October 28 2008
The Hollywood Reporter

NEW YORK -- Intrepid Pictures is on board to produce Scott Wiper's Hitchcockian thriller "The Cold Light of Day."

Wiper and John Petro's screenplay follows Will Shaw, a young Wall Street trader whose family is kidnapped on a vacation to Spain. He's left with only hours to find them, uncover a government conspiracy and the connection between their disappearance and his father's secrets.

Intrepid Pictures principals Trevor Macy and Marc D. Evans will finance and produce the film, which Essential Entertainment is repping at next week's American Film Market. Intrepid produced one of this year's biggest hits, Rogue Pictures' "The Strangers." "Day" will be made outside of Universal and Rogue, which have a first-look pact with Intrepid. Uni is currently negotiating a sale of Rogue to Relativity.

Wiper co-wrote and directed the 2007 Lionsgate actioner "The Condemned." Intrepid sees 'Cold Light of Day' Thriller is from Scott Wiper and John Petro

October 28 2008
Screen Daily

Essential Entertainment co-founder Jim Kohlberg and producer Neil Kaplan have launched sister company Essential Pictures to develop, package, finance and produce films and have unveiled a maiden slate of seven titles.

Essential Pictures plans to make two to three films a year in the $10m-40m budget range and is seeking product from scripts to books and pre-production galleys.

Jere Hausfater will sell worldwide rights to all Essential Pictures product through Essential Entertainment, which will head into AFM with a bumper slate on the back of recent acquisitions Love And Other Impossible Pursuits starring Natalie Portman and the Intrepid Pictures thriller Cold Light Of Day.

Portman also stars in one of the first Essential Pictures films, the thriller Isabella V that Dan Gordon will direct. Essential is producing with Brightlight Pictures and Portman's Handsome Charlie Films.

The roster includes Todd Robinson's political thriller The Last Full Measure starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne and Andy Garcia in association with Trilogy Entertainment Group; Randall Wallace's adaptation of Diana Gabaldon's time traveling novel Outlander; and Barry Sonnenfeld's romantic comedy Bronwyn And Clyde written by Tom Vaughan and Kristy Dobkin that Kohlberg and Kaplan will produce with Chris Uettiwiller and Dolly Hall.

Rounding out the initial line-up are AM Homes' adaptation of her satirical novel This Book Will Save Your Life in association with Stone Village Pictures; a remake with Gianni Nunnari and Hollywood Gang of Leonardo Pieraccioni's 1996 Italian comedy Il Ciclone based on a screenplay by Darin Mark; and Ali Calamari's celebrity tabloid romantic comedy A Match Made In Magazines.

"At the heart of Essential Pictures is our desire and our capability to produce creative and commercial projects which take advantage of the fact that we have the necessary distribution in having Essential Entertainment as a partner to handle each film," Kohlberg, who becomes chair, said.

Kaplan, who previously served as partner and president of Trilogy Entertainment Group and is named President and COO, added: "With this smart economic model and the collective experience of the team, we can provide a producer and filmmaker friendly environment that's material driven in which projects have a built-in distribution system."

October 28 2008
Natalie Portman falls in "Love"

Variety

Natalie Portman is set to star with Scott Cohen and Charlie Tahan in "Love and Other Impossible Pursuits," a Don Roos-directed adaptation of an Ayelet Waldman novel.

Produced by Marc Platt, the film will begin shooting in Manhattan on Nov. 10. Roos wrote the script.

Story revolves around a young woman who finds the key to recovering her marriage in her relationship with her precocious stepson.

The project becomes the first film funded by Incentive Filmed Entertainment. The financing entity was unveiled by William Morris at the Cannes film fest, with $100 million in production financing and a plan to fund films with budgets under $15 million. Incentive then licenses rights to both foreign and domestic distributors.

Portman will be executive producer under her handsomecharlie films banner. The shingle has a first-look deal with Participant Prods., and Portman recently wrote and directed "Eve," a short film that starred Lauren Bacall, Ben Gazzara and Olivia Thirlby.

David Molner, managing director of Screen Capital Intl. and chairman of Incentive Filmed Entertainment, said Portman’s deal salvages a film that was imperiled when Jennifer Lopez abruptly dropped out.

"We were left in the lurch by one actress and rescued by another," Molner said. "It goes to show that, particularlywith independent features, nothing is more important than the talent. It’s a blessing that Natalie loved the script and now we’ve got a strong film that we can sell at AFM."

Platt, who just produced the Jonathan Demme-directed "Rachel Getting Married," is in production on the Rob Marshall-directed "Nine" for the Weinstein Co. and Relativity. Platt exec produced Roos’ most recent film, "Happy Endings," and as Orion’s production head, supervised Roos’ first film as a writer, the 1992 drama "Love Field." Platt gave the Waldman book to Roos and lobbied him to direct after Roos turned in a strong adaptation.

October 16 2008
Hollywood Reporter

ORLANDO -- Paramount is fiddling with its holiday release plans at the eleventh hour, delaying the wide release of true-life drama "The Soloist," starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx, and the Daniel Craig-toplined Nazi-escape film "Defiance" until the first quarter.

Par is moving "Soloist," the story of Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez's relationship with a homeless musician, to a March 13 wide release date. The film, a DreamWorks/Universal production, had been considered a possible awards-season candidate and -- with its trailer already playing in theaters -- had been set to unspool Nov. 21 over the prime pre-Thanksgiving frame.

It was not clear if "Soloist" might receive an Academy-qualifying run before Dec. 31.

As for "Defiance," a Par Vantage production, Par will postpone its Dec. 12 limited bow to an Oscar-qualifying debut Dec. 31, which will maintain its viability for Academy consideration. It will delay an expansion into wider release until Jan. 16.

October 10 2008
First look: 'Defiance' shows survival side of WWII

USA TODAY

Suddenly, there is a surge in World War II-themed films. Titles on the horizon include Valkryie, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and Good.

But filmmaker Ed Zwick isn't jumping on a bandwagon with Defiance. "We optioned the rights 10 years ago," he says. What drew him was a story that shows Jews not just as victims, but fighting back.

The Dec. 12 release is based on the true story of three Jewish brothers, Tuvia, Zus and Asael Bielski, in what is now Belarus. They rose up against the Germans and saved about 1,200 lives. "The survivors were generally reticent about sharing their experiences," says Zwick about why the facts behind the Bielski Brigade haven't been widely known. "They felt the burden of those who did not survive."

If the face on the poster that will be in theaters Friday shakes (but not stirs) you, that's because Daniel Craig, aka James Bond, is holding the submachine gun. "He was a very reluctant hero," Zwick says of Craig's Tuvia. "Uneducated, unsophisticated, by no means a person you would assume to be a leader of any kind. Bond is an unambivalent hero. Tuvia is more realistic."

