Brad Krevoy | |
---|---|
Born | |
Alma mater | Stanford University Hastings College of the Law |
Occupation(s) | Film producer, entrepreneur |
Years active | 1986–present |
Spouse | Susie (m. 1996) |
Children | 3 |
Brad Krevoy is a film producer, entrepreneur, and founder and chairman/CEO of the Motion Picture Corporation of America. Over his 30-year career, Krevoy has been involved in the production and distribution of more than 150 film and television projects, most notably Dumb and Dumber , and Christmas-themed entertainment including the A Christmas Prince trilogy and The Princess Switch . [1]
Krevoy graduated from Beverly Hills High School. He went on to study at Stanford University, graduating in 1978 with a BA in Political Science. He then went on to study at UC Hastings, College of the Law. After graduation, he served as a Legislative Fellow in the California State Legislature and worked as an entertainment attorney at a prominent Los Angeles law firm. [2]
Krevoy's major entry into the film industry came from a chance encounter with Roger Corman at a Stanford football game in 1983. Krevoy worked for Corman's Concorde-New Horizon pictures, handling the business affairs; Concorde quickly becoming one of the largest suppliers of VHS tapes, having deals in place with every major distributor in the world. [3]
In 1986, Krevoy and his longtime business partner Steve Stabler co-founded Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA) to focus on producing, acquiring, and distributing commercial film and television productions.
During the company's formative years, they produced cult favorites including The Purple People Eater (1988) with Ned Beatty; Back to Back (1989), starring Bill Paxton and Apollonia; and the sex comedy Miracle Beach (1992).
Krevoy and Stabler released the blockbuster comedy Dumb and Dumber in 1994. The script had been around for nearly seven years and had been rejected by every major studio; MPCA's support let the writers, Bobby and Peter Farrelly, direct their own film and attach Jim Carrey to star. [4]
Dumb and Dumber broke box office comedy records, opening and remaining at number one on the U.S. box office for four straight weeks over the holiday season. [5] The film went on to gross $127 million domestically and $120 million overseas for a worldwide total of $247 million off of a $16 million budget. [6]
Krevoy and MPCA went on to produce more big-budget studio comedies, including Beverly Hills Ninja starring Chris Farley and Jungle 2 Jungle with Tim Allen. They also produced Threesome , starring Lara Flynn Boyle and Stephen Baldwin. The film was one of the most successful independent arthouse films of the year, grossing just under $15 million domestically. [7]
Starting in November 1995, until they were acquired by Metromedia International Group in 1996, Krevoy and MPCA had a first-look producing deal with Paramount Studios. Krevoy and MPCA also signed a first-look deal with Sony Pictures in the late 90s, where they produced more than 10 movies. [8]
In 1996, MPCA was purchased by John Kluge's Metromedia International Group. Metromedia had just purchased the independent production company Orion Pictures from chapter 11 bankruptcy. When MPCA was merged into the company, Krevoy and Stabler took over as the Co-President's of Orion Pictures and were given a six-picture deal. [9]
At Orion, Krevoy oversaw the production, acquisition, and distribution of Orion's motion picture and television programming. He produced films for Academy Award-winner Tom Schulman ( Dead Poets Society ) and released films such as 1997's Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, Prisoner of the Mountains (directed by Sergei Bodrov), and the acclaimed Ulee's Gold (directed by Victor Nunez and presented by Jonathan Demme). Ulee’s Gold was a critical hit and won its leading actor, Peter Fonda, his first and only Golden Globe for best actor. Fonda also received his first and only Oscar nomination for best actor.
After two years of revitalizing Orion Pictures, Metromedia went on to sell Orion to MGM. Krevoy was able to take the MPCA name back as part of his original deal. [10]
In 1998, Krevoy returned to his independent filmmaking roots and restarted MPCA with a distribution deal through MGM.
Since rebooting MPCA, Krevoy has produced a wide array of motion pictures including: boxing drama Joe and Max (which collected both ESPN and ACE award nominations); the 2002 Sundance premiere Bookies ; and Boat Trip for Artisan/Lionsgate.
