CBS Films ramps up production unit

Faillace named senior VP of department

By TATIANA SIEGEL

CBS Films is ramping up its production department, with CBS Corp.'s nascent film division tapping Fox 2000 exec Maria Faillace as senior veep of production.

Faillace will be responsible for supervising the development and production of films and identifying creative material for the studio. She will report to Amy Baer, who was named prexy-chief exec of CBS Films in September. Baer is beginning to build her staff and is actively searching for marketing and distribution executives.

Faillace held various positions including veep of production during her nearly eight years at Fox 2000. There she shepherded films including "Fever Pitch" and the upcoming Sandra Bullock starrer "All About Steve."

Before Fox 2000, Faillace worked for Mireille Soria/Blue Peach Prods. at Fox Family Films.

Baer lauded Faillace as "a natural fit for our operation in that she shares our moviemaking sensibilities and interest in making a slate of broad-appeal films in many genres."

CBS Corp. created CBS Films in March and tapped Bruce Tobey as chief operating officer. The division is expected to develop and produce four to six movies a year, with production budgets up to $50 million per film. The pics will be released in the U.S. through a distribution unit to be established within CBS Films.