This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Industry | Entertainment |
---|---|
Founded | 1986 |
Founders |
|
Headquarters | Century City, Los Angeles, California, United States |
Key people | Brad Krevoy |
Products | Low-budget films |
Parent |
|
Website | mpcafilm |
Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA) is an American film production company specializing in the production, acquisition and distribution of low-budget films.
MPCA was founded in 1986 by longtime business partners, Brad Krevoy and Steve Stabler. During the company's formative years, they produced films such as; Purple People Eater (1988) with Ned Beatty; Back to Back (1989), starring Bill Paxton and Apollonia Kotero; and the sex comedy Miracle Beach (1992).
Having been rejected by each major film studio, Bobby and Peter Farrelly pitched the script of Dumb and Dumber to MPCA, which released it in 1994.
Dumb and Dumber opened and remained at number 1 on the U.S. box office for 4 weeks. [1] The film went on to gross $127 million domestically and $120 million overseas for a worldwide total of $247 million, with just a $16 million budget. [2] The film was one of the highest grossing comedies of the '90s. Combined with its ancillary and video sales, the film is estimated to have grossed over half a billion dollars. [3]
The success of Dumb and Dumber helped get the Farrellys' passion project, Kingpin , off the ground. It was released in July 1996, starring Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, and Bill Murray. The movie was a commercial disappointment, grossing only $27 million against a $25 million budget over the course of its theatrical run, although it did receive critical praise. [4] Roger Ebert and gave it 3 and a half stars out 4, praising the film's daring comedy. [5] Kingpin became a cult film when released to home video. [6]
MPCA went on to produce more big-budget studio comedies, including Beverly Hills Ninja starring Chris Farley and Jungle 2 Jungle with Tim Allen. It also produced the autobiographical comedy Threesome , written and directed by Andrew Fleming, and starring Lara Flynn Boyle, and Stephen Baldwin. The film grossed just under $15 million domestically. [7] Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars, praising the film's honest characterization and strong dialogue. [8]
Prior to its acquisition by Metromedia International Group, MPCA had a first-look producing deal with Paramount Pictures in November 1995. A first-look deal with Sony Pictures in the late 1990s resulted in more than 10 productions for the studio.
In 1996, MPCA was purchased by John Kluge's Metromedia International Group. Metromedia had just purchased the independent production company Orion Pictures out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. When MPCA was merged into the company, Krevoy and Stabler took over as co-presidents of Orion Pictures and were given a six-picture deal. [9]
At Orion, Krevoy and Stabler oversaw the production, acquisition, and distribution of Orion's motion picture and television programming. They 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 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 ownership, Metromedia sold Orion Pictures to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Krevoy was able to take the MPCA name back as part of his original deal. [10]
In 1998, MPCA returned to being an independent company, producing films such as Joe and Max , Bookies , and Boat Trip , starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Horatio Sanz, Vivica A. Fox, and Roger Moore for Artisan Entertainment and Lionsgate.
In 2004 MPCA produced the drama A Love Song for Bobby Long , starring John Travolta and Scarlett Johansson. The film was well received by audiences and critics, with Roger Ebert awarding it 3 out of 4 stars. [11] The film also earned Scarlett Johansson a Golden Globe nomination.
MPCA 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 and screened at the Sundance Film Festival before premiering on HBO. Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times wrote that the film "doesn't miss a single emotional pressure point – Katz clearly believes in the power and necessity of catharsis." [13] Taking Chance received a total of 27 award nominations, winning 6, including one for Kevin Bacon for Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television. The film was also nominated for a string of Primetime Emmy awards, as well as nominations in the SAG, PGA, DGA, ACE, ASC, and WGA awards. It also won the prestigious Humanitas Prize.
MPCA has produced a string of straight-to-DVD action movies, with four including Cuba Gooding, Jr. These included Linewatch (2008); Hardwired (2009), which also starred Val Kilmer; Ticking Clock (2011); and One in the Chamber (2012), which also featured 80's action star, Dolph Lundgren. It produced two movies with Samuel L. Jackson: Arena (2011) and Meeting Evil (2012), and with action star Jean-Claude Van Damme: Assassination Games (2011); and Six Bullets (2012).
In 2011, MPCA made Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 for Disney, a sequel to the 2008 comedy Beverly Hills Chihuahua . Most of the original cast returned, and the film did well in the home video market with sales of over $30 million. [14]
Since 2013, MPCA has produced made-for-television Christmas films for Netflix and the Hallmark Channel.
Year | Film | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1997 | Prisoner of the Mountains | Best Foreign Language Film | Sergey Bodrov, Carolyn Cavallero, Boris Giller, and Eduard Krapivsky | Nominated |
1998 | Ulee's Gold | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Peter Fonda | Nominated |
Year | Film | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | Annie | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television | Kathy Bates | Nominated |
2010 | Taking Chance | Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film | Kevin Bacon | Won |
Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television | Fred Berger, Lori Keith Douglas, Ross Katz, Brad Krevoy, Frank Schaeffer, William Teitler, and Cathy Wischner-Sola | Nominated |
Year | Film | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Taking Chance | Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie | Lee Percy and Brian A. Kates | Won |
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special | Ross Katz | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Main Title Design | Michael Riley, Dan Meehan, and Bob Swensen | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Marcelo Zarvos | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Kevin Bacon | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Television Movie | Brad Krevoy, Cathy Wischner-Sola, Ross Katz, William Teitler, and Lori Keith Douglas | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie | T.J. O'Mara and Rick Ash | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special | Michael Strobl and Ross Katz | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie | Dan Leigh, James Donahue, Ron von Blomberg, and HBO | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Frank Gaeta, Rickley W. Dumm, David Grant, Tim Boggs, Johnny Caruso, Catherine Harper, Christopher Moriana, and HBO | Nominated |
Year | Film | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | Annie | Outstanding Choreography | Rob Marshall | Won |
Outstanding Music Direction | Paul Bogaev | Won | ||
Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Stephen Hendrickson, Edward L. Rubin, and Archie D'Amico | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Marcia Turner, Rosalie Joseph, and Valorie Massalas | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie | Ralf D. Bode | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Shay Cunliffe and Patricia McLaughlin | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special | Rob Marshall | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie | Scott Vickrey | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Movie | Matthew Kasten, Mishell Chandler, and Natasha Ladek | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie | Kathy Bates | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Television Movie | Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Chris Montan, Marykay Powell, and John Whitman | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie | Edward L. Moskowitz, Terry O'Bright, and Keith Rogers | Nominated |
Rosalie Anderson MacDowell is an American actress and former fashion model. MacDowell is known for her starring film roles in romantic comedies and dramas. She has modeled for Calvin Klein and has been a spokeswoman for L'Oréal since 1986.
