Universal Pictures

 

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608

www.universalstudios.com

HISTORY

Universal Studios was founded by Carl Laemmle, Mark Dintenfass, Charles O. Baumann, Adam Kessel, Pat Powers, William Swanson, David Horsley, Robert H. Cochrane and Jules Brulatour. Following the boom of film studios of the time, Universal Studios became a vertically integrated company, linking movie production, exhibition, and distribution all into one corporate entity. Universal ranks among the “Big Six” film studios and is a subsidiary of NBC Universal who indirectly belong to Comcast, a huge media conglomerate. They’ve produced films such as Jurassic World which grossed at $651,926,506 making it the fourth highest grossing film of all time domestically and worldwide [15].

KEY EXECUTIVES

Donna Langley, Chairman

Donna Langley, Chairman, Universal Pictures – Source: Forbes [16]

Jeff Shell, Chairman (Filmed Entertainment)

Jeff Shell, Chairman (Filmed Entertainment), Universal Pictures – Source: BBG [17]

 

 

 

FINANCIALS

While Universal Studios is a privately traded company, Comcast is its parent company and they are publicly traded. In the most recent quarterly report, Universal cited a revenue increase of 25.8% to $1.6 billion compared to $1.3 billion in the previous year. There was a 74.9% increase in home entertainment revenue drive by the strong performances of Jurassic World and the Minions and Universal has cited an upward trend of revenue into the 2016 year. Earnings per share increased 6.8% with the value being held at $0.79 compared to the $0.74 reported in the fourth quarter of the previous year [7].Universal Studios is currently 5th place in terms of top grossing film companies with a market share of 7.7% and a total gross of $252.4 billion [12]. They hold an average of $36,054,255 per release for its 7 releases so far in 2016. Their top grossing release is Ride Along 2 which cited a total gross of $90,862,685 which exceeded their budget of $40 million [11]. Universal Studios is planning 15 releases for the rest of the 2016 year with the genres being split roughly in half between comedy and horror [13].

IN THEATERS

—The Boss

—The Boss (2016) [19]

The Boss

The Boss is another one of Melissa McCarthy’s slapstick style comedy movies and was released on April 8th, 2016. The opening weekend of The Boss beat out Batman V Superman by a mere $45,000 proving McCarthy’s star power as a movie she stars in tops another $20+ million opener. The movie opened its weekend with a total gross of $23.48 million with a reported budget of $29 million [1]. The second weekend saw a larger-than-expected 57.8% drop, but still remained in the top five grossing movies that week. The longevity of the movie may extend a little more seeing as the next R-rated comedy doesn’t release until around late May with Neighbors 2 [3].

—The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016)

—The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016) [20]

The Huntsman: Winter’s War

The sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman, which grossed a total of $396.6 billion, called The Huntsman: Winter’s War was released on April 22, 2016. It charted at number 2 behind Jungle Book, even though Jungle Book was in its second week of circulation [2]. The Huntsman: Winter’s War earned a total of $20,080,000 in its opening weekend domestically and $80,200,000 internationally, proving the series popularity in the foreign market. With an estimated budget of $20 million, it brought in approximately 36% of the opening weekend total of its predecessor. The audience skewed 61% female and 39% male with 47% of the audience being over the age of 30. Comparatively, Snow White and the Huntsman attracted a much more evenly distributed gendered audience with about 53% of them being female [14]. Looking forward, it’s unlikely that the movie will reach an overall domestic cume of $55-60 million off their reported budget of $115 million.

SPRING/SUMMER 2016 RELEASES

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising is an R-rated comedy sequel to the popular Neighbors movie starring Zac Efron and Seth Rogen. Director Nicholas Stoller has said that the sequel was actually inspired by “Toy Story 2“. The film has a bigger budget than the previous one and is expected to focus of different aspects of college greek life. The movie is slated for release on May 20, 2016 [23].

The Purge: Election Year

The Purge: Election Year is also another movie in the series of Purge movies slated for release on July 1, 2016. The movie is third in the series and will follow Senator Charlene Roan played by Elizabeth Mitchell and her head of security Leo Barnes played by Frank Grillo as they escape those looking to kill them for the night. Director of the first two films, James DeMonaco, has agreed to return to direct this third installment [22].

FUTURE FOR UNIVERSAL PICTURES

Following competition from other big name companies like Paramount and Warner Bros, Universal Pictures has invested into turning a selection of its movies in 4K Ultra HD this summer. The upcoming Warcraft and Jason Bourne movies will pioneer the format along with UHD versions of Everest, Lucy, and Lone Survivor [6]. The home entertainment movie sector will offer an enhanced selection of new release and catalog titles mastered in Dolby Vision™ and plans to makes all titles available in 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray and 4K Ultra HD digital formats by the end of 2016 [8].

Jurassic World 2 teaser poster

—Jurassic World 2 teaser poster [18]

In terms of future releases, Universal will be continuing on the success of Jurassic World, the movie that brought in $1.6 billion dollars, and produce the sequel which has a release date of June 22, 2018. The director for the sequel was just announced on April 18th, 2016, to be J.A. Bayona, a Spanish filmmaker who make a name for himself through his tsunami drama The Impossible [5]. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, the stars of Jurassic World, are expected to reprise their roles for the follow-up film.

The Chinese media company, Perfect World Pictures, announced their plan to co-finance up to 50 movies, or movies for a time span of five years, for $500 million with Universal Pictures in an effort to diversify into the English-language film sector [4]. The president, Rong Chen, stated that an even larger phase of investment into Hollywood will follow the deal with Universal this year. Sources familiar with the deal states that Perfect World’s investment would get it a 25% share of most, but not all, of the films released by Universal [9]. This marks the first time a non-state-owned enterprise entertainment company from China will be working directly with a major U.S. studio. In addition, this will be the first time a Chinese company will invest in a multi-year deal with a major U.S. studio [10].

SOURCES

[1] Brevet, Brad (April 10, 2016) Melissa McCarthy’s ‘The Boss’ Narrowly Tops ‘Batman V Superman’ for Weekend #1. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 23rd, 2016.

