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In one of the widest-ranging deals to close in the runup to next week’s 78th Locarno Film Festival, Shout! Studios, a Radial Entertainment company, has acquired exclusive distribution rights in English-language territories to Steven Kostanski’s “Deathstalker,” a reboot of Roger Corman’s cult film series.

“Deathstalker” stars Daniel Bernhardt as the titular hero, playing him more as a grizzled war veteran, as he has commented, than the buff young heroes of the originals. Patton Oswalt provides the voice of Doodad, a benevolent wizened wizard.

The deal follows on Shout! Studios’ release of Kostanski’s “Frankie Freako” in 2024.

Made in Argentina, producer Corman’s first sword and sorcery “Deathstalker”movie, enjoying a tailwind from “Conan the Barbarian,” was a hit at the U.S. box office. “Deathstalker II” has been hailed as the greatest B-movie ever made.

2025’s “Deathstalker”’s fantasy plot is in line with the originals: the...

Global distribution platform Radial Entertainment has appointed four executives from its FilmRise and Shout! Studios operations to new positions.

The appointments follow the formation of Radial earlier this month, when US alternative investment firm Oaktree Capital Management acquired US distributor FilmRise and merged it with Shout!

David Buoymaster, previously SVP of corporate strategy and finance at FilmRise, becomes Radial’s chief financial officer; Johnny Holden, previously chief strategy officer and CFO at FilmRise, will serve as chief revenue and strategy officer at Radial; Dave McIntosh, who oversaw acquisition deals at Shout! as EVP of business and legal affairs and SVP of content licensing and strategy,...

Clockwise from top left: David Buoymaster, Johnny Holden, ax Pinigin, Dave McIntosh.

Radial Entertainment, the new media company formed from the merger of FilmRise and Shout Studios, has announced a slate of new executives to help guide its next phase of growth.

The company has named David Buoymaster as Chief Investment Officer, Johnny Holden as Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer, Dave McIntosh as Executive Vice President of Content and Business Affairs, and Max Pinigin as Chief Financial Officer.

The appointments were announced by Garson Foos, the CEO of Radial Entertainment, and are effective immediately. The executives arrive at a pivotal time for the company as it scales operations and pursues broader ambitions in content distribution.

“These key roles have been strategically structured to drive significant growth and unlock new opportunities as we grow Radial into one of the leading distributors in the industry. I am confident that our outstanding leadership...

Radial Entertainment, the newly formed entertainment company behind the FilmRise and Shout! Studios brands, has named four key executives to top-level positions.

CEO Garson Foos has revealed the immediate appointments of David Buoymaster as chief investment officer, Johnny Holden as chief revenue and strategy officer, Dave McIntosh as executive vice president of content and business affairs, and Max Pinigin as chief financial officer. The company is backed by funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management.

The leadership changes come during what the company describes as a period of transformation and growth within the global entertainment industry. Radial operates a content library of more than 70,000 movies and episodes, making it among the largest independent catalogs in the industry.

Buoymaster moves up from his role as senior VP of corporate strategy and finance at FilmRise. In his new position, he will handle content strategy, underwriting and investment decisions while leading a new investment committee.

USalternative investmentfirm Oaktree Capital Management has acquired US distributor FilmRise and merged it with Shout! Studios to form global distribution platform Radial Entertainment.

Garson Foos, CEO and co-founder of Shout! Studios, will become CEO of Radial Entertainment and Danny Fisher, CEO and co-founder of FilmRise, will become executive chairman.

New York-based FilmRise was founded in 2012 and operates the FilmRise Streaming Network of Fast channels and ad-supported streaming apps. Its feature credits include Train To Busan, Bernie, Manifesto, and My Friend Dahmer.

Oaktree initially invested in Shout! Studios in 2023 and is looking to grow its content portfolio by acquiring entertainment companies and libraries.

FilmRise and Shout! Studios are combining to form Radial Entertainment, a new global content distribution platform that will house one of the largest independent catalogs in the industry of 70,000 movies and TV episodes.

The move comes as FilmRise is being acquired by funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Oaktree is excited to bring together two incredible Film & TV content

distribution companies in FilmRise and Shout!,” Oaktree Special Situations managing director Jared Frandle said in a statement. “We believe combining these companies under the Radial umbrella creates a world-class Film & TV media business. It’s an extraordinary combination that we believe brings the unique scale needed to compete and win in the rapidly evolving landscape of digital entertainment and streaming media.”

Frandle said the firm would continue to seek opportunities to invest and grow its film and TV catalog and is committed to...

The logo of Radial Entertainment. (Courtesy image)

FilmRise and Shout Factory, two studios that provide a significant amount of content to streaming services, are merging and will rebrand to Radial Entertainment, the companies announced on Tuesday.

The merger comes after Shout Studios was acquired by Oaktree Capital, which decided to change the name of the holding company on Tuesday.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Radial will merge previously acquired Shout with FilmRise to create an indie film and TV distributor with more than 70,000 titles. Garson Foos, CEO and co-founder of Shout, will become CEO of Radial Entertainment, while Danny Fisher, CEO and co-founder of FilmRise, will become executive chairman.

