Trimark ups Fogelson
He's sr veep of worldwide marketing
Fogelson created the marketing and distribution strategy for the company's successful release of "Eve's Bayou."
The move puts the 30-year-old at the same level as senior VP of distribution Ray Price, who heads up Trimark's specialized division.
"Adam has quietly been a driving force in the company," said Trimark chairman Mark Amin. "He's a key member of our theatrical team and has proven to be a really strong marketing person."
In recent months, Trimark has stepped up its acquisition efforts, picking up distribution rights to a number of sought-after specialized films.
"Trimark isn't the same company it used to be," Fogelson said. "For the first time we're getting projects that other people wanted."
Fogelson will be working on release campaigns for such upcoming pics as Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner "Slam," "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss," "Cube," "The Man With Rain in His Shoes" and the Rosie Perez starrer "Perdita Durango."
He'll also be involved in evaluating the commercial potential of future Trimark acquisitions and productions.
Amin credited Fogelson with the idea of releasing "Eve's Bayou" nationwide in over 800 urban and arthouse theaters. The film, which cost $4 million to make and grossed nearly $14 million at the domestic box office, was originally slated for a traditional specialized platform release.
In addition to "Eve's Bayou," the company had moderate success last year with the arthouse pic "Kama Sutra." However, Trimark's forays into wide release distribution have proved disastrous. The recent "Star Kid" was a big money loser, as was the Rodney Dangerfield comedy "Meet Wally Sparks."
"We've paid our dues and learned our lessons in that arena," said Amin. "Last year we had more wide releases than specialized, for the foreseeable future we will have more specialized than wide releases."
Amin downplayed widespread speculation that Trimark remains on the sales block, despite recent talks with acquisition suitor Live Entertainment.
"We explored the possibility with a few people who approached us," Amin said. "We're more focused now on running our business and becoming profitable, which is what we have to do now."
Prior to joining Trimark, Fogelson spent seven years as VP of AFA Co., a marketing, distribution and production consulting firm he started with his father, Polygram Films president Andrew Fogelson.
