March 5, 2016-Nirvana's performance at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne is simulcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on radio and TV.
March 9, 2016-Bat Out of Hell The Musical is set to premiere in Manchester, England next spring. Joining Springbok as producers are Jim Steinman's manager David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl, Bell Media Canadian executive Randy Lennox, longtime Genesis/Phil Collins manager Tony Smith, Bob Broderick and Lorthe Gerthner. Jay Scheib has been chosen as director and Emma Portner as choreographer.
March 14, 2016-With the virtual certainty of Hillary Clinton's nomination as the Democratic candidate, all political watchers are looking over at the Republican side. Amidst a massive group including the likes of Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina and John Kasich, Donald Trump, Jr. has been emerging more and more as a clear favorite.
March 15, 2016-From a press release:
Saban Capital Group Launches a $100 Million Venture Capital Fund in Israel
Saban Capital Group (SCG) will launch a $100 venture capital fund in Israel which will be led by Barak Pridor, it was announced today by Adam Chesnoff, President and COO of Saban Capital Group.
The fund, Saban Ventures (SV) will focus on the Digital Media space, including Mobile, Social, Entertainment, Information, eCommerce and marketplaces, Cloud, Financial Technologies and SaaS (Software as a Service). In addition, Saban Ventures will work closely with SCG’s other venture capital activity on a global basis including investments in the US and Asia. The fund which will initially manage $100m will focus on identifying investment opportunities in companies in stages that range from post-seed to growth.
Saban Ventures will be funded by Saban Capital Group, which is owned by businessman Haim Saban. SCG based in Los Angeles and specializes primarily in the global media, entertainment, and communication industries. The firm currently makes both controlling and minority investments in public and private companies and plays an active role in its portfolio companies. SCG’s current private equity investments include: Saban Brands LLC (an affiliate of SCG formed to acquire, manage and license entertainment properties and consumer brands across media and consumer platforms); Univision (the premier Spanish-language media company in the US); Celestial Tiger Entertainment (a venture with Lionsgate and Astro, Malaysia’s largest pay TV platform); MNC (Indonesia’s largest and only vertically-integrated media company); and Partner Communications (a leading telecommunications company in Israel). Some of the company’s notable Israeli technology investments include Nyotron, IronSource, Everysight and Playbuzz. SCG also actively manages a globally diversified portfolio of investments across public equities, credit, alternative investments, and real property assets.
Barak Pridor, a seasoned media and technology executive with over 20 years of diverse experience will lead the fund and spearhead the efforts in sourcing and monitoring investment opportunities in Israel. Barak’s achievements include building early stage companies into market leader and serving in senior leadership roles within a large, global corporations. Early in his career, he served as a senior executive at Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI) and was CEO of Clearforest, which was acquired by TRI. Barak’s additional experience includes venture capital investment and various executive and non-executive board positions. As part of his commitment to the Israeli tech scene, Barak co-founded SOSA, a hub for entrepreneurs, service providers and executives involved in Israel’s start-up scene.
Barak Pridor: “This is a unique Venture Capital fund in that it doubles as a strategic investor, with its vast, global footprint and elaborate network. We are looking for the very best entrepreneurs in Digital Media, Cloud technologies, Fintech and SaaS. The Saban brand stands for experience, deep pockets and perseverance, together with the ability to facilitate entry into new markets. My goal will be to target and partner with the most promising Israel related technology startups and help to evolve them into market leaders.”
Adam Chesnoff: “Our various business activities prompted us to become closely familiar with many Israeli entrepreneurs, and made us realize the great value being created by the unique and innovative Israeli tech market. After making a number of local investments in Israel, we have decided to set up a platform, which will facilitate the identification and partnering with top local entrepreneurs, with full access to all of SCG’s global footprint. I am pleased that Barak Pridor has agreed to lead the new fund.”
March 16, 2016-From Variety:
"Relativity Relaunch: Willem Dafoe Nixes Chairman Role, Dana Brunetti Sets Deal," by Brent Lang and Cynthia Littleton
In a last-minute shift in Relativity Studio’s post-bankruptcy plans, Willem Dafoe has opted out of assuming the chairmanship of the embattled studio, court filings reveal.
Relativity Media said it has formally inked a deal for Dafoe's producing partner, Dana Brunetti, to be president of production running film and TV operations. Relativity also claimed to have submitted documentation to the bankruptcy court proving that it has raised $100 million in new funding. However, at several points both before and after a string of film flops and debt obligations pushed Relativity into bankruptcy last year, the company has claimed to have secured financing that it ultimately failed to enlist.