In 2004 Krevoy produced the drama, A Love Song for Bobby Long , starring John Travolta and Scarlett Johansson. The film was well received by audiences and critics, earning Scarlett Johansson a Golden Globe nomination.
After the credit crunch hit in 2008, Krevoy found new investors and ramped up production. He built a strong international sales team and began assembling an eclectic slate of programming. [11]
Krevoy produced the 2009 war drama Taking Chance , based on the true experiences of Lt. Colonel Michael Strobl, who wrote about his time in the widely circulated article “Taking Chance Home". [12] The film was directed by Ross Katz and starred Kevin Bacon. It was shown at the Sundance Film Festival before premiering on HBO. [13] Taking Chance received a total of 27 award nominations and 6 wins, also winning the Humanitas Prize.
Krevoy and MPCA produced a string of straight-to-DVD action movies. These included Linewatch (2008); Hardwired (2009), which also starred Val Kilmer; Ticking Clock (2011); and One in the Chamber (2012), featuring Dolph Lundgren. They produced two movies with Samuel L. Jackson: Arena (2011); and Meeting Evil (2012). During this time MPCA also made two movies with Jean-Claude Van Damme – Assassination Games (2011); and Six Bullets (2012).
In 2011, Krevoy produced Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 for Disney, a sequel to the 2008 hit comedy. Most of the original cast returned and the film did well in the home video market with sales of over $30 million. [14]
In 2014, Krevoy and Stabler were executive producers on Dumb and Dumber To , taking place 20 years after the events of the first film. Jeff Daniels and Jim Carrey reprised their roles and the film was released on November 14, 2014. It opened at number one in the U.S. box office, and went on to earn $169 million worldwide. [15]
Since 2013, Krevoy and MPCA have produced more than 40 original Christmas and family movies for select broadcasters, including Netflix and The Hallmark Channel. [16]
Krevoy and MPCA's first production for Netflix, A Christmas Prince , starring Rose McIver, Ben Lamb and Alice Krige, was released on November 17, 2017. [17] In 2018, MPCA produced The Princess Switch , starring Vanessa Hudgens and Sam Palladio.
MPCA’s other recent Netflix holiday movies include Holiday in the Wild , starring Rob Lowe and Kristin Davis; The Knight Before Christmas , starring Vanessa Hudgens and Josh Whitehouse; The Holiday Calendar , starring Kat Graham, Quincy Brown, and Ron Cephas Jones; and Christmas Inheritance , starring Eliza Taylor and Jake Lacy.
Krevoy and MPCA have produced over 30 original movies for Hallmark and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, including several film franchises. A few of these include all five entries in the popular Murder, She Baked series based on the book series by Joanne Fluke, [18] all three of the Flower Shop Mystery series of films, based on the book series by Kate Collins, [19] four films in the Darrow & Darrow series from writer Phoef Sutton, [20] and three installments of The Crossword Mysteries , which were produced in collaboration with NY Times Crossword editor Will Shortz. [21]
Krevoy is an executive producer of the Hallmark Channel show When Calls the Heart . The series is adapted from the bestselling Canadian West series of books by Janette Oke. [22] The show has been hugely successful in the ratings, including high numbers for the Christmas specials. [23] The show is currently airing its seventh season, making it the longest-running original series on Hallmark. In August 2019, a spin-off show titled When Hope Calls launched with Hallmark’s new streaming service, Hallmark Movies Now. [24]
In 2021, Krevoy began a partnership with the newly rebranded network GAC Family, run by former Hallmark Channel CEO Bill Abbott. MPCA producing twelve Christmas films for their first holiday season, starring Cameron Mathison, Maggie Lawson, Chad Michael Murray, Jill Wagner, Jen Lilley, and Becca Tobin. When Hope Calls also premiered a second season, moving over from Hallmark, and bringing with it When Calls the Heart veteran Lori Loughlin. [25]
2022 saw the release of two romantic comedies for GAC Family, The Winter Palace starring Danica McKellar, and Harmony from the Heart, starring Jessica Lowndes and Jesse Metcalfe. Harmony from the Heart was also produced and written by Lowndes.
