Brit pic financier ECG opens domestic arm
BevHills-based office to be headed by Cheren
Based in Beverly Hills, Access will be headed by film marketing and distribution veteran Robert M. Cheren, who'll serve as president and CEO. Company's first acquisition is Bob Giraldi's "Dinner Rush," produced by Lou DiGiaimo and Patti Greaney and starring Danny Aiello. Access will handle worldwide rights on the pic.
Updike down the pike
While Access will be an acquisition-based operation, ECG is developing its own slate of pics for production and distribution. In September, ECG acquired John Updike's novel "Gertrude and Claudius," which it plans to make into a feature pic.
Headed by chairman-CEO Tennessee Webb, ECG specializes in gap financing and in providing P&A for feature films. Latter effort is backed by three investment funds, with approximately $250 million available.
"Access will address the independent filmmakers' distribution dilemma as we design and implement a tailored marketing campaign for each selected film for which we finance P&A," Cheren said.
A high tech strategy
"This concept of matching financing with much-needed expertise has long been implemented in the world of high technology," Webb added. "This proven strategy is the key to our business model for Access now that Bob is aboard."
Cheren most recently served as senior VP of domestic distribution at 20th Century Fox's Fox Searchlight division. During his time there the company released such films as "The Full Monty," "William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Waking Ned Devine" and "Boys Don't Cry." He also served as chairman and CEO of international distrib Studio Three Film and as prexy of marketing and distribution at New World Entertainment and Orion Pictures.