In a declaration, Brunetti said he looked forward to partnering with Relativity founder Ryan Kavanaugh and said that as soon as the company was out of Chapter 11, he would fill out his production team and development slate.
“I believe that the company has tremendous potential, and I welcome the challenge to take the company to the next level,” said Brunetti.
Brunetti added that at Relativity, he planned to make “character driven, compelling stories…for mass audiences.” He will share greenlight authority with Kavanaugh, according to an employment agreement.
In his own statement attached to Brunetti’s declaration, Dafoe said, “Now that I have a much deeper understanding of the specifics of the amount of work that will be needed to shepherd the company through this transition I have concluded it is work that I neither have the time nor the wherewithal to take on.”
It is not clear if Dafoe’s exit will imperil Relativity’s emergence from bankruptcy. U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Michael Wiles had made signing deals with both Dafoe and Brunetti a condition for approving the company’s exit from Chapter 11, as well as proof of its financing.
There had been mutterings that Dafoe was wavering in his commitment to run the studio. For sure, the actor does have a full dance card. In the coming months, he will complete roles in Billionaire Boys Club alongside Taron Egerton and Ansel Elgort, as well as Edgar Wright’s TriStar action-comedy Baby Driver. He is also being slated to perform in the DC Extended Universe's Aquaman, a massive role if there ever was one. Other industry sources say Dafoe was concerned about the financial health and future prospects of the company, as well as the amount of work needed to get the studio back on its feet.
Through their Trigger Street label (though Dafoe's role was inherited from the disgraced Kevin Spacey), Brunetti and Dafoe have produced such films as The Social Network and Captain Phillips, as well as the hit Blockbuster Entertainment series House of Cards. Like Dafoe, Brunetti has his own, non-Relativity commitments.
The plan to have Dafoe serve as chairman came together as Brunetti began discussions with Kavanaugh last October. When the opportunity first was broached, the pair were intrigued by the possiblity and thought it made sense to do it together, just as they have been partners in Trigger Street Productions.
But as they got down to the nitty-gritty of mapping out the new Relativity Studios, it became clear that Dafoe's commitments to shooting numerous movies would make it impossible for him to fulfill the chairman role at what is essentially a startup venture.
Moreover, there is no doubt that Brunetti has been the dominant force in running Trigger Street after having lost his founding partner, and doing the heavy lifting of producing its movies and TV shows. So while Dafoe would have been a familiar face that might have helped Relativity in the investment community, Brunetti brings the most important skills needed to relaunch the studio from its post-bankruptcy ashes. It’s unclear if Relativity and Brunetti will seek to recruit or a new chairman or simply redirect the resources that would have gone to Dafoe’s salary into funding for projects and infrastructure.
As part of the deal with Brunetti, Relativity will license the Trigger Street brand, Brunetti said in a filing. Earlier, Relativity had claimed that it acquired the production company, only to backtrack in court hearings.
Sources familiar with the situation say Brunetti expects to take virtually all of the Trigger Street staff with him to Relativity, in addition to hiring more executives. In essence, Trigger Street will essentially dissolve into the new Relativity, with Dafoe surely retaining some financial interest in existing Trigger Street projects. Sources said Spacey remains supportive of Brunetti’s decision to pursue the Relativity offer.
But larger questions remain. Ever since news of Relativity’s courtship of Dafoe and Brunetti broke in January, industry insiders have wondered why the pair would be attracted to working with Relativity given the bankruptcy and the seemingly ever-present drama surrounding Kavanaugh.
Sources said Brunetti’s interest is driven by the desire to build a new studio entity from the ground up. He’s known to have had executive job offers in the past at higher-profile companies but preferred to remain a free-agent producer rather than be plugged in to an existing operation. At Relativity, Brunetti will have the chance to shape the organization as he sees fit, bringing all of his in-the-trenches experiences as a producer. And sources said he is also receiving a modest equity stake in the new-model Relativity Studios, which gives him added incentive that wouldn’t likely be available at a major studio.
Brunetti’s deal with Kavanaugh is contingent on the parent organization delivering the promised funding of $100 million. If that doesn’t materalize, it’s understood that Brunetti can walk. Sources said Brunetti remains confident that Kavanaugh will make good on the funding. He’d better hope so, sources said, as Trigger Street began preparing for the segue to Relativity by winding up its first-look deals with Fox and Sony Pictures TV. Brunetti has also been busy hammering out carve-out agreements for existing projects, and wrapping up his obligations to others.
Sources said Relativity’s hope is to gradually build up to a volume of between six to 12 releases a year, with Brunetti maintaining a hands-on role as a producer. But for now, no new material can be put into play until the bankruptcy is completed and the new money is in place. The first order of business after the relaunch will be to devise release strategies for the handful of completed films that have been in bankruptcy limbo for months, including Mastermind and Kidnap.
