Walden Media, producer of such hit films as “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, “Bridge to Terabithia,” “Charlotte’s Web,” and the “Journey to the Center of the Earth” series, will co-finance and co-produce DreamWorks Studios’ upcoming film A Dog’S Purpose.
Based on the best-selling novel, “A Dog’s Purpose” is an inspirational story of one devoted dog finding his purpose in the lives of the humans he loves.
Dennis Quaid (“Far From Heaven,” “The Rookie”), Britt Robertson (“Tomorrowland,” “Delivery Man”), K.J. Apa (“Shortland Street”), Juliet Rylance (“The Knick,” “Frances Ha”) and Peggy Lipton (“Mod Squad,” “Twin Peaks”) join the film, which is being directed by Academy Award nominated director Lasse Hallstrom (“The Hundred-Foot Journey,” “Chocolat”).
Based on the beloved book by W. Bruce Cameron, the screenplay was written by Cameron & Cathryn Michon and Audrey Wells. Gavin Polone is producing with Alan Blomquist and Mark Sourian serving as executive producers.
Based on the best-selling novel, “A Dog’s Purpose” is an inspirational story of one devoted dog finding his purpose in the lives of the humans he loves.
Dennis Quaid (“Far From Heaven,” “The Rookie”), Britt Robertson (“Tomorrowland,” “Delivery Man”), K.J. Apa (“Shortland Street”), Juliet Rylance (“The Knick,” “Frances Ha”) and Peggy Lipton (“Mod Squad,” “Twin Peaks”) join the film, which is being directed by Academy Award nominated director Lasse Hallstrom (“The Hundred-Foot Journey,” “Chocolat”).
Based on the beloved book by W. Bruce Cameron, the screenplay was written by Cameron & Cathryn Michon and Audrey Wells. Gavin Polone is producing with Alan Blomquist and Mark Sourian serving as executive producers.
- 8/5/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
This story first appeared in the Aug. 22 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Paired on the wall of Frank Smith's Walden Media office in Beverly Hills are posters for Blow, the Johnny Depp cocaine thriller, and family stalwart The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. They are fitting choices for the man whom conservative billionaire Philip Anschutz has entrusted with taking Anschutz Film Group and its Walden label in a distinctly new direction. Known for family-values fare, Walden now wants to be a major studio co-financier of a diverse film slate — including
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- 8/15/2014
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The companies will jointly develop, finance and produce a feature adaptation of Alice Ozma’s memoirs.
Doug Atchison of Akeelah And The Bee fame will adapt the screenplay of The Reading Promise, about a single father and librarian who reads aloud to his daughter every night until she leaves for college.
“At its core, The Reading Promise is a heartfelt, imaginative story that celebrates family and love of reading, and as such, celebrates the core tenants of a Walden Media film,” said Walden Media COO Frank Smith. “Jim Brozina’s dedication to his family and the promise they made are nothing short of inspirational.”
Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh and Deborah Giarratana will produce alongside Walden Media. Relativity president Tucker Tooley will serve as executive producer.
Walden Media’s vp of development and production, Naia Cucukov, who was an actual student of Brozina’s in their town of Millville, New Jersey, brought the project...
Doug Atchison of Akeelah And The Bee fame will adapt the screenplay of The Reading Promise, about a single father and librarian who reads aloud to his daughter every night until she leaves for college.
“At its core, The Reading Promise is a heartfelt, imaginative story that celebrates family and love of reading, and as such, celebrates the core tenants of a Walden Media film,” said Walden Media COO Frank Smith. “Jim Brozina’s dedication to his family and the promise they made are nothing short of inspirational.”
Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh and Deborah Giarratana will produce alongside Walden Media. Relativity president Tucker Tooley will serve as executive producer.
Walden Media’s vp of development and production, Naia Cucukov, who was an actual student of Brozina’s in their town of Millville, New Jersey, brought the project...
- 7/15/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The companies will jointly develop, finance and produce a feature adaptation of Alice Ozma’s memoirs.
