Motion Pictures
March 6, 2000
Warner Bros. Pictures And Alcon Entertainment Have Entered Into An Exclusive Multi-Picture Worldwide Distribution Deal
(March 6, 2000 – Burbank, CA) – Warner Bros. Pictures has entered into an exclusive, long-term worldwide distribution agreement with Alcon Entertainment, it was jointly announced today by Alan Horn, president & chief operating officer, Warner Bros. and Alcon’s co-presidents, Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson. Under the terms of the agreement, Warner Bros. Pictures will handle the worldwide distribution of a minimum of 10 films produced and financed by Alcon over the next five years. The agreement also allows Warner Bros. Pictures to co-finance certain pictures with Alcon.
“We are thrilled to have Alcon Entertainment as a part of our release slate for the next several years and even more excited about forging a long-term relationship with these very talented, young filmmakers,” said Horn. “In the few short years that they have been in business, Andrew and Broderick have proven themselves to be exceptional producers as well as astute businessmen.”
Kosove and Johnson stated, “We are very pleased to be forming this long-term alliance with Warner Bros. Pictures. This deal allows Alcon to move aggressively into the second phase of its business plan in which the company will be able to expand the output, size and profile of its films. As is evidenced by the success of “My Dog Skip,” the studio and Alcon have become true partners in every aspect of the production and distribution process. We are delighted to be in business with Alan, Lorenzo, Dan and Brad and the entire Warner Bros. Pictures team.”
“I look forward to seeing the continued growth of Alcon Entertainment,” said Frederick W. Smith, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Fedex Corporation. “Broderick and Andrew’s newly forged alliance with Warner Bros. is an important part of Alcon’s long-term strategy.”
The first project under the new relationship is the period film “Affair of the Necklace,” which will be directed by Charles Shyer and is slated to star Oscar-nominee and Golden Globe Award-winning thespian Hilary Swank.
Named after the ally of Hercules – a mythological archer who never missed his target – ALCON ENTERTAINMENT, LLC was founded in 1997 to develop, package, finance and produce both feature films and television programming. The company is spearheaded by co-presidents Broderick Johnson and Andrew A. Kosove, and personally financed by Frederick W. Smith, who is the founder, chairman & chief executive officer of Fedex Corporation. In addition to “Affair of the Necklace,” Alcon Entertainment has financed and produced two other feature films for Warner Bros. Pictures: last year's romantic comedy, “Lost & Found,” starring David Spade and French beauty Sophie Marceau, and the current critically acclaimed, box-office winner “My Dog Skip.” “My Dog Skip,” which opened nationwide as the number one family film and the number two film overall this past weekend with a box-office gross of $5.86 million, stars Frankie Muniz (“Malcolm in the Middle”), Kevin Bacon, Diane Lane and Luke Wilson. # # #