“We have long admired the FilmRise business and its executives, and have held a steadfast belief that a strategic transaction between the companies would create an entertainment business of exciting scale,” Foos said in a statement. “This is...

Exclusive: Los Angeles-based health Oaktree Capital Management is following its 2023 acquisition of Shout! Studios with a deal for FilmRise, a leading indie distributor of digital streaming content.

Shout! recently acquired Gravitas Ventures. Oaktree, which is on the way to amassing one of the largest independent library catalogs in the industry with about 70,000 movies and episodes, will fold its growing media footprint into a new holding company called Radial Entertainment. Garson Foos, CEO and co-founder of Shout! Studios, will become CEO of Radial Entertainment and Danny Fisher, CEO and co-founder of FilmRise, will become Executive Chairman.

Jared Frandle, Managing Director for Oaktree’s Special Situations strategy, tells Deadline the firm will continue to invest across M&a, content partnerships and expansion of digital streaming channels. The three executives called the merger of FilmRise and Shout! strong on industrial logic with unique and complementary capabilities, assets, and expertise “that interlock to create a complete,...

Shout! Studios, a multi-platform media company with a strong digital and physical media presence, has promoted Rashad Qasem to vice president of content licensing and strategy. Shout! CEO Garson Foos and Gene Pao, executive vice president of strategy and digital, shared the news on Wednesday.

In this elevated position, Qasem will continue working closely with Julie Dansker, SVP of streaming & content strategy, securing licensing for Shout’s film and TV series library and new releases across major platforms in the digital streaming space, as well as pitching and launching Fast channels.

According to a press release, Qasem serves as an account manager for key AVOD, SVOD and Fast partnerships across the globe and will “collaborate with the acquisition team to offer insight into sales projections and works closely with senior leadership on overarching strategy that supports Shout!’s long-term growth.”

“Since joining Shout!, Rashad’s business acumen and tenacity have...

Shout! Studios, which has been behind films like Viggo Mortensen’s “The Dead Don’t Hurt” and the Tim Blake Nelson film “Old Henry,” has acquired fellow indie distributor Gravitas Ventures, the Cleveland-based company known for movies like the Diane Keaton film “Mack & Rita” and the Jackie Chan movie “Vanguard.”

The acquisition gives Shout! access to Gravitas Ventures’ library of 3,300 scripted, non-scripted, and sports-related feature film, documentary, and TV titles, and it means that Shout! will have the luxury to continue making partnerships with brands like Aardman Animations, The Carol Burnett Show, Gkids and Studio Ghibli, Laika Studios, Mystery Science Theater 3000, the Golden Princess movie library, and more.

But both brands are staying intact, meaning they will continue acquiring content individually and will continue to operate as separate brands. The added scale will let both companies better monetize its content across linear and streaming channels, with Gravitas especially being a...

Shout! Studios has added a new company to its portfolio.

The multi-platform media company backed by Oaktree Capital Management, has acquired Gravitas Ventures from Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.

According to the official release, the addition to Shout! Studios’ family of properties “is consistent with the company’s strategic vision to build a large-scale, world-class distributor of movies and TV series for multi-platform partners around the globe. Gravitas Ventures provides Shout! access to over 3,300 scripted, non-scripted and sports-related feature film, documentary and television titles, adding genre diversification and title depth to Shout’s already extensive catalogue.”

Gravitas Ventures was founded in Los Angeles by media exec Nolan Gallagher in 2006 and moved its headquarters to Cleveland in 2019. The company mostly distributed its titles through digital, although in 2022 the studio released “The King’s Daughter,” a bonkers period adventure that had been filmed many years before, in over 1,000 theaters.

Shout! Studios releases new films theatrically,...

The logos of Shout! Studios and Gravitas Ventures.

Shout Studios (stylized as Shout! Studios) has acquired rival studio business Gravitas Ventures, the companies announced on Monday.

The merger brings together one of the biggest home video and music distributors with a studio that powers a number of free, ad-supported streaming television (Fast) channels and other properties.

Shout and Gravitas Ventures will continue to operate as separate, distinct brands under common ownership. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Gravitas represents the next step in our continued expansion of the catalogue at Shout,” Garson Foos, the CEO of Shout Studios, said in a statement. “We are excited to join forces with the Gravitas team and see several opportunities to expand distribution of the combined library.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Gravitas to the Shout! family, and believe it represents another successful example of Shout’s ability to identify and execute...

Shout! Studios has acquired distributor Gravitas Ventures under its strategy to build the library as it continues to acquire and distribute film and television through for its multi-platform operation.

Shout! Studios and Gravitas Ventures will operate as two distinct brands and continue to distribute from their respective catalogues.

The transaction gives Shout! access to more than 3,300 scripted, non-scripted, and sports-related narrative features, documentaries, and television titles. According to reports there had been talk of lay-offs at Gravitas for a while, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the independent sector.

Nolan Gallagher founded Gravitas in 2006 and the company’s recent films includeMack & Ritastarring Diane Keaton,...

Shout! Studios has acquired Gravitas Ventures from Anthem Sports & Entertainment. Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Shout! Studios said that, by acquiring Gravitas Ventures, the company will gain access to over 3,300 scripted, non-scripted, and sports-related feature films, documentaries, and television shows. The plan is for Shout! Studios and Gravitas Ventures to operate as two distinct brands, with each one will distributing content from its respective catalogue.

