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| Formerly | Overseas Filmgroup, Inc. (1980–2001) First Look Media, Inc. (2001–2005) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public |
| OTC Pink: FRST.PK | |
| Industry | Film production Home video |
| Founded | 1980; 45 years ago (1980) |
| Founders | Robert Little Ellen Little |
| Defunct | 2010; 15 years ago (2010) |
| Fate | Acquired byNu Image in 2007 Reorganized intoMillennium Entertainment in 2010 |
| Successor | Millennium Entertainment (2010–2014) Alchemy (2014–2016) FilmRise (2016–present) |
| Headquarters | Century City, California |
| Products | DVD,Blu-ray |
| Total assets | $25 million |
| Divisions | First Look Pictures First Look Home Entertainment First Look Television https://firstlookstudiosinc.com/ |
First Look Studios, Inc. was an American independentfilm andhome 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.
In 1980, Robert and Ellen Little foundedOverseas 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 andProducers 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 asSpain,Arizona,Texas,Taiwan,Italy, southernCalifornia andColorado in the mid-1980s, and by 1986, the company became active, setting up a number of domestic theatrical, home video and television syndication sales withNew World Pictures and other distributors.[1]
In 1987, while other sales companies were gaining production outfits, the Littles stated that they would avoid production, so Overseas Filmgroup had set up a company policy stating that they would acquire new films via distribution advances, and the three new movies, namely those directed byRoland Emmerich, will be offered to various Mifed buyers.[2] The company was the original international home video distributor for the showTales from the Darkside, until it was sold off toLorimar-Telepictures in late November 1987 after Lorimar International president Jeff Schlesinger saw all episodes of the show that was well-suited and combined to become eight ninety-minute episodes from the show.[3]
Films ranged from genre titles such asBlue Tiger (starringVirginia Madsen) andNo Way Back (starring New Zealand actorRussell Crowe) to art house films, includingAntonia's Line,Mrs. Dalloway,The Secret of Roan Inish,Waking Ned Devine, andTitus.[4] In 1993, the company expanded towards North American distribution through itsFirst Look Pictures subsidiary.[5]
In October 1996, Entertainment/Media Acquisition Corporation, aspecial-purpose acquisition company incorporated in the state of Delaware in December 1993 that had consummated itsinitial public offering in February 1995, acquired Overseas Filmgroup, and the company went public.[6] The company stock was floated on theOTC market.
In 2000,EUE/Screen Gems acquired a minority interest in the company.
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 renamedFirst Look Media (not to be confused withthe 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 renamedFirst 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 toFirst 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 acquiredDEJ Productions fromBlockbuster.[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 asFirst 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 byWilliam Morris Independent. Following the acquisition, Nu Image and its production/distribution armMillennium 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]
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