Corporate
September 3, 2002
Lorenzo di Bonaventura Steps Away From Warner Bros. Corporate Responsibilities Into An Independent Production Role
(September 3, 2002 -- Burbank, CA) – Lorenzo di Bonaventura has decided to step away from his corporate position as Executive Vice President, Worldwide Motion Pictures, Warner Bros. and become an independent producer for Warner Bros. Pictures.
“I love filmmaking, but the more corporate the job became the less creative it became, and the less creative it became the less joyful it became,” said di Bonaventura. “It was becoming patently clear to everyone around me, especially my family, that the further I got away from the creative process, the unhappier I was. I thank the Studio for understanding and allowing me to get back to stretching my creative muscles. Warner Bros. Pictures is in great shape and couldn’t be in better hands. This new deal is a great win for me; I get to concentrate on doing what I love--making films--and I get to do it at the best studio in the world.”
“We fully respect and support Lorenzo’s decision and look forward to his new role as a producer for Warner Bros. Pictures,” said Alan Horn, President & Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. “Lorenzo has helped shape what Warner Bros. Pictures is today and we are pleased to have him continue to contribute to our success.”
As the Studio effects a smooth transition, all direct reports of di Bonaventura will now report to Horn.
Di Bonaventura joined Warner Bros. Pictures in 1989 as a Production Executive and was promoted to Vice President, Production shortly thereafter. He was named Senior Vice President, Production in 1993 and Executive Vice President, Production in 1995. In 1996, he became the co-head of Warner Bros. Pictures’ theatrical production, assuming his position as sole President of Warner Bros. Pictures’ worldwide production in April 1998. In July, he was named to the corporate position of Executive Vice President, Worldwide Motion Pictures, Warner Bros.
Some of the successes produced under di Bonaventura’s aegis include: “The Matrix,” “Analyze This,” “Three Kings,” “The Perfect Storm,” “Training Day,” “Ocean’s 11,” “Scooby-Doo” and “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” # # #