Doug Atchison of Akeelah And The Bee fame will adapt the screenplay of The Reading Promise, about a single father and librarian who reads aloud to his daughter every night until she leaves for college.
“At its core, The Reading Promise is a heartfelt, imaginative story that celebrates family and love of reading, and as such, celebrates the core tenants of a Walden Media film,” said Walden Media COO Frank Smith. “Jim Brozina’s dedication to his family and the promise they made are nothing short of inspirational.”
Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh and Deborah Giarratana will produce alongside Walden Media. Relativity president Tucker Tooley will serve as executive producer.
Walden Media’s vp of development and production, Naia Cucukov, who was an actual student of Brozina’s in their town of Millville, New Jersey, brought the project...
Doug Atchison of Akeelah And The Bee fame will adapt the screenplay of The Reading Promise, about a single father and librarian who reads aloud to his daughter every night until she leaves for college.
“At its core, The Reading Promise is a heartfelt, imaginative story that celebrates family and love of reading, and as such, celebrates the core tenants of a Walden Media film,” said Walden Media COO Frank Smith. “Jim Brozina’s dedication to his family and the promise they made are nothing short of inspirational.”
Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh and Deborah Giarratana will produce alongside Walden Media. Relativity president Tucker Tooley will serve as executive producer.
Walden Media’s vp of development and production, Naia Cucukov, who was an actual student of Brozina’s in their town of Millville, New Jersey, brought the project...
- 7/15/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Walden Media and Anschutz Film Group has promoted general counsel Frank Smith to the position of COO as part of a broader corporate restructuring, the “Chronicles of Narnia” producer said Thursday. Smith will oversee day-to-day operations as the company behind “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and “Bridge to Terabithia” expands into television and animation. Afg CEO David Weil is stepping down at the end of the year, so Smith will run the show with the help of Walden co-founder and President Micheal Flaherty, publishing chief Chip Flaherty, CFO Ryan Jones and Naja Cucukov, VP of production and development.
- 12/6/2013
- by Lucas Shaw
- The Wrap
Walden Media has announced a restructure as it emerged that David Weil, current CEO of parent company Anschutz Film Group (Afg), will leave the company at the end of the year.
Longtime general counsel and head of business affairs Frank Smith (pictured) becomes COO of Walden Media, the family producer behind the first three The Chronicles Of Narnia films and the Journey To The Center Of The Earth series.
Walden is supported by a renewable media fund backed by Afg that allows it to finance most third-party features, TV series and animated content as well as invest P&A funding and gap financing in select projects.
The first-look deal with 20th Century Fox remains intact, however Walden is free to partner with any distributors on those projects it co-finances and co-produces with outside partners.
Working alongside Smith and Walden Media president and co-founder Micheal Flaherty will be Chip Flaherty, who heads Walden Media’s Publishing division.
Longtime...
Longtime general counsel and head of business affairs Frank Smith (pictured) becomes COO of Walden Media, the family producer behind the first three The Chronicles Of Narnia films and the Journey To The Center Of The Earth series.
Walden is supported by a renewable media fund backed by Afg that allows it to finance most third-party features, TV series and animated content as well as invest P&A funding and gap financing in select projects.
The first-look deal with 20th Century Fox remains intact, however Walden is free to partner with any distributors on those projects it co-finances and co-produces with outside partners.
Working alongside Smith and Walden Media president and co-founder Micheal Flaherty will be Chip Flaherty, who heads Walden Media’s Publishing division.
Longtime...
- 12/5/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Anschutz Film Group's Walden Media, the producers behind The Chronicles of Narnia and Journey to the Center of the Earth series, have promoted Frank Smith to COO as part of a restructuring plan, the company announced Thursday. Smith has previously served as the general counsel and head of business affairs and has been with Afg since 2003. Working alongside Smith and Walden Media president and co-founder Micheal Flaherty will be Chip Flaherty, who heads Walden Media’s Publishing division, Ryan Jones, the longtime Walden finance executive who has been appointed CFO of Walden Media, and Naia Cucukov, former creative executive at
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- 12/5/2013
- by Rebecca Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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