First Look Studios

First Look Studios was an independent American film distributor, that specialized in home video releases of films and television series.

First Look Studios
First Look Pictures
TypePrivate
IndustryFilm
Home video
FateDormitory
SuccessorMillennium Entertainment (2010 to 2014)
Alchemy (2014 to 2016)
Founded1980 (as Overseas Filmgroup)
Defunct2010 (as Millennium Entertainment as Successor to First Look Pictures)
HeadquartersCentury City, California
ProductsDVD, Blu-ray
Total assets$25 million
ParentVivendi (2008-present)

History

In 1980, Robert and Ellen Little founded Overseas Filmgroup as a film sales company for foreign markets. Overseas Filmgroup expanded towards film financing to give the company greater control over its output.

Films ranged from genre titles such as Blue Tiger (starring Virginia Madsen) and No Way Back (starring Russell Crowe) to art house films, including Antonia's Line, Mrs. Dalloway, The Secret of Roan Inish, Waking Ned Devine, and Titus.[1] In 1993, the company expanded towards North American distribution through its First Look Pictures subsidiary.[2]

In 1998, Overseas Filmgroup went public. Two years later, EUE/Screen Gems acquired a minority interest in the company. In January 2001, as part of a restructuring, Overseas Filmgroup and First Look Pictures became subsidiaries of First Look Media.[3] Overseas Filmgroup was eventually renamed First Look International.[4] Robert and Ellen Little left First Look in 2003.[1]

On July 29, 2005, after a merger with Canadian businessman Henry Winterstern's Capital Entertainment, the combined company became First Look Studios. Winterstern became CEO of First Look and shared the role as chairman with EUE/Screen Gems' Chris Cooney.[5] In November 2005, First Look acquired DEJ Productions from Blockbuster.

In March 2006, First Look acquired Ventura Distribution, a home video distribution company,[6] and acquired the domestic television syndication rights to fifty six films from Pinnacle Entertainment.[7] By 2006, First Look had a seven hundred film library to its name, and continued to add more with the financing of in house productions.[8] Henry Winterstern resigned from First Look in March 2007.[9] The organization started out First Look Television, a TV syndication company in 2006.[10]

That March, Nu Image acquired controlling interest in First Look.[11] In November 2010, Millennium Entertainment acquired First Look's assets.[12]

Films

Television series

Distributed lines

References
  1. "First Look Studios at 25".
  2. "First Look Pictures/Overseas Filmgroup - Independent Magazine". Independent Magazine. 1998-01-01. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
  3. First Look Media. "Overseas Filmgroup Changes Name to First Look Media To Reflect the Widened Scope of Its Business and Adds Two Divisions". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  4. Indiewire. "Relaunched First Look Media Bolsters Company In Advance of AFM | IndieWire". www.indiewire.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
  5. First Look Studios. "Capital Entertainment Merges With First Look Media to Become First Look Studios". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  6. "Ventura Home Entertainment Formed by First Look Studios; New Entity Acquires Assets of Ventura Distribution; Ventura's Founder and CEO Larry Hayes Named Company's President | Business Wire". www.businesswire.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  7. Dempsey, John (2006-06-14). "First Look pix it up". Variety. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  8. Waxman, Sharon (2007-03-08). "First Look Studios - Henry Winterstern - Movies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
  9. "First Look's Winterstern resigns". variety.com. 2 March 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  10. Dempsey, John (2006-06-14). "First Look pix it up". Variety. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  11. "First Look gets a Nu Image". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
  12. First Look Studios Acquired by Millennium Entertainment., retrieved 2016-10-14
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