Company Profile (continued)
In March 2004, MarVista Entertainment struck a three series co-production and worldwide distribution deal with Brookwell McNamara Entertainment (BME) one of the U.S.'s leading live–action kids programming companies. BME’s credits include Hilary Duff’s Raise Your Voice for New Line Cinema and the highly rated series Even Stevens and That’s So Raven, both airing on the Disney Channel. Under the agreement, BME and MarVista both serve as producers for these new series with MarVista handling the worldwide distribution.
In September 2004, MarVista Entertainment and BME teamed up with The N, the nighttime network for tweens and teens, on a new, multi-series production and development deal for the network. Under the deal, The N ordered 20 new half-hour episodes of the original teen drama, Beyond the Break, the first of the three new television projects. Starring David Chokachi, Beyond the Break, was produced entirely on location in Oahu, Hawaii and was subsequently renewed for another season of 14 half-hour episodes.
In 2005, MarVista Entertainment signed licence agreements in the U.S. with Lifetime Television, Universal Television and ABC Family for four movies originally produced by third party producers and for which MarVista acquired international distribution rights. For Lifetime Television is the thriller Love Thy Neighbor, starring Alexandra Paul, delivering a 3.0 household rating during its premiere on Sunday, February 26th, 2006, the network’s highest rating for a movie airing during the Sunday or Monday timeslot over the last two years. Also for that network is Night of Terror, starring Mitzi Kapture, which debuted on the network on March 26, 2006. For Universal Television is Disaster Zone: Volcano in New York, starring Costas Mandylor and Michael Ironside, a disaster picture which debuted in February. And for ABC Family is the romantic comedy Christmas In Boston (aka Instant Message) starring Marla Sokoloff (The Practice), Patrick Adams (Old School), Lindy Booth (The 4400) and Jonathan Cherry (Final Destination 2).
The success of the movies led to additional license agreements with Lifetime Television under which MarVista, as international distributor delivered five new movies for the 2006/2007 television season, produced by third party producers, including Cries in the Dark, starring CSI Miami’s Eva La Rue, which was amongst the top ten rated movies amongst all cable movies aired during its week of broadcast. Also delivered were Past Sins, starring Lauralee Bell (The Young and The Restless), Seventeen and Missing, starring Dedee Pfeiffer; A Decent Proposal, starring Jessica Tuck (Wild Hoags, CSI, Gray’s Anatomy); and Stolen Innocence, starring Gina Phillips (Ally McBeal, Boston Public).
In the realm of kids programming, MarVista Entertainment and Canada’s Alberta Filmworks (Brokeback Mountain) have teamed up on 26 half-hour episodes of I Am Not An Alien, a live-action and CGI mix series aimed at the tween market. The show will be produced by Alberta Filmworks for Canada’s Family Channel, with international distribution rights being acquired by MarVista. MarVista will work together with Alberta Filmworks to assist in meeting the demands of US and international broadcasters and MarVista will be responsible for worldwide distribution outside of Canada. I Am Not An Alien is an action comedy that combines excitement and humor to pit three smart, witty teens and a three-foot myopic alien against a crafty army of shape changers. A fusion of live action and computer animation, I Am Not An Alien is the creation of Jeff Schechter, whose writing credits include episodes for the television series Totally Spies and Martin Mystery.
I Am Not An Alien further solidifies the relationship between MarVista Entertainment and Alberta Filmworks who formed a unique alliance in July 2004 to provide a new, boutique distribution option for Canadian producers, by offering them access to a CTF (Canadian Television Fund) approved distribution company owned and controlled by Alberta Filmworks, as well as access MarVista’s international distribution network outside of Canada. Four projects have been distributed by MarVista internationally under this arrangement to date including Waking Up Wally: The Walter Gretzky Story, Spirit Bear, The Sheldon Kennedy Story and Stone Undercover.
MarVista also complements its production activities with strategic acquisitions/distribution agreements.
In September 2005, MarVista entered into a First Look Distribution Agreement with the award-winning Canadian production company Apartment 11 to distribute over 150 half-hour episodes of live-action tween programming. Mystery Hunters, Surprise! It’s Edible. Incredible! and Prank Patrol have all been renewed by their respective Canadian broadcasters. Furthermore, the series Prank Patrol, recently debuted in the UK on the BBC as a format marking MarVista’s first foray into the lucrative formatting television marketplace.
In May 2006, MarVista Entertainment entered into a video label/distribution agreement with Echo Bridge Home Entertainment to distribute MarVista’s upcoming home entertainment titles to the United States marketplace. Award-winning talent is featured on the new label including Emmy Award-winner and Golden Globe-winner Judd Hirsch, Academy Award-nominee Danny Aiello, Academy Award and Golden Globe-winner Mercedes Ruehl, and Gil Bellows (Ally McBeal) in the hilarious comedy Running With The Hitman; and three-time Emmy Award nominee Matthew Perry in The Ron Clark Story, based on the true life story of inspirational teacher Ron Clark. Other featured titles include the thrillers Night of Terror, starring Mitzi Kapture (Baywatch) and Love Thy Neighbor with Alexandra Paul, Gary Hudson and Shannon Lawson; the disaster movie Absolute Zero, starring Jeff Fahey and Erika Eleniak (Baywatch); and Some Things That Stay, a compelling coming of age story with Katie Boland (Salem Witch Trials) and Kevin Zegers (Zoom, Transamerica).
MarVista serves as the exclusive international distributor for a library of over 50 movies. In addition to the above mentioned, other titles include the family feature Spirit Bear, starring Ed Begley Jr., Graham Greene and Mark Rendall which screened at the prestigious 1st Annual London Children’s Film Festival and the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival; Dead Write starring Rachel Hunter (Style Me, Freezerburn) about a novelist who uncovers a grizzly family history. Romantic comedies include Be My Baby starring Rene Ashton (Big Love, 7th Heaven, Six Feet Under), Brody Hutzler (Days of Our Lives, 7th Heaven), and Lacy Chabert (Party of Five, Mean Girls, Dirty Deeds); Stand Up For Love, featuring two comic buddies who make the ultimate road trip for one last audition—Tony Goldwyn (Ghost, The Pelican Brief) and Lauren Holly star. Greg Germann (Ally McBeal), W.D. Moffett (Traffic), Connie Britten (Friday Night Lights); and The Third Wish, starring Betty White, James Avery and Armand Assante.
In the arena of children’s animation, MarVista is the exclusive international distributor for the 3D series airing in the US on PBS, The Zula Patrol, described by The New York Times as “Sesame Street in Outer Space”. Other titles include Romeo and Juliet: Sealed with a Kiss from director Phil Nibbelink (An American Tale: Fievel Goes West); The Easter Egg Adventure starring the voice cast of Brooke Shields, Joe Pantoliano, James Woods and the singing voice of Natalie Cole; and the 3-D animated The Littlest Light on the Christmas Tree starring the singing voice of Jane Seymour and narrated by Tony Award-winner James Naughton.
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