by Alexandra Hayes

A Brief History:

Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen are the founders of DreamWorks entertainment. They founded the company in 1994, and since then have produced numerous award-winning films such as Amistad, Saving Private Ryan, American Beauty, Gladiator, Meet the Parents, Cast Away, A Beautiful Mind and so on. “In the Fall of 2004, the animation division of the studio was spun-off into a publicly traded company named DreamWorks Animation (DWA).” DreamWorks was sold to Paramount Pictures, the Viacom owned studio, in January 2006. In 2008, the company partnered with the Indian film company, Reliance Big Entertainment, headed by Anil Ambani. Since then, DreamWorks has continued producing copious amounts of critically acclaimed and entertaining films. (DreamWorks Studios)

For DreamWorks Studios’ full history click here [1].

Recent News:

January:

January 18, 2012

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney’s marketing chief, MT Carney’s departure was confirmed on January 8, 2012. Disney was able to keep Carney’s replacement a secret until such time that a press release could be provided. This is relevant to DreamWorks because since 2009, Disney has distributed DreamWorks’ films.

At the January 12 dinner for the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Steven Spielberg confronted Disney’s studio chief about his frustration. “The sources say Spielberg told [Rich] Ross bluntly he was upset that he wasn’t consulted two or three weeks earlier, when Ross decided that Carney had an ‘out’ date and would be replaced.” (The Hollywood Reporter)

For the full article click here [2].

January 23, 2012

Steven Spielberg’s newest film, Lincoln, will be released in theaters in December 2012. Already the film will be distributed domestically by Disney due to DreamWorks’ partnership with the company. Recently, Fox has signed on to the project to distribute it internationally.

The film has an all-star cast, as well as a critically acclaimed director. “Daniel Day-Lewis portrays Abraham Lincoln in the film, which also stars Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Robert Todd Lincoln. Tommy Lee Jones and James Spader also star.” (The Hollywood Reporter)

For the full article click here [3].

February:

February 9, 2012

DreamWorks Studios will be working on remaking Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca (1940). The Screenplay will be written by Steven Kni ght who is known for Eastern Promises (2007). He will not only look at the previous film adaptation, but use the original book by Daphne DuMaurier, as well. (DreamWorks Studios)

For the full article click here [4].

February 17, 2012

Reliance Big Entertainment will not be breaking away from DreamWorks anytime soon, even though the company has reason to do so.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Reliance invested $325 million in DreamWorks in 2008, aiding the ailing company immensely. “Attorney Schuyler Moore, who represents Reliance in some matters, says the company still plans to be a global media player. “They are happy with all their talent relationships,” he says. “They are happy with DreamWorks. They’ve been financially successful. They are thrilled with everything that’s happened.””

This is interesting seeing that Reliance has made many deals with DreamWorks, but nothing has really come of them. However, DreamWorks’ recent 10 Oscar nominations has impressed Reliance. Therefore the company wants to work out an arrangement with DreamWorks. (The Hollywood Reporter)

For the full article click here [5].

April:

April 10, 2012

After long and strenuous discussion, Reliance Big Entertainment has decided that it wants to keep its relationship going with DreamWorks. Reliance and DreamWorks have struck a deal that will allow Spielberg’s company to make about 8-10 movies over the next 2-3 years. “On larger movies, DreamWorks will seek to partner, as it has with Fox on the upcoming Robopocalypse, set for release in July 2013, and with Participant on The Help and Spielberg’s upcoming biopic Lincoln.” (The Hollywood Reporter)

For the full article click here [6].

April 12, 2012

On Thursday, April 12, DreamWorks’ head of physical production, Steve Molen, resigned. Even though Reliance will continue to finance DreamWorks, the new deal calls for some reduction at the ailing company. “His departure is associated with reductions in that department in the wake of the company’s renegotiation with Reliance Entertainment…” (The Hollywood Reporter)

For the full article click here [7].

April 13, 2012

DreamWorks, as a result of the recent negotiations with Reliance Big Entertainment, will be laying off about 10 of their 80 current employees. Steve Molen, head of physical production, resigned due to the fact that most of the layoffs will be in his department. Other departments being affected are legal, insurance and IT. (The Hollywood Reporter)

For the full article click here [8].

April 16, 2012

DreamWorks has expressed interest in buying the new project Need for Speed based on the extremely popular video game by Electronic Arts. “The project hit the town last week in a UTA-repped package that saw brothers John and George Gatins develop the story with George writing the script. John Gatins is producing with EA.”

Need for Speed is considered the most successful videogame in the world. (The Hollywood Reporter)

For the full article click here [9].

April 23, 2012

DreamWorks has recently attained the rights to the 2011 French-Canadian film Starbuck. Oddly enough the company wants to fast-track this film to have a production start date later in the year. Even more strange is the fact that DreamWorks has asked the original director, Ken Scott, to direct and write this remake only a year after its original release.

Starbuck is a film about a man who finds out he has 533 children due to sperm donation throughout the years. He then learns that a few hundred of them a interested in meeting their biological father. DreamWorks CEO Stacey Snider said, “We were completely charmed by the story in ‘Starbuck’ and saw the potential for a commercial remake with universal appeal.”

For the full article from Variety click here [10].

For the full article from collider.com click here [11].

Sources:

[1] DreamWorks Studios http://dreamworksstudios.com/about/history

[2] Kim Masters http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/steven-spielberg-disney-rich-ross-282936

[3] Pamela McClintock http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/steven-spielberg-lincoln-fox-dreamworks-284020

[4] Jeff Sneider Variety http://www.dreamworksstudios.com/news/dreamworks-to-remake-hitchcocks-rebecca

[5] Kim Masters http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/reliance-dreamworks-caa-indian-conglom-hollywood-292383

[6] Kim Masters http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-secures-additional-funding-reliance-310123

[7] Kim Masters http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/dreamworks-steve-molen-physical-production-reliance-entertainment-311692

[8] Kim Masters http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-layoffs-stacey-snider-steve-molen-312009

[9] Borys Kit http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dreamworks-need-for-speed-312493