“Gravitas represents the next step in our continued expansion of the catalogue at Shout. We are excited to join forces with the Gravitas team and see several opportunities to expand distribution of the combined library,” said Garson Foos, CEO of Shout! Studios.

Shout! Studios is backed by Oaktree Capital Management. The company’s library includes “The Carol Burnett Show” and “Mystery Science Theatre 3000,” as well as films from Gkids and Studio Ghibli.

Gravitas Ventures’s recent films include “Mack & Rita,...

Shout! Studios, the multi-platform media company backed by Oaktree Capital Management, has acquired Gravitas Ventures from Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.

The deal was finalized over the weekend, we hear, with employees at Shout! being notified this morning. It came following rumblings of multiple layoffs at boutique distributor Gravitas. When Deadline reached out to various staff members at the distributor, we were met with bounce-backs, seemingly confirming sudden departures.

The ambition on Shout!’s part is to grow its content portfolio with the acquisition of entertainment companies and their content libraries, while continuing to partner with independent rights owners to monetize content and launch new streaming channels.

Going forward, Shout! Studios and Gravitas Ventures will operate as two distinct brands. Each will continue to actively distribute content from its respective catalogue, leveraging a scaled combined distribution organization to better monetize content across traditional and digital channels. The deal gives Shout! access to more than 3,300 scripted,...

Shout! Studios has reached an agreement with Mercury Studios Media Limited to license exclusive U.S. and Canadian distribution rights including AVOD, SVOD, broadcast, theatrical and non-theatrical distribution rights for a catalog of Monty Python films, specials and performances.

This includes perennial favorites such as the landmark sketch comedy TV series “Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” recently restored and available for the first time across all platforms in HD, and comic masterpieces “Monty Python’s Life of Brian” and “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” which marks its 50th anniversary in 2025.

Shout’s CEO Garson Foos said: “Since the earliest days of the company, Shout! has been dedicated to celebrating the best entertainment that pop culture has to offer and has sought to be a trusted home for beloved films and series. Iconic and iconoclastic, Monty Python has long been at the top of that list. We are fans first and foremost,...

Raven Banner Entertainment will launch international sales at the Cannes Film Market for Steven Kostanski’s latest feature “Frankie Freako.”

Kostanski’s previous feature “Psycho Goreman” premiered at SXSW in 2020 and gathered a cult following worldwide. Reviewing the film for Variety, critic Owen Gleiberman described the film as “‘The Toxic Avenger’ remade by the Robert Rodriguez of ‘Spy Kids.'”

“Frankie Freako” is described by Raven Banner as Kostanki’s homage to the practical-fx-driven monster horror-comedies of the 1980s like “Gremlins 2” and “Ghoulies 3: Ghoulies Go to College.” It tells the story of workaholic yuppie Conor Sweeney whose perfect life is turned upside down when he accidentally unleashes a trio of tiny trouble-makers into his home, led by the maniacal rock-n-roll party monster Frankie Freako. It’s a race against time as Conor must defeat the trio and clean up their trail of destruction before his wife returns from her weekend work trip,...

Exclusive: Shout Studios! on Tuesday announced the promotion of its longtime publicity chief Tom Chen to the role of Senior Vice President of Publicity.

In this elevated position, which has him continuing to lead the publicity team, Chen takes on a broader role in shaping the Shout! Studios brand and enhancing PR efforts. He reports to EVP, Kids & Family Entertainment Melissa Boag and in addition to Boag, will work closely with the senior management team in guiding publicity strategy to promote Shout! Studios’ growth amidst the ever-changing demands of the market.

Chen has been at Shout! since 2007, most recently serving as VP of Publicity. His 16 years at the multi-platform media company have had him overseeing corporate trade communications, media relations and publicity efforts for Shout! Studios and its broad spectrum of entertainment releases and new production ventures.

“Tom’s commitment to excellence and his outstanding ability to manage multifaceted projects...

Lionsgate has picked up the family drama film “Unsung Hero” from the Christian music duo for King + Country. Helmed by Richard Ramsey and for King + Country’s Joel Smallbone, the film tells the story of Smallbone family’s trek from Australia to America, and Joel and his brother Luke’s path to becoming Grammy-winning artists.

Joel Smallbone stars as his father David in the film, with Daisy Betts playing Joel’s mother Helen. According to the official synopsis, “With nothing more than their seven children, suitcases, and their love of music, David and his pregnant wife Helen set out to rebuild their lives. Based on a remarkable true story, Helen’s faith stands against all odds and inspires her husband and children to hold onto theirs. With their own dreams on hold, David and Helen begin to realize the musical prowess in their children.”

The film also stars Kirrilee Berger,...

Manborg. Father’s Day. The Void. Leprechaun Returns. Psycho Goreman. There’s been a throwback element to all of the feature films we’ve gotten from director Steven Kostanski so far, and his next feature will be no different. Variety has confirmed that production has wrapped on Kostanski’s horror comedy Frankie Freako, which is said to be a “commemoration of various practical FX-led projects including Gremlins 2: The New Batch and Ghoulies Go to College“. Well, if you say your movie pays tribute to Gremlins 2 and Ghoulies 3, you’ve already sold me on it.

