News

Breaking: Amblin president and co-ceo Jeff Small and Alibaba Pictures president Wei Zhang are definitely in their honeymoon period after Alibaba took an equity minority stake in Steven Spielberg’s company earlier this month. They said they have yet too identify a first project/co-production, and Small noted that they want to build out IPs whether they work together on original Amblin or Alibaba content. The two executives’ comments came as they appeared together onstage…...

Two officials in Ferguson, Missouri, have resigned following a Department of Justice report that highlighted racist emails sent by police and court employees. The unnamed city employees had previously been suspended, however Jeff Small, a spokesman for the city, confirmed their resignations to NBC News on Friday. See photos: Ferguson Fallout: The Scene Following Decision Not to Indict Officer Darren Wilson (Photos) Released earlier this week, the Justice Department report detailed seven racist emails including one depicting President Barack Obama as a chimpanzee and another mocking blacks through speech stereotypes. A third involved a man trying to get welfare for...

Michael Wright will take over as CEO at DreamWorks in January 2015 following the departure of Stacey Snider for her likely next job at Fox.

Wright currently serves as president and head of programming at TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies and got to know DreamWorks co-founder Steven Spielberg through TNT’s relationship with Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment.

The new hire has no experience in features and will work alongside president and COO Jeff Small, production president Holly Bario and producer Kristie Macosko Krieger.

Wright will have no involvement with Amblin Entertainment, which will remain a separate company.

Michael Wright will take over as CEO at DreamWorks in January 2015 following the departure of Stacey Snider for her likely next job at Fox.

Wright currently serves as president and head of programming at TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies and got to know DreamWorks co-founder Steven Spielberg through TNT’s relationship with Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment.

The new hire has no experience in features and will work alongside president and COO Jeff Small, production president Holly Bario and producer Kristie Macosko Krieger.

Wright will have no involvement with Amblin Entertainment, which will remain a separate company.

A pressing question in Hollywood has been what happens after Stacey Snider leaves DreamWorks (and its financing partner Reliance and distributor Disney) for Fox. Well, Steven Spielberg has found a replacement for his departing DreamWorks chief executive. Michael Wright, who last month left his gig as president and programming chief at TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies, will take over as DreamWorks CEO --though not a partner--on January 3, 2015. Production president Holly Bario will run DreamWorks creative until Wright comes aboard, with Jeff Small continuing as DreamWorks president and chief operating officer. Kristie Macosko Krieger will be a DreamWorks producer. Snider has been “an important part of my life for two decades and I want to acknowledge her many accomplishments at the company as well as her friendship and counsel which have been so important to me," stated Spielberg. "I’d also like to express my appreciation for her...

Update, 11:32 Pm Pt: eOne has confirmed its new output deal with DreamWorks. Press release follows below. Previous…Breaking…4:52 Pm Pt: I’m told that DreamWorks will shortly be announcing that it has made a four-year output agreement with eOne, with that company releasing DreamWorks product in the UK and Benelux. The arrangement begins with Starbuck, which stars Vince Vaughn and shoots in October. This will be the first of several deals after DreamWorks aligned with Mister Smith in an effort to be more hands on in arranging distribution in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Disney distributes in North America, Latin America, Asia, Russia and Australia. DreamWorks partner Stacey Snider was at the Toronto Film Festival, and I believe one of her missions was to meet potential distribution partners. This deal was put in place by Mister Smith’s David Garrett and DreamWorks COO Jeff Small. Now, Reliance...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released its annual list of invited new members, and it’s clear they’re continuing to try to make their membership younger. On the list alongside veterans like John Hawkes and David Duchovny are a slew of twentysomethings, including Mia Wasikowska, Ellen Page, Jesse Eisenberg, Mila Kunis, Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Lawrence, and Rooney Mara. The Board of Governors also decided to extend an invitation to Restrepo codirector Tim Hetherington, the first time Academy membership has been bestowed posthumously. As a side note, it’s also a hoot to now say the phrase Oscar voter Russell Brand.

Beverly Hills, CA . The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 178 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2011 to the Academy.s roster of members.

.These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today,. said Academy President Tom Sherak. .Their talent and creativity have entertained moviegoers around the world, and I welcome each of them to our ranks..

The Academy.s membership policies would have allowed a maximum of 211 new members in 2011, but as in other recent years, several branch committees endorsed fewer candidates than were proposed to them. Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.

