IM Global, LLC was an American independent film and TV production company. The company was founded by Stuart Ford in April 2007[2] and operating in international film, television and music production, as well as sales and international distribution.[3] The company financed or produced over 30 Hollywood feature films and controlled a library of over 300 films.
 | |
| Formerly | Global Road Television Entertainment (2018) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Film Television |
| Predecessor | Intermedia Films |
| Founded | April 2007 |
| Founder | Stuart Ford |
| Defunct | September 2018 |
| Successor | AGC Studios Tang Media Partners Open Road Films |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California United States |
Key people | Stuart Ford (CEO) |
| Products | Motion Pictures TV Series |
| Divisions | IM Global Television IM Global Music |
| Subsidiaries | Apsara Distribution AutoMatik (joint-venture with Entertainment One)[1] |
| Website | Official website |
IM Global was the 2015 recipient of the Variety Award for Achievement in International Film.[4][5]
From April 2010, the company's two shareholders were Reliance Entertainment, a subsidiary of Indian billionaire Anil Ambani's Reliance ADA group, and Ford himself.[6][7] Reliance Entertainment is also one of the main investors in Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Pictures.[8] Due to Reliance's investment in IM Global, with Ford and his Indian partners, the company expanded internationally with offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Beijing, Mexico City and Mumbai.[9]
In June 2016, Tang Media Partners acquired majority ownership of IM Global.[10] In 2017, Tang Media Partners merged the IM Global operations with those of Open Road Films and IM Global TV to form Global Road Entertainment.[11] In 2018, Global Road filed for bankruptcy.[12]
International sales and distribution
editIM Global acts as producer, financier and international sales agent for films such as Paranormal Activity, Insidious, Sinister and A Haunted House. IM Global's Anthem subsidiary specialises in the global distribution of Latin American cinema via Latino film sales joint venture Mundial, Chinese cinema via an exclusive output arrangement with Chinese studio Huayi Bros and Bollywood cinema via the pipeline from shareholder Reliance Entertainment.[13] Overall, IM Global controls a library of more than 300 films.[14] IM Global's titles secured number one international box office shares in the global film sector outside of the major Hollywood studios in both 2013 and 2014.[15][16]
IM Global's library has included the distribution rights to the Spyglass Entertainment, Intermedia, Largo Entertainment, Beacon Pictures, and Distant Horizon libraries.
Production and financing
editThe company has produced over thirty features and has worked alongside onscreen talent such as Matthew McConaughey, Johnny Depp, Diane Lane, Anne Hathaway, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Tom Hardy, Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Harrison Ford, and Gary Oldman in its productions.[17]
Apsara Distribution
editThe company's Apsara Distribution subsidiary is a film rights acquisitions and distribution label covering fourteen South-East Asian distribution markets, in many of which it partners with Disney's Buena Vista International.[18][19]
IM Global Television
editIn mid 2014, the company launched IM Global Television, with Mark Stern, former president and partner of Syfy Channel, as president of original content.[20][21] The division focuses on developing, producing, financing and distribution of scripted content for network, cable and SVOD platforms.
In 2015, Eli Shibley became president of international distribution and co-productions. In addition to managing sales of the scripted slate, Shibley oversees the acquisitions of third party scripted and unscripted projects.[22][23]
In 2016, IM Global Television launched an unscripted and alternative division led by Emmy award winner Phil Gurin.[24]
IM Global Music
editIn December 2014 the company launched IM Global Music.[25][26]
References
edit- ^ "| Entertainment One announces agreement to acquire Alliance Films". www.entertainmentone.com.
- ^ Mike, Fleming Jr. "IM Global Chief Stuart Ford Re-Ups". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "Company Overview of IM Global, LLC". Bloomberg. Bloomberg.
- ^ Variety Staff (14 May 2015). "Cannes: IM Global Feted With Variety's International Film Award".
- ^ McNary, Dave (12 May 2015). "IM Global Seeks to Stand Out at Cannes".
- ^ "Reliance Secures Majority Stake in IM Global". 6 May 2010.
- ^ Garrahan, Matthew (2011-02-25). "Ambani backs Madonna's directorial debut". Financial Times.
- ^ Patrick, Frater. "India's Reliance: Still a DreamWorks Backer, But Hollywood Sojourn Has Cost a Fortune". Variety. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "Company Overview of IM Global, LLC". Bloomberg. Bloomberg.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (2016-06-02). "IM Global Sold to Tang Media, Launches TV Venture With China's Tencent". Variety. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
- ^ McNary, Dave (2017-10-30). "IM Global, Open Road Owner Tang Media Rebrands as Global Road Entertainment". Variety. Retrieved 2017-11-11.
- ^ Maddaus, Gene (2018-09-06). "How Donald Tang's Reckless Bet Led to Global Road's Collapse". Variety. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
- ^ "Company Overview of IM Global, LLC". Bloomberg. Bloomberg.
- ^ "IM Global Profile". IMDB. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "Indies shine at 2013 int'l BO".
- ^ "Indie int'l box office hits $1.2bn".
- ^ "IM Global Profile". IMDB. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (18 June 2012). "IM Global's Apsara Makes Pan-Asian Output Agreement With Buena Vista International". Archived from the original on February 18, 2015.
- ^ "Buena Vista Intl., Apsara Distribution Ink Multi-Picture Deal". 18 June 2012.
- ^ "Mark Stern Named President of Original Programming at Syfy". 13 January 2011.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (29 July 2014). "IM Global Launches TV Venture Led By Former Syfy President Mark Stern".
- ^ Ali, Jaafar (13 July 2015). "Eli Shibley Joins IM Global TV As President Of International Distribution & Co-Productions". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "IM Global Television About". Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ Cynthia, Littleton (6 December 2016). "Producer Phil Gurin to Head Unscripted Division for IM Global Television". Variety. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "Indie Film and TV Player IM Global Launches Music Joint Venture (Exclusive)". 10 December 2014.
- ^ "Republic Records Teams With IM Global to Produce Music-Driven Films".