EXCLUSIVE: Some massive information spanning impartial movie distribution and the LA company scene: Teddy Schwarzman’s indie studio Black Bear is increasing into U.S. distribution and has employed longtime CAA Media Finance Co-Head Ben Kramer to supervise the operation.
The bold U.S. arm will launch as much as 12 Black Bear and third-party productions per 12 months. We perceive there are a number of high-profile films already on the slate which might undergo the pipeline. The corporate will deal with filmmaker-driven fare and wide-release motion and style films.
Key workers will probably be added within the coming months to construct out the crew below Kramer, reporting to Black Bear CEO Schwarzman.
Producer, financier and gross sales agent Black Bear already operates direct distribution within the UK (Longlegs, Conclave and The Salt Path amongst latest hits) and owns Canadian distributor Elevation Photos.
This has moved quick and Kramer is anticipated to be within the saddle at Black Bear in coming weeks forward of the autumn festivals and markets. It’ll be welcome information to sellers and producers given the dwindling variety of sturdy U.S. theatrical patrons lately.
Kramer, who joined CAA in 2005, most lately spent six years as Co-Head of the Media Finance division, identified for packaging and arranging financing and distribution for indie movies, whereas additionally advising high producers and financiers on their media investments.
Underneath his co-leadership with Roeg Sutherland, CAA Media Finance has been the most important provider of movies for each home and worldwide marketplaces, brokering dozens of great financing and distribution offers per 12 months. The division’s seminal position at each movie market signifies that Kramer’s substitute, if there’s to be one, may also be of eager curiosity to the impartial area.
“At present marks a significant step for Black Bear, as we solidify our studio’s capabilities from growth via launch,” mentioned Schwarzman. “Constructing on the profitable distribution companies we’ve created in Canada and the UK, our U.S. theatrical enterprise will now let Black Bear join immediately with audiences throughout the nation, who stay hungry for high quality and business occasion cinema. I’m thrilled for Ben to spearhead this progress, bringing with him huge relationships, an experience of the home market, dealmaking savvy, and a eager understanding for what works for U.S. audiences. He’s actively assembling a world-class crew of distribution professionals, and on behalf of myself and Black Bear’s Michael Heimler and John Friedberg, we’re thrilled to assist him in constructing out a studio for immediately and into the long run.”
Kramer added: “It’s extremely thrilling to affix Black Bear at this second of nice alternative in our enterprise. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Teddy, John, Michael, and the crew on many profitable movies. I’ve spent my profession evaluating what makes movies resonate creatively and commercially and look ahead to now connecting the work of nice filmmakers immediately with audiences. Whereas it’s bittersweet to be departing all my pricey pals and purchasers at CAA, I’m thrilled to work with the international Black Bear crew and to get cooking on making Black Bear’s U.S. distribution a power to be reckoned with.”
Whereas with CAA, Kramer labored on a number of Black Bear movies, together with Sing Sing, Nyad, Dumb Cash, and Mudbound. He additionally labored throughout financing and/or gross sales for The Brutalist, A Actual Ache, A Completely different Man, Airplane, Sing Avenue, Greenland, The Revenant, Wind River, Sicario, John Wick, and Mud. Previous to CAA, Kramer was with the William Morris Company.
Black Bear’s John Friedberg, President of Worldwide, oversees the corporate’s London-based crew centered on worldwide gross sales, direct theatrical distribution within the U.Ok. and Eire, and worldwide productions and acquisitions. In Canada, Elevation is overseen by Co-Presidents Laurie Might and Noah Segal. LA-based Associate Michael Heimler serves as President, Manufacturing & Operations.
Black Bear’s upcoming manufacturing and financing credit embrace Clint Bentley’s Practice Goals, starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones, for Netflix; David Mackenzie’s Relay, starring Riz Ahmed, Lily James, and Sam Worthington, releasing subsequent month through Bleecker Avenue; and Man Ritchie’s In The Gray, starring Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Eiza Gonzalez, being distributed by Lionsgate; the Sydney Sweeney-led Christy Martin boxing mission from director David Michôd; Daniel Roher’s Tuner, starring Leo Woodall, Dustin Hoffman, and Havana Rose Liu; Gregg Araki’s I Need Your Intercourse, starring Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman; and Andrew Patterson’s The Rivals of Amziah King, starring Matthew McConaughey.
Different movies presently in post-production embrace Man Ritchie’s Spouse & Canine, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Rosamund Pike, and Anthony Hopkins; Ric Roman Waugh’s untitled motion thriller starring Jason Statham; and upcoming feminine comedy Spa Weekend, from Dangerous Mothers administrators Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, starring Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris.
Black Bear proprietor Schwarzman is the son of billionaire Blackstone CEO and chairman Stephen A. Schwarzman, the previous chair of Donald Trump’s Strategic and Coverage Discussion board.
