First Look Studios

First Look Studios, Inc. was an American independent film and home video distributor based in Los Angeles, California. The company specialized in the acquisition and direct distribution of, and worldwide license and sale of distribution rights to, independently produced feature films and television series.

History

Overseas Filmgroup

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. From the company's foundation, it competed with fellow, also-defunct film producers J&M Film Sales (later J&M Entertainment), Manson International and Producers Sales Organization as the most successful company with global film sales.

Overseas Filmgroup decided to pay $3 million in order to set up operations for different areas worldwide such as Spain, Arizona, Texas, Taiwan, Italy, southern California and Colorado in the mid-1980s, and by 1986, the company became active, setting up a number of domestic theatrical, home video and television syndication sales with New World Pictures and other distributors.[1]

First Look Studios

In January 2001, as part of a restructuring and to reflect the company's expansion into domestic film and home video distribution, Internet content development and television commercial production, Overseas Filmgroup was renamed First Look Media (not to be confused with the news organization of the same name).[7] The Overseas Filmgroup name remained as the international distribution division of First Look Media. In 2003, founders Robert and Ellen Little left First Look, and Overseas Filmgroup was renamed First Look International.[8][4]

On July 29, 2005, the company merged with Canadian businessman Henry Winterstern's Capital Entertainment, and in September, the company's name was changed to First Look Studios. Winterstern became CEO of First Look and shared the role as chairman with EUE/Screen Gems' Chris Cooney.[9] In November 2005, First Look acquired DEJ Productions from Blockbuster.[10]

In March 2006, First Look acquired Ventura Distribution, a Californian home video distribution company,[11] including its subsidiary UrbanWorks Entertainment, and the domestic television syndication rights to fifty six films from Pinnacle Entertainment.[12] In 2006, the company launched a television syndication division known as First Look Television.[13] By 2006, First Look's film library consisted of 700 films, and continued to add more with the financing of in house productions.[14]

In March 2007, Henry Winterstern resigned from the company but stayed on as an adviser.[15] The same month, Nu Image acquired a 52% stake in First Look. The deal was brokered by William Morris Independent. Following the acquisition, Nu Image and its production/distribution arm Millennium Films were given an outlet for home video and theatrical distribution[16]

In January 2008, First Look Studios started releasing titles on Blu-Ray.

In November 2010, First Look Studios filed for bankruptcy through an assignment for the benefit of the studio's senior secured creditors. Millennium Entertainment, a new sister company formed by Nu Image, acquired most of First Look's assets and inherited many of the former key management and staff.[17]

former name	Overseas Filmgroup, Inc. (1980–2001) First Look Media, Inc. (2001–2005)
type	Public
industry	Film production Home video
defunct	2010
fate	Acquired by Nu Image in 2007 Reorganized into Millennium Entertainment in 2010
founded	1980
founders	Robert Little Ellen Little
successor	Millennium Entertainment (2010–2014) Alchemy (2014–2016) FilmRise (2016–present)
location	Century City, California
products	DVD, Blu-ray
assets	$25 million
divisions	First Look Pictures First Look Home Entertainment First Look Television https://firstlookstudiosinc.com/

History

Overseas Filmgroup

First Look Studios

Films

Distributed lines

External links

References