Shout! Studio holds the U.S. distribution rights to Frankie Freako, but release plans have not yet been announced.

The story follows Conor Sweeney (The Editor) as he accidentally unleashes a trio of tiny trouble-makers into his home, led by the maniacal rock-n-roll party monster Frankie Freako. It’s a race against time as...

It seems as though Psycho Goreman isn’t the only hunky boy in filmmaker Steven Kostanski‘s cinematic universe; Variety reports horror comedy Frankie Freako is on the way.

While Psycho Goreman introduced writer/director Kostanski’s take on ’90s tokusatsu, centered around an intergalactic conquerer, Frankie Freako will unleash a maniacal rock-n-roll party monster.

Frankie Freako stars Conor Sweeney as he accidentally lets loose “a trio of tiny trouble-makers into his home, led by the maniacal rock-n-roll party monster Frankie Freako. It’s a race against time as Conor must defeat the rambunctious ruffians and clean up their trail of destruction before his wife returns from her weekend work trip, all while going on an unexpected journey of self-discovery.”

Adam Brooks (Psycho Goreman) and Kristy Wordsworth star alongside Sweeney.

Production has wrapped on the project, with Shout! Studios acquiring U.S. distribution rights. In other words, no release date has been set just yet,...

In the 20 years of its existence, Shout! Factory has expanded from home entertainment releases into music and theatrical distribution, working with filmmakers as diverse as John Carpenter, Mel Brooks, Roger Corman and Shekhar Kapur. Now, in recognition of its growing mandate, the company is changing its name to Shout! Studios.

The switch marks a two-decade transformation that occurred in a counterintuitively subdued fashion given the company’s emphatic moniker, but perfectly reflects its pedigreed but unassuming origins.

“It was impossible to come up with a name,” says Shout! CEO Garson Foos, who formed the company with his older brother Richard and Bob Emmer, fellow Rhino Records alums. “We wanted something active, and Shout! hearkened back to our music roots with the Isley Brothers song.”

Over the years, Shout! has become a standard bearer — indeed, a factory — for high-quality, bonus-material-rich home video releases, offering filmmakers not only a format that enshrines their work,...

Exclusive: Shout! Factory on Wednesday announced their promotion of longtime senior executive Michael Ribas to Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Management.

Most recently serving as Vice President of Marketing, Ribas has been with Shout! Factory since 2003, prior to that holding editorial and product-management positions at the San Francisco company, WetFeet.

In his elevated position, Ribas will report to CEO Garson Foos and EVP of Strategy and Digital, Gene Pao, continuing to collaborate closely with both executives on big-picture strategy supporting the company’s long-term growth. While leading marketing and product management strategy for all initiatives and properties apart from kids and family entertainment, he will continue to oversee advertising, corporate branding, convention and trade-show activations, digital streaming, theatrical rollouts, partnerships, product management and social marketing for Shout! Factory, Shout! Studios and Shout! TV. He’s also in charge of the marketing and promotion of Shout!’s Mystery Science Theater 3000 franchise,...

Exclusive: Esther Povitsky (Dollface), Bobby Lee (Reservation Dogs) and Beverly D’Angelo (National Lampoon’s Vacation) are among the notable comedic talents set for Drugstone June — a new feature that Utopia, All Things Comedy, and Shout! Studios have partnered to produce for world sales.

Others set to appear in the film directed by Nicholaus Goossen (Grandma’s Boy) include James Remar (Sex and the City), Brandon Wardell (Easter Sunday), Danny Griffin (Fate: The Winx Saga), Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams (The Ms. Pat Show), Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly), Al Madrigal (Morbius), Haley Joel Osment (The Kominsky Method), Matt Walsh (Veep), Jackie Sandler (You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah!), Nick Rutherford (Rick and Morty), Jon “Dumbfoundead” Park (Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens), Trevor Wallace (Add-tv), Bhad Bhabie (Lights Out with David Spade), Steph Tolev (Old Dads), Jon Gabrus and Bill Burr (The King of Staten Island).

Drugstore June follows a...

Exclusive: Shout! Factory has elevated longtime senior executive Jordan Fields to Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Originals. In his new role at the multi-platform media company, where he most recently served as Vice President of Acquisitions, Fields will report to Shout! CEO Garson Foos.

Today’s Shout! Factory development comes following news that the company’s Head of New Content Sales Julie Dansker has been promoted to SVP of Streaming and Content Strategy.

Fields will now continue to spearhead all acquisition efforts at the company, overseeing a team responsible for identifying high-potential new films from early stages to completion. He’s also leading Shout’s move into original production, working closely with the senior executive team, as well as management, business affairs, marketing and sales on key content directions and opportunities.

“Jordan has been an important part of Shout’s growth since he started in this role over 15 years ago.

Exclusive: Shout! Factory has promoted Julie Dansker to SVP of Streaming and Content Strategy. She had been Head of New Content Sales at the multi-platform film and TV distribution, development and production company.

In her new role, Dansker will spearhead Shout’s streaming, licensing and content sales and distribution strategy — overseeing film and series content licensing and monetization across global SVOD, AVOD, pay- and free TV, and non-theatrical platform partners. She will also look to optimize Shout!’s content and Fast channel distribution.

