Worldview Entertainment

Last updated
Worldview Entertainment
Company type Private
Industry Film
Founded2007
Founder Christopher Woodrow
Defunct2015
SuccessorVendian Entertainment [1]
Headquarters
1384 Broadway
25th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Website worldviewent.com   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Worldview Entertainment was an American motion picture finance and production company focused on theatrical-quality feature films for worldwide distribution. [2] The company produced 23 films, including Fox Searchlight's critically acclaimed hit Birdman , which was nominated for nine Academy Awards, won four Oscars, including Best Picture, and grossed more than $103 million in global box office revenue. [3] [4]

Contents

History

Worldview Entertainment was founded in 2007 by Christopher Woodrow, who served as chairman and CEO until 2014. [5] [6] Maria Cestone, daughter of New Jersey businessman Ralph M. Cestone, became a co-founding partner and significant investor in the company in 2008. Molly Conners joined Worldview in 2009 as chief operating officer. Sarah Johnson, daughter of billionaire businessman Charles B. Johnson, former chairman and CEO of Franklin Templeton Investments, became a partner and major investor in the company in 2011. [7] Worldview emerged as one of the most prolific players in independent film, securing more than $150 million in financing. [8] [9] The company maintained a key partnership with Creative Artists Agency and occupied the penthouse of the historic Lefcourt Normandie Building in Midtown Manhattan. [10]

The company's first commercial hit was William Friedkin's Southern Gothic crime film Killer Joe . [11] The film premiered in September 2011 at the Venice Film Festival before making its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it was sold domestically to LD Entertainment in one of the biggest sales of the festival. [12] Matthew McConaughey was later nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead.

Worldview's 2013 slate consisted of three films that premiered in May at the Cannes Film Festival, [13] including Guillaume Canet's crime thriller Blood Ties , [14] which was sold domestically to Lionsgate in one of the biggest sales of the festival and released through its Roadside Attractions banner; [15] and James Gray's period drama The Immigrant , which was nominated for the Palme d'Or and sold domestically to The Weinstein Company. [16] During the festival, the company announced the closing of a $30 million multi-year revolving credit facility with Comerica Bank to provide financing for its films. [17] Worldview also collaborated with nightclub Bungalow 8 to host an event at the Carlton Beach Club featuring a performance by Boy George. [18]

The Company went on to premiere two films at the 2013 Venice Film Festival, including David Gordon Green's drama Joe , which was sold domestically to Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions. Worldview also premiered six films at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival including the West Memphis Three crime thriller, Devil's Knot , [19] [20] [21] which was sold domestically to Image Entertainment; and Eli Roth's horror thriller, The Green Inferno , which was sold domestically to Open Road Films. [20] [22]

The company's 2014 film slate included Alejandro González Iñárritu's comedy, Birdman , with Fox Searchlight Pictures and Regency Enterprises; Zach Braff's drama Wish I Was Here with Focus Features; and Daniel Espinosa's crime thriller Child 44 , with Lionsgate releasing through their Summit Entertainment banner.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2017 Tulip Fever co-production with Paramount Pictures; distributed by The Weinstein Company Directed by Justin Chadwick. Starring Alicia Vikander, Dane DeHaan, Zach Galifianakis, Judi Dench, Christoph Waltz and Cara Delevingne
2016 Rules Don't Apply co-production with Regency Enterprises; distributed by 20th Century Fox Directed by Warren Beatty, starring Lily Collins, Alden Ehrenreich, Matthew Broderick, Annette Bening, Candice Bergen, Taissa Farmiga, Chace Crawford, and Beatty.
2016 Triple 9 distributed by Open Road Films Starring Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson and Kate Winslet
2015 Term Life uncredited; co-production with WWE Studios, PalmStar Entertainment, Wild West Films and Merced Media Partners, distributed by Focus World Starring Vince Vaughn. [23]
2015 The Intern uncredited; co-production with RatPac Entertainment and Waverly Films, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures Directed by Nancy Meyers. [24]
2015 Strangerland Executive ProducerStarring Nicole Kidman, Guy Pearce, and Hugo Weaving. [25]
2014 Birdman ProducerDirected by Alejandro González Iñárritu, starring Michael Keaton, Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, and Zach Galifianakis.
2014 Song One ProducerStarring Anne Hathaway.
2014 Wish I Was Here Financier/Producer [26] Directed by Zach Braff, co-written with his brother Adam. Starring Zach Braff, Kate Hudson, Mandy Patinkin, Anna Kendrick, Jim Parsons, and Josh Gad. Co-funded with a Kickstarter project.
2014 Child 44 ProducerStarring Tom Hardy. [27]
2014 Manglehorn Financier/ProducerDirected by David Gordon Green, starring Al Pacino and Holly Hunter.
2014 The Search Financier/ProducerDirected by Michel Hazanavicius, starring Bérénice Bejo and Annette Bening. [28]
2013 Ass Backwards Financier/ProducerDirected by Chris Nelson. Written by and starring June Diane Raphael and Casey Wilson.
2013 Blood Ties Financier/Producer [29] Directed by Guillaume Canet, starring Clive Owen, Mila Kunis, and Zoe Saldana. Remake of 2008 French thriller, Les Liens du Sang.
2013 Devil's Knot Financier/ProducerDirected by Atom Egoyan, starring Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon. Based on the true story of the West Memphis Three. [19] [30]
2013 The Green Inferno Financier/ProducerWritten and directed by Eli Roth. [31]
2013 Joe Financier/ProducerDirected by David Gordon Green, starring Nicolas Cage. [32]
2013 The Sacrament Financier/ProducerWritten and directed by Ti West. Presented and produced by Eli Roth. [33]
2013 Welcome to the Punch Financier/Producer [34] Witten and directed by Eran Creevy, starring James McAvoy and Mark Strong. Executive Produced by Ridley Scott. [35]
2013 Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian Executive ProducerDirected by Arnaud Desplechin. [36]
2013 The Immigrant ProducerProduced and directed by James Gray.
2011 Killer Joe Financier/ProducerWritten by Tracy Letts, directed by William Friedkin, and starring Matthew McConaughey. [37] [38]

