Artisan Entertainment

Artisan Entertainment (formerly known as U.S.A. Home Video, International Video Entertainment (IVE) and LIVE Entertainment) was an American film studio and home video company. It was considered one of the largest mini-major film studios[1] until it was purchased by later mini-major film studio Lions Gate Entertainment in 2003. At the time of its acquisition, Artisan had a library of thousands of films developed through acquisition, original production, and production and distribution agreements. Its headquarters and private screening room were located in Santa Monica, California. It also had an office in Tribeca in Manhattan, New York.[2]

Artisan Entertainment, Inc.
FormerlyU.S.A. Home Video (1983–1987)
International Video Entertainment, Inc. (1984–1990)
LIVE Entertainment (1988–1998)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryHome video
Motion pictures
PredecessorVestron Pictures
Vestron Video
Founded1983 (1983) (as U.S.A. Home Video)
Defunct2004 (2004)
FateAcquired and folded into Lions Gate Entertainment, Inc.
SuccessorLionsgate Home Entertainment
Lionsgate Films
Headquarters15400 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA (1986–1998)
2700 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA (1998–2004)
Key people
Noel Bloom Sr.
OwnerFamily Home Entertainment (1983–1984)
NCB Entertainment Group (1984–1987)
Carolco Pictures (1987–1993)
Independent (1993–1997)
Bain Capital (1997–2003)
Lions Gate Entertainment, Inc. (2003–2004)
DivisionsArtisan Pictures
Artisan Television
Artisan Home Entertainment
Artisan Digital Media
Family Home Entertainment
iArtisan
FHE Kids

The company owned the home video rights to the film libraries of Republic Pictures, ITC Entertainment, Gladden Entertainment, Miramax Films, Hemdale Film Corporation, The Shooting Gallery, and Carolco Pictures before it went defunct.

Artisan's releases included Requiem for a Dream, Pi, Killing Zoe, The Blair Witch Project, Grizzly Falls, Startup.com, Novocaine, and National Lampoon's Van Wilder.

History

Artisan, unlike most movie studios, had its roots in the home video industry.

1980s

Artisan Entertainment was founded in 1980 by Noel C. Bloom as Family Home Entertainment, Inc., and it was initially operated as a subsidiary of adult film distributor Caballero Control Corporation. It received a distribution pact with Wizard Video. In 1982, the latter had sold The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 10,000 copies a week.[3] Also that year, the label started distributing titles by Monterey Home Video. Later on, it received a distribution deal with MGM/UA Home Video to distribute the library. In 1983, it received a new agreement with Filmation in order to distribute the library on videocassette.[4]

In 1983, FHE began operating its new subsidiary U.S.A. Home Video,[5] when tapes were usually packaged in large boxes and included non-family films such as Supergirl, Silent Night, Deadly Night, several Lorimar titles and many B-movies, including those that begin and end with B-actress Sybil Danning talking about the film that is being shown under the Adventure Video label. U.S.A. also released sports videos under the U.S.A. Sports Video label.

In 1984, FHE and U.S.A. became part of Noel Bloom's NCB Entertainment Group (which also included Bloom's other labels Caballero Home Video, Monterey Home Video and Thriller Video), and then later on that year, both were consolidated into International Video Entertainment, Inc., formed under NCB and also taking ownership of Monterey and Thriller Video. The IVE name was used for non-family releases (although the U.S.A. name continued until 1987) and the FHE name was used for family releases[6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Also that year, Bloom launched Concept Productions to develop live programming.[13] In the late 1980s, the company also branched out into film distribution for television.

In 1987, IVE was acquired by Carolco Pictures from NCB Entertainment after Carolco had taken a minority interest in the latter a year earlier.[14][15][16][17][18] The unrated release of Angel Heart was the first Carolco film released by IVE on video. The studio hired José Menéndez, previously of RCA, as head of IVE; he was responsible for creating product deals with Sylvester Stallone's White Eagle Enterprises and producer Edward Pressman.[14] In 1989, Menéndez and his wife were murdered by their two sons.[14][19] Also in 1987, Noel C. Bloom left IVE, following disputes with Carolco, to start out Celebrity Home Entertainment, with some of IVE's employees defecting to Celebrity.[20][21] Later that year, the company had acquired the assets of home video distributor Vista Home Video from The Vista Organization for $38 million.[22]