October 3 2008
Variety

Zwick Receives Kodak Award

Edward Zwick will receive the Kodak Award for Excellence in Filmmaking at the upcoming ShowEast confab in Orlando, Fla. Zwick is next in theaters Dec. 12 with "Defiance," about three brothers who escape Nazi-controlled Poland and join Russian resistance fighters. The Paramount Vantage film stars Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell.

Zwick's directing credits include "Blood Diamond," "The Last Samurai," "The Siege," "Courage Under Fire" and "Legends of the Fall."

His feature film producing credits include "Defiance," "Traffic" and "I Am Sam." ShowEast runs Oct 13-16.

September 17 2008
Edward Zwick's WWII pic, "Defiance," will world preem Nov. 9 at the ArcLight Hollywood's Cinerama Dome Theater as the closing night film at the AFI Fest. Zwick, an AFI alum, previously attended the fest in 2006 where he previewed his pic "Blood Diamond." Set for release in December, Zwick's "Defiance" is based on the true story of three brothers who form a resistance against the Nazis. The gala, hosted by Audi of America, will wind down the fest, which starts Oct. 30.

September 14 2008
Hollywood Reporter

'American Carol' Takes aim at Dems

"An American Carol" is coming to a theater near you, whether you like it or not.

A zany comedy that promises to offend Hollywood's liberal sensibilities -- coming just one month before the presidential election -- there's more riding on "Carol" than one might expect.

For one, it's the first wide release distributed by Vivendi Entertainment, which launched as a theatrical distribution company in March. Vivendi will open "Carol" on 2,000 screens Oct. 3. And "Carol" is the first theatrical production from Mpower Pictures, the studio co-founded by Mel Gibson's longtime producing partner Steve McEveety.

It's loosely based on "A Christmas Carol," only instead of Ebenezer Scrooge learning an appreciation for Christmas, a Michael Moore-type filmmaker who is visited by the ghosts of George Washington, George Patton and President Kennedy must learn to appreciate the USA.

"Carol" isn't the only politically charged film set for wide release before voters head to the polls Nov. 4, but it's the only one making fun of Democrats. "If the grass-root Republicans come out, this movie will be very successful," said actor Robert Davi, who plays an Islamic terrorist in the film.With the Republican base so fired up since candidate John McCain selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, the timing for "Carol" couldn't be better. "This is one of the most unusual elections of our lives, and Palin has injected even more energy into it," said the pic's chief architect David Zucker. "The more people talk about the election, the better our movie will do, and the better Oliver Stone's movie will do."

Zucker -- the writer, producer and director best known for a couple of "Scary Movie" sequels as well as "The Naked Gun" -- is referring to Stone's left-leaning film "W.," a warts-and-all biographical look at President George W. Bush due Oct. 17.

How far left "W." will lean remains to be seen. As for "Carol," it not only leans right, but so do some of its stars, like Kelsey Grammer and Jon Voight. "Carol" is partially backed by nonprofit group the Moving Picture Institute, which gave a grant to one of the film's writers, Myrna Sokoloff, to help the part-time schoolteacher finish her work on the script.

Partisanship, however, is immaterial to the Moving Picture Institute's decision to partially fund its script, founder Thor Halvorssen said. MPI's mission is "to nurture promising filmmakers who are committed to protecting a free society," Halvorssen said.

What that has meant until "Carol" came along was producing, funding or supporting in a variety of ways 10 documentaries, and counting, that have been made by Democrats, Republicans and everything in between. "They didn't care about my politics. They put their money where their mouth is," said Colin Gray, who accepted a grant from MPI to help market "Freedom's Fury."

Gray describes himself as "very left of center." "Freedom's Fury," which he made with his sister, is about "the bloodiest water polo game in Olympic history" and the role that game played in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

What convinced MPI to branch out from strictly documentaries and embrace a Zucker comedy is the film's irreverent approach to political correctness. "Support for freedom sometimes involves disrespect for authority," Halvorssen said.

As for Zucker and Sokoloff, they're both ex-liberals who displayed their transformation into conservatism four years ago when they partnered on a group of humorous TV commercials during the last presidential election cycle. The popularity of those ads encouraged them to make "Carol," with Sokoloff working on the story while Zucker and screenwriter Lewis Friedman focused on the jokes.

"The audience for 'American Carol' is underserved by Hollywood," Zucker said, noting that the $20 million film skewers such liberal sacred cows as the ACLU and the anti-war movement, two popular causes among the entertainment industry elite. "About 150 million people will love it, and 150 million people will hate it."

McEveety said the film will appeal more to "Airplane!" fans than to the "Scary Movie" crowd, and he's not particularly worried about charges of partisanship. "Sure, it takes a position, but it's fun," he said. "Can't we have a little fun during this election?"

The film's strong political opinion has resulted in a lot of free publicity from the likes of CNN and Fox News, which doesn't surprise Vivendi Entertainment president Tom O'Malley.

"This is the first film I can think of from Hollywood that pokes fun at the left. That makes it fresh," O'Malley said.

August 11 2008
Scott Steindorff's Stone Village has acquired "Lobo," a spec script for an action thriller by Dikran Ornekian and Ryan Colluci about a colony of werewolves in Brazil. Ezna Sands has been set to direct. The film has been fast-tracked for an Oct. 15 production start and will shoot outside Rio de Janeiro. Pic's under-$15 million budget will be financed independently. Essential Entertainment has been retained to sell international territories. In the film, a man receives a photo and letters from his mother's will, then heads to an isolated town in the Amazon to discover his roots. There, he discovers a near-extinct species of werewolves and his true identity, and he helps the werewolves wage a battle for survival. "The stylized nature of the film is what drew me, because it's far less a monster movie than a Western in the mold of Sergio Leone's 'Once Upon a Time in America,' " Sands said. "I have the opportunity to bring back to audience the kind of hero they had in the '70s, someone as dark and conflicted as the new James Bond or the Dark Knight. Our intention is to tell a single story over three films, and this first chapter is a guy who makes a massive revelation." Steindorff will produce and Dylan Russell and Scott LaStaiti are executive producers. The film has begun casting, and IPG is packaging a companion graphic novel that will be written by the scribes. Sands just completed his feature directing debut, an untitled thriller that mixes elements of fiction and reality. Stone Village is shooting "Stan Helsing" and recently produced and financed "Love in the Time of Cholera."

June 19 2008
Kevin Bacon has signed on to star in "My One and Only," joining Renee Zellweger, Chris Noth, Nick Stahl and Logan Lerman in the film, which director Richard Loncraine has begun shooting in Baltimore. Charlie Peters wrote the script. Pic is inspired by George Hamilton's childhood adventures as he and his brother were taken on a road trip by their eccentric and glamorous mom, who drove along the East Coast looking for a rich man to take care of the family. Bacon will play the philandering band leader she tries to leave behind. The film is being financed by Herrick Entertainment, whose Norton Herrick is producing with Aaron Ryder of Raygun Prods. CAA and Essential Entertainment are handling worldwide sales. "My One and Only" is the first film Herrick has financed. He made his money in construction projects and also co-owns a stable of racehorses. He decided to try film after acquiring Las Vegas rights to "Hairspray" and setting the musical for a short run at the Luxor. Bacon next stars in the Ron Howard-directed "Frost/Nixon," opening Dec. 5, and HBO's "Taking Chance."