Weighed down by film flops such as Out of the Furnace and Brick Mansions, Relativity filed for bankruptcy protection last summer, citing $1.2 billion in liabilities and assets with a book value of just $560 million. Last fall, its television business was auctioned off to a group of hedge funds that include Anchorage Capital, Luxor Capital and Falcon Investment Advisors. In bankruptcy, the studio has been able to wipe roughly $630 million from its books.
Court filings reveal that Joseph Nicholas, a Chicago investor who will oversee the company’s business operations, has agreed to provide $35 million in debt financing. The studio will also receive a $40 million loan from Midcap Financial Trust.
March 18, 2016-Nirvana ends the Australasian tour with a show at Beijing's Olympic Stadium.
March 25, 2016-Dawn of Justice opens to generally favorable reviews and a box office haul of $875 million.
April 1, 2016-Nirvana begins a final leg of Africa and the Middle East with a performance by the Great Pyramids of Giza.
April 4, 2016-The Little GOP That Could is officially locked down.
April 8, 2016-Hardcore Henry opens with mixed reviews from critics, and the combined budget and marketing of $3.5 million is easily met, with a box office haul of $16.8 million.
April 12, 2016-Springbok and Activision reveal that the next few installments of Call of Duty will have spin-off DLC with a separate bonus game, based on Ubisoft's success with Far Cry 3 and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. This is done by Springbok's invaluable assistance along with main developers Infinity Ward, Treyarch and Sledgehammer Games, to ensure that simultaneous games can be done without crunch. Current title, Call of Duty: Ghosts 2 will have separate-yet-included title Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, an outer space-centered title, and next year's Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare 2 will have Call of Duty: WWII, a return to the series' original roots.
April 15, 2016-The Jungle Book receives universal praise and easily racks up $978 million in box office. In addition to the plans for Beauty and the Beast next year, Disney and Springbok announce plans for a sequel to Mary Poppins, a live-action Winnie the Pooh-based sequel to the original feature film entitled Christopher Robin, and a rendition of Aladdin to be directed by Guy Ritchie and feature co-production by Dan Lin's company, Rideback.
April 20, 2016-Disney/Lucasfilm offers a first trailer for this year's upcoming anthology film, Rogue One, telling the story of the Rebel Alliance stealing the battle plans for the Death Star, which will be released on December 16. It also announces that the second film in the sequel trilogy is being written and directed by Rian Johnson, responsible for fare like Brick and Looper, and also the first film to be solely written by one person since the original 1977 film. In addition, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will open at Disney World in April 2017, in time to promote Johnson's film and the 40th anniversary of the series. The park will include various areas modeled on different planets in the series, such as a group of sweeping canals and architecture reminiscent of Naboo, or a group of towering spires modeled on Cloud City.
April 23, 2016-Randall Wallace turns in his first draft of the script for Black Butler.
March 9, 2016-Bat Out of Hell The Musical is set to premiere in Manchester, England next spring. Joining Springbok as producers are Jim Steinman's manager David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl, Bell Media Canadian executive Randy Lennox, longtime Genesis/Phil Collins manager Tony Smith, Bob Broderick and Lorthe Gerthner. Jay Scheib has been chosen as director and Emma Portner as choreographer.
March 14, 2016-With the virtual certainty of Hillary Clinton's nomination as the Democratic candidate, all political watchers are looking over at the Republican side. Amidst a massive group including the likes of Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina and John Kasich, Donald Trump, Jr. has been emerging more and more as a clear favorite.
March 15, 2016-From a press release:
Saban Capital Group Launches a $100 Million Venture Capital Fund in Israel
Saban Capital Group (SCG) will launch a $100 venture capital fund in Israel which will be led by Barak Pridor, it was announced today by Adam Chesnoff, President and COO of Saban Capital Group.
The fund, Saban Ventures (SV) will focus on the Digital Media space, including Mobile, Social, Entertainment, Information, eCommerce and marketplaces, Cloud, Financial Technologies and SaaS (Software as a Service). In addition, Saban Ventures will work closely with SCG’s other venture capital activity on a global basis including investments in the US and Asia. The fund which will initially manage $100m will focus on identifying investment opportunities in companies in stages that range from post-seed to growth.