In 1988, IVE and FHE consolidated into LIVE Entertainment after a merger with wholesale media distributor Lieberman Enterprises.[23][24] LIVE formed new ventures outside the home video business, including an ownership of retail music and video chains across the East Coast, after the acquisitions of such stores as Strawberries and Waxie Maxie, and its Lieberman subsidiary acquired Navarre Corporation.[14] Also that year, it partnered with distributor Radio Vision International to launch a music-oriented label, Radio Vision Video.[25]

1990–1997

In 1990, IVE became LIVE Home Video. Carolco formed its own home video division under partnership with LIVE. The company also formed Avid Home Entertainment, which reissued older IVE products, as well as ITC Entertainment's back catalogue, on videocassette at discount prices. Also in 1990, LIVE acquired German video distributor VCL.[14][26]

LIVE Entertainment also branched out into film production. The company spent more than a million dollars to finance the 1992 film Reservoir Dogs, which marked the directorial debut of Quentin Tarantino.[27] Other films included Paul Schrader's Light Sleeper.[14]

On January 11, 1991, Live announced that it would acquire Vestron, Inc. for $24 million after its downfall; Vestron had been known best for Dirty Dancing, which had been the second highest-grossing independent film of all time. Vestron releases continued into 1992.[28] For several years starting in 1993, LIVE Entertainment distributed anime released by Pioneer Entertainment, including Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki and the first Tenchi Muyo! movie, Tenchi Muyo! in Love.

Much of LIVE's earnings were partially thanks to Carolco's investment in the company, but by 1991, the studio was in such debt that a plan to merge the two companies was called off that December; around this time, the Lieberman assets were sold to another video distributor, Handleman, in an effort to stem LIVE's financial bleeding.[29] In 1993, Carolco restructured itself and was forced to sell its shares in LIVE Entertainment to a group of investors led by Pioneer Electronic Corporation.[14] In August 1994, Carolco and LIVE plotted another merger attempt, but the plans fell apart once again that October.[30][31] Under new CEO Roger Burlage, the unprofitable retail assets were sold and more focus was placed upon film production. In 1996, when Carolco ceased to exist as a company, StudioCanal got full rights to their film library; LIVE, under a new deal with the French-based production company, continued to distribute Carolco's films for video.

1997–2003

In 1997, LIVE was acquired by Bain Capital and was taken private. Though Burlage was retained as chairman initially, a new trio of executives took power: former International Creative Management agent Bill Block and former October Films partner Amir Malin became co-presidents, while former Bain Capital financial consultant Mark Curcio handled financial matters. Their goal was to utilize the large video library and the consistent profit from that area to invest in independent film production, which they saw as a market in flux in the wake of several notable independent film companies, including Orion Pictures, Miramax Films and others being subsumed into larger corporate organizations.

On December 18, 1997, LIVE entered into a domestic home video deal with Hallmark Entertainment to handle the distribution of products from its Hallmark Home Entertainment subsidiary, including Crayola-branded releases and Hallmark Hall of Fame movies. These releases would be distributed under Family Home Entertainment, while Hallmark Home Entertainment would retain marketing rights.[32] By 1998, products from Cabin Fever Entertainment were added to the deal after Hallmark purchased and folded the company in March of that year.[33]

As part of a restructuring process, in April 1998, LIVE Entertainment was rebranded as Artisan Entertainment; the rebranding was in part motivated by LIVE's reputation for mediocre product and lingering memories of their connection to the Menéndez brothers case.[14]

In addition to adding more theatrical releases, the company's home video subsidiary, Artisan Home Entertainment, continued to expand with more home video deals. The company began releasing products from TSG Pictures around this time, and by September 1998, Artisan signed a deal with Spelling Entertainment Group to distribute films from its Republic Pictures unit for home video release throughout a five-ten year period.[34]This was followed in October 1999 with a four-year home video deal with Discovery Communications to release programming from the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and TLC networks through dedicated labels under Family Home Entertainment.[35]

On February 10, 2000, Artisan acquired a minority stake in The Baby Einstein Company in exchange for a three-year North American home video distribution agreement for the Baby Einstein catalog.[36][37]The deal was eventually revoked early at the end of 2001 following The Walt Disney Company's purchase of The Baby Einstein Company.