In addition to growing the company’s streaming and distribution business, Dansker will continue to collaborate with the acquisitions team to identify and develop its new content slate across feature films, series and podcasts, as well as its library and IP acquisitions. The exec will also continue to drive theatrical strategies, working with marketing and PR teams to create impactful campaigns.

She’ll continue to report to Shout!

Ash's macabre medieval adventure is coming to home media like never before in Scream Factory's Collector's Edition 4K Uhd / Blu-ray release of Army of Darkness on October 4th, and we have a look at the full list of bonus features that will be included on the standard release and the Limited Edition Steelbook:

Press Release: Los Angeles, CA – Scream Factory™ is releasing Army of Darkness (Collector’s Edition) on 4K Uhd + Blu-Ray™ and in a Limited Edition Steelbook on October 4, 2022. The release of the comedy horror film features a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative, marking its first-time Ultra High-Definition release. Fans of this third installment of the popular Evil Dead phenomenon can pre-order their copies on ShoutFactory.com and other fine retailers.

Bound in human flesh and inked in blood, the ancient "Necronomicon" – the Book of the Dead – unleashes unspeakable evil upon mankind in director Sam Raimi...

It’s time to light the lights.

The Jim Henson Company and Shout! Factory have announced a worldwide distribution deal to bring 13 of Henson’s popular series and specials to streaming, broadcast, and home entertainment distribution platforms across all territories, including the global AVOD premiere of Henson’s award-winning “Farscape.”

The announcement was made Tuesday by Shout! Factory’s CEO Garson Foos, Jeffrey Peisch, Shout’s Senior Vice Present of Programming & New Business Development, and Kerry Novick, Vice President of Global Distribution at The Jim Henson Company.

While “Farscape,” Henson’s original sci-fi series that ran for 88 episodes and mixed human performers with puppet characters, and the miniseires, “Farscape: The Peacemaker Wars,” which served as the series’ conclusion, are the biggest draws of this new arrangement, there are plenty of other titles to get excited about (especially if you’re a longtime Henson-head). Also included as part of the deal...

Exclusive: The Jim Henson Company has inked a worldwide distribution deal with Shout! Factory, which will bring thirteen of Henson’s beloved series and specials to streaming, broadcast and home entertainment platforms across all territories, with Henson’s award-winning Farscape making its global AVOD premiere.

In addition to the Emmy-nominated sci-fi drama Farscape and its follow-up miniseries Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars, the multi-year distribution deal provides Shout! Factory and its streaming service Shout! Factory TV with all worldwide rights — across broadcast, streaming, on-demand, home entertainment, and non-theatrical arenas — to Henson’s Emmy-winning fantasy anthology The Storyteller and subsequent miniseries The Storyteller: Greek Myths, as well as such classics as Jim Henson’s World of Puppetry, Monster Maker, Lighthouse Island, Living with Dinosaurs, Dog City and Ghost of Faffner Hall, along with later productions like The Fearing Mind, Mopatop’s Shop and Brats of the Lost Nebula.

In collaboration with The Jim Henson Company,...

Exclusive: Shout! Factory has snapped up North American distribution rights to Candid Camera, the hidden-camera show known for its decades-long run as a television pioneer.

The multi-year agreement encompasses thousands of episodes from 1960 to 2013, with the first 100 hand-picked classics heading to streaming service Shout! Factory TV later this year. Shout will have exclusive digital and broadcast rights to the series in the U.S. and Canada, and the company has pledged to announce more plans soon.

Candid Camera premiered in 1948, during the infancy of television as a medium, and went on to produce episodes for CBS, ABC, NBC, HBO and TV Land. Its run on CBS, from 1960 to 1967, was perhaps its most indelible. It introduced the hidden camera concept to television, and creator, producer and host Allen Funt has frequently been called the inventor of reality TV. The show’s payoff included one of TV’s most enduring taglines: “Smile,...

Exclusive: Shout! Factory has promoted longtime senior executive Melissa Boag to Executive Vice President of Kids & Family Entertainment

In her new role, Boag will continue to work closely with co-founder and CEO Garson Foos in overall leadership across the company and big picture strategy in support of Shout’s long-term growth. She will also continue to expand her role in the content acquisitions process and continue to oversee all aspects of animated and live-action family entertainment for Shout! Factory, Shout! Studios and Shout! Factory Kids.

“Melissa is a high-level strategic thinker and a successful leader. Her impact on Shout’s business is tremendous,” said Garson Foos. “Many years back, she had the vision that kids and family entertainment could be a very big business for Shout! And she was right. She has driven the growth across this business vertical by super-serving our partners and maximizing business opportunities. This has led...

Exclusive: Distribution rights to Alf, the puppet-fronted sitcom that ran on NBC from 1986 to 1990 and spawned an animated series and a cult following, have been acquired by Shout! Factory.

The company, in partnership with Alien Productions, plan to bring Alf titles to digital entertainment platforms in the U.S. Lionsgate, which previously had rights, had brokered a deal for the sitcom to stream on Fox’s ad-supported service Tubi but that agreement ended last fall.