[2] Mendelson, Scott (April 24, 2016) Weekend Box Office: ‘The Huntsman’Opens 64% Lower Than ‘Snow White And The Huntsman.’ Forbes. Retrieved April 25rd, 2016.

[3] Brevet, Brad (April 21, 2016) ‘Jungle Book’ To Repeat at #1 Over ‘The Huntsman: Winter’s War.’ Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 23rd, 2016.

[4] Brzeski, Patrick (April 21, 2016) China Exec Who Put $500M Into Universal Pictures Says “More To Come.” The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 23rd, 2016.

[5] Kit, Borys (April 18th, 2016) ‘Jurassic World’ Sequel Finds Its Director. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 23rd, 2016.

[6] Palladino, Valentina (April 20th, 2016) Universal Pictures to release 4K Blu-ray movies, starting with Jason Bourne. ArsTechnica. Retrieved April 23rd, 2016.

[7] Comcast Fourth Quarter 2015. Comcast. Retrieved April 23rd, 2016.

[8] Unknown (April 19th, 2016) Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Unveils First 4K Ultra High Definition Offerings. PR Newswire. Retrieved April 23rd, 2016.

[9] Faughnder, Ryan (February 17, 2016) China’s Perfect World invest up to $450 million in Universal film slate. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 23rd, 2016.

[10] Petski, Denise (February 17th, 2016) Universal & China’s Perfect World Confirm 50 Film Funding Deal. Deadline. Retrieved April 25th, 2016.

[11] Ride Along 2. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 25th, 2016.

[12] Studio Market Share. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 25th, 2016.

[13] Box Office by Studio: Universal. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 25th, 2016.

[14] Brevet, Brad (April 24, 2016) ‘Jungle Book’ Repeats, ‘Huntsman’ Falls On His Axe and ‘Zootopia’ Tops $900M Worldwide. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 25th, 2016.

[15] Universal Studios. Comcast. Retrieved April 25th, 2016.

[16] Donna Langley. Forbes. Retrieved April 25th, 2016.

[17] Jeff Shell. BBG. Retrieved April 25th, 2016.

[18] Jurassic World Sequel Teaser. Twitter. Retrieved April 25th, 2016.

[19] The Boss. IMDB. Retrieved April 25th, 2016.

[20] The Huntsman: Winters War. IMDB. Retrieved April 25th, 2016.

[21] Youtube: Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. Youtube. Retrieved April 25th, 2016.

[22] Youtube: The Purge: Election Year. Youtube. Retrieved April 25th, 2016.

[23] Jogwar, Sangati (April 13, 2016) ‘NEIGHBORS 2: SORORITY RISING’ INSPIRED FROM ‘TOY STORY 2’ AND ‘MAD MAX.’ Movienewsguide. Retrieved April 25th, 2016.

Columbia Pictures

by Ian McCourt

Columbia Pictures

sony_columbia_pictures

Image Courtesy Fortune.com [i]

Contact Information: [ii]

10202 West Washington Boulevard

Culver City, CA 90232

310-244-4000

www.sonypictures.com

Key Executives:

Michael Lynton       CEO, Sony Entertainment, Chairman and CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group

Amy Pascal  Co-Chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doug Belgrad President, Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group President, Columbia Pictures

David Hendler  Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Sony Pictures Entertainment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael De Luca President, Production, Columbia Pictures

Michael De Luca
President, Production, Columbia Pictures

President, Production, Columbia Pictures

Hannah Minghella President, Production, Columbia Pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executives Photos and Information Courtesy of: http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/management.html [iii]

About Columbia Pictures:

In 1918, Harry and Jack Cohn formed CBC Film Sales with an associate of theirs, Joe Brandt. CBC Film Sales (Cohn-Brandt-Cohn) then produced small-budget short films and featurettes until a few experiments with feature films and an eye for larger profits prompted them to form Columbia Pictures Corporation in 1924. Columbia established itself in the cinema world, however, with the discovery of director Frank Capra in 1927.  He would bring the company many Academy Awards, including the Best Picture films “It Happened One Night” and “You Can’t Take it With You.”  Columbia would continue to grow and prosper as the decades moved past, and it was bought by Coca-Cola in 1982.  However, a mere seven years later, Columbia Pictures and all of its holdings were bought by the Sony Corporation in 1989. [iv] It is now a part of Sony Pictures Entertainment‘s Columbia Tristar Motion Picture Group, along with Tristar Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics and Screengems. [v]

Financials:

It is to be noted that Sony’s Financial Reports for the Pictures Division encompasses not only Columbia Pictures, but also the Tristar Pictures and Screengems studios, as well as any TV production and distribution financials. Regardless, Sony Pictures Entertainment reported that revenue decreased 3% on a constant currency (U.S. dollar) standard to 1,671 million dollars for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2014 from 1,815 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2013. [vi][vii] This was due to lower theatrical revenues due to fewer theatrical releases in Q2 FY14 as opposed to Q2 FY13. [viii]  Sony predicts that the pictures division will make 8,100 million U.S. dollars for the total Fiscal Year ending March 31, 2015. [ix]

What’s Happening Now?

In 2014, Columbia Pictures has released nine films, three of which are still in theaters as of December 1, 2014. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and 22 Jump Street are leading in gross so far respectively, with 22 Jump Street still in theaters. [x]

22 Jump Street
This sequel to the hit 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street stars Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum and follows the adventures of Officers Schmidt and Jenko as they go undercover as college students. The film is directed by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord.

Image and Synopsis Courtesy IMDB [xi]

In its opening weekend (June 13-15, 2014), 22 Jump Street opened at number one, making $57,071,445 domestically to its $50 million budget. The film is now in its twenty-third week, having made $331,333,876 worldwide as of December 1, 2014. [xii]

The Equalizer
In The EqualizerDenzel Washington stars as a man who has put his dark past behind him, only to return to his old ways when he meets a girl who is under the control of Russian gangsters. The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua.

Image and Synopsis Courtesy IMDB

Image and Synopsis Courtesy IMDB [xiii]

In its opening weekend (Sept. 26-28, 2014) The Equalizer opened number one at the box office, earning $34,137,828 to its $55 million budget. Now in its ninth week, the film has made $190,173,178 internationally as of December 1, 2014. [xiv]

Fury
Fury, starring Brad Pitt, Logan Lerman, and Shia LaBeouf, tells the tale of an Army Sergeant nicknamed Wardaddy (Pitt) who commands a Sherman tank with a five-man crew against amazing odds in an attempt to cripple Nazi Germany. The film is written and directed by David Ayer.

Image and Synopsis Courtesy IMDB

Image and Synopsis Courtesy IMDB [xv]

Opening number one at the box office, Fury made $23,702,421 to its $68 million budget during its opening weekend (Oct. 17-19, 2014). Going through its seventh week in theaters, Fury has made $171,707,000 internationally as of December 1, 2014. [xvi] On Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, 2014, the movie was free at Regal and AMC Theaters for all current personnel or veterans with a valid I.D. [xvii]

Ghostbusters (30th Anniversary Re-Release)
To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the 1984 classic, Ghostbusters was back in theaters beginning August 29, 2014. [xviii] It tells the story of three parapsychology professors struggling for work who decide to open up a ghost removal business. It stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Sigourney Weaver.  It is directed by Ivan Reitman. [xix]

Image Credit Fandango.com

Image Credit Fandango.com [xx]

The re-release opened at fifteenth its opening weekend (August 29-31, 2014), making $1,756,513. It closed on September 18, 2014, despite being advertised as only being open for one week.  During this time, it made $3,580,343.  This makes the film’s total lifetime gross $242,212,467 as of December 1, 2014. [xxi]

In Other News:

In early November, Columbia Pictures requested to a Florida federal court that its anti-piracy policies be kept secret.  The information on these policies is now in a closed case between Hotfile, a file-sharing site that closed down in 2013, and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). [xxii] Columbia is insisting that if this information were released, it would render the company incapable to protect its copyrighted works. This comes after U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ruled that the information is in the public interest and should be released. [xxiii]

 

Image Courtesy Dailytech [xxvi]

On November 24, 2014, hackers took control of Sony’s computer systems.  A group claiming to be the hackers then criticized Sony CEO Michael Lynton in a tweet, calling him “a criminal.” [xxiv] Since then, versions of five films belonging to Sony Pictures have been released online: AnnieFuryStill AliceMr. Turner, and To Write Love on Her Arms. Of those five films, only Fury has been released in theaters, but even that film hasn’t had a DVD release yet.  These films are already reported to have been illegally downloaded hundreds of thousands of times. [xxv] Sony has since hired Mandiant Forensics Unit to clean up the attack, and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations has begun looking into the incident. Sony has been looking to see if the attack was perpetrated by North Korea-backed hackers in retaliation to the upcoming release of the movie, The Interview, which is a comedy about an attempt to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. [xxvii]

What’s To Come:

Annie

Image Courtesy IMDB

Image Courtesy IMDB [xxix]

One of the films leaked from the hack, Annie will be released in theaters on December 19, 2014. Starring Quvenzhane Wallis, Jamie Foxx, and Cameron Diaz, this musical film tells of a young foster kid (Wallis) who toughs out the hard knock life of New York City in 2014.  While it will be competing against Disney‘s Into The Woods, the film is predicted to make about $95 million. [xxviii]

 

 

 

The Interview

Image Courtesy IMDB

Image Courtesy IMDB [xxxi]

To be released on Christmas Day, December 25, 2014, The Interview is the latest comedy co-directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Starring Rogen and James Franco, the film is about journalist Dave Skylark and producer Aaron Rapoport from the popular TV show Skylark Tonight as they are hired by the CIA to assassinate Kim Jong Un. It is predicted to make $90 million. [xxx]

 

 

[i] Columbia Pictures Logo. Retrieved 11/29/2014.
[ii] Sony Pictures Contacts. Retrieved 11/29/2014.
[iii] Sony/Columbia Executives. Retrieved 11/29/2014.
[iv] History of Columbia Pictures. Retrieved 11/29/2014.
[v] Sony Divisions. Retrieved 11/29/2014.
[vi] Sony Financials Q2 FY14. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[vii] Sony Financials Q2 FY13. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[viii] Sony Financials Q2 FY14. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[vix] Sony Predictions. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[x] Columbia Films 2014. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xi] 22 Jump Street Info. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[xii] 22 Jump Street Box Office. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xiii] The Equalizer Info. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[xiv] The Equalizer Box Office. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xv] Fury Info. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[xvi] Fury Box Office. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xvii] Fury Free for Veterans 11/11. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[xviii] Ghostbusters Re-release Info. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[xix] Ghostbusters Info. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[xx] Ghostbusters Re-release Poster. Retrieved 11/30/2014.
[xxi] Ghostbusters Re-Release Box Office. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxii] Hotfile Shuts Down. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxiii] Columbia Anti-Piracy Case. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxiv] Hackers take Sony. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxv] Sony Movies Leaked. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxvi] Hackers Call Out Lynton on Twitter. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxvii] Sony Responds to Hack. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxviii] Annie Info. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxiv] Annie Poster. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxx] The Interview Info. Retrieved 12/1/2014.
[xxxi] The Interview Poster. Retrieved 12/1/2014.

Universal Pictures

by John Rooney

 

Universal Pictures logo

Universal Pictures logo [17]  

Location: 100 Universal Plaza, Universal City, California 91608

Web: http://www.universalpictures.com

History

Universal Pictures, Inc. was founded in 1912 by filmmaking partners Carl Laemmle and Robert Cochrane.  As the oldest American film studio, Universal maintains its status as a powerhouse in the world of movie production and distribution. The studio is part of NBCUniversal, which is altogether owned by Comcast. [1] In its over one-hundred years of history, the studio has produced dozens of beloved classics such as Jurassic Park, E.T. and Jaws. 

Key Executives  [2]   

Donna Langley, Chairman, Universal Pictures

Donna Langley, Chairman Universal Pictures

Donna Langley, Chairman Universal Pictures [2]  

Promoted to chairman in September of 2013, Langley has the task of overseeing all film production for Universal Pictures and Focus Features.

Jeff Shell, Chairman, Universal Filmed Entertainment

Jeff Shell, Chairman, Universal Filmed Entertainment

Jeff Shell, Chairman,
Universal Filmed Entertainment [2] 

Shell took over in September of 2013.  He came from Comcast, where he previously was the head of Universal International.  He is in charge of worldwide operations for the film studio.

Ron Meyer, Vice Chairman, NBCUniversal

Ron Meyer - www.nbcumv.com

Ron Meyer – www.nbcumv.com [2]  

Also appointed in September of 2013, Meyer’s job is to oversee all operations and planning for the company from films to theme parks.

Finances

Universal finished 2013 in third place in terms of revenue, just behind Warner Brothers and Disney.  The studio also saw its largest worldwide revenue ever, $3.67 billion ($1.42 billion domestic, $2.25 billion international).  This was a considerable increase from the $3.13 billion the studio made in 2012.   Films such as Identity Thief, The Purge, and Mama helped the studio achieve such success. [3]

In 2013, Universal broke the $2 billion revenue mark in the international market for the first time ever.  Fast & Furious 6, another huge film for Universal, opened at number one in 65 international territories and gave the studio it biggest opening weekend ever.  Other films such as Despicable Me 2 and Oblivion helped throw Universal into the global spotlight. [4]

Competition

For years, some of Universal’s main competition has been other large film studios such as Disney, Warner Brothers, Fox, and CBS. [5] However, another large area of competition for Universal and other film companies is movie and TV streaming software such as Netflix and Hulu.  A consumers ability to stream content online from a subscribed service is sure to hurt DVD sales.  Additionally, online streaming companies have been making all sorts of business ventures in order to create and sell their own original content. [6] 

Recent Film Releases

Neighbors 

Good Neighboors

Neighbors [7]  

An R-rated comedy from Good Universe, Neighbors is a hilarious account of a young husband and father’s struggles to peacefully coexist with a reckless group of fraternity brothers.  The film stars Seth Rogen and Zac Efron, with Rose Byrne and Dave Franco in supporting roles.  It was directed by Nicholas Stoller, who is famous for other projects such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to The Greek.  The film received positive reviews for the most part, earning a 73% from the top critics at “Rotten Tomatoes”. [7]

The movie opened on May 9, 2014.  It saw a successful first weekend with opening revenue at about $49 million.  The film raked in about $150 million domestically and $180 million internationally, with a total gross of over $286 million. [8]   

The Purge: Anarchy

the-purge

The Purge: Anarchy  [9] 

A sequel to the 2013 thriller The Purge, The Purge: Anarchy follows a group of diner employees as they fight to survive the annual “Purge”, a night where all crime is legal across America.  Written and directed by James DeMonaco, the film stars Frank Grillo, Kiele Sanchez, and Zach Gilford.  The film received mixed reviews, with critic’s complaints focused mainly on flaws in the writing. [9] 

The film was released on July 18, 2014 and saw an opening weekend revenue of nearly $30 million.  It earned nearly $72 million domestically and about $38 million internationally, for a total of almost $111 million in revenue.  In comparison to its predecessor, The Purge: Anarchy did not open as strongly, but earned about $22 million more in total revenue. [10] 

Dumb and Dumber To

Dumb-and-Dumber-To-Logo-550x185

Dumb Dumber To [11]  

The long awaited sequel to the 1994 Farrelly Brothers comedy Dumb and Dumber, Dumb and Dumber To presents the mindless antics of Harry and Lloyd once again as they set out on a mission to find Harry’s daughter.  The film stars the comedy duo of Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels and was directed by J.B. Rodgers and Bobby Farrelly.  The movie has not fared very well with critics in its first two weeks, with many saying that its brand of humor is not as fun and fresh as it used to be. [11]

 The first Dumb and Dumber was wildly successful for Universal, snagging over $247 million worldwide. It’s prequel Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd was a huge box office flop, earning just over $39 million.  Universal has commonly found success in sequels and film franchises. Dumb and Dumber To opened on November 14, 2014 in 3,154 theaters with an opening revenue of just over $36 million, giving it the #1 spot for the weekend.  Thus far the film has made $67 million in the U.S. and $20 million in the international box office, adding up for a total of almost $88 million. [12] 

What’s Next From Universal Pictures

Fifty Shades of Grey

50 shades of gay

50 Shades of Grey [13]  

Based on the wildly popular  romance novel of the same name, Fifty Shades of Grey tells the story of the masochistic relationship between a wealthy business man and one of his young female employees.  The movie stars James Dornan and Dakota Johnson and is directed by Sam Taylor-Wood. The Focus Features film has completed production, and it set to make its wide release on February 13, 2015. [13]

 

 

 

Jurassic World

Jurassic_World

Jurassic World  [14] 

Universal hopes to continue its trend of successful sequels and film franchises with Jurassic World, the fourth installment of the Jurassic Park series.  It will be starring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, with Colin Trevorrow as director and Steven Spielberg as executive producer.  The film has been in development since 2001, and was originally set to be called Jurassic Park IV.  Shooting began last April in locations such as Hawaii and New Orleans.  The movie is currently in post-production and editing, and is set to release on June 12, 2015. [14] 

Warcraft

 

warcraft-poster1

Warcraft Poster  [15]  

In 2016, Universal will be adapting a video game to film for the first time in its history.  Based on World of Warcraft, an immensely popular online gaming program, Warcraft is set to be an epic fantasy tale of good versus evil.  The film has been in development since 2006 and is currently in production.  British film star Toby Kebbel and Paula Patton have been casted as two of the lead roles. The movie will have its wide release on March 11, 2016. [15]  

 

 

Steve Jobs Biography Film

On November 25, 2014, Universal bought the rights from Sony Corporation to produce a biography film on Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs.  It all be based on a biography by author Walter Isaacson entitled “Steve Jobs”. [16] 

 

References

[1] http://www.history.com/news/the-renegade-roots-of-hollywood-studios

 [2] http://deadline.com/2013/09/shocker-adam-fogelson-out-in-universal-shakeup-582309/

[3]http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/studio-smackdown-2013-warner-bros-668302

 [4] http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/109124-universal-pictures-crosses-2b-mark-at-the-overseas-box-office-for-the-first-time

[5] http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/competition.Universal_Studios_Inc.7a0e7231fca927ed.html

[6] http://money.cnn.com/2011/07/08/technology/netflix_starz_contract/

[7] http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/neighbors_2014/

[8] http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=townies.htm

 [9] http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_purge_anarchy_2014/?search=the%20purge%20anarchy

[10] http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=purge2.htm

 [11] http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dumb_and_dumber_to/

 [12] http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=dumberto.htm

[13] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2322441/

[14] http://www.jurassicworld.org

[15] http://www.warcraft-themovie.com

[16] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-25/universal-pictures-acquires-jobs-film-from-sony-corp.html

 [17] http://www.universalpictures.com

Columbia Pictures

by Javier Vélez

Columbia Pictures

Columbia Logo

Courtesy of fortune.com (a)

Contact Information: (b)

Address: 10202 W. Washington Blvd.

Culver City, CA 90232

Phone: 310-244-4000

http://www.sonypictures.com/

 Key Executives: (c)

Doug Belgrad [6]

Doug Belgrad (President)

image retrieved from the Hollywood Reporter

Hannah Minghella (President of Production)

 

 About Columbia Pictures:

Rita Hayworth       Courtesy of: Fanpop.com

The production studio known today as Columbia Pictures was founded in 1918 by Joe Brandt and brothers Jack and Harry Cohn. Originally named Cohn-Brandt-Cohn Film Sales, the company became Columbia Pictures in 1924. During the Hollywood Golden Age, Columbia had many stars of the era under contract, such as Rita Hayworth and William Holden, and became a major player in the movie business thanks to the productions of director Frank Capra.(d) In 1982, the company was bought by Coca-Cola, and in 1989 Sony purchased it for $3.4 billion.(e) Columbia Pictures is currently the film production and distribution division of Sony Picture’s Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, part of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a Sony subsidiary.(f) The most recent movement at the executive level occurred on July 16, 2014, when Doug Belgrad was promoted to president of the Sony Motion Picture Group. (g)                    

Financials:

Columbia Pictures, and its parent company Sony Pictures Entertainment, are privately traded.(h) The company has had notable releases in the last few years, including box office successes such as Skyfall and the Spider-Man franchise. From its 853 films produced or distributed for Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures releases have grossed $31,650,056,784, an average of $37 million per film.(i) In 2014, Columbia Pictures has held a 13.0% market share as of November 23.(j)

The Amazing Spider-Man                 Courtesy of Boxofficemojo.com

Columbia Pictures Success:

At the 2014 Oscars, films distributed by Columbia Pictures received 16 nominations. American Hustle received 10 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Actress in a Leading Role, and Best Director.  It won two Oscars, Jennifer Lawrence for Best Supporting Actress and David O. Russell & Eric Warren Singer for Best Original Screenplay. (k)

American Hustle poster                                                                 Courtesy of: Forbes.com

The other Columbia release that received Oscar Nominations was Captain Phillips. Of the six nominations received, the most noteworthy were for Best Picture and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for first-time actor Barkhad Abdi. The film did not win any Academy Awards.

The stars of Captain Phillips, Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi             Courtesy of aceshowbiz.com

 Columbia Pictures Presents:

Columbia Pictures has produced and/or distributed 17 films in 2014. Between superhero films, action films, and comedies, among others, the studio has released some of the most well-received films of the year by audiences.

During the summer, Columbia Pictures produced the sequel to 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”, starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, and Jamie Foxx. The movie was released on May 2, 2014 in 4,324 theaters, grossing $110,700,722 in its first week. It went on to have a successful run in theaters, grossing over $200 million domestically and over $505 million in foreign markets, for a worldwide gross of $708, 983, 323 against a budget of $200 million. (l) In China, the movie was released in 11,002 theaters, a record amount of screens. (m) The film was not as big a hit with critics, receiving mixed reviews. (n)

Teaser Poster for The Amazing Spider-Man 2                           Courtesy of: Boxofficemojo.com

Another high-profile release in the summer of 2014 was 22 Jump Street, the sequel to 2012’s critical and commercial hit, 21 Jump Street. The movie, which pokes fun at conventional sequels, starred the buddy cop team of Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum as they move on from high school to college.

It was released on June 13, 2014, and went on to gross $191 million domestically, making up its $50 million budget. Internationally, the film made $131 million, for a total worldwide gross of $331 million. It was also well-received by critics, obtaining a 84% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. (o) (p)

Now Playing:

The Equalizer poster                  Courtesy of: IMDB.com

After the summer blockbuster season, Columbia Pictures has released two films that have been well-received by audiences. The first is “The Equalizer”, an action film directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Denzel Washington as a retired government official who must save an innocent girl from Russian gangsters. The film was released on September 26, 2014. (q) It is adapted from a TV series of the same name that aired on CBS from 1985 to 1989. (r) This is Fuqua’s and Denzel’s first film together since Training Day, for which Denzel won an Academy Award for Best Actor. The film opened its box office run with a $45 million gross its first week, opening in first place. It went on to gross $99 million domestically and $90 million in international sales, for a worldwide gross of around $190 million against a budget of $55 million. (s) The film received mixed-to-positive reviews. (t)

The other film Columbia has released in the fall is “Fury”, a World War II tank movie starring Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, and Logan Lerman, written and directed by David Ayer. The movie deals with a tank unit behind enemy lines during the latter stages of the war and presents, with unflinching reality, the brutalities of war. (u) The film was released on October 17, 2014 and opened in first place at the box office with a $33 million gross its first week. “Fury” is still in theaters, and as of November 28, 2014 has grossed approximately $81 million domestically and $74 million globally, good for a total gross of $155 million against a budget of $68 million. For the week of November 21-27, the film’s sixth week, “Fury” was still in the top 10 highest grossing films of the week. (v) (w) The film has been well-received by critics, holding a 78% “Certified Fresh” Rotten Tomatoes rating. (x)

Future:

Annie (2014) poster           Courtesy of: IMDB.com

Columbia Pictures plans to take advantage of the holiday season, distributing two films. The first is a modern re-telling of the musical “Annie”,produced by Jay-Z and starring Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhané Wallis. The movie will be released on December 19, 2014. The comedy-musical will look to appeal to a broad audience. (y)

Another film being distributed in December by Columbia Pictures is the comedy “The Interview”. The controversial film (z) stars James Franco and Seth Rogen as a TV presenter and his producer, respectively, who are sent to North Korea to kill Kim Jong-un. The film will be released on December 25, 2014, and will look to appeal to mature audiences on Christmas Day. (aa)

Movies to be distributed and/or produced by Columbia Pictures in the following years include a Neill Blomkamp film titled Chappie, an Angry Birds movie, and spin-offs of the Amazing Spider-Man franchise. (bb) Also in production is the next installment in the Bond franchise, with the working title of Bond 24. The film will once again be helmed by “Skyfall” director Sam Mendes and will star Daniel Craig as the titular 007 agent and Christoph Waltz as a Bond villain. It is yet to be seen how production of these and other Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures films will be altered by the November 24, 2014  hacks on their worldwide computer networks. Recent releases like “Fury” and soon-to-be-released features like “Annie” were leaked by this attack. (cc) (dd) 

 Sources:

AMC Networks

By Val Champeau

 

-courtesy of AMCtv.com

-courtesy of AMCtv.com

AMC Network Entertainment LLC. 

11 Penn Plaza, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10001
646-273-7105

http://www.amcnetworks.com/

History

AMC Networks was originally known as, Rainbow Media Holdings, LLC.   Rainbow,  formed in 1980, started as a small network originally only including Bravo and SportsChannel New York.  The Cablevision owned media conglomerate would, less than a decade later, go on to merge with NBC in 1988.  This merger gave NBC 50% ownership of Rainbow Media in the original deal.  After decades of trades, gains, and mergers, Cablevision considered taking Rainbow Media public, but did not actually go through with the deal until 2011. [1]

Rainbow-Media-11-18

-courtesy of lyngsat-logo.com

On March 10th, 2011, Cablevision took Rainbow Media broke it off into a publicly traded company, AMC Networks today. Congruently, with AMC going public, Cablevision kept their cable business still as a private entity. [2]

Since going public, AMC has hit the ground running.  Most recently, 2013, AMC Networks acquired the international content division of Liberty Global, Chellomedia, for a reported 750 million Euros, or $1.04 billion.  This deal now gives AMC Networks access to approximately 138 countries. [3]

Financials

Most recently, in the 3rd quarter of 2013:

  • Net revenue increased by 19.1% to $395 million
  • Operating income increased 40.9% to $122 million
  • Adjusted Operating Cash Flow (AOCF) increased 25.4% to $137 million

“Our solid financial results in the third quarter were driven by a return on our investment in original programming…Our shows are performing well on IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv. At AMC, our acclaimed series Breaking Bad came to a close with record viewership and the Emmy Award for Oustanding Drama Series, and The Walking Dead kicked off its fourth season with record ratings that extended its reign as the #1 show on television among adults 18-49. With our Chellomedia acquisition, we believe we will over time further capitalize on demand for our content by growing internationally, a key strategy to ensuring our long-term success.”

Josh Sapan, AMC Networks President and CEO [4]

Screen Shot 2013-11-20 at 1.09.57 AM Looking at AMC Networks‘ one year stock evaluation it seems that the company, although currently in the red, has stayed relatively stable since going public. [5]

 

Key Executives 

Josh Sapan

President and CEO AMC Networks INC

Josh Span

-courtesy amcnetworks.com

Josh Sapan has been the President and CEO of AMC Networks Inc since March 9, 2011.  He was brought over from his previous position as CEO of Rainbow Media Holdings (Now AMC Networks), where he was employed since, 1995. Sapan currently serves on the boards of The Cable Center, CTAM, The New School and many others. [6]

Ed Carrol

Chief Operating Officer AMC Networks Inc.

-courtesy amcnetworks.com

-courtesy amcnetworks.com

Ed Carrol oversees all operations for each brand associated with AMC Networks – AMC, WE tv, IFC, and Sundance Channel.  He is also responsible for ad sales in the company’s international divisions (AMC/Sundance Channel Global).  He has been with the company for 24 years. [7]

Sean S. Sullivan

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer AMC Networks Inc.

sean sullivan

-courtesy amcnetworks.com

Sean S. Sullivan is responsible for all of AMC Networks‘ financial needs.  This includes, accounting, tax, financial planning, treasury, and investor relations. Along with financials, Sullivan, oversees the information technology and creative service departments, Broadcasting & Technology, programming origination and distribution division.  He joined AMC Networks in September 2010 from HIT Entertainment. [8]

Recent News

Breaking Bad – “Felina”: The Final Episode Hype

breaking bad

-courtesy of businessinsider.com

Breaking Bad is considered one of the most compelling,  addictive, and suspenseful dramas that has ever hit cable. Driven by plot and fueled by characters, AMC took viewers on a journey of a man’s total distraction, leaving in it’s wake one of the most highly anticipated final episodes ever for a series.  In short, Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a high school chemistry teacher, diagnosed with cancer, finds himself at a crossroads in his life.  He has always played it safe for his family, and now with a baby on the way, White turns to a life of crime.  Partnering up with his former student, Jesse (Aaron Paul), to cook meth, White finds himself spiraling down a dark path which eventually becomes his own demise.  Everything he aims to save in the beginning of series, he slowly looses, until he has nothing left to loose. This is what has the audience on the edge of their seats for the final episode.  What many people admired about the episode,  unlike many other series such as, Lost and The Sopranos, is that it left no question unanswered and tied all 5 seasons up with a big bang at the end, which everyone knew was coming – Walt’s death.  “Felina” had the highest ratings of any episode in the series, 10.28 million viewers. Along with viewership, the final Breaking Bad episode created an explosion over the twitter-shpear.  Walter White’s final hours on screen generated 1.2 million tweets, making it the most talked about television show for the week (out-ranking “The Voice” and “Grey’s Anatomy“). Breaking Bad had 12 Emmy Nominations in the 2013 season.  [9] [10]

The Walking Dead

- courtesy of collider.com

– courtesy of collider.com

AMC defiantly has a way with drama.  The hit apocalyptic zombie series, The Walking Dead, has accumulated what many would describe as a “cult” following.  Much like other AMC shows, Breaking Bad and Mad Men, the viewers are drawn in by the concept, but, stay for the character development.  AMC has made a name for itself in seeing just how far people will go when faced with a challenge, and for The Walking Dead, that challenge is to stay alive. Over the course of the series we see the protagonists stripped of humanity and brought down to nothing but animal instinct.  How they act and, re-act, is what keeps viewers coming back week after week.  It is not a typical zombie movie where the audience knows that, in the end, the humans will triumph and all is well in a matter of 2 hours.  The Walking Dead has reinvented suspense, being known for killing off main characters at any moment.  How do we know? Because numbers don’t lie.  The most recent season of Walking Dead, season 4, had earth shattering numbers, which had the media buzzing with anticipation. The hour long zombie drama pulled in 16.1 million viewers and an 8.2 rating among adults 18-49. These statistics put the show up 30% in the demo from season 3’s finale (their pervious high). [11] [12]

 In The Works

AMC’s New Pilot: Preacher

PreacherOriginally considered by, HBOAMC has reportedly ordered the pilot to adapt the extremely dark DC comic , Preacher. HBO apparently passed up the deal due to the comic being too controversial.  Although, they didn’t state what was controversial about it, it could be assumed that it was the dark religious aspect of the storyline. Originally authored by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, Preacher has been described as many things, but to sum them up: the series is full on crazy. With the wrap up of Breaking Bad, AMC needs to fill the void that the dark drama has left for viewers. Although the pilot has only been ordered, there has already star power around the potential new show. Seth Rogen, a devoted Preacher comic fan, has sent out a number of hinting tweets that he could be involved with the project:

Screen Shot 2013-11-20 at 1.09.16 PM

He then followed up the tweet with another, naming some main characters in the series:

Screen Shot 2013-11-20 at 1.13.49 PM

Will the show get green lighted? No one can say for sure.  However, one thing can be said- this will defiantly be a defining moment for AMC and their content.  Judging from the comic books themselves, this show will be darker than anything seen on TV before, pushing AMC to the top of drama original programing. [13]

*Storyline of The Preacher Comic Book Series 

Sources

[1] History

[2] History: Cablevision exlporing spinoff of Rainbow Media 

[3] Purchase of Chellomedia

[4] Financials

[5] AMC Stock 

[6] Josh Sapan

[7] Ed Carroll

[8] Sean S. Sullivan

[9] Breaking Bad

[10] Breaking Bad

[11] The Walking Dead

[12] The Walking Dead

[13] Preacher

Columbia-TriStar Pictures

Columbia/TriStar Pictures

Columbia/TriStar Pictures

TriStar_PicturesCOLUMBIA/TRISTAR PICTURES:

10202 W Washington Blvd

Culver City, California 90232 [1]

Telephone: (310) 224-4000

Website: www.sonypictures.com

Executives:

pascal-showmen

Co-Chairman & CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment: Michael Lynton [4]

Co-Chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment; Chairman, Sony Pictures: Amy Pascal 

President, Columbia Pictures: Doug Belgrad [3]

Entertainment Motion Picture Group 

 

Holdings: 

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group

Columbia Pictures

TriStar Pictures

Locations:

Headquarters: Culver City, CA [1]

Columbia Pictures Producciones Mexico: Mexico City

Columbia Pictures Producciones Espanolas: Madrid, Spain

Columbia Pictures Production Asia: Hong Kong [2]

Additional operation in Japan, Brazil, UK

Competition: 

The Walt Disney Studios [1]

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.

Warner Brothers Pictures 

 Who Is Columbia/TriStar Pictures:

Columbia and TriStar Pictures function as divisions under the Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures Group of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) [2]. Columbia Pictures produces Sony Pictures’ commercial motion pictures. TriStar Pictures allocates and markets Sony Pictures’ Entertainment films, distributing entertainment to over 150 countries around the globe [5] [11].

Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures Group has released many notable franchises such as the James Bond, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Men In Black franchises [6]. The Sony Pictures library includes over 3,500 films, 12 of which have won Academy Award Best Picture [2].

Having appeared since the creation of Columbia, the “Columbia Lady” paves the way for each and every motion picture.  It is the studio’s icon [22].

History: 

Columbia Pictures was the 1918 creation of Jack Cohn, Joe Brandt and Harry Cohn, who began by making short films [9].  By 1922, CBC Films – first named after its creators – produced the very famous, More to Be Pitied Than Scorned.  Within the next two years, CBC Films transformed into Columbia Pictures Corporation.

Columbia Pictures began to rise in fame when renowned director, Frank Capra, began directing in 1927 [9].  He took the company by surprise with its first Best Picture Academy Award for the film, It Happened One Night (1934).  He was also the reason for the studio’s first “talkie” film.

By 1982, The Coca-Cola Company purchased Columbia Pictures [9].

By 1983, TriStar Pictures was created when Columbia came together with HBO and CBS.  Seeing that it was one of the newest production studios, it quickly surfaced as a chief competitor in the film arena by releasing popular blockbusters such as The Natural and Peggy Sue Got Married.