Victoria Davey Spelling is an American actress and author. Her first major role was Donna Martin on Beverly Hills, 90210, from 1990-2000. She has appeared in made for television films, including A Friend to Die For (1994), A Carol Christmas (2003), The Mistle-Tones (2012), both versions of Mother, May I Sleep with Danger? and The Last Sharknado: It's About Time (2018). She has also starred in several independent films including The House of Yes (1997), Trick (1999), Scary Movie 2 (2001), Cthulhu (2007), Kiss the Bride (2007) and Izzie's Way Home (2016). She reprised her role of Donna Martin in Beverly Hills, 90210's spin-off, BH90210, in 2019.
Ulee's Gold is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by Victor Nuñez and starring Peter Fonda in the title role. Co-stars include Patricia Richardson, Christine Dunford, Tom Wood, Jessica Biel, J. Kenneth Campbell and Vanessa Zima. It was released by Orion Pictures, with Jonathan Demme receiving presenter credits for his role in the film's financing.
Orion Releasing, LLC is an American film production and distribution company owned by the Amazon MGM Studios subsidiary of Amazon. 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.
Jennifer Jason Leigh is an American actress. She began her career on television during the 1970s before making her film breakthrough in the teen film Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). She received critical praise for her performances in Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989), Miami Blues (1990), Backdraft (1991), Single White Female (1992), and The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Dorothy Parker in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994).
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.
Peter John Farrelly is an American film director, screenwriter, producer and novelist. Along with his brother Bobby, the Farrelly brothers are mostly famous for directing and producing quirky comedy and romantic comedy films such as Dumb and Dumber; Outside Providence; Shallow Hal; Me, Myself and Irene; There's Something About Mary; and the 2007 remake of The Heartbreak Kid.
Robert Cabot Sherman Jr. is an American singer and actor who was a teen idol in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He had a series of successful singles, notably the million-seller "Little Woman" (1969). Sherman left show business in the 1970s for a career as a paramedic and a deputy sheriff, but performed occasionally into the 1990s.
Paul Montgomery "Pauly" Shore is an American comedian and actor. He is best known for his roles in 1990s comedy films. Shore began as a stand-up comedian at the age of 17, before becoming an MTV VJ in 1989. This led to a starring role in the comedy film Encino Man in 1992, which was a modest hit. He followed this with leading man vehicles, including Son in Law (1993) and Bio-Dome (1996). Shore provided the voice of Robert "Bobby" Zimuruski in A Goofy Movie and its direct-to-video sequel, An Extremely Goofy Movie.
The Samuel Goldwyn Company was an American independent film company founded by Samuel Goldwyn Jr., the son of the famous Hollywood mogul, Samuel Goldwyn, in 1978.
Threesome is a 1994 American erotic dramedy film, written and directed by Andrew Fleming and starring Lara Flynn Boyle, Stephen Baldwin and Josh Charles. It is an autobiographical comedy mixed with social commentary, and is based on Fleming's college memories. The film was given an R rating by the Motion Picture Association of America.
Clifford is a 1994 American slapstick black comedy film directed by Paul Flaherty, written by Will Porter and Steven Kampmann, and starring Martin Short, Charles Grodin, Mary Steenburgen, and Dabney Coleman with supporting roles by G.D. Spradlin, Anne Jeffreys, Richard Kind, and Jennifer Savidge. It tells the story of a 10-year-old boy who stays with his uncle while his parents are on a business trip in Honolulu.
Trial and Error is a 1997 American comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn and starring Michael Richards, Jeff Daniels, and Charlize Theron. The film's plot concerns an attorney and his actor friend, who takes his place in court to defend his boss's hopelessly guilty relative.
Secret Things is a 2002 French erotic drama film written and directed by Jean-Claude Brisseau, starring Coralie Revel and Sabrina Seyvecou. The film is sometimes associated with the New French Extremity. Cahiers du Cinéma named Secret Things, jointly along with Ten by director Abbas Kiarostami, as the best film of 2002. The film was awarded the French Cineaste of the Year title at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. In 2005, Brisseau was found guilty of sexually harassing two actresses between 1999 and 2001 during auditions for the film.
Brad Krevoy is a film producer, entrepreneur, and founder and chairman/CEO of the Motion Picture Corporation of America. Over his 37-year career, Krevoy has been involved in the production and distribution of more than 250 film and television projects, most notably Dumb and Dumber, and Christmas-themed entertainment, including the A Christmas Prince and The Princess Switch trilogies, as well as Falling for Christmas and Irish Wish.
Pumpkinhead is an American supernatural horror film series that began in 1988. Originally inspired by a poem by Ed Justin, the series centers on the eponymous demon who attacks whomever it is summoned to destroy.
Shawn Williamson is a Canadian film and television producer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.