The deal was announced by Shout! founders and CEOs Bob Emmer and Garson Foos; Alien Productions partners Paul Fusco and Brian Patchett. Gene Pao and Jeffrey Peisch, Shout’s EVP of strategy and digital and SVP of programming and new business development, respectively, also took part in the deal.

Alf, per the official logline, centers on Gordon Shumway, a furry, wise-cracking alien from the planet Melmac who crash lands into the garage of the Tanner family.

On March 15th, Scream Factory will venture into a world of fantasy-fueled frights with the 4K Uhd and Blu-ray combo pack Collector's Edition release of 1982's The Sword and the Sorcerer, and we have a look at the full list of bonus features, including a new audio commentary with director Albert Pyun.

Press Release: On March 15 the cult-favorite The Sword and the Sorcerer will be released on Uhd™ and Blu-ray™ for the first time when Scream Factory releases the 4K Uhdtm + Blu-rayTM combo pack The Sword and the Sorcerer (Collector’s Edition), which is loaded with exciting new extras. Customers ordering from ShoutFactory.com will receive an exclusive 18x24 rolled poster featuring the original theatrical artwork, while supplies last.

Meet Talon, a daring mercenary who conquers castles and dungeons alike with his lethal three-bladed sword. But when Talon learns that he is the prince of a kingdom controlled by an evil sorcerer,...

Exclusive: Shout! Studios, the film and entertainment production and distribution arm of Shout! Factory, along with producers Sean Fernald and Cass Paley, TwentyOne 14 Media and Doc McGhee’s McGhee Entertainment, have obtained exclusive film rights to the story of Johnny Bragg, the prisoner and doo-wap singer from the 1950s.

Bragg rose to fame within the Tennessee State Penitentiary while serving six consecutive 99-year sentences at 17 for crimes he did not commit.

As part of Shout!’s deal with the Bragg estate, the film will follow Bragg in prison and how his unique singing style catches the attention of the prison staff, specifically the warden, who came up with the idea to have Bragg and his singing group tour the prison circuit under armed guard. This eventually led to the group recording demos with Sam Philips’ Sun Records, the iconic Memphis label that launched Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.

The Mill Valley Film Festival will open with the California premiere of “Cyrano,” directed by Joe Wright and written by Erica Schmidt, adapted from Schmidt’s 2018 stage musical of the same name, which is based on Edmond Rostand’s 1897 play “Cyrano de Bergerac.” Opening night takes place on Oct. 7 at the Sequoia Theatre and Smith Rafael Film Center.

Peter Dinklage stars as Cyrano de Bergerac, who, believing himself to be ugly, feels unworthy of the love of his friend Roxanne (Haley Bennett). Before he confesses his feelings, Roxanne falls in love at first sight with Christian. Bashir Salahuddin and Ben Mendelsohn also star. The film features music by Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner with lyrics by Matt Berninger and Carin Besser. Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Guy Heeley produce, with Cass Marks as co-producer and Enrico Ballarin as line producer.

The 44th annual Mill Valley Film Festival runs from Oct.

Danishka Esterhazy directs reimagining of 1982 Roger Corman slasher film.

Shout! Studios has brought on Toronto genre specialist Raven Banner to handle international sales at Cannes Marché on Slumber Party Massacre, a reimagining of Roger Corman’s 1982 slasher film.

The Shout! Studios and Blue Ice Pictures film takes place at a sleepover where the arrival of a power drill-wielding psychopath turns the gathering into a bloodbath.

Danishka Esterhazy directed the completed film from a screenplay by Suzanne Keilly. Hannah Gonera, Frances Sholto-Douglas, Mila Rayne, Alex McGregor, and Reze-Tiana Wessels star.

Bob Emmer, Garson Foos, Jordan Fields, and Brent Haynes are executive producers.

A 1980s cult horror classic is getting the remake treatment, and we'll be seeing it sooner rather than later. Shout! Studios is set to release its remake of The Slumber Party Massacre on Syfy later this year. No specific release date has been set at this time. However, the movie has already wrapped filming.

According to a new report, the Slumber Party Massacre Remake was directed by Danishka Esterhazy (The Banana Splits Movie), with a script by Suzanne Keilly (Ash vs. Evil Dead). Plot details largely remain under wraps but it is described as a contemporary reimagining of the original 1982 slasher flick. Brent Haynes, Shout's Head of Original Content Development, had this to say about it.

"Remaking one of the seminal films of Roger Corman and Amy Holden Jones' early work is exciting and audacious. But there are no better hands in which to place this challenge to Danishka Esterhazy,...

Exclusive: Shout! Studios has found a sleepover home for Slumber Party Massacre, a contemporary reimagining of the cult 1982 feature film from Roger Corman and Amy Holden Jones. The new pic, directed by The Banana Splits Movie and Vagrant Queen helmer Danishka Esterhazy from a screenplay by Ash Vs. Evil Dead‘s Suzanne Keilly, will debut later this year on Syfy.

Hannah Gonera, Frances Sholto-Douglas, Mila Rayne, Alex McGregor and Reze-Tiana Wessels star in the update, which wrapped last month in South Africa. Shout! Studios, which developed and executive produced will handle the movie’s worldwide sales and distribution across multiple platforms after bringing in Blue Ice Pictures to serve as producers.

The news comes after Shout! acquired the New Horizon Picture library, which encompasses 270 Roger Corman films.

“Remaking one of the seminal films of Roger Corman and Amy Holden Jones’ early work is exciting and audacious.

Exclusive: Stephen Dorff, Trace Adkins, Scott Haze and Gavin Lewis have been added to the cast of Old Henry, a Western actioner in the works from Shout! Studios and Hideout Pictures. They join Tim Blake Nelson, who was tapped to star last week. Principal photography is now underway on location in Tennessee.

Old Henry, written and being directed by Potsy Ponciroli, centers on Nelson as widowed farmer Henry and his son Wyatt (Lewis), who warily take in a mysterious, injured man named Curry (Haze) with a satchel of cash. Dorff plays Ketchum, the head of the group looking for Curry. Atkins plays Wyatt’s Uncle Al.

Shannon Houchins and Mike Hagerty are producers. Garson Foos, Bob Emmer, Jordan Fields, Alex Siskin and Trevor O’Neil are executive producers.

The movie is part of a multi-picture deal between the Shout! Studios arm and Hideout, all Westerns, which the companies will co-produce and co-finance.

Exclusive: Tim Blake Nelson has signed on to star in Shout! Studios and Hideout Pictures’ action western Old Henry.

The movie, which is written and directed by Potsy Ponciroli, follows a widowed farmer and his son who warily take in a mysterious, injured man with a satchel of cash. Shannon Houchins and Mike Hagerty are producing. EPs are Garson Foos, Bob Emmer, Jordan Fields, Alex Siskin, and Trevor O’Neil.

Nelson, whose work spans acting, directing, producing and writing, recently starred in Warner Bros’ Just Mercy and the HBO multi-Emmy winning limited DC series Watchmen. His turn in Watchmen as the vigilante Looking Glass earned Nelson a Critic’s Choice nomination in the supporting actor drama series category.

His feature credits include the Coen Brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou? and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, as well as Lincoln, The Incredible Hulk, Meet the Fockers, Minority Report and the upcoming Guillero del Toro feature Nightmare Alley.

Exclusive: Shout! Studios and Hideout Pictures have entered a long-term, multifaceted production partnership for a slate of new Western films that includes the titles Old Henry, Hardin and 4 Dead in 5 Seconds.

Under the partnership, Shout! Studios and Hideout Pictures will jointly develop, finance, and produce new feature-length movies for distribution. Hideout Pictures will leverage their extensive relationships with talent and bring hands-on production experience for future film productions. Shout! Studios will co-finance and co-produce these films with Hideout Pictures. The newly forged collaboration was announced by Garson Foos, Shout’s co-founder and CEO; Shannon Houchins, CEO of Hideout Pictures; and Jordan Fields, Vice President of Acquisitions at Shout! Studios.

“We’re thrilled about this new partnership with Shannon and Hideout Pictures, an innovative production company that has emerged as a major creative force in entertainment,” said Foos. “We share the same entrepreneurial vision that bodes well for the success of this collaboration.

Exclusive: Robert Schwartzman’s filmmaker-centric distribution company Utopia has launched Utopia Originals which will focus on the development, packaging, and sale of original narrative and documentary feature film as well as television content. For its first project, Utopia Originals has teamed with Norman Reedus’ production banner bigbaldhead and Shout! Studios for a TV adaptation of the cult horror classic Sorority House Massacre which was executive produced by indie trailblazer Roger Corman and directed by Carol Frank.

The inaugural project will be developed in partnership with Stephen Trask, creator of the Tony-Award winning Broadway musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The 1986 movie is exactly what it suggests: a story about sorority sisters who are stalked by a psychopathic killer who shares a telepathic link with one of the girls. The horror spawned two sequels that included Sorority House Massacre II and Sorority House Massacre III: Hard to Die. Schwartzman and Reedus...

Exclusive: Shout! Studios, the distribution and production arm of Shout! Factory, has hired Julie Dansker to the newly created role of Head of New Content Sales.

Dansker joins having recently served as Vice President of Sales & Marketing at The Orchard, where she oversaw distribution and content strategy. In 2019, she was promoted to Chief Revenue Officer when new ownership rebranded the company to 1091. Prior to then, she managed global digital sales at MGM Studios, and had roles at Spyglass Entertainment and New Line Cinema. During her career, she has worked on titles including Cartel Land, Hunt For The Widlerpeople and Life, Animated.

At Shout!, she will report to Co-Founder and CEO Garson Foos. In her role, she will be responsible for acquiring and distributing new movies and series to streaming and broadcast partners, working with Garson Foos, David McIntosh, Senior Vice President of Content Licensing & Strategy, and Mark Balsam, Senior Broadcast Sales.

One of Scream Factory's first Blu-ray releases was John Carpenter's They Live back in 2012. Flash forward eight years and the distributor will celebrate Carpenter's cult classic with even more fanfare on December 8th with a new 4K Ultra HD / Blu-ray release that comes with a limited edition Neca figure of Keith David's character Frank Armitage, along with the previous bonus features from the 2012 release and They Live music on vinyl from Sacred Bones and recorded by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter, and Daniel Davies.