In an unprecedented gesture, the list of new members includes documentary filmmaker Tim Hetherington, who was killed in action in Libya in April.

HollywoodNews.com: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 178 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2011 to the Academy’s roster of members.

“These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “Their talent and creativity have entertained moviegoers around the world, and I welcome each of them to our ranks.”

The Academy’s membership policies would have allowed a maximum of 211 new members in 2011, but as in other recent years, several branch committees endorsed fewer candidates than were proposed to them. Voting membership in the organization has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.

In an unprecedented gesture, the list of new members includes documentary filmmaker Tim Hetherington, who was killed in action in Libya in April.

Earlier today, we brought you the first theatrical trailer for director DJ Caruso’s I Am Number Four, and now comes word that the film will get an IMAX release when it hits theaters. The Walt Disney Studios, DreamWorks Studios and IMAX Corporation announced today that two of DreamWorks’ 2011 Touchstone Pictures releases, I Am Number Four and Real Steel will open day-and-date in digital IMAX® theatres around the world. Real Steel is director Shawn Levy’s futuristic robot-boxing movie starring Hugh Jackman.

“DreamWorks is pleased to have the incredible team at IMAX on board for these two exciting films,” said Jeff Small, President and COO of DreamWorks Studios. “Having I Am Number Four and Real Steel exhibited in IMAX theatres gives us a wonderful opportunity to showcase the fantastic work of the filmmakers and the people involved in creating these visual tales. Audiences get the benefit of a fully immersive...

The Walt Disney Studios, DreamWorks Studios and IMAX Corporation announced today that two of DreamWorks' 2011 Touchstone Pictures releases, "I Am Number Four" and "Real Steel," will open day-and-date in digital IMAX® theatres around the world. Both films are produced by DreamWorks and will be released under Disney's Touchstone banner as part of the distribution agreement between the two companies."DreamWorks is pleased to have the incredible team at IMAX on board for these two exciting films," said Jeff Small, President and COO of DreamWorks Studios. "Having I Am Number Four and Real Steel exhibited in IMAX theatres gives us a wonderful opportunity to showcase the fantastic work of the filmmakers and the people involved in creating these visual tales. Audiences get the benefit of a fully immersive movie-going experience on two films that are ideally suited for the visual and sensory IMAX experience.""Real Steel and I Am Number Four...

The Walt Disney Studios, DreamWorks Studios and IMAX Corporation announced today that two of DreamWorks' 2011 Touchstone Pictures releases, I Am Number Four and Real Steel , will open day-and-date in digital IMAX theatres around the world. Both films are produced by DreamWorks and will be released under Disney's Touchstone banner as part of the distribution agreement between the two companies. "DreamWorks is pleased to have the incredible team at IMAX on board for these two exciting films," said Jeff Small, President and COO of DreamWorks Studios. "Having 'I Am Number Four' and 'Real Steel' exhibited in IMAX theatres gives us a wonderful opportunity to showcase the fantastic work of the filmmakers and the people involved in creating these visual tales. Audiences get...

Resurrected almost a year ago as a private production company, DreamWorks finally has its filmmaking financing fully in place.

DreamWorks on Monday announced that it has concluded the arduous process of rounding up a total $825 million in corporate financing for the reborn film company. That sum includes a $325 million Jp Morgan-led bank syndication, a matching amount from DreamWorks principal Reliance Big Entertainment and a $175 million commitment from distribution partner Disney.

"This will allow us to move ahead quickly into production with our first group of films," DreamWorks co-toppers Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider said in a joint statement.

"Our partnership with Stacey and Steven is the cornerstone of our Hollywood strategy as we grow our film interests across the globe," Rbe topper Anil Ambani said. "Given our faith in the business plan that they presented to us -- and despite the current economic climate -- we were...

DreamWorks announced today that they've found the first phase of funding for their new studio, partnering with Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group to close the deal. Walt Disney Studios will now handle the marketing and distribution for the studio. Here is the official release:

Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, chairman of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, the parent company of Reliance Big Entertainment and Reliance Big Pictures along with Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider, the principal partners of DreamWorks Studios jointly announced today the completion of the first phase of funding for their new motion picture company, based in Los Angeles, California. They further announced that J.P. Morgan Securities arranged the syndication of approximately $325 million of senior debt, which Reliance Big Entertainment is matching with its equity commitment. The Walt Disney Studios, who will handle marketing and distribution for the studio, will also extend a loan to DreamWorks as part of the distribution deal.