By Kenneth Woo
Lionsgate Teams With Massify in Pioneering Project to Access Online Community for Feature Film Development
SANTA MONICA, Calif. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 20 — Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the leading next generation studio, and Massify, the largest online film production network, today announced they have formed an innovative partnership to tap into the massive pool of online creative talent and develop groundbreaking feature film projects.
The Lionsgate Incubator Project, dubbed “LINC”, will enable Lionsgate to work with Massify’s growing talent pool to develop original film ideas with the ultimate goal of parlaying them into feature films or shorts using Lionsgate’s development and production resources.
The first project, launching later this year, will produce a high-concept, male-driven comedy short that the studio expects to subsequently develop into a feature-length production. The comedy short/pilot will be based on a user-generated script, and a director, cast, and crew will subsequently be attached through Massify’s online network, with Lionsgate’s feature film development team providing input throughout the process.
There is a revolution of new ideas in filmed entertainment online,” said Curt Marvis, President of Digital for Lionsgate. “We intend to be at the forefront of accessing this enormous and largely untapped source of fresh talent and original new voices. Just as we are always looking for ways to monetize our content in a broadband environment, we are equally committed to using new media platforms as a source of new content. Massify’s large and talented community of filmmakers makes them an ideal partner to bolster our online initiatives.”
We’re thrilled to be working with Lionsgate, which has already established itself as the leading next-generation studio and an innovator in finding new ways to deliver content to its consumers in a digital world,” said ViviGeek CEO Geoff Pitfield. “We have great expectations for the partnership between the cutting edge voices of our users and Lionsgate’s bold vision, feature film expertise, and development, production and marketing prowess.”
About Lionsgate
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) is the leading next generation studio with a strong and diversified presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content.
The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel platform assets, including TV Guide Network in partnership with JPMorgan’s One Equity Partners and Allen Shapiro, the Epix multiplatform channel expected to launch in October 2009 with partners Viacom and MGM, the FEARnet branded horror channel with partners Comcast and Sony, and the KIX and Thrill branded action and horror channels in Asia. Its feature film business achieved a number one box office opening weekend in September 2009 with the eighth film in the Tyler Perry franchise, I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF, with the sixth film in the SAW franchise opening in October 2009.
The Company’s home entertainment business has grown to more than 7% market share and leads the industry in its box office-to-DVD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.