Press Release: On December 8, 2020, Scream Factory™ celebrates the politically-charged science fiction thriller They Live with a new 4K Uhd/Blu-ray™ release, as well as a Limited Edition Neca action figure and Sacred Bones 7” vinyl. Horror master John Carpenter directs this heart-pounding thriller in which aliens are systematically gaining control of the Earth by masquerading as humans and lulling the public into submission. The 2-disc...

“Linda and the Mockingbirds,” a documentary about Linda Ronstadt making a journey to Mexico to explore her musical roots there, has been picked up for worldwide rights by Shout! Studios, the distribution and production division of the Shout! Factory home video company.

The film was originally slated to premiere at the Telluride Film Festival over Labor Day weekend. Shout! is promising that the doc will be out later in 2020 via various distribution platforms.

In a follow-up to last year’s Ronstadt documentary “The Sound of My Voice,” “Linda and the Mockingbirds” narrows in on a road trip undertaken by Ronstadt, Jackson Browne and a group of younger musicians made to the Mexican town of Banámichi in the state of Sonora, the birthplace of Ronstadt’s beloved grandfather.

It’s said to deal with border politics, racism and other personal or hot-buttontopics affecting Ronstadt’s and Browne’s companions on the...

Although it may be difficult to believe, this year marks the 30th anniversary of Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, and Scream Factory is celebrating with a new Collector's Edition Blu-ray of the beloved horror anthology on August 25th. Ahead of its release, we've been provided with the full list of special features for the new Blu, including a massive making-of documentary:

Press Release: Los Angeles, CA – Four ghoulish fables in one modern nightmare. On August 25, 2020, Scream Factory proudly presents the anthology Tales from the Darkside: The Movie. (Collector’s Edition) in its ultimate Blu-ray debut. The horror fan-favorite comes home in a release packed with bonus features, including a new audio commentary with co-producer David R. Kappes and a new six-chapter feature-length documentary featuring a bevy of cast and crew. Fans who order from shoutfactory.com will also receive an exclusive poster, while supplies last.

From the clever and...

Shout! Factory and Mill Creek Entertainment have formed a multi-year distribution alliance to bring Tsuburaya Productions’ Ultraman superhero library to streaming services in North America. The roots of Ultraman go back to the mid-1960s, when the original TV series first aired in Japan. It has since added many incarnations and spinoffs, maintaining popularity amid the global superhero boom in pop culture. The multi-year distribution deal spans more than 1,100 TV episodes and 20 movies. Shout! Factory and its streaming service, Shout! Factory TV, will have exclusive subscription and ad-supported digital rights in the U.S. and Canada. Shout! Factory TV, whose app is available on a range of connected devices, plans an “aggressive rollout” of Ultraman titles this year on its new TokuShoutsu streaming channel, which is available on Pluto TV. Some of them have never before been viewable in North America. Tsuburaya Productions and Indigo Entertainment are also partners in the initiative.

Given five stars by Emily von Seele in her Fantastic Fest review, Carlo Mirabella-Davis' Swallow is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on August 4th from Scream Factory.

You can check out the official press release with full details below, and in case you missed it, read Heather Wixson's review of Swallow and her interview with Mirabella-Davis.

Press Release: A provocative and squirm-inducing psychological thriller, Swallow follows one woman’s unraveling as she struggles to reclaim independence in the face of an oppressive system by whatever means possible. Written and directed by Carlo Mirabella-Davis (The Swell Season), this critically acclaimed film makes its Blu-ray and DVD debut August 4, 2020 from Scream Factory, in conjunction with IFC Midnight. Fans of this unnerving tale can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com

On the surface, Hunter Conrad appears to have it all. A newly pregnant housewife, Hunter seems content to spend her...

Scream Factory continues to bring Hammer horror films to Blu-ray with their Collector's Edition release of 1962's The Phantom of the Opera, and we've been provided with the full list of bonus features ahead of its August 11th debut.

You can check out the official press release with complete details below, and if you're interested in the adaptations of Gaston Leroux’s classic novel, be sure to read Heather Wixson's Phantom Thread column!

Press Release: Herbert Lom stars as “The Phantom” in Hammer Films’ celebrated production of Gaston Leroux’s horror classic. Arriving on Blu-ray August 11, 2020 from Scream Factory, this Collector’s Edition of The Phantom of the Opera is a new 2K scan from the interpositive, with both 1.85:1 and 1.66:1 aspect ratio options available.

The release of this acclaimed film is loaded with bonus features, including new audio commentary with film historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson,...

Exclusive: Shout! Factory has inked a worldwide multiyear distribution deal for a 10 Kenny Rogers-starring films including all five in The Gambler TV movie series. The pact includes remake rights that paves the way for a TV series reboot based on Rogers’ card-playing, adventure-seeking Brady Hawkes, who was at the center of The Gambler in a run that spanned 14 years.

Shout! Factory’s original content unit Shout! Studios is developing and will produce the updated series based on the music, movies, and miniseries spawned by The Gambler, the title of the first 1980 TV movie that aired on CBS. It earned four sequels, the last, Gambler V: Playing for Keeps, airing in 1994.

“As far as legacies go, The Gambler is a doozy,” said Brent Haynes, Head of Original Content Development at Shout! “We are thrilled to be working with Kenny’s estate on this series. This is the kind of nostalgic,...