As President, Worldwide Physical Production for Warner Bros. Pictures, Steve Papazian is responsible for overseeing all aspects of physical production for films produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema domestically and in locations around the world. Notable films produced during Papazian’s tenure include the trilogy of Matrix releases, “Batman Begins” and its 2008 sequel “The Dark Knight,” “Invictus,” “Sherlock Holmes,” “Clash of the Titans,” “Inception,” “The Hangover” and its sequel “The Hangover Part II,” and the Studio’s Harry Potter films, the most successful film franchise of all time, with the final installment, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.” earning more than $1.3 billion at the global box office.
Papazian began his career in the Warner Bros. mailroom in 1968. After holding various positions in Studio Accounting, he joined the Warner Bros./Columbia task force initiating the merger of Warner Bros. and Columbia Studio Operations.
In 1972, Papazian joined the office of the President as the Executive Assistant responsible for the operation of the merged Burbank Studio Facilities. In 1977, he was promoted to Vice President of Production Services, The Burbank Studios, responsible for all facets of Production Facilities, both operational and strategic planning.
In 1981, Papazian returned to Warner Bros. as Television Production Supervisor and was promoted to Vice President, Production in 1983. In 1985, he was named Vice President, Film & Tape Production, responsible for multi-camera film and video production.
In 1990, Papazian was promoted to Senior Vice President, responsible for all physical and fiscal production for television series, pilots, movies-for-television, mini-series and specials. During his tenure at Warner Bros. Television, he oversaw the productions of “Murphy Brown,” “Night Court,” “Growing Pains” and “China Beach,” and, in 1989, he produced the NBC pilot “Nikki & Alexander.”
In 1993, Papazian left Warner Bros. to join Universal Television as Executive Vice President, Production. In his two years at UTV, he oversaw productions of “Law & Order,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Coach,” “American Gothic,” “New York Undercover,” “Partners” and various pilots and direct-to-video movies.
In January 1996, Papazian returned to Warner Bros. as Executive Vice President, Worldwide Feature Production. He was promoted to President, Worldwide Physical Production, Warner Bros. Pictures in July 2002.