Motion Pictures
March 8, 2001
Hollywood Stars And Filmmakers Distinguish Warner Bros. Pictures Luncheon At ShoWest, Featuring Preview Of Studio’s 2001 Films
(March 8, 2001 – Las Vegas, NV) - Warner Bros. executives, filmmakers and talent from the studio’s slate of 2001 releases hosted a luncheon today at the 27th ShoWest Convention in Las Vegas, featuring a dais populated by some of the entertainment industry’s most prominent celebrities and offering a preview of the Studio’s upcoming motion pictures. The event was held at the Paris Hotel for approximately 3,000 guests.
Barry Meyer, Warner Bros.’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Alan Horn, Warner Bros.’ President and Chief Operating Officer, co-hosted the mid-day gathering with Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
Joining them on the dais and sharing in the hosting duties were internationally acclaimed star and Oscar-winning filmmaker Clint Eastwood; action star Steven Seagal and producer Joel Silver, whose thriller “Exit Wounds” opens March 16th (Silver also produces two more of the Studio’s 2001 films, “Swordfish” and “13 Ghosts” and voices an animated character in “Osmosis Jones”); Sylvester Stallone, Til Schweiger, Kip Pardue, Estella Warren and Cristian de la Fuente, along with director Renny Harlin, from the high tech auto-racing drama “Driven,” which roars into theaters on April 27th; John Travolta, Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry along with director Dominic Sena and producers Jonathan D. Krane and Joel Silver, representing the suspenseful action drama “Swordfish,” scheduled to open June 8th; Haley Joel Osment, this year’s ShoWest winner for Supporting Actor of the Year, along with Sam Robards and producer Kathleen Kennedy from “A.I. Artificial Intelligence,” the highly anticipated science fiction drama directed by Steven Spielberg and scheduled for a June 29th release; Chris Rock, ShoWest’s Comedy Star of the Year and voice star of the cutting-edge live-action/animated adventure comedy “Osmosis Jones,” along with producer Bradley Thomas and director Bobby Farrelly who, with his brother Peter Farrelly, directs the live-action portion of the film, due in theaters this summer; Hilary Swank and director Charles Shyer, representing the romantic drama “Affair of the Necklace,” set for an August release; Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke from the Fall release “Training Day,” a drama about a veteran cop escorting a rookie through his first day on the inner-city narcotics unit; Arnold Schwarzenegger, who stars as a family man plunged into the complex and dangerous world of international terrorism, and director Andrew Davis, from the action thriller “Collateral Damage,” set for October; Shannon Elizabeth, this year’s ShoWest honoree as Female Star of Tomorrow and star of the state-of the art remake of the classic William Castle horror film “13 Ghosts,” scheduled to set the tone for Halloween; and acclaimed director Wolfgang Petersen, ShoWest’s Director of the Year, who helmed the blockbuster epic “The Perfect Storm.”
Also present on the dais were Warner Bros. senior executives Sandy Reisenbach, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Planning and Richard J. Fox, Executive Vice President, International, while representing Warner Bros. Pictures were Lorenzo di Bonaventura, President, Worldwide Theatrical Production; Brad Ball, President, Domestic Marketing; Sue Kroll, President, International Marketing; Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President, International Distribution; Jeff Goldstein, Executive Vice President and General Sales Manager, Domestic Distribution; Joe Hyams, Executive Vice President, Special Projects; Kevin McCormick, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Theatrical Production; Jeff Robinov, Executive Vice President, Production; Dawn Taubin, Executive Vice President, Domestic Marketing; Joel Wayne, Executive Vice President, Creative Advertising, and this year’s recipient of ShoWest’s Achievement in Motion Picture Advertising Award.
In addition, Chairman and CEO of Village Roadshow Pictures Entertainment, Bruce Berman; Alcon Entertainment Co-Presidents Andrew A. Kosove and Broderick Johnson (producers, “Affair of the Necklace”); Bel-Air Entertainment Chairman and CEO Steven Reuther (producer, “Rock Star,” “Collateral Damage”); Morgan Creek Chairman and CEO James G. Robinson (producer, “American Outlaws,” “Juwanna Mann”); Franchise Pictures CEO Elie Samaha (producer, “Driven,” “Angel Eyes,” “Heist,” “City By the Sea”); and Raymond Syufy, CEO of Century Theaters and Syufy Enterprises, joined guests on the dais.
As a highlight of the luncheon, attendees were treated to a preview of many of Warner Bros.’ upcoming films expected to be distributed in 2001. The exhibition reel included such anticipated motion pictures as “Exit Wounds,” “Driven,” “Cats & Dogs,” “Swordfish,” “A.I. Artificial Intelligence,” “Angel Eyes,” “Summer Catch,” “Osmosis Jones,” “American Outlaws,” “Affair of the Necklace,” “Training Day,” “Salton Sea,” “Rock Star,” “Heist,” “Collateral Damage,” “Hearts in Atlantis,” “City By the Sea,” “13 Ghosts,” “Majestic” and “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”
In a statement issued just prior to the luncheon, Warner Bros. Pictures Domestic Distribution President Dan Fellman said, “We are extremely proud to showcase our 2001 slate, which includes some of the most eagerly anticipated films of the coming year, to the exhibition community of the world. With approximately 30 titles scheduled for release in 2001, we plan on presenting ShoWest participants a well-rounded preview of our upcoming product. We are equally proud to continue our tradition of having on our dais some of the greatest stars and filmmakers in history.”
Celebrating its 27th year, ShoWest is the world’s largest motion picture industry convention, drawing delegates from more than 45 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. # # #