Thompson on Hollywood

Relativity to Hire New Marketing and Distribution Head to Sell Summer Slate

The departure of Relativity Media marketing and distribution chief Peter Adee June 1 after ten months is a typical "blame the messenger" move. In other words, it's age-old industry practice to scapegoat marketing heads when movies aren't working. Adee came in when Relativity acquired Overture's distribution and marketing infrastructure and staff of 43. The MGM and Universal marketing vet knows his stuff. That said, the LAT's use of the word "outspoken" speaks volumes. Part of Adee's job was to figure out how to get along with Relativity's "outspoken" CEO, Ryan Kavanaugh (pictured).

By Anne Thompson
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April 4, 2011 3:46 AM
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Oscar Watch: Reeves Talks Let Me In--Not an Oscar Contender

Let Me In is one of those strange tweener movies that is neither fish nor fowl. It was a fall festival hit, but movie audiences like their movies to fit into neat and tidy categories, and this one defiantly refuses to do that. Here's why.

By Anne Thompson
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October 13, 2010 10:32 AM
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Weekend Box Office: The Social Network Clicks to Top

The most buzzed-about launch of the fall season, The Social Network met (but did not exceed) expectations with a $23-million start, while hard-R vampire thriller Let Me In proved to be a classic tweener: too bloody violent for upscale smart-house crowds and too European for mainstream gore-hounds. Anthony D'Alessandro explains:Sony’s PG-13 Facebook origin myth The Social Network effortlessly clicked its way to the top box office spot with $23 million – a number which was in line with studio estimates, but fell short of crashing any ticket booth’s computer with a fall record. Two R-rated thrillers, Overture’s vampire remake Let Me In and Paramount’s Renee Zellweger-Bradley Cooper vehicle Case 39, each cannibalized their target femme demo, tying with $5.3 million apiece.

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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October 3, 2010 4:17 AM
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Relativity Media Firms Up Release Slate, Adds Three Pictures

Relativity Media is moving forward as Hollywood's newest distributor, finalizing its 2010-2011 release slate with a mix of Overture, Relativity and Rogue titles and a service deal.

By Anne Thompson
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August 12, 2010 8:44 AM
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Relativity's Ammer Out as Overture's Adee Moves In

There's only enough room at any distrib for one head of marketing, so recent Relativity Media hire Geoff Ammer, a well-liked marketing vet who was hired as worldwide marketing president by CEO Ryan Kavanaugh in January, is out, as Overture marketing chief Peter Adee moves in.

By Anne Thompson
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August 10, 2010 11:09 AM
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Relativity Media's Rogue Pacts with New Virgin Production Arm

Wasting no time, Ryan Kavanaugh's Relativity Media, having acquired Universal's Rogue label and Overture's distribution and marketing divisions, has pacted with Richard Branson's Virgin Group, which has formed a new film and television production arm. The next step for Relativity may be going public.

By Anne Thompson
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July 30, 2010 5:42 AM
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Comic-Con: Let Me In is Vampire Coming-of-Age Story with Red Band Trailer

One of the more impressive show-reels at Comic-Con was for the vampire thriller Let Me In (the remake of Let the Right One In) directed by Cloverfield's Matt Reeves. Overture Films will open the film October 1, and thanks to new owner Relativity Media, marketing chief Peter Adee assures me, the film will get a proper release. With proper handling it could become a mainstream hit, judging from the reaction in Hall H. The new Red Band trailer is posted below.

By Anne Thompson
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July 28, 2010 11:04 AM
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Relativity Media's Kavanaugh Takes Over Overture, Becomes Studio Boss

Skeptics of Relativity Media's Ryan Kavanaugh will have to admit that the aggressively ambitious 35-year-old Hollywood upstart is serious about turning his financing operation (he puts up the money for three-quarters of the movies made by Sony and Universal) into a real studio. After six years, the red-haired Wall street operator, who lost his venture capital firm during the 2001 market bust, has earned mogul status with the purchase from Starz of the distribution and marketing staff of Overture Films, which had been on the sales block and recently lost its top two execs, Chris McGurk and Danny Rosett.

By Anne Thompson
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July 24, 2010 1:00 AM
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McGurk and Rosett Are Out at Overture

Another indie bites the dust. At a time of serious contraction in the indie market, Overture Films has been on the block since January.

By Anne Thompson
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July 1, 2010 12:51 PM
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MGM in Flux, Jackson Wants Hobbits, Weinsteins Lose Library, Ortenberg to Apparition

There's a lot going on in Hollywood this summer, as the economy and DVD declines continue to take their toll on several struggling distributors, from MGM and Lionsgate to the Weinstein Co., Overture and Apparition. MGM is in flux, as it struggles to pull itself back from the brink of bankruptcy and figure out a way to get The Hobbit films made with Peter Jackson at the helm. But whether that's possible is still the question. MGM needs help.