May 27 2008
Chris Noth will star with Renee Zellweger in "My One and Only," the Richard Loncraine-directed comedy based on a childhood adventure of actor George Hamilton. Shooting begins next month. Zellweger plays Anne Deveraux, a glamorous dreamer who travels from city to city looking for a wealthy man to fund a new life for her and her sons. Noth plays a retired military doctor who might just fit the bill. Scripted by Charlie Peters, the film is based on a true story that Hamilton shared with Merv Griffin about his early life on the road with his mother and brother. "My One and Only" is a co-production of Raygun Prods., Artfire Films and Merv Griffin Entertainment. Artfire is financing, and Aaron Ryder, Ara Katz and Art Spigel will produce. Hamilton will be exec producer along with Ron Ward, Rob Pritchard, Dan Fireman and Robert Kosberg. Noth reprises his role as Carrie Bradshaw's love interest Mr. Big in the "Sex and the City" feature, which New Line opens Friday.

May 16 2008
Jere Hausfater launched his Los Angeles-based development, production, worldwide sales and distribution company less than 18 months ago with the backing of chairman and sole investor Jim Kohlberg, the Palo Alto businessman, and the hiring of president John Fremes.

Hausfater, a veteran if ever there was one, who was former executive vice-president of Miramax International, head of worldwide sales and acquisitions at Intermedia and longtime senior officer at Buena Vista International, immediately built a slate of films to sell from producers such as Senator Entertainment (Fireflies In The Garden) and Samuel Hadida (Killing Suki Flood, Solomon Kane).

But Essential has moved swiftly since then. At the company's second Cannes, Hausfater will introduce the true-life saga Queen Of The South starring Eva Mendes as a drug baroness, and an Indonesia-set sequel to the heist thriller Point Break called Point Break Indo that Jan de Bont is lining up to direct.

The Essential CEO is expecting good things from a buyers' screening of Defiance, Ed Zwick's wartime saga starring Daniel Craig, while Bret Easton Ellis adaptation The Informers and Solomon Kane are in post. Shooting is scheduled to begin in Baltimore on May 23 on Richard Loncraine's 1950s comedy My One And Only, starring Renee Zellweger, and Hausfater expects to conclude further sales on the horror comedy Stan Helsing and show footage from Clive Barker's Book Of Blood.

How has the company grown so fast? "A lot of it is timing," Hausfater says. "Summit has been taking a different direction and with the Lionsgate-Mandate merger we saw a hole open up in the triple-A sales and distribution sector. Having John as president of international is a great thing and we have fantastic executives like Randy Hermann, our CFO and COO, and our head of business development Neil Caplan, who's very involved in business affairs, producer relationships and active in development."

Essential has typically acted as a pure sales agent, taking an executive producer role on certain projects. Lately Hausfater has been building the company's participation in script development. "Development is historically an area where it's hard to get money, but in order to be involved with pictures you believe in, there's no choice but to get on board as developers."

The recently announced Tom Wolfe adaptation I Am Charlotte Simmons is the first example of this.

"The main thing is about taking control of our own destiny and that's the natural next step for a company of our size," adds Fremes. "Buyers are very comfortable coming into our office knowing the product is of a high standard."

But Hausfater sounds a note of caution on buyers. "It's as if they're looking for reasons not to buy these days. They're not being profligate. We have to be adaptable and while we tend to focus on an upper level space, we're also looking for niche movies. We can go shopping at Neiman Marcus but we're not above browsing the shelves at Wal-Mart."

May 13 2008
CANNES -- Seventeen years after "Point Break" washed up in movie theaters, surf's up for the sequel, "Point Break: Indo," with Jan de Bont aboard to direct. RGM Entertainment and Essential Entertainment will exec produce this Asia-based follow-up to director Kathryn Bigelow's original, which starred de Bont's "Speed" lead Keanu Reeves as an FBI agent casing a gang of surfer bank robbers. The new film will take place 20 years after the disappearance of one of the criminal surfers (Patrick Swayze). Both the original and sequel are written by W. Peter Iliff. Plot details and possible character reprises have not been disclosed, but the film will shoot in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Taylor Morgan Pictures' Chris Taylor and John Morgan will produce. RGM's Devesh Chetty, Essential's Jere Hausfater and Neil Kaplan, and the Paradigm-repped de Bont will executive produce.

May 13 2008
CANNES "Speed" helmer Jan de Bont is to reprise Kathryn Bigelow's iconic surfer movie "Point Break." Pic is being financed and exec produced by Singapore's RGM Entertainment and launched into international markets this week by L.A.-based sales company Essential Entertainment. Singapor's Media Development Authority is also financing. Original scripter W. Peter Iliff has penned the screenplay for the new movie, which takes place in Singapore and Indonesia 20 years after the disappearance of Patrick Swayze character Bodhi. Story and casting details remain under wraps though RGM said several major stars have been approached. Production is skedded to take place in Southeast Asia beginning in the fall, with Chris Taylor and John Morgan producing. Devesh Chetty of RGM Entertainment, Jere Hausfater and Neil Kaplan of Essential Entertainment, and de Bont take exec production credits. "This is exactly the kind of movie RGM was set up to produce: Asian-themed stories for a global market that will get a North American theatrical release," Chetty said. "The global interest in Asia and the taste for extreme sports are both growing, and Jan de Bont is going to deliver some action that will be very different to what has been seen before." Essential, headed by Hausfater and equity firm veteran Jim Kohlberg, is also repping Dennis Lee's family drama "Fireflies in the Garden," Ed Zwick's war drama "Defiance" and Richard Loncraine-directed "My One and Only."

May 6 2008
Eva Mendes, Josh Hartnett and Ben Kingsley will star in Jonathan Jakubowicz's drug-trafficking drama "Queen of the South." Elizabeth Avellan and Sandra Condito will produce the adaptation of Spanish writer Arturo Perez-Reverte's novel about a Mexican woman turned Spanish drug lord (Mendes) out to avenge her boyfriend's murder. Hartnett plays a Marine who gets involved in her business, and Kingsley plays a Russian businessman. The project, once set up at Warner Independent, is now being independently financed by Winchester Capital in conjunction with Origen PC and Plural Entertainment. Essential Entertainment is handling international sales. The leads are repped by CAA; Mendez is additionally repped by Management 360.

May 6 2008
Eva Mendes, Josh Hartnett and Ben Kingsley will topline helmer Jonathan Jakubowicz's "Queen of the South" (La reina del sur), an adaptation of the bestseller by Spanish author-journo Arturo Perez Reverte. Elizabeth Avellan and Sandra Condito will produce pic while Winchester Capital, Spain's Origen and Plural Entertainment will serve as executive producers. Avellan, Condito and Jakubowicz are working under their new banner, Tres Malandros. Jakubowicz, an L.A.-based Venezuelan filmmaker penned the screenplay with Albert Torres. Story tracks a Mexican woman who escapes to Spain after her drug-runner boyfriend is murdered. Teresa becomes the reigning drug smuggler in Spain, bent on avenging her lover. The female-driven actioner is set to shoot in Mexico and Spain starting September, according to Condito. Jean-Luc De Fanti will exec produce with Plural's Daniel Cebrian, Origen's Antonio Cardenal and L.A.-based producer Sergio Aguero. Jere Hausfater's Essential Entertainment is handling international sales and will take the pic to the Cannes market this month. Pic was originally set at Warner Independent where it went into turnaround.

April 30 2008
As the international film community gets ready to head to the south of France next week, a seismic shift and a few other movements are realigning the balance of power among the major film sales companies.

New Line International is moving out of the business in the wake of the company's absorption into Warner Bros., while its titles will start to go out overseas via the Warner studio pipelines. That leaves the various territorial distributors with which the mini-major had output deals scrambling for a certain level of product.

The company had indie distribution arrangements in the U.K., France, Scandinavia, Spain, South Africa, Greece, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. More or less, most of these will have New Line titles through 2009.

But as the current deal cycle is already looking to 2009 and beyond, ex-New Line clients will be seeking to replace that studio-level product as soon as this coming Cannes market.

That's good news for suppliers ready to fill the void. Several companies are ramping up or are already delivering similar levels of product.

"It's a good time for us, as we're looking at bigger product," says QED's head of sales, Kim Fox. "Buyers that have seen a steady stream of product for years (from New Line) are looking for new partners, but those new partners will have to have bigger product." Among QED's upcoming titles are Oliver Stone's George Bush biopic "W.," Peter Jackson-produced sci-fi pic "District 9" and Milla Jovovich thriller "A Perfect Getaway." There's the added hope that New Line's exit could revive sales to territories such as Spain and France, which have recently been in the doldrums when it comes to indie pic imports.

"There is an unmistakable opportunity," says Essential Entertainment topper Jere Hausfater, who will be repping titles such as Richard Loncraine's "My One and Only," starring Renee Zellweger. Meanwhile, sales behemoths such as Summit Entertainment and Mandate Pictures have morphed into slightly different entities. Summit has sprouted a domestic distribution operation and is chasing studio ambitions, which seems to have taken the main emphasis off of foreign sales. And Mandate has merged with Lionsgate, keeping the Mandate brand intact but now also repping lots more titles, encompassing the various product streams of the two companies as well as third-party product.

While Mandate Intl. prexy Helen Lee Kim says she's much busier, Summit co-CEO Patrick Wachsberger says he has "less to do." He explains that when the new Summit was created, the company set up a substantial number of output deals for Summit-produced films. The shingle has pacts with Telemunchen in Germany, SND/M6 in France, Nordisk in Scandinavia, Contender in the U.K. and Entertainment One in Canada, and could be looking to ink two or three more. But Summit continues to handle third-party pics as well, including Terrence Malick's "Tree of Life," starring Sean Penn and Brad Pitt, and Roman Polanski's adaptation of Robert Harris' novel "The Ghost." And these wouldn't necessarily be going to output partners overseas. As these movements among the larger sales companies continue to unfold, several new contenders are stepping into the international sales fray. Among them are producers Bold Films, the Film Department and Unified Pictures.

Gary Michael Walters, co-prexy of Bold Films, explains that it is an opportune time to get into the sector. "As we've accelerated our production pace, it makes more sense to handle our own sales," he says. "We're integrating our sales and creative to be sensitive to the needs of the global marketplace as we put our films together. And we see an opportunity with New Line's output now going through Warner Bros., Mandate folded into Lionsgate and Summit becoming more domestic-oriented. We see a sweet spot in that niche of $10 million-$30 million smart but commercial pictures."

On Bold's slate, being repped by former Lionsgate Intl. prexy Stephanie Denton in Cannes, is thriller "Jack," helmed by Joseph Ruben, about a killer suffering from traumatic memory loss. Bold hopes to have casting ready to announce by Cannes. "The timing couldn't be any better," adds the Film Department's international prexy Steve Bickel, who has Gerard Butler thriller "Law Abiding Citizen" and Catherine Zeta-Jones starrer "The Rebound" in production. "Buyers are always looking for studio-competitive movies and star-driven product. That's where we are headed as well. We're putting together a slate that crosses over genres -- action-thrillers, sexy rom-coms -- all well-written material that has its own unique voice but at the same time wide appeal."

But Unified's new head of international sales, Ann Dubinet, says buyers need to relax a bit when it comes to demanding marquee names. "Not every movie can star Brad Pitt," she sighs. "International buyers are so cast-dependent in their buying."

Dubinet notes that the goal for Unified, which brings equity to the table on all projects, is "to step into the place that Focus gave up -- and not that we just do arthouse films." The company is taking risks on new filmmakers and somewhat smaller-budgeted pics. Among three finished films Unified will screen in Cannes is comedy "Bob Funk," from a first-time helmer and starring Rachael Leigh Cook.

As new sellers join the Cannes party, New Line Intl. topper Camela Galano says she'll be heading to the Croisette with just two other execs and one film to screen ("Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D"). Noting the obvious, she says, "We just won't be selling movies," adding, "but we'll be doing what we normally do with our outputs, which is go through the lineup, releases and materials."

April 28 2008
Essential Entertainment is financing a bigscreen version of Tom Wolfe's "I Am Charlotte Simmons," with Liz Friedlander ("Take the Lead") attached to direct from John Watson's script. It's the first time Wolfe has allowed one of his novels to be optioned for a feature since "The Bonfire of the Vanities" in 1987. The author also optioned "A Man in Full" to NBC. Trilogy Entertainment Group will produce in association with Syntax; Essential exec produces. Watson, Pen Densham and Neil Kaplan will produce, with Chris Law and Essential's Jere Hausfater exec producing. "I Am Charlotte Simmons" centers on an Ivy League student who must undergo her first substantial disillusionment and betrayal after she lands in an unforgiving world. Watson and Densham's producing credits include "Backdraft," "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys," "Larger Than Life" and the upcoming comedy "Just Buried," which premiered at last year's Toronto Film Festival. Watson's screenplay credits include "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," which he co-wrote and produced with Densham; he recently adapted Richard Condon's "An Infinity of Mirrors." Friedlander's a veteran musicvideo director for bands including U2, R.E.M. and Celine Dion. She's repped by Gersh; CAA repped the book rights. Essential Entertainment began operations last year as a specialist in talent packaging and late-stage development, production financing and sales, distribution and marketing for third-party and inhouse productions. Its Berlin 2008 lineup included Matador Pictures' "Clive Barker's Book of Blood," now in production with John Harrison directing; spoof comedy "Stan Helsing," to be produced by Scott Steindorff and Stone Village; and "My One and Only," to be produced by Aaron Ryder. Read the full article at: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984770.html

February 11 2008
Renee Zellweger is near a deal to star in "My One and Only," a comedy based on a childhood adventure of actor George Hamilton. Charlie Peters wrote the script, and Richard Loncraine will direct the pic, which begins shooting in April on the East Coast. Pic is a co-production of Raygun Prods., Artfire Films and Merv Griffin Entertainment. Set in the 1950s, the comedy focuses on the glamorous Anne Deveraux (Zellweger) as she drives down the Eastern seaboard from city to city in a quixotic search for a wealthy man to fund a new life for her and her sons. The film is based on a true story that Hamilton told Merv Griffin about his early life on the road with his mom and brother.Aaron Ryder, Ara Katz and Art Spigel will produce. Artfire is financing, and worldwide sales will be handled by Essential Entertainment, which will shop the film in Berlin this week. Hamilton will be exec producer along with Ron Ward, Rob Pritchard, Dan Fireman and Robert Kosberg. Zellweger will next be seen alongside George Clooney in the comedy "Leatherheads," which Universal releases April 4. Read the full article at: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117980724.html

February 10 2008
BERLIN -- Bo Zenga is making his directorial debut on the horror spoof "Stan Helsing" for Scott Steindorff's Stone Village Pictures. Jere Hausfater's Essential Entertainment has signed on to handle worldwide sales on the new film. Written by Zenga, the film takes place on Halloween night where the reluctant hero and video-store clark, Stan Helsing, has to save a town from the six biggest monsters in cinema history. Principal photography starts in April. Zenga has a strong track record in the spoof genre. His credits include serving as a producer on "Scary Movie," which grossed more than $300 million. The "Scary Movie" franchise went on to gross more than $800 million. Steindorff and Zenga previously collaborated together on "Turistas." Essential is also selling the Julia Roberts starrer, "Fireflies in the Garden"; "Clive Barker's "Book of Blood"; "The Informers," starring Billy Bob Thornton, Kim Bassinger and Winona Ryder; "Solomon Kane" from writer-director Michael J. Bassett; and the action-drama "Defiance" from Edward Zwick.

February 7 2008
BERLIN -- Fluctuating currencies, more conservative investment behavior and the ever-present threat of a global economic downturn are all grabbing headlines ahead of the year's first major European-set buying and selling shindig.

But despite the backdrop of hard times, this year's European Film Market, which runs during the Berlin International Film Festival, is primed to be busy.

Unified Pictures CEO Keith Kjarval, whose U.S. sales and financier banner is bringing Jeremy Alter's film noir "The Perfect Sleep" to the market, says it's all been seen before.

"The truth of the matter is the weak dollar doesn't affect our business too much," he said. "People are upping the ante because it has made some domestic executives flinch a little bit. The global economy has seen its fluctuations throughout the years, but it is no secret the film industry flourishes during war, conflict and turmoil. I am very excited about the times we live now and am looking forward to Berlin."

Added Irina Ignatiew, executive vp in charge of international distribution at German sales group Telepool: "If I said the weak dollar wasn't effecting us, I'd be lying. It isn't just the U.S.; a lot of countries have their currencies still tied to the dollar, so we are trying to compensate possible losses by moving higher volumes without underselling the films.

"However, sometimes it just makes sense to wait it out. Generally, we have no reason to complain. We don't feel the problem in the European territories, and we do a lot of our business in Europe."

Buyers jetting into the German capital are quietly confident that this year's EFM, which runs through Feb. 15, will provide steady business and healthy deal levels.

One European-based U.S. acquisitions executive said that there are a handful of projects unspooling during the EFM and a few due for a glitzy rollout on the big screens of the Berlinale that already have whetted buyers' appetites.

"Release slates need to be filled out, and there are a few projects (at Berlin) that look interesting," one buyer said. "The (writers) strike means specialty arms are looking to pick up material to build slates from 2009 on."

Among the market titles expected to attract buzz are "The Damned United," directed by Tom Hooper; Italian director Antonio Luigi Grimaldi's "Caos calmo"; "Solomon Kane," directed by Michael J. Bassett; and Erick Zonca's "Julia," which will have its premiere in Berlin's competition lineup.

The ongoing writers strike in the U.S. and pending SAG industrial action during the summer also could spell opportunity for sellers here with bankrolled projects and firm commitment from quality talent.

Essential Entertainment CEO Jere Hausfater, one of the most recognizable faces in the global market business, said he thought buyers didn't have time to sit down and digest just what impact a strike would have when it started during the opening first few days of the American Film Market in the fall last year.

"With the European Film Market the first big-scale market of the year, the impact has had time to settle in," he said. His company is bringing in a slew of well-heeled titles, including "Kane" and "Fireflies in the Garden."

But the boom times of massive presales paying for production on the back of a director and a sprinkling of tentative talent agreements are long gone.

"At AFM this year, we were very hesitant to prebuy anything since we don't know what will happen, if projects will go ahead or not," said Yoko Higuchi-Zitzmann, head of acquisitions at Germany's Constantin Film. "We may have to look more to European films if some of the U.S. stuff doesn't pan out."

Said Ealing Studios International head of sales Natalie Brenner: "We are only cautiously optimistic because the days of cleaning up on international sales are long over. For independent film, unless you have a big-budget thriller or action film with big names, you really are up against it (in the marketplace). The bigger buyers are just looking for those headline films to fill slates right now."

Brenner and her team are repping the much anticipated "Damned United" at the market. The mantra that quality titles will always sell is set to be bourne out by the market experience over the coming days.

Said Hausfater: "Berlin could be a very, very good market for sellers with quality product on slates. Luckily, we (at Essential) are very fortunate to have movies in post, shooting and a couple with definitive start dates, so we're doing all right." But don't expect dealmaking to be speedy.

"International distributors are very cautious, although optimistically cautious," Hausfater said. "(Buyers') decision-making process is very calculated and cumbersome right now." Said Kjarval: "Buyers in general have experienced this before. I understand that other markets have seen tentative buyers, but if you have quality material and have been paying attention to what audiences are going to see, you will have a good market."

February 1 2008
British horror master Clive Barker is taking his tales of terror to the big screen again. Matador Pictures and Barker's Midnight Picture Show shingle are teaming to adapt what is planned to be the first in a series of films based on the horror author/filmmaker's fiction collection "Books of Blood." John Harrison ("Tales From the Darkside: The Movie") will direct from a script written by Harrison and Darin Silverman. Sophie Ward ("Young Sherlock Holmes") and Jonas Armstrong (the U.K.'s TV series "Robin Hood") are set to star. The "Blood" series consisted of six collections of horror stories published from 1984-85. The books made Barker an overnight literary sensation. "Blood" will adapt the first story from Book 1, which centers on a paranormal expert who, while investigating a gruesome slaying, finds a house that is at the intersection of "highways" transporting the souls in the afterlife. Barker, whose written works have inspired such film franchises as "Hellraiser" and "Candyman," will produce with Midnight Picture Show's Jorge Saralegui and Joe Daley. Matador Pictures' Nigel Thomas and Lauri Apelian and Micky Macpherson of Edinburgh-based Plum Films also are producing. Los Angeles-based Essential Entertainment is handling worldwide sales and will debut the project next week's European Film Market in Berlin. Newbridge Entertainment Capital, Scottish Screen and Entertainment Motion Pictures are financing the film. Barker is in development on a new "Hellraiser" movie, while "Midnight Meat Train," which is based on his short story, is due in the spring from Lionsgate. Barker is repped by ICM.

January 31 2008
Matador Pictures and Midnight Picture Show are teaming to bring "Clive Barker's Book of Blood" to the bigscreen. The project represents the first in a series of "Book of Blood" stories that the two companies plan to make into a film franchise. Sophie Ward and Jonas Armstrong will topline the pic, which is being helmed by John Harrison ("Tales From the Darkside: The Movie" ). Harrison wrote the screenplay with Darin Silverman. Story centers on a paranormal expert who, while investigating a gruesome slaying, finds a house that is at the intersection of "highways" transporting souls to the afterlife. L.A.-based Essential Entertainment is handling worldwide sales for "Book of Blood" and will debut the project at the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin. Barker is producing alongside Jorge Saralegui, Joe Daley, Nigel Thomas, Lauri Apelian and Micky Macpherson. "Book of Blood" is produced with Cinema One, the U.K.-based production and financing outfit set up by Matador and Regent Capital, with funding from Newbridge Entertainment Capital, Scottish Screen and Entertainment Motion Pictures. Read the full article at: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117979968.html

January 8 2008
PARIS -- Max Von Sydow and Pete Postlethwaite are joining star James Purefoy in the cast of "Solomon Kane." Relative neophytes Rachel Hurd-Wood ("Perfume: the Story of a Murderer"), Alice Krige ("Silent Hill") and Mackenzie Crook (the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films) have also been cast, according to Paris-based producer-distributor Samuel Hadida, head of Davis Films. Planned as the first in a trilogy, "Solomon Kane" is an epic tale of a 16th century soldier tormented by his past evil deeds, seeking redemption by battling a sinister power threatening the kingdom. Pic is adapted from the pulp novels of Robert E. Howard, author of "Conan the Barbarian," first serialized in the 1920s and '30s. Helmer Michael J. Bassett ("Deathwatch") will direct from his own script for co-producers Hadida ("Domino") and Paul Berrow, head of Epic Tales. Shooting is due to begin in Prague this month. International sales will be handled by Los Angeles-based Essential Entertainment and by Metropolitan Filmexport in France.

October 2 2007
LONDON -- James Purefoy has been cast as puritan swordsman Solomon Kane in a movie of the same name to be made from the stories of Robert E. Howard, the filmmakers said Monday. Purefoy, who recently headlined HBO's "Rome" as Emperor Mark Antony, has been cast in the Davis Films production, which is due to start shooting this year. Paris-based producer and distributor Samuel Hadida said signing Purefoy came after an "exhaustive search" for the iconic hero of Howard's classic comic book character. Howard also created Conan the Barbarian. Kane is a 16th century soldier who learns that his brutal and cruel actions have damned him but is determined to redeem himself by living peaceably. But he finds himself dragged out of retirement for a fight against evil. The first in a planned series of three movies, Michael J. Bassett ("Deathwatch") will direct from his own script, with Hadida and Wandering Star principal Paul Berrow in Prague producing. "(James) Purefoy's ability to embody Kane's complex heroism, struggles and failings as he wages a mortal battle made him the perfect modern hero in this epic fantasy," Hadida said. Purefoy is repped by CAA, Independent Talent Group and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Davis Films also is working on "Onimusha" with director Christophe Gans and "Killing Suki Flood," to be directed by Louis Couvelaire. Davis is in development on a "Silent Hill" sequel and an English-language remake of Media Asia's "Exiled." Run by French siblings Samuel and Victor Hadida, Davis Films is one of France's leading production and distribution labels. International sales for "Kane" are being handled by Los Angeles-based Essential Entertainment.

October 1 2007
James Purefoy has been cast in the lead on Samuel Hadida's upcoming comic book adaptation Solomon Kane. Following what the producers called "an exhaustive search", they have finally found the man to play the eponymous 16th century soldier and Puritan. Kane is a damned soul following a life of cruelty and brutality, and must redeem himself by battling the forces of darkness. Paris-based Davis Films is planning three episodes based on the comic books by Conan The Barbarian creator Robert E Howard. Los Angeles-based Essential Entertainment is handling international sales. Michael J Bassett will direct from his own screenplay, and principal photography is set to begin in Prague. Hadida called Purefoy "a powerful and commanding screen presence", adding: "Purefoy's ability to embody Kane's complex heroism, struggles and failings as he wages a mortal battle, made him the perfect modern hero in this epic fantasy." Purefoy recently starred as Mark Anthony in BBC/HBO series Rome. He is represented by CAA, Independent Talent Group, and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Davis Films' slate includes the video game adaptation Onimusha with director Christophe Gans, and Killing Suki Flood, to be directed by Louis Couvelaire. The company is developing a sequel to the horror film Silent Hill and an English-language remake of Media Asia's Exiled.

August 9 2007
The Hollywood Reporter, Aug 9, 2007, by Tatiana Siegel and Borys Kit

Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, Alexa Davalos and Tomas Arana are joining the cast of the Daniel Craig starrer "Defiance" for Paramount Vantage. Ed Zwick wrote and is directing the World War II drama, which is based on a true story.

The film revolves around Jewish brothers (Craig, Schreiber and Bell) living in Nazi-occupied Poland who escape into the Belarussian forest where they join Russian resistance fighters in battling the Nazis. Throughout the war, they build a village inside the forest and save the lives of more than 1,200 Jews. Zwick's screenplay is based on Nechama Tec's book "Defiance: The Bielski Partisans."

Davalos will play Lilka, a Polish refugee and the love interest of Craig's character. Arana will play Ben Zion, a skilled leader in the resistance.

Schreiber, whose credits include "The Painted Veil" and "The Manchurian Candidate," next appears in the indie satire "The Ten" and recently finished shooting "Love in the Time of Cholera." He is repped by CAA.

Bell recently wrapped production on sci-fi movie "Jumper" and most recently appeared in Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers." He is repped by Endeavor and Artists Independent Management.

Davalos next appears in Robert Benton's "Feast of Love" opposite Morgan Freeman and Greg Kinnear. She also appears in Frank Darabont's upcoming collaboration with Stephen King, "The Mist." She is repped by ICM and Anonymous Content.

Arana, whose credits include "The Bourne Supremacy" and "Gladiator," recently wrapped an Italian remake of Alfred Hitchcock's "Rebecca." He is repped by Kesha Williams at Melanie Greene Management and Diamond Management in the U.K.

May 24 2007
In Cannes, Momentum Pictures has taken UK and Spanish rights to Defiance, the WWII action drama being planned by Ed Zwick. Bedford Falls and Grosvenor Park are producing and financing. As previously reported, Daniel Craig will star in the film, based on the true story of four brothers who built an armed resistance of Jewish fighters. Richard Napper, Momentum's managing director Europe, said: "With such an epic script and strong talent attached we are very excited to be working with Essential and Grosvenor on this project in both the UK and Spain." The deal was negotiated by Essential Entertainment's CEO Jere Hausfater and Robert Walak, director of acquisitions for Momentum Pictures.

May 21 2007
CANNES -- Just 48 hours after wrapping principal photography, the Julia Roberts' starrer "Fireflies in the Garden" has virtually sold out in Europe. Essential Entertainment signed all rights deals for "Fireflies" in Cannes with Italy's Medusa, Manga in Spain, RCV in Benelux and Nordisk for all of Scandinavia. The Senator International production also locked up several smaller territories, including South Africa for Nu Metro. "I was in Austin (Texas) on Friday for the last day's shoot, flew to Berlin (Senator's headquarters), then came to Cannes on Saturday," "Fireflies" producer and Senator International head Marco Weber said. Directed by Dennis Lee and featuring a cast that includes Ryan Reynolds, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson and Carrie-Anne Moss, "Fireflies" is the first production by Senator International since German parent company Senator Entertainment emerged from insolvency proceedings. "This film really sets our blueprint for the kind of productions we want to do," Weber said. "We want to be about quality, not quantity." Senator International is in preproduction on the Bret Easton Ellis adaptation "The Informers," which Gregor Jordan ("Buffalo Soldier") will direct. English-language productions are the final piece in Senator's rapid post-bankruptcy expansion. Last year, Senator was one of the most active German buyers in Cannes, snatching up such titles as "Son of Rambow," "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Fast Food Nation." The company has also been bolstering its German production slate. On Sunday, Senator announced it had signed a deal with German art house director Andreas Dresen ("Summer in Berlin") for his next two projects. Senator has acquired German theatrical rights to Dresen's "Wolke Neun" (Cloud Nine), which reteams the director with "Summer in Berlin" producer Peter Rommel. The story of a woman who begins an affair after 30 years of marriage is set to begin shooting this summer. After wrapping "Wolke Neun," Dresen will shoot the tragicomedy "Whisky Mit Wodka" (Whiskey With Vodka) as a co-production between Senator Film and Rommel's Peter Rommel productions. "Summer in Berlin" screenwriter Wolfgang Kohlhaase will also pen "Whiskey." Senator plans to release both films in Germany next year

May 18 2007
Screen Daily, 18 May 2007, Jeremy Kay in Cannes

Christophe Gans has signed to direct the $70m-plus epic adventure Onimusha for Samuel Hadida's Davis Films.

Gans previously collaborated with Hadida on the worldwide hits Silent Hill and Brotherhood Of The Wolf and will arrive on the Croisette on Sunday to meet buyers.

Several studios are believed to be circling the adaptation of Capcom's global video game smash and Jere Hausfater's Essential Entertainment has reported intense early interest from international buyers.

Leslie Kruger and Master And Commander screenwriter John Collee are adapting the story about a samurai warrior who embarks on a quest to save the woman he loves and the entire world from long prophesied demons.

Production is scheduled to start in February 2008 in China in time for delivery by December 2009.

"I have loved the Onimusha story for years and am overjoyed to have the opportunity now to bring it to life for worldwide film audiences and to access the unparalleled film resources of China to do so on the scale that the story demands," Gans said.

"There is nothing else in the marketplace like Onimusha," Hadida added. "It combines swashbuckling adventure, passion, and heroic destiny on an epic scale.

"I have worked with Christophe on three successful productions and am confident that he brings the ideal vision to realise this incredible story."

"I'm thrilled to continue my relationship with Sammy," Hausfater said. "This film has enough elements to satisfy everybody and will provide unforgettable entertainment of the grandest scale."

Davis Films is currently in pre-production on Michael J Bassett's comic book adaptation Solomon Kane and Louis-Pascal Couvelaire's action title Killing Suki Flood, both of which are being sold here by Essential. Link to story

May 16 2007
Screen Daily, 16 May 2007 by Jeremy Kay in Cannes

Ed Zwick, riding high on the back of his Oscar-nominated global hit Blood Diamond, is preparing the Second World War Polish Resistance epic Defiance and has cast Daniel Craig in the lead.

At time of writing several buyers were circling for domestic rights to the Bedford Falls production, which Zwick will produce and direct from his original screenplay.

Grosvenor Park is financing and will serve as executive producers on the project, which is believed to be in the mid $50m range and is scheduled to begin filming in September. Scouts are eyeing locations in Eastern Europe and Canada.

The true story follows four brothers in Nazi-occupied Poland that flee into the Belarussian Forest with a band of Jews and join up with Russian Resistance fighters.

Jere Hausfater’s Los Angeles-based sales agency Essential Entertainment is handling international sales on the title, which has already sparked intense interest among international buyers here on the Croisette.

The film is being lined up for a fourth quarter 2008 release in time for what parties involved in the project said will be a major Academy Awards push.

Essential is also selling Senator Entertainment’s Bret Easton Ellis adaptation The Informers, currently in pre-production, and ensemble drama Fireflies In The Garden, which has wrapped and stars Ryan Reynolds, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Carrie-Anne Moss and Julia Roberts.

The slate includes the Sammy Hadida titles Solomon Kane, which Michael J Bassett will direct based on Robert E Howard’s comic book character, and the action thriller Killing Suki Flood, which Louis-Pascal Couvelaire is lining up to direct. Link to Story

March 29 2007
Willem Dafoe, Hayden Panettiere, Shannon Lucio, Ioan Gruffudd and George Newbern are joining the ensemble cast of Senator Entertainment's "Fireflies in the Garden." They join Carrie Anne Moss, Ryan Reynolds, Julia Roberts and Emily Watson, who already have boarded the project. Dennis Lee will make his directorial debut from a screenplay he penned. The story is loosely based on Lee's life and explores the complexities of love and commitment in a family torn apart when faced with an unexpected tragedy. Shooting is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Austin. Senator's Marco Weber and Vanessa Coifman are producing alongside Sukee Chew. The film is the first U.S. production that Senator is financing and producing. "We are quite fortunate to have secured an ensemble with such talent and global boxoffice track record," Weber said. "Their desire to be involved with this film clearly shows the quality of the script." The movie is represented by CAA for North American rights, and Jere Hausfeter's Essential Entertainment is handling foreign territories, excluding Germany, where Senator has an established distribution chain.