In May 2000, Marvel Studios negotiated a deal with Artisan Entertainment for a co-production joint venture that included rights to 15 Marvel characters including Captain America, Thor, the Black Panther, Iron Fist, and Deadpool. Artisan would finance and distribute while Marvel would developing licensing and merchandising tie-ins. The resulting production library, which would also include TV series, direct-to-video films and internet projects, would be co-owned.[38]

On September 13, 2000, Artisan launched Artisan Digital Media and iArtisan.[39]

In 2001, the company acquired Canadian film and TV company Landscape Entertainment.[40]

In May 2003, Artisan and Microsoft jointly announced the first release of a high definition DVD, Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Extreme Edition). The release was a promotion for the Windows Media version 9 format; it could only be played on a personal computer with Windows XP. Artisan had released the movie in 2002 on D-VHS.

In the summer of 2003, Marvel Enterprises placed an offer for Artisan, with then-Disney-owned and Weinstein-operated Miramax Films to provide backing for Marvel's bid.[41][42] On December 15, 2003, Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation acquired Artisan for $220 million[43] and video releases through Artisan have now been re-released under the Lionsgate Home Entertainment banner. After the sale, Artisan Entertainment, Inc. was renamed to Lions Gate Entertainment, Inc.

Filmography

As LIVE Entertainment

Release date Title Notes
September 4, 1992 Bob Roberts co-production with Paramount Pictures, Miramax Films, StudioCanal and Working Title Films
October 23, 1992 Reservoir Dogs co-production with Miramax Films
November 20, 1992 Bad Lieutenant distributed by Aries Films; video distributor
July 30, 1993 Tom and Jerry: The Movie U.S. co-distributor with Miramax Films and Turner Entertainment; co-production with Film Roman
September 17, 1993 Frauds co-production with J&M Entertainment and Latent Image Productions
February 4, 1994 Gunmen U.S. co-distributor with Dimension Films; co-production with Davis Entertainment
July 8, 1994 Pentathlon
January 19, 1995 Mutant Species co-production with Southern Star Studios
April 28, 1995 Top Dog
June 2, 1995 Out-of-Sync co-production with United Image Entertainment
September 9, 1995 Blood and Donuts co-production with Daban Films and The Feature Film Project
April 19, 1996 The Substitute co-production with Orion Pictures
May 31, 1996 The Arrival
August 2, 1996 Phat Beach
September 17, 1996 Deadly Outbreak co-distributed by Nu Image Films
October 11, 1996 Trees Lounge co-production with Orion Pictures and Pioneer Entertainment
February 7, 1997 Hotel de Love co-production with Village Roadshow Pictures and Pratt Films
March 7, 1997 The Grotesque
September 19, 1997 Wishmaster
October 31, 1997 Critical Care co-production with Village Roadshow Pictures, Mediaworks and ASAQ Film Partnership
November 18, 1997 Joyride co-production with Trillion Entertainment
December 19, 1997 Open Your Eyes co-production with Redbus Film Distribution
February 27, 1998 Caught Up co-production with Heller Highwater Productions
April 17, 1998 Suicide Kings co-production with Dinamo Entertainment