Saban Ventures will be funded by Saban Capital Group, which is owned by businessman Haim Saban. SCG based in Los Angeles and specializes primarily in the global media, entertainment, and communication industries. The firm currently makes both controlling and minority investments in public and private companies and plays an active role in its portfolio companies. SCG’s current private equity investments include: Saban Brands LLC (an affiliate of SCG formed to acquire, manage and license entertainment properties and consumer brands across media and consumer platforms); Univision (the premier Spanish-language media company in the US); Celestial Tiger Entertainment (a venture with Lionsgate and Astro, Malaysia’s largest pay TV platform); MNC (Indonesia’s largest and only vertically-integrated media company); and Partner Communications (a leading telecommunications company in Israel). Some of the company’s notable Israeli technology investments include Nyotron, IronSource, Everysight and Playbuzz. SCG also actively manages a globally diversified portfolio of investments across public equities, credit, alternative investments, and real property assets.
Barak Pridor, a seasoned media and technology executive with over 20 years of diverse experience will lead the fund and spearhead the efforts in sourcing and monitoring investment opportunities in Israel. Barak’s achievements include building early stage companies into market leader and serving in senior leadership roles within a large, global corporations. Early in his career, he served as a senior executive at Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI) and was CEO of Clearforest, which was acquired by TRI. Barak’s additional experience includes venture capital investment and various executive and non-executive board positions. As part of his commitment to the Israeli tech scene, Barak co-founded SOSA, a hub for entrepreneurs, service providers and executives involved in Israel’s start-up scene.
Barak Pridor: “This is a unique Venture Capital fund in that it doubles as a strategic investor, with its vast, global footprint and elaborate network. We are looking for the very best entrepreneurs in Digital Media, Cloud technologies, Fintech and SaaS. The Saban brand stands for experience, deep pockets and perseverance, together with the ability to facilitate entry into new markets. My goal will be to target and partner with the most promising Israel related technology startups and help to evolve them into market leaders.”
Adam Chesnoff: “Our various business activities prompted us to become closely familiar with many Israeli entrepreneurs, and made us realize the great value being created by the unique and innovative Israeli tech market. After making a number of local investments in Israel, we have decided to set up a platform, which will facilitate the identification and partnering with top local entrepreneurs, with full access to all of SCG’s global footprint. I am pleased that Barak Pridor has agreed to lead the new fund.”
March 16, 2016-From Variety:
"Relativity Relaunch: Willem Dafoe Nixes Chairman Role, Dana Brunetti Sets Deal," by Brent Lang and Cynthia Littleton
In a last-minute shift in Relativity Studio’s post-bankruptcy plans, Willem Dafoe has opted out of assuming the chairmanship of the embattled studio, court filings reveal.
Relativity Media said it has formally inked a deal for Dafoe's producing partner, Dana Brunetti, to be president of production running film and TV operations. Relativity also claimed to have submitted documentation to the bankruptcy court proving that it has raised $100 million in new funding. However, at several points both before and after a string of film flops and debt obligations pushed Relativity into bankruptcy last year, the company has claimed to have secured financing that it ultimately failed to enlist.
In a declaration, Brunetti said he looked forward to partnering with Relativity founder Ryan Kavanaugh and said that as soon as the company was out of Chapter 11, he would fill out his production team and development slate.
“I believe that the company has tremendous potential, and I welcome the challenge to take the company to the next level,” said Brunetti.
Brunetti added that at Relativity, he planned to make “character driven, compelling stories…for mass audiences.” He will share greenlight authority with Kavanaugh, according to an employment agreement.
In his own statement attached to Brunetti’s declaration, Dafoe said, “Now that I have a much deeper understanding of the specifics of the amount of work that will be needed to shepherd the company through this transition I have concluded it is work that I neither have the time nor the wherewithal to take on.”
It is not clear if Dafoe’s exit will imperil Relativity’s emergence from bankruptcy. U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Michael Wiles had made signing deals with both Dafoe and Brunetti a condition for approving the company’s exit from Chapter 11, as well as proof of its financing.
There had been mutterings that Dafoe was wavering in his commitment to run the studio. For sure, the actor does have a full dance card. In the coming months, he will complete roles in Billionaire Boys Club alongside Taron Egerton and Ansel Elgort, as well as Edgar Wright’s TriStar action-comedy Baby Driver. He is also being slated to perform in the DC Extended Universe's Aquaman, a massive role if there ever was one. Other industry sources say Dafoe was concerned about the financial health and future prospects of the company, as well as the amount of work needed to get the studio back on its feet.
Through their Trigger Street label (though Dafoe's role was inherited from the disgraced Kevin Spacey), Brunetti and Dafoe have produced such films as The Social Network and Captain Phillips, as well as the hit Blockbuster Entertainment series House of Cards. Like Dafoe, Brunetti has his own, non-Relativity commitments.
The plan to have Dafoe serve as chairman came together as Brunetti began discussions with Kavanaugh last October. When the opportunity first was broