Hellewell segues to Polygram
Former WB exec fills aquisitions veep slot
Hellewell, previously director of worldwide acquisitions and co-productions at Warner Bros., starts immediately at PFE where she will report to senior vice president Zanne Devine.
It is likely that Hellewell will focus primarily on picking up product for Polygram Films, PFE's nascent domestic distribution division.
"Polygram really wants to compete with the studios, and this reflects its desire to make big-budget acquisitions," said a source.
Since its launch last fall with the Michael Douglas thriller "The Game," Polygram Films has released four pictures in the US: "The Gingerbread Man" and "The Proposition," both of which starred Kenneth Branagh; "The Borrowers," starring John Goodman; and kidpic "Barney's Great Adventure."
While "The Game" grossed about $50 million in the US, the other pics all noticeably underperformed. But the company has been beefing up its slate. Set to be released later this year are "All for One," starring Vince Vaughn; "What Dreams May Come," with Robin Williams; and the Hugh Grant/Julia Roberts comedy "Notting Hill."
Earlier this year, Polygram acquired domestic rights to the thriller "Arlington Road," starring Tim Robbins and Jeff Bridges, and to the crime caper "Where the Money Is," starring Paul Newman and Linda Fiorentino.
Other sources said PFE's growing needs as an international distributor were spurring it to accelerate acquisitions and co-productions activity in Los Angeles. The company now has stand-alone distribution operations in the U.K., France, Spain and Germany, among other territories.
Hellewell is expected to liaise closely with Graham Mason, PFE's London-based senior vice president of worldwide acquisitions.
PFE has a deal with Warner to co-finance and distribute films produced by Castle Rock Entertainment. And PFE has held talks with Paramount Pictures, among other studios, about co-financing a series of big-budget films.
Under the banner of Polygram Filmed Entertainment Distribution, PFE also maintains a specialized distributor, Gramercy Pictures, which operates autono-mously and has its own acquisitions team.
At Warner, Hellewell was involved in acquiring domestic rights to pics such as "Tarzan and the Lost City," starring Casper Van Dien, and "Wrongfully Accused," starring Leslie Nielsen.
"Shauna's experience at Warner Bros. perfectly complements the needs of our growing motion picture activities," said Devine.