As Artisan Entertainment

Release date Title Notes
June 24, 1998 I Went Down North American distribution only; co-production with BBC Films, Bord Scannán na hÉireann, Irish Film Board, Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Easkel Media, Treasure Entertainment and Shooting Gallery; international distribution by Buena Vista International
July 10, 1998 Pi produced by Protozoa Pictures; distribution only; currently owned by A24[44]
September 16, 1998 Permanent Midnight co-production with JD Productions
October 1998 Dark Harbor co-productions with Killer Films
October 2, 1998 Strangeland produced by Shooting Gallery, Snider Than Thou Productions, Raucous Releasing and Behaviour Communications; distribution.
October 13, 1998 Butter co-production with HBO Films, CineTel Pictures, Buttler Films and World International Network
October 14, 1998 The Cruise produced by Charter Films; distribution.
November 4, 1998 Belly co-production with Big Dog Films
November 6, 1998 Arrival II co-production with Rootbeer Films and Taurus 7 Film Corporation
November 25, 1998 Ringmaster co-production with Motion Picture Corporation of America and The Kushner-Locke Company
January 1, 1999 Hot Boyz distribution only.
January 29, 1999 The 24 Hour Woman produced by Shooting Gallery; distribution.
February 26, 1999 The Breaks
April 9, 1999 Foolish co-production with No Limit Films
May 18, 1999 Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai Distribution only.
June 4, 1999 Buena Vista Social Club U.S. distribution only.
July 30, 1999 The Blair Witch Project produced by with Haxan Films; U.S. distribution.
August 25, 1999 The Ninth Gate U.S. distribution only, co-production with Le Studio Canal +
September 10, 1999 Stir of Echoes
October 8, 1999 The Minus Man produced by TSG Pictures, distribution only.
The Limey
November 5, 1999 Grizzly Falls co-production with Providence Entertainment
November 30, 1999 Candyman 3: Day of the Dead
August 11, 2000 Cecil B. Demented produced by Le Studio Canal+ and Polar Entertainment; U.S. distribution only.
August 15, 2000 Premonition
September 8, 2000 The Way of the Gun
September 12, 2000 Bloody Murder
October 13, 2000 Dr. T & the Women U.S. Distribution only.
October 27, 2000 Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 co-production with Haxan Films
Requiem for a Dream co-production with Thousand Words and Protozoa Pictures
December 1, 2000 Panic
January 21, 2001 Nobody's Baby co-production with Millennium Films, SE8 Group and Front Street Pictures
April 19, 2001 The Center of the World co-production with Redeemable Features
May 9, 2001 'R Xmas
May 25, 2001 Startup.com produced by Artificial Eye and Noujaim Films; distribution only.
July 13, 2001 Made
August 17, 2001 Double Bang
September 7, 2001 Soul Survivors
September 8, 2001 Novocaine
October 23, 2001 Deep in the Woods
November 13, 2001 Ticker co-production with Nu Image Films, Filmwerks, Kings Road Entertainment and Emmett/Furla Films
January 6, 2002 Sins of the Father co-production with Landscape Entertainment and FX
February 14, 2002 Book of Love co-production with Crossroads Pictures
April 5, 2002 National Lampoon's Van Wilder produced by Myriad Pictures and Tapestry Films; U.S. distribution only.
July 2, 2002 Chat Room co-production with Megastar Pictures and Inverness Media
July 23, 2002 Con Express co-production with PM Entertainment; U.S. theatrical distributor
September 24, 2002 The Pool U.S. distribution only
October 4, 2002 Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie produced by Big Idea Productions and FHE Pictures; U.S. distribution only.
October 18, 2002 Children on Their Birthdays co-production with Frantic Redhead Productions, Crusader Entertainment and Salem Productions; co-distributed by Koch Media and Moonstone Entertainment
October 25, 2002 Roger Dodger produced bv Holedigger Films; distribution only.
November 15, 2002 Standing in the Shadows of Motown
January 3, 2003 Final Examination produced by Franchise Pictures, Epsilon Motion Pictures, Hawaii Filmwerks and Royal Oaks Entertainment; distribution only.
February 18, 2003 Bloody Murder 2: Closing Camp
February 19, 2003 Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony
March 21, 2003 Boat Trip produced by Nordisk Film and Motion Picture Corporation of America; U.S. distribution only.
May 20, 2003 The Shaft distribution only
July 13, 2003 Blue Hill Avenue produced by Asiatic Pictures, Cahoots Productions and Den Pictures; distribution only.
July 22, 2003 Guilty by Association
August 5, 2003 Step into Liquid
August 19, 2003 I've Been Waiting for You
September 12, 2003 Dummy produced by Quadrant Entertainment and Dummy Productions LLC; distribution only.
October 10, 2003 House of the Dead U.S. distribution only.
December 16, 2003 Devil's Pond co-production with Davis Entertainment, Filmworks and Splendid Pictures
February 27, 2004 Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights picked up by Lions Gate Films, and produced with Miramax Films, A Band Apart, Lawrence Bender Productions and Havana Nights LLC
March 16, 2004 Quicksand co-production with First Look Pictures and Cinerenta
April 16, 2004 The Punisher picked up by Lions Gate Films, and produced with Marvel Entertainment and Valhalla Motion Pictures; Columbia Pictures handled international rights distribution
March 11, 2005 Dot the i co-production with Summit Entertainment, Alquima Cinema and Arcane Pictures
April 30, 2005 Man-Thing picked up by Lionsgate Films, and produced by Marvel Entertainment, Fierce Entertainment and Screenland Movieworld; the last film by Artisan

Television films

Release date Title Network Notes
August 25, 2002 RFK Fox co-production with 20th Century Fox Television
March 9, 2003 Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt CBS co-production with Fox Television Studios and The Kaufman Company

References

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  27. "The Times-News".
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