Krevoy and MPCA also began producing Christmas films for CBS and Peacock in 2021. For CBS, they made A Christmas Proposal, starring Adam Rodriguez and Jessica Camacho, [26] as well as Christmas Takes Flight, starring Katie Lowes and Evan Williams. [27] And Peacock got into the Christmas game with The Housewives of the North Pole, starring Real Housewives alum Kyle Richards and Betsy Brandt. [28]
In 1999 Krevoy teamed with exhibition veterans Ron Leslie (Former president of AMC theatres) and Peter Fornstam, as well as real estate attorney Richard Lawrence, to form Resort Theatres of America. [29] By March 1999, the company had acquired all of Metropolitan Theatre Corp.’s Palm screen locations for a total of 85 screens.
In 1999, they purchased and renovated the historic Isis Theatre in Aspen, Co. [30] [31]
Brad married his wife Susie in 1996. They live in Santa Monica with their three daughters and two dogs. [32]
Year | Film | Role |
---|---|---|
2012 | Six Bullets | Unit production manager |
2017 | A Christmas Prince | Unit production manager |
2018 | A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding | Unit production manager |
Year | Film | Role |
---|---|---|
1991 | Hangfire | Examiner #1 |
Trabbi Goes to Hollywood | Bystander #2 | |
2002 | Boat Trip | Pilot |
Year | Title | Credit | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Sketch Artist | Television film | |
Ring of the Musketeers | Television film | ||
1995 | Sketch Artist II: Hands That See | Television film | |
Johnny & Clyde | Television film | ||
1998 | Breakfast with Einstein | Television film | |
Route 9 | Television film | ||
1999 | Absence of the Good | Television film | |
Annie | Co-producer | Television film | |
2000 | A Family in Crisis: The Elian Gonzales Story | Executive producer | Television film |
2002 | Joe and Max | Executive producer | Television film |
Borderline | Television film | ||
Pavement | Television film | ||
2003 | Bugs | Executive producer | Television film |
2006 | Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes | Television film | |
2007 | Pumpkinhead: Blood Feud | Television film | |
2009 | Taking Chance | Executive producer | Television film |
2010 | Mothman | Television film | |
Witchville | Television film | ||
2011 | William & Catherine: A Royal Romance | Television film | |
A Princess for Christmas | Executive producer | Television film | |
2012 | TalhotBlond | Executive producer | Television film |
2013 | The Sweeter Side of Life | Executive producer | Television film |
Heebie Jeebies | Television film | ||
Flying Monkeys | Television film | ||
When Calls the Heart | Executive producer | Television film | |
The Christmas Spirit | Executive producer | Television film | |
2014 | A Royal Christmas | Executive producer | Television film |
2015 | Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery | Executive producer | Television film |
Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding Murder Mystery | Executive producer | Television film | |
Crown for Christmas | Executive producer | Television film | |
A Christmas Detour | Executive producer | Television film | |
A Christmas Melody | Executive producer | Television film | |
Mariah Carey's Merriest Christmas | Television special | ||
2016 | Murder, She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery | Executive producer | Television film |
Flower Shop Mystery: Mum's the Word | Executive producer | Television film | |
Flower Shop Mystery: Snipped in the Bud | Executive producer | Television film | |
Murder, She Baked: A Deadly Recipe | Executive producer | Television film | |
The Wedding March | Executive producer | Television film | |
Flower Shop Mystery: Dearly Depotted | Executive producer | Television film | |
For Love & Honor | Executive producer | Television film | |
A Wish for Christmas | Executive producer | Television film | |
Every Christmas Has a Story | Executive producer | Television film | |
I'll Be Home for Christmas | Executive producer | Television film | |
The National Christmas Tree Lighting | Executive producer | Television special | |
2017 | Love on Ice | Executive producer | Television film |
A Royal Winter | Executive producer | Television film | |
Campfire Kiss | Executive producer | Television film | |
Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts | Executive producer | Television film | |
Wedding March 2: Resorting to Love | Executive producer | Television film | |
My Favorite Wedding | Executive producer | Television film | |
The Saint | Executive producer | Television film | |
Darrow & Darrow | Executive producer | Television film | |
Christmas in Angel Falls | Executive producer | Television film | |
Christmas Encore | Executive producer | Television film | |
2018 | My Secret Valentine | Executive producer | Television film |
Wedding March 3: Here Comes the Bride | Executive producer | Television film | |
Royal Hearts | Executive producer | Television film | |
A Royal Matchmaker | Executive producer | Television film | |
Darrow & Darrow: In the Key of Murder | Executive producer | Television film | |
Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New | Executive producer | Television film | |
Darrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence | Executive producer | Television film | |
Christmas in Love | Executive producer | Television film | |
Return to Christmas Creek | Executive producer | Television film | |
Christmas at the Palace | Executive producer | Television film | |
Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe | Executive producer | Television film | |
Christmas at Grand Valley | Executive producer | Television film | |
2019 | Winter Love Story | Executive producer | Television film |
The 27th Annual Movieguide Awards | Executive producer | Television special | |
The Crossword Mysteries: A Puzzle to Die For | Executive producer | Television film | |
The Wedding March 5: My Boyfriend's Back | Executive producer | Television film | |
A Taste of Summer | Executive producer | Television film | |
Witness to Murder: A Darrow Mystery | Executive producer | Television film | |
The Crossword Mysteries: Proposing Murder | Executive producer | Television film | |
Angel Falls: A Novel Holiday | Executive producer | Television film | |
Christmas in Rome | Executive producer | Television film | |
Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen | Executive producer | Television film | |
2020 | The Crossword Mysteries: Abracadaver | Executive producer | Television film |
A Valentine's Match | Executive producer | Television film | |
Country at Heart | Executive producer | Television film | |
Five Star Christmas | Executive Producer | Television film | |
Christmas Waltz | Executive Producer | Television film | |
Too Close for Christmas | Executive Producer | Television film | |
A Christmas Carousel | Executive Producer | Television film | |
2021 | Sweet Carolina | Executive Producer | Television film |
Colors of Love | Executive Producer | Television film | |
An Autumn Romance | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
A Kindhearted Christmas | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
Angel Falls Christmas | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
Royally Wrapped for Christmas | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
The Great Christmas Switch | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
Much Ado About Christmas | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
Christmas Time is Here | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
Christmas is You | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
Jingle Bell Princess | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
A Lot Like Christmas | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
A Christmas Miracle for Daisy | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
A Christmas Star | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
Joy for Christmas | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
A Christmas Proposal | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
Christmas Takes Flight | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
The Housewives of the North Pole | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
2022 | The Winter Palace | Executive Producer | Television Film |
Harmony from the Heart | Executive Producer | Television Film | |
2014–Present | When Calls the Heart | Executive producer | |
2019-Present | When Hope Calls | Executive producer |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | A Princess for Christmas | Unit production manager | Television film |
2012 | TalhotBlond | Unit production manager | Television film |
2013 | The Sweeter Side of Life | Unit production manager | Television film |
When Calls the Heart | Production manager | Television film | |
2014 | When Calls the Heart | Unit production manager | Television series |
A Royal Christmas | Unit production manager | Television film |
Orion Releasing, LLC is an American film production and distribution company co-owned by Amazon through Amazon MGM Studios. In its original operating period, the company produced and released films from 1978 until 1999 and was also involved in television production and syndication throughout the 1980s until the early 1990s. It was formed in 1978 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and three former senior executives at United Artists. From its founding until its buyout by MGM in the late 1990s, Orion was considered one of the largest mini-major studios.
Metromedia was an American media company that owned radio and television stations in the United States from 1956 to 1986 and controlled Orion Pictures from 1988 to 1997. Metromedia was established in 1956 after the DuMont Television Network ceased operations and its owned-and-operated stations were spun off into a separate company. Metromedia sold its television stations to News Corporation in 1985, and spun off its radio stations into a separate company in 1986. Metromedia then acquired ownership stakes in various film studios, including controlling ownership in Orion. In 1997, Metromedia closed down and sold its media assets to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
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