By 1989, Sony Corporation purchased Columbia Pictures from Coca-Cola [9].  The new owner positioned Columbia beneath its new division, Sony Pictures Entertainment.  They company also transferred from Burbank to Culver City, CA.  Here is where the studio produced such classics like Gone With the Wind and Citizen Kane.  They produced these on the MGM lot.

In 2000, Sony created Sony Pictures Digital, which was comprised of Sony Picture Imageworks and Sony Pictures Animation [9]. Imageworks developed CGI and VFX for Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures Group and the animation division.  Animated feature films were produced by the animation division in Sony.

Today, the Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures Group releases Sony Pictures’ biggest films.  These include 21 Jump Street, Julie and Julia, Men in Black 3, Zero Dark Thirty (5 Academy Award Nomination & Best Picture), and Skyfall – to only name a few [7].

Winter-Spring 2013: 

Skyfall [28]

Skyfall

Action/Adventure/Crime

Worldwide Gross: $872 million

Budget: $200 million

U.S. Release Date: Nov 9

 

Directed by Sam Mendes 

Produced by Michael G. Wilson & Barbara Broccoli

Featuring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, & Bereniche Marlohe

“The name is Bond…James Bond”.

Daniel Craig is back as James Bond in the 23rd installment of the Bond franchise, which is the longest-running film franchise ever.  Skyfall delves into M’s secret past where Bond’s loyalty to her is tested.  He is challenged to trace the threat and dispose of it at whatever cost [29].

This film was not only the highest-grossing film in the UK but it also marked Judi Dench’s final performance as M!

Zero Dark Thirty [20]

zero-dark-thirty1

Action/Drama/History

Worldwide Gross:$108,614,949

Budget: $40 Million

U.S. Release Date: Dec 19

 

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

Written & Produced: Mark Boal

Featuring: Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgarton, Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, Edgar Ramirez, & Jennifer Enle

The masterminds behind The Hurt Locker (2008), Kathryn and Mark Boal, came together once more to produce this motion picture.  They collaborated with Sony Pictures who made this the last feature to be released for the 2012 calendar year [18].

After a decade of searching for the “most wanted man,” Zero Dark Thirty details the story of the chase for Osama Bin Laden that began after the horrific events of 9/11.

Upcoming Spring-Summer 2013:  

After Earth [19]

after-earth-debut-trailer-evolves-to-kill-humans

Science-Fiction/Thriller

Budget: $130 Million

U.S. Release Date: June 7

 

AFTER EARTH TRAILER 2013

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

Produced by Caleeb Pinkett, Will Smith, James Lassiter, & M. Night Shymalan

Featuring: Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Isabelle Fuhrman, Kristofer Hivju, Gabriel Caste

The last of the human race is forced to leave Earth and instead travel through space.  After 100 years of travel, they arrive to a place called Nova Prime and they must build a modern civilization of their own [19].

This Is The End [25]

this is the end

Comedy

Budget: n/a

U.S. Release Date: June 14

 

 

THIS IS THE END TRAILER 2013

Directed by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg 

Produced by Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, & James Weaver

Featuring: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogan, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride

Friendships are tested when six friends are stuck in a Los Angeles home after catastrophic events take place [25].

Recent News:

As was said before, Skyfall became the highest grossing Bond film ever before.  It beat its previous record of $3.5 billion (2009) and earned over $4 billion [28].  This has led to Sony Picture Entertainment becoming the highest grossing movie studio for the year.  In accordance with Skyfall, Sony’s other releases – The Amazing Spider-Man, Men in Black 3, and Zero Dark Thirty helped reach that highest grossing title.  For 2012, Sony Pictures released a total of 9 blockbuster films.  The release of films is at a low point currently but they will pick up for the end of spring into summer with Will Smith’s After Earth.

Rumors spread that Sony was having financial issues and needed to sell the film division.  Thankfully, these rumors have been squashed and the CEO of Sony Corporation, Kazuo Hirai, stated that Sony would not be selling.  Instead, Hirai states that Sony is nearing its comeback [20].

For only the 6th time in Oscar history, Zero Dark Thirty’s hunt for Osama Bin Laden and Skyfall, the latest movie in the Bond franchise, were tied in the Sound Editing category [10].

 

Works Cited:

[1]: Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-profile.Columbia_TriStar_Motion_Picture_Group.9a3fb312ea9f08a6.html

[2]: Sony Pictures http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html

[3]: Company overview of Columbia Pictures http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=8033824

[4]: Senior Management Team http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/management.html

[5]: Company overview of TriStar  http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=7913345

[6]: Looper IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1276104/

[7]: Columbia Pictures Films http://www.imdb.com/company/co0071509/

[8]: James Bond Press Release http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/press_releases/2012/08_12/082912_anniversary.html

[9]: Sony Pictures History http://www.sonypicturesmuseum.com/studio/history

[10]: Zero Dark Thirty article http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/inaccuracies-push-zero-dark-thirty-out-of-the-picture-at-the-oscars-8508910.html 

[11]: About Sony Pictures http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/aboutsonypictures.html

[12]: Judi Dench – Skyfall http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/09/judi-dench-skyfall-007-bond_n_2102516.html

[13]: Skyfall Financials http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bond23.htm

[14]: LA Times – Skyfall http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-quick-20121206,0,7595314.story

[15]: Skyfall IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/

[16]: Zero Dark Thirty IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790885/

[17]: Zero Dark Thirty financials http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=binladen.htm

[18]: Skyfall article http://www.deadline.com/2012/11/skyfalls-669-2m-global-helps-sony-pictures-post-best-ever-4b-worldwide/

[19]: After Earth official site http://www.afterearth.com/site/

[20]: Sony Chief – Film Studio Not for Sale http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sony-chief-kaz-hirai-film-384605

[21]:$1 million – Zero Dark Thirty  http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/electronic-arts-sony-medal-of-honor-warfighter-donation-soldiers-370401

[22]: Columbia Lady History http://www.sonypicturesmuseum.com/studio/history/columbia

[23]: Skyfall IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/

[24]: Skyfall Official Site http://www.skyfall-movie.com/site/

[25]: This Is The End IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245492/