Amazon Studios is launching the Amazon MGM Studios Distribution division, which will oversee licensing of Amazon Original titles and MGM new release and library movies and series such as film franchises “James Bond,” “Rocky “and “Creed,” and series “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Vikings,” “Fargo” and the upcoming “Hotel Cocaine” from MGM+.
Titles at launch will include television series like “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Goliath” and “Hunters” and films like “Coming 2 America, “”Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “7500,” “All the Old Knives,” “Bliss,” “I Want You Back,” “The Tender Bar,” “The Tomorrow War,” “The Voyeurs,” and “Without Remorse.”
MGM’s storied library houses more than 4,000 film titles, 17,000 TV episodes, including 180 Academy Awards winners and 100 Emmy Awards winners.
Also Read:
Amazon Studios, Prime Video Hit With Layoffs
The division will be helmed by Chris Ottinger, who has led the distribution team at MGM for more than a decade.
“Pioneering the distribution of Amazon Originals...
Titles at launch will include television series like “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Goliath” and “Hunters” and films like “Coming 2 America, “”Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “7500,” “All the Old Knives,” “Bliss,” “I Want You Back,” “The Tender Bar,” “The Tomorrow War,” “The Voyeurs,” and “Without Remorse.”
MGM’s storied library houses more than 4,000 film titles, 17,000 TV episodes, including 180 Academy Awards winners and 100 Emmy Awards winners.
Also Read:
Amazon Studios, Prime Video Hit With Layoffs
The division will be helmed by Chris Ottinger, who has led the distribution team at MGM for more than a decade.
“Pioneering the distribution of Amazon Originals...
- 5/8/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Amazon Studios and Prime Video have become the latest entertainment giant to enact layoffs. The cuts impact about 100 employees across the business, the company said Thursday.
“Like many businesses, we have been closely monitoring economic conditions and our organizational needs and have made the decision to adjust resources,” an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement. “As a result, a small number of roles will be eliminated on some teams. We will be supporting impacted employees through this transition and thank them for the work they have done on behalf of our customers.”
The spokesperson noted that new roles will be added in areas for future growth.
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Disney Begins Second Round of Layoffs, Totaling 4,000 Cuts
In addition to Amazon Studios and Prime Video, the tech giant has three other workforce cuts: One in November that impacted its Alexa unit, another in January that impacted 18,000 employees and another in March that impacted 9,000 employees.
“Like many businesses, we have been closely monitoring economic conditions and our organizational needs and have made the decision to adjust resources,” an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement. “As a result, a small number of roles will be eliminated on some teams. We will be supporting impacted employees through this transition and thank them for the work they have done on behalf of our customers.”
The spokesperson noted that new roles will be added in areas for future growth.
Also Read:
Disney Begins Second Round of Layoffs, Totaling 4,000 Cuts
In addition to Amazon Studios and Prime Video, the tech giant has three other workforce cuts: One in November that impacted its Alexa unit, another in January that impacted 18,000 employees and another in March that impacted 9,000 employees.
- 4/27/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Integration of MGM film group and Amazon Studios is now complete,
Kevin Wilson has been named head of theatrical distribution at MGM and Amazon Original Movies, marking the completed integration of the two film groups, it has emerged at CinemaCon.
Wilson succeeds his former colleague Erik Lomis, the industry veteran who oversaw distribution at MGM and died last month. He will oversee and execute US theatrical distribution strategy reporting to Courteney Valenti, head of film, streaming and theatrical, Amazon Studios & MGM, who announced the promotion in an internal memo.
Wilson will work closely with Sue Kroll, head of marketing, Amazon & MGM Studios,...
Kevin Wilson has been named head of theatrical distribution at MGM and Amazon Original Movies, marking the completed integration of the two film groups, it has emerged at CinemaCon.
Wilson succeeds his former colleague Erik Lomis, the industry veteran who oversaw distribution at MGM and died last month. He will oversee and execute US theatrical distribution strategy reporting to Courteney Valenti, head of film, streaming and theatrical, Amazon Studios & MGM, who announced the promotion in an internal memo.
Wilson will work closely with Sue Kroll, head of marketing, Amazon & MGM Studios,...
- 4/25/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Kevin Wilson has been named president of theatrical distribution for MGM and parent company Amazon Original Studios.
The promotion was announced during CinemaCon, the annual gathering of theater owners and Hollywood studios in Las Vegas. It also comes as Amazon makes a major push into theatrical, beginning with Ben Affleck’s Air.
Wilson essentially succeeds Erik Lomis, the veteran distribution executive who passed away suddenly on March 22. He was Lomis’ colleague for many years.
Word of Wilson’s ascension was announced by Courtenay Valenti, the newly installed head of film, streaming and theatrical for Amazon Studios and MGM. She said the passing of Lomis was a “tremendously sad moment and profound loss for all who knew and worked with him” but that the companies are fortunate to have Wilson.
“We are at a very dynamic and exciting time now that the integration of the MGM film group and Amazon Studios is complete.
The promotion was announced during CinemaCon, the annual gathering of theater owners and Hollywood studios in Las Vegas. It also comes as Amazon makes a major push into theatrical, beginning with Ben Affleck’s Air.
