STX Entertainment

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
STX Entertainment
Private
Industry Film, television
Founded 2014
Founder Robert Simonds
Bill McGlashan
Headquarters Los Angeles, CA
Key people
 Robert Simonds
(Chairman)
Thomas B. McGrath
(COO)
Sophie Watts
(President)
Noah Fogelson
(General Counsel & Executive VP,
Corporate Strategy)
Website stxentertainment.com

STX Entertainment is an American film, television and digital media studio launched in 2014 by Robert Simonds and Bill McGlashan.

History

In 2012, Simonds and McGlashan, the head of TPG Growth, were discussing the profitability of producing films with a star attached and a medium budget (in the $20–60 million range), a method that had gone out of style with Hollywood studios. The conversation led to the launch of STX Entertainment in 2014, with a mission to finance, develop, produce, market and self-distribute 8 to 10 medium budget star-driven films worldwide per year.[1][2] In March 2015, STX announced a deal with Chinese film production company Huayi Bros. to co-finance at least 18 films to be produced over a three-year period beginning in 2016, which would increase STX's slate to 12 to 15 films annually through 2018.[3][4][5]

Rather than pursuing the traditional distribution process, STX has direct distribution agreements with North American theater chains AMC, Regal, Cinemark and Carmike.[6] In January 2015, STX signed a multiyear television output agreement to release its films exclusively to Showtime Networks during the premium television window, beginning in 2015 and covering the studio’s theatrical releases through 2019.[7] In April 2015, STX entered into a multiyear partnership with Universal Studios Home Entertainment, with Universal handling marketing, sales and distribution services for Blu-ray, DVD and VOD platforms of STX’s theatrical titles in North America.[8]

STX is backed by venture capital firm TPG, Chinese private equity firm Hony Capital, and private equity including Gigi Pritzker and Beau Wrigley.[1][6][9] The studio has announced plans to invest over $1 billion per year through 2018 in making, marketing and distributing films.[3][5]

Film production

In January 2015, STX announced its first slate of films: The Gift, a thriller starring Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall and Joel Edgerton, and written and directed by Edgerton; Secret in Their Eyes, a remake of the 2009 Argentine film, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts, and written and directed by Billy Ray; The Boy, a psychological horror thriller directed by William Brent Bell and starring Lauren Cohan; The Free State of Jones, a Civil War drama starring Matthew McConaughey and written and directed by Gary Ross; and Russ and Roger Go Beyond, starring Will Ferrell and based on the true story of the collaboration between Russ Meyer and Roger Ebert.[7][9][10][11] STX also acquired worldwide rights to the action film Hardcore for $10 million after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, making it the studio's first acquisition.[12] In April 2016, it was announced that Barbra Streisand and Barry Levinson will be producing a film version of the Broadway musical Gypsy for STX,[13] with a screenplay by Richard LaGravenese.[14] At the 2016 CinemaCon in Las Vegas, STX announced it would be working with Sylvester Stallone on a new project.[15] In May 2016, it was announced that STX would develop the teen comedy Alex Strangelove, to be directed by Craig Johnson from his own script, and to be produced by Ben Stiller's Red Hour Films.[16]

Television production

STX's first television project was the 13-episode series State of Affairs, which was developed by STX and sold to NBC.[1] The drama/thriller stars Katherine Heigl and Alfre Woodard.[17] It premiered on NBC on November 17, 2014.[18] STX is also producing the NBC pilot Problem Child, based on the 1990 film of the same name.[19]

Management

Robert Simonds serves as chairman and CEO,[1] former Viacom Entertainment COO Tom McGrath serves as COO, Sophie Watts serves as President, and Noah Fogelson is General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy of the parent company.[6] In September 2014, former Universal Pictures chairman Adam Fogelson was hired as STX’s Chairman of the Motion Picture Group division.[2][20] Also that month, Oren Aviv, former President of Marketing at 20th Century Fox and Disney was hired as the President and Chief Content Officer of the Motion Picture Group, working with Fogelson to develop, produce and market STX's films.[11][21] In April 2016, David Kosse announced he would be leaving as CEO of British production company Film4 to join STX as president of its new STX International division.[22] Also that month, former Relativity Media president Michael Joe joined STX as COO of its Motion Picture Group,[23] and Punk'd creator Jason Goldberg signed on as head of STX Non-Scripted and Alternative Programming, which will focus on projects for the US, China and India.[24]

STX's Board of Directors includes Frank Biondi, the former president and CEO of Viacom and former chairman and CEO of Universal Studios; Tony Vinciquerra, former chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group; film producer Gigi Pritzker, founder of OddLot Entertainment; David Bonderman, founding partner of TPG; and John Zhao, CEO of Hony Capital.[25][26]

Divisions

  • STX Entertainment
  • STX Motion Picture Group
  • STX Non-Scripted and Alternative Programming
  • STX Digital
  • STX International

List of films/television

Film

Release Date Title Budget Gross Rotten Tomatoes
August 7, 2015 The Gift $5 million $59 million 93%
November 20, 2015 Secret in Their Eyes $19.5 million $32.2 million 39%
January 22, 2016 The Boy $10 million $64.2 million 28%
April 8, 2016 Hardcore Henry $2 million $14.3 million 48%

Upcoming

Release Date Title
June 24, 2016 Free State of Jones
July 29, 2016 Bad Moms
August 19, 2016 The Space Between Us
September 30, 2016 The Edge of Seventeen
December 9, 2016 The Bye Bye Man
2016 Desierto
2016 The Foreigner
TBA Russ & Roger Go Beyond
TBA Hunter Killer
TBA Gypsy
TBA Molly's Game
TBA The Irishman
TBA Untitled Adam Sandler Animated film[27]

Television

Year Title Notes
2014-2015 State of Affairs
2015 Problem Child Pilot

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Anita Busch, "Is This Hollywood’s Next Major Studio? Bob Simonds & TPG Growth’s Venture Fully Financed, JP Morgan Says; Hiring, Deals To Start In Earnest," Deadline.com, March 13, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tad Friend, "The Mogul of the Middle," The New Yorker, January 11, 2016.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Anita Busch and Nancy Tartaglione, "STX Entertainment Pacts With China’s Huayi Bros For 12-15 Pics Per Year," Deadline.com, April 1, 2015.
  4. ↑ Brent Lang, "STX Entertainment Chief Says Huayi Deal ‘Supercharges Our Business Plan’," Variety, April 1, 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Richard Verrier, "China's Huayi Bros. Media closes film slate deal with STX Entertainment," Los Angeles Times, April 2, 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Robert Simonds, Gigi Pritzker Pact with TPG, China’s Hony Capital on Production Venture," Variety, March 10, 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Dave McNary, "STX Entertainment, Showtime Announce TV Output Deal and First 4 Films," Variety, January 20, 2015.
  8. ↑ Rebecca Ford, "STX Entertainment Signs Pact With Universal Studios Home Entertainment," The Hollywood Reporter, April 7, 2015.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Rebecca Ford, "Showtime, STX Entertainment Announce TV Deal and First Four Films," The Hollywood Reporter, January 20, 2015.
  10. ↑ Max Evry, "STX Entertainment and Showtime Partner for Slate of Films," ComingSoon.net, January 20, 2015.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Brent Lang, "STX Entertainment Dates Films With Matthew McConaughey, Julia Roberts, Jason Blum," Variety, February 25, 2015.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Gregg Kilday, "Barbra Streisand, Barry Levinson to Make 'Gypsy' for STX Entertainment," The Hollywood Reporter, April 11, 2016.
  14. ↑ Robert Viagas and Andrew Gans, "Barbra Streisand Gypsy Film May Happen After All," Playbill, April 11, 2016.
  15. ↑ Rebecca Ford, "CinemaCon: Sylvester Stallone, STX Teaming on New Movie," The Hollywood Reporter, April 12, 2016.
  16. ↑ Dave McNary, "STX Partners With Ben Stiller for ‘Alex Strangelove’ Comedy," Variety, May 9, 2016.
  17. ↑ James Hibberd, "Katherine Heigl drama plus 2 more get NBC series orders," Entertainment Weekly, May 6, 2014.
  18. ↑ Saba Hamedy, "TV ratings: NBC wins key demo; 'State of Affairs' has decent premiere," Los Angeles Times, November 18, 2014.
  19. ↑ Nellie Andreeva, "‘Problem Child’ Comedy Based On Movie Gets NBC Pilot Order," Deadline.com, January 29, 2015.
  20. ↑ Anita Busch, "Former Uni Chairman Adam Fogelson Hired As Chairman Of STX Entertainment Motion Picture Group," Deadline.com, September 24, 2014.
  21. ↑ Anita Busch and Mike Fleming Jr, "Ex-Fox, Disney Marketer Oren Aviv Officially Joins Robert Simonds’ STX Venture," Deadline.com, September 3, 2014.
  22. ↑ Ali Jaafar, "David Kosse Leaving Film4 To Join STX, Heading New International Division," Deadline.com, April 1, 2016.
  23. ↑ Jeff Sneider, "STX Entertainment Hires Michael Joe as COO of Motion Picture Group," TheWrap, April 19, 2016.
  24. ↑ Cynthia Littleton, "‘Punk’d’ Creator Jason Goldberg to Head Unscripted TV at STX Entertainment," Variety, April 25, 2016.
  25. ↑ David Lieberman, "STX Entertainment Adds Venture Capitalist Carmen Chang To Its Board," Deadline.com, November 3, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Gigi Pritzker investing in new U.S. movie studio," Crain's Chicago Business, March 10, 2014.
  27. ↑ [1]

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=STX_Entertainment&oldid=722226162"