February 10 2007
The Hollywood Reporter, Feb. 10, 2007 by Tatiana Siegel

February 9 2007
Variety, Fri., Feb. 9, 2007 by Alison James, Patrick Frater

Essential Entertainment, the new sales outfit fronted by Jere Hausfater and John Fremes, has unveiled its first pics since being formed last month with a large slug of venture capital coin.

Company has boarded two pictures from Samuel Hadida's Davis Films and will handle world rights outside North America. Pics are epic adventure "Solomon Kane" and action-thriller "Killing Suki Flood."

"Solomon" is an adaptation of a Robert E. Howard comic book about a man fighting to retrieve his soul from the devil he sold it to. Pic will be helmed by Michael Bassett ("Deathwatch"), with a Prague shoot skedded to begin in May. Hadida and Wandering Star boss Paul Berrew produce.

"Flood" is to be helmed by former commercials and "Michel Vaillant" director Louis-Pascal Couvelaire from a screenplay by Katherine Tomlinson that is adapted from Robert Leininger's New Mexico-set novel.

Essential, which is chaired by equity finance maven Jim Kohlberg, will arrange production finance, consult with financiers and build a slate of third-party and in-house movies for global sales, distribution and marketing.

Paris-based Davis has recently produced Tony Scott-helmed "Domino" and Christophe Gans' "Silent Hill."

Essential CEO Hausfater has worked at Disney, Intermedia and Miramax. Link to story

February 9 2007
Senator Entertainment will finance and produce its first US production, Fireflies In The Garden, written and to be directed by Dennis Lee. Carrie Anne Moss and Emily Watson star on the project, which is set to begin shooting in March in Austin, Texas. Julia Roberts and Ryan Reynolds in negotiations to come aboard. Lee's semi-autobiographical story explores the complexities of love and commitment in a family torn apart when faced by an unexpected tragedy. Senator's Marco Weber will produce with the company's head of production Vanessa Coifman and Sukee Chew. Jere Hausfater and Milton Liu will serve as executive producers on the project. "Dennis wrote a gripping and entertaining story that encompasses the true meaning of family," Weber said. "This ensemble of actors is a testament to the strength of the material, and we are extremely fortunate to bring all of these people together." CAA is representing North American rights and Hausfater's Essential Entertainment will handle international sales excluding Germany, where Senator will distribute. Senator is currently in pre-production on the Brett Easton Ellis' adaptation The Informers.

February 2 2007
PARIS -- Samuel Hadida's Davis Films has signed French action helmer Louis-Pascal Couvelaire to direct an adaptation of Robert Leininger's cult thriller novel "Killing Suki Flood," Hadida said Thursday. Leininger's novel begins with a chance meeting on a deserted New Mexico highway between Frank, a traveler with a criminal secret, and Suki, a sexy young woman escaping from her sadistic boyfriend. Suki discovers that Frank is carrying a large quantity of stolen cash and he finds that she has taken her boyfriend's stash of diamonds. "It's a very hip, cool road movie, in the style of 'True Romance'," said Hadida, who also produced the Tony Scott-helmed picture. Casting is underway on the English-language movie, which is budgeted in the $30 million range. "I hope we'll shoot this summer in the same Nevada and New Mexico locations which appear in the book," Hadida said. Hadida's distribution company Metropolitan Filmexport will release the film in France in spring 2008. World sales will be launched at next week's European Film Market in Berlin through Essential Entertainment, the new venture launched by sales veteran Jere Hausfater and Jim Kohlberg. An award-winning ad director, Couvelaire's previous credits include Le Mans racing drama "Michel Vaillant" and the desert heist story "Sweat," starring Jean-Hugues Anglade, which also was produced by Hadida. The screenplay for "Killing Suki" is by Katherine Tomlinson, who wrote the TV series "La Femme Nikita." Hadida's recent production credits include video game adaptation "Silent Hill" and Tony Scott's "Domino," which starred Keira Knightley. Davis Film expects to start production in May on the previously announced epic adventure "Solomon Kane" adapted from the Robert E. Howard classic about a 16th century Puritan who wanders the world to vanquish evil. The movie, co-produced with Wandering Star, is directed by Michael Bassett ("Deathwatch"). "Casting is on-going and we're scouting for locations, probably in Prague," Hadida said. The company also is in post-production on the third installment of the "Resident Evil" franchise made with Germany's Constantin Film, which is due for release in the last quarter of this year.

January 22 2007
Variety, Mon., Jan. 22, 2007 by Dave McNary

Veteran sales-acquisitions exec Jere Hausfater and equity firm maven Jim Kohlberg have joined forces as Essential Entertainment, aiming the shingle to serve as a one-stop shop for new investors and producers.

Los Angeles-based Essential will arrange production financing, consult with financiers who want to invest in features and build a slate of third party and inhouse productions for global sales, distribution and marketing. Hausfater, who's worked at Disney, Intermedia and Miramax, will serve as CEO and Kohlberg will be chaiman.

Hausfater said Essential's anchor will be its global sales and distribution capability. He told Daily Variety that Essential's designed to fill a gap for producers by providing more support than a sales agents can provide.

"Essential will serve as a gateway to Hollywood for new investors, monetizing risk for single pictures or a slate of pictures," he added. "We have the ability to use our own funds and other capital to acquire rights, provide pre-production monies, and we also have the expertise to mount financing for pictures outside or in conjunction with studios."

Hausfater said he couldn't disclose the level of capitalization for Essential but added, "It's enough to get into trouble."

Kohlberg's the managing partner in Kohlberg & Co., which he formed in 1987 with his father Jerome Kohlberg Jr., who was the senior founding partner of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Kohlberg & Co. has raised more than $2.2 billion since its founding. He's been involved via the Filbert Steps shingle with producing the 2000 feature "Two Family House" and a documentary on Dalton Trumbo.

"Since last producing and financing films, I have been evaluating various business opportunities for future involvement in the industry," Kohlberg said. "I was impressed not only with the team Jere had assembled, but with our collective vision, which further reinforces the basis of what we're announcing here today."

Essential's also setting up New York-based Essential Prods., with Al Klingenstein as CEO and Kohlberg to develop and produce commercial mainstream pictures. The banner will handle pics of all budget ranges with an emphasis on projects that can perform at the international box office.

Hausfater's also signed Randy Hermann as chief operating officer and chief financial officer and John Fremes as president of international. Hermann, who spent a decade as CFO and exec VP of Mandalay Pictures, will head production financing and advisory functions.

During his Mandalay tenure, Hermann arranged $600 million in production financing. Fremes was most recently president of Element Films Intl. and was the founder and president of Le Monde Entertainment, a division of Alliance Atlantis. Link to story