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References

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  2. ↑ McNary, Fave (2011-11-05). "AFM sees solid, cautious biz". Variety. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  3. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (2015-02-23). "'Birdman' Wins Oscar For Best Picture As Year's Top Film Finally Elevates Itself". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  4. ↑ "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  5. ↑ Blair, Ian (2012-12-05). "Woodrow: Finance wiz ties up 'Knot'". Variety. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  6. ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (2013-05-16). "Cannes: Producers To Watch". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  7. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (2013-04-12). "Meet Sarah Johnson Redlich and William D. Johnson: Hollywood's Other Billionaire's Kids". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  8. ↑ Griffith, Carson; Kirby, Brandon; Laliberte, Kristian (2014-04-22). "New York Travel: How to Spend 72 Hours in the City". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
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  10. ↑ Kamping-Carder, Leigh (2012-03-20). "Film production company leases penthouse of Herald Square skyscraper". The Real Deal. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  11. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (2010-12-09). "Worldview joins Voltage as co-financier on dark comedy Killer Joe". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  12. ↑ Fleming Jr., Mike (2011-09-13). "TORONTO TOLDJA! Mickey Liddell Acquires William Friedkin's 'Killer Joe'". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  13. ↑ McNary, Dave; Abrams, Rachel (2013-03-09). "Indies Prep for Big Landing in Cannes". Variety. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  14. ↑ McNary, Dave (2012-04-12). "Canet's 'Blood Ties' gets Worldview coin infusion". Variety. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  15. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (2013-05-22). "Cannes: Lionsgate Takes U.S. Rights to 'Blood Ties'". Variety. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  16. ↑ Fleming Jr., Mike (2012-06-14). "TWC Acquiring U.S. On James Gray Pic; Joaquin Phoenix, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Renner Star". Variety. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  17. ↑ Abrams, Rachel (2013-05-16). "Worldview Nears $70 Million in New Coin (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  18. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (2013-05-08). "Cannes: Boy George to Perform Greatest Hits". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  19. 1 2 Ford, Rebecca (October 7, 2013). "Image Picks Up West Memphis Three Pic 'Devil's Knot'". The Hollywood Reporter .
  20. 1 2 McClintock, Pamela; Kemp, Stuart (September 15, 2013). "Toronto: Five Lessons From the 2013 Festival". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  21. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (October 30, 2013). "AFM: Stephen Gaghan's 'Candy Store' Finds Financing". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  22. ↑ Siegel, Tatiana; McClintock, Pamela (September 11, 2013). "Toronto: Eli Roth's 'The Green Inferno' Sells to Open Road (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  23. ↑ Kit, Borys (November 1, 2013). "Vince Vaughn's 'Term Life' Revived by QED and Worldview". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  24. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 7, 2013). "AFM: Worldview To Finance Hot Spec Package: Nancy Meyers To Helm 'The Intern'; Robert De Niro, Reese Witherspoon To Star". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  25. ↑ Bulbeck, Pip (October 20, 2013). "Nicole Kidman, Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving to Star in Australian Feature 'Strangerland'". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  26. ↑ McNary, Dave (May 24, 2013). "Zach Braff's Kickstarter Campaign Closes With $3.1 Million". Variety . Retrieved May 25, 2013.
  27. ↑ Kit, Borys (January 30, 2013). "Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace in Talks for 'Child 44'". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  28. ↑ Yamato, Jen (November 6, 2013). "AFM: Michel Hazanavicius's 'Artist' Follow-Up 'The Search' Sells To Worldview". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  29. ↑ McNary, Dave (April 12, 2012). "Canet's 'Blood Ties' Gets Worldview Coin Fusion". Variety . Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  30. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (May 16, 2012). "Cannes 2012: Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon's West Memphis Three Pic Gets Financed". Screen Rant. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  31. ↑ Yaniz Jr., Robert (18 May 2012). "Eli Roth Directing Green Inferno". Screen Rant. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  32. ↑ Savlov, Marc (September 10, 2012). "Worldview To Produce David Gordon Green's Joe'". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  33. ↑ McNary, Dave (September 13, 2013). "Toronto: Ti West's 'The Sacrament' Gets U.S. Distribution" . Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  34. ↑ McNary, Dave (July 18, 2012). "Worldview To Finance McAvoy Thriller". Variety . Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  35. ↑ Kilday, Gregg (July 18, 2012). "IFC Nabs James McAvoy's 'Welcome To The Punch'". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  36. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 22, 2013). "IFC Acquires U.S. On Benicio Del Toro Pic 'Jimmy P'". Deadline Hollywood .
  37. ↑ "Screening Room – Killer Joe". Louisiana Entertainment. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  38. ↑ Jones, Emma (June 19, 2012). "Matthew McConaughey Gets Tough With Killer Joe". BBC News. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
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