and Mankillers released in 1987. Subsequently, Prior made action films until the late 1990s.
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David Winters was an English-American actor, dancer, choreographer, producer, film distributor, director and screenwriter. Winters participated in over 150 television series, television specials, and motion pictures. His accolades include two Emmy Award nominations, a Peabody Award, a Christopher Award, and many more. At a young age, he was seen acting in film and television projects such as Lux Video Theatre, Naked City, Mister Peepers, Rock, Rock, Rock, and Roogie's Bump. He received some attention in Broadway musicals for his roles in West Side Story (1957) and Gypsy (1959). In the film adaptation of West Side Story (1961) he was cast as A-rab. It became the highest grossing motion picture of that year, and won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