Wilson essentially succeeds Erik Lomis, the veteran distribution executive who passed away suddenly on March 22. He was Lomis’ colleague for many years.
Word of Wilson’s ascension was announced by Courtenay Valenti, the newly installed head of film, streaming and theatrical for Amazon Studios and MGM. She said the passing of Lomis was a “tremendously sad moment and profound loss for all who knew and worked with him” but that the companies are fortunate to have Wilson.
“We are at a very dynamic and exciting time now that the integration of the MGM film group and Amazon Studios is complete.
- 4/25/2023
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Amazon Studios announced in an internal memo on Tuesday that it will combine its theatrical distribution team with that of the recently acquired MGM, with Kevin Wilson serving as president of the division.
In addition to Wilson’s promotion, Valenti announced that Amazon Studios’ distribution chief Mark Boxer will remain with the studio as head of specialty distribution, reporting to Wilson.
Wilson was a longtime partner of MGM theatrical distribution chief Erik Lomis, who died in March. He will oversee all of Amazon and MGM’s domestic theatrical distribution strategy and report to Amazon’s film division head Courtenay Valenti.
“Erik Lomis’s passing was a tremendously sad moment and profound loss for all who knew and worked with him. But we are very fortunate that Kevin Wilson, Erik’s partner and colleague of many years, will be Head of Theatrical Distribution,” Valenti said in a memo to employees.
Also Read:
Erik Lomis,...
In addition to Wilson’s promotion, Valenti announced that Amazon Studios’ distribution chief Mark Boxer will remain with the studio as head of specialty distribution, reporting to Wilson.
Wilson was a longtime partner of MGM theatrical distribution chief Erik Lomis, who died in March. He will oversee all of Amazon and MGM’s domestic theatrical distribution strategy and report to Amazon’s film division head Courtenay Valenti.
“Erik Lomis’s passing was a tremendously sad moment and profound loss for all who knew and worked with him. But we are very fortunate that Kevin Wilson, Erik’s partner and colleague of many years, will be Head of Theatrical Distribution,” Valenti said in a memo to employees.
Also Read:
Erik Lomis,...
- 4/25/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Longtime film distribution executive Kevin Wilson has been named head of theatrical distribution for Amazon Studios and MGM.
News of Wilson’s promotion was shared in a memo to staff from Courtenay Valenti, Amazon Studios and MGM’s head of film, streaming and theatrical.
“We are at a very dynamic and exciting time now that the integration of the MGM film group and Amazon Studios is complete,” Valenti wrote, announcing that the studios’ theatrical distribution groups have officially been combined “into one unified team.”
Wilson steps into the role following the death of Erik Lomis, who served as MGM’s head of theatrical distribution amid the studio’s acquisition by Amazon. Lomis died in March at 64.
“Erik Lomis’ passing was a tremendously sad moment and profound loss for all who knew and worked with him,” Valenti wrote. “But we are very fortunate that Kevin Wilson, Erik’s partner and colleague of many years,...
News of Wilson’s promotion was shared in a memo to staff from Courtenay Valenti, Amazon Studios and MGM’s head of film, streaming and theatrical.
“We are at a very dynamic and exciting time now that the integration of the MGM film group and Amazon Studios is complete,” Valenti wrote, announcing that the studios’ theatrical distribution groups have officially been combined “into one unified team.”
Wilson steps into the role following the death of Erik Lomis, who served as MGM’s head of theatrical distribution amid the studio’s acquisition by Amazon. Lomis died in March at 64.
“Erik Lomis’ passing was a tremendously sad moment and profound loss for all who knew and worked with him,” Valenti wrote. “But we are very fortunate that Kevin Wilson, Erik’s partner and colleague of many years,...
- 4/25/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Kevin Wilson has officially been named Head of Theatrical Distribution for Amazon Studios and MGM as the parent company combines labels into one theatrical distribution group.
The news comes in the wake of the death of the previous Amazon-mgm distribution boss, Erik Lomis, who was the subject of a heartfelt remembrance Tuesday at CinemaCon by several including Chris Aronson; former MGM Motion Picture bosses Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, now at Warner Bros; and as Warner Bros Domestic Distribution chief Jeff Goldstein.
Recently, Amazon’s pivot back to theatrical saw the $272 million global success of Creed III and the current $69M global gross for Ben Affleck’s dramedy Air, about how Nike nabbed Michael Jordan to make the Air Jordan sneaker. Wilson is a longtime lieutenant of Lomis and is a distribution vet who has handled 100 films that in total grossed more that $7 billion stateside.
Related: CinemaCon 2023 – Deadline’s...
The news comes in the wake of the death of the previous Amazon-mgm distribution boss, Erik Lomis, who was the subject of a heartfelt remembrance Tuesday at CinemaCon by several including Chris Aronson; former MGM Motion Picture bosses Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, now at Warner Bros; and as Warner Bros Domestic Distribution chief Jeff Goldstein.
Recently, Amazon’s pivot back to theatrical saw the $272 million global success of Creed III and the current $69M global gross for Ben Affleck’s dramedy Air, about how Nike nabbed Michael Jordan to make the Air Jordan sneaker. Wilson is a longtime lieutenant of Lomis and is a distribution vet who has handled 100 films that in total grossed more that $7 billion stateside.
Related: CinemaCon 2023 – Deadline’s...
- 4/25/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Box Office: ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Barrels to Record $204 Million Debut, ‘Air’ Scores $20 Million
Wahoo! “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” racked up a blockbuster $146 million in its opening weekend and powered to $204.6 million in its first five days of release, squashing expectations and steamrolling the competition at the domestic box office.
The animated movie, a collaboration between Illumination, Nintendo and Universal, has landed a number of records, thanks to positive word-of-mouth, nostalgia for the popular video game series and a huge turnout from family audiences. It currently stands as the biggest opening weekend of the year, overtaking “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” ($106 million). It’s also the second-biggest debut ever for an animated title (surpassing the $135.1 million opening of 2016’s “Finding Dory”), as well as the highest-grossing debut ever for Illumination (beating the $115.7 million earned by 2015’s “Minions”).
“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” scored another $173 million at the international box office, pushing its global tally to a mighty $377 million. It carries a $100 million production budget.
The animated movie, a collaboration between Illumination, Nintendo and Universal, has landed a number of records, thanks to positive word-of-mouth, nostalgia for the popular video game series and a huge turnout from family audiences. It currently stands as the biggest opening weekend of the year, overtaking “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” ($106 million). It’s also the second-biggest debut ever for an animated title (surpassing the $135.1 million opening of 2016’s “Finding Dory”), as well as the highest-grossing debut ever for Illumination (beating the $115.7 million earned by 2015’s “Minions”).
“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” scored another $173 million at the international box office, pushing its global tally to a mighty $377 million. It carries a $100 million production budget.
- 4/9/2023
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Two American university film schools are represented on this year’s Oscar shortlist for Best Live Action Short Film, which have to win film festival awards to qualify. The Academy’s Short Films and Animation branch selected 10 live-action shorts (out of 165 qualified submissions) to contend for Oscar nominations. They will now vote for five nominees from the shortlist after attending January branch screenings in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco.
The shorts are listed below in alphabetical order. No film will be deemed a frontrunner until I have seen it.
Contenders:
“DeKalb Elementary,” Reed Van Dyk, director (UCLA)
“The Eleven O’Clock,” Derin Seale, director (Finch)
“Facing Mecca,” Jan-Eric Mack, director, and Joël Jent, producer (Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion)
“Icebox,” Daniel Sawka, director, and Camille Cornuel, producer (Iceboxthefilmco)
“Lost Face,” Sean Meehan, director, and Sam McGarry, producer (Soma Films)
“My Nephew Emmett,” Kevin Wilson, Jr., director (New York University)
“Rise of a Star,...
The shorts are listed below in alphabetical order. No film will be deemed a frontrunner until I have seen it.
Contenders:
“DeKalb Elementary,” Reed Van Dyk, director (UCLA)
“The Eleven O’Clock,” Derin Seale, director (Finch)
“Facing Mecca,” Jan-Eric Mack, director, and Joël Jent, producer (Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion)
“Icebox,” Daniel Sawka, director, and Camille Cornuel, producer (Iceboxthefilmco)
“Lost Face,” Sean Meehan, director, and Sam McGarry, producer (Soma Films)
“My Nephew Emmett,” Kevin Wilson, Jr., director (New York University)
“Rise of a Star,...
- 12/12/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Short Films and Animation branch has selected its shortlist of 10 live-action short films (out of 165 qualified submissions) to contend for five Oscar nominations.
American film schools UCLA and Nyu both landed films on the list. “DeKalb University,” directed by UCLA’s Reed Van Dyk, premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and was nominated for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences College Television Awards. “My Nephew Emmett,” from Nyu’s Kevin Wilson Jr., received the gold medal for narrative at the 2017 Student Academy Awards.
The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
“DeKalb Elementary,” Reed Van Dyk, director (UCLA)
“The Eleven O’Clock,” Derin Seale, director (Finch)
“Facing Mecca,” Jan-Eric Mack, director, and Joël Jent, producer (Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion)
“Icebox,” Daniel Sawka, director, and Camille Cornuel, producer (Iceboxthefilmco)
“Lost Face,” Sean Meehan, director, and Sam McGarry,...
American film schools UCLA and Nyu both landed films on the list. “DeKalb University,” directed by UCLA’s Reed Van Dyk, premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and was nominated for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences College Television Awards. “My Nephew Emmett,” from Nyu’s Kevin Wilson Jr., received the gold medal for narrative at the 2017 Student Academy Awards.
The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production companies:
“DeKalb Elementary,” Reed Van Dyk, director (UCLA)
“The Eleven O’Clock,” Derin Seale, director (Finch)
“Facing Mecca,” Jan-Eric Mack, director, and Joël Jent, producer (Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion)
“Icebox,” Daniel Sawka, director, and Camille Cornuel, producer (Iceboxthefilmco)
“Lost Face,” Sean Meehan, director, and Sam McGarry,...
- 12/11/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
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