New, savvy players up the ante in Park City
Sellers' market for specialty players
It was a rocky year for independent
production, financing, distribution and exhibition. But the good news is
that there are some new players on the block who will most likely be
hungry at Sundance.
EmergingCinemas
Fine Line and Cinecom founder Ira Deutchman will make
the trek to Sundance with "Killing Time" from helmer Anthony Jaswinski.
But Deutchman has other agendas outside of producing: after merging his
StudioNext with Barry Rebo and Giovanni Cozzi's EmergingCinemas, Deutchman
is looking to build relationships with emerging helmers as he pursues
digital exhibition avenues for pics he produces, acquires or distributes.
Emerging hopes to create a network of digital cinemas
within existing museums, performing arts centers, science and technology
venues and restored historic theaters.
"The blueprint that Barry and Giovanni have created for
a nationwide network of digital screens was the missing piece in my own
plan to re-invigorate artfilm distribution in the United States,"
Deutchman told Daily Variety in October. "Adding this remarkable
capability to our already thriving production business will give us the
tools we need to provide a real alternative for filmmakers to reach as
broad an audience as possible."
Already completed or in post-production at Emerging are
Daniel Noah's "Twelve" and Loren Paul Caplan's "The Lucky Ones."
Date in print: Wed., Jan. 9, 2002 |
