Alchemy (company)

Alchemy
Private
Industry Film, home entertainment, distribution
Predecessor First Look Studios (1993-2010)
Millenium Entertainment (2010-2014)
Founded 2010 (as Millennium Entertainment)
Headquarters Los Angeles, California
Products Independent theatrical films, DVD, Blu-ray
Website www.ouralchemy.com

Alchemy (formerly Millennium Entertainment) is an American independent global film distributor based in Los Angeles, California. The company acquires and distributes feature films, television series and specialty programming.[1] Its staff includes marketing and distribution specialist Brooke Ford[2][3] and Andy Gruenberg.[3]

History

Millennium Entertainment was 60% owned by production company Nu Image. Exclusive Media Group owned 20% and Prentice Capital owned the remaining stock.[4]

Following its formation in 2010, the company marked its first noteworthy theatrical release[5] in 2011 with Trust, starring Academy Award nominees Clive Owen, Catherine Keener, and Viola Davis. Other 2011 theatrical releases include[5] Puncture, starring Chris Evans; Trespass starring Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman; Little Birds, starring Juno Temple and Kay Panabaker; and Richard Linklater's Bernie, co-written by Skip Hollandsworth and Linklater, starring Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, and Matthew McConaughey.

In 2012, Millennium Entertainment-distributed titles[5] included Stolen with Nicolas Cage; Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's thriller Intruders, starring Clive Owen and Carice van Houten, from a screenplay by Nicolás Casariego and Jaime Marques; and The Paperboy, starring Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, and Zac Efron.

Alchemy owns and operates[1] a film library consisting of over 1,000 titles, including Paris, Je’TAime, Transsiberian, and The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, as well as the recent titles Elephant White, starring Djimon Hounsou and Kevin Bacon; Shadows and Lies, starring James Franco; and Blitz, starring Jason Statham.

Millennium Entertainment logo

Television series released by Alchemy include The Cosby Show, Baywatch, and A Different World. First Look Studios originally released all eight seasons of The Cosby Show, A Different World, and other shows on DVD, but they eventually filed bankruptcy in 2010.[6][7] Millennium Entertainment acquired all of First Look Studios’ assets, and continued to release them in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and other U.S. Territories.[8]

In April 2013, it was announced that Millennium Entertainment would be sold, and an investment company, Salem Partners, would assist in the sale.[4] In August 2014, the company's library and distribution assets had been sold to a consortium consisting of its current management and Virgo Investment Group. The new owners renamed the company Alchemy in January 2015, finally cutting ties to its former sister company Millennium Films.[9]

In July 2015, Alchemy acquired the film distribution assets of ANconnect and the digital film and television distributor Anderson Digital, both divisions of Anderson Media Corporation.[10] The transaction will result in the addition of 40 new employees to the existent 70; and expand their catalogue to over 1,300 films and 3,000 TV episodes.[11]

In December 2015, Bill Lee exited the company as CEO.[12]

In February 2016, the company laid off 40 employees almost 40% of the company's staff[13][14] due to liquidity issues.[15]

Releases

TV series

Animated

Films

Distributed lines

References

  1. 1 2 "Millennium Entertainment Company Profile". Millennium Entertainment. Millennium Entertainment. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  2. ↑ Ford, Brooke. "Brook Ford | LinkedIn". LinkedIn. LinkedIn. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Millennium Entertainment - Production Company | Backstage". Backstage. Backstage. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  4. 1 2 Millennium On The Block; Salem Partners To Handle Sale Of Distribution Unit. Deadline.com (April 22, 2013).
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Millennium Entertainment [us]". IMDb. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  6. ↑ Ofgang, Kenneth. "Court Revives Suit Over Profits From Ving Rhames Movie.". Metropolitan News-Enterprise. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  7. ↑ "FIRST LOOK MEDIA INC (FIRST:OTC US): Stock Quote & Company Profile - Businessweek". Businessweek. Bloomberg. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  8. ↑ "First Look Studios Acquired by Millennium Entertainment.". Blu-ray.com. Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ The Wrap: "Alchemy Acquires ANconnect and Anderson Digital, Creates Alliance With ARC Entertainment" By Tim Kenneally July 13, 2015
  11. ↑ Hollywood Reporter: "Alchemy Acquires ANconnect, Anderson Digital and Signs Pact With ARC Entertainment" July 13, 2015
  12. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (December 7, 2015). "Bill Lee Abruptly Exits as Alchemy CEO". TheHollywoodReporter.com. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  13. ↑ McNary, Dave (February 17, 2016). "Indie Distributor Alchemy Hit With 40 Layoffs". Variety.com. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  14. ↑ Brooks, Brian; D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 16, 2016). "Alchemy Faces Financial Woes, Slashes Staff & Uncovers “Discrepancies Within Parts Of Its Businesses”". Deadline.com. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  15. ↑ IndieWire: "How the DVD Business Is Destroying Alchemy" By Eric Kohn February 17, 2016
  16. ↑ "Millennium Entertainment TV Shows". DVD Empire.com. Right Ascension, Inc. Retrieved 5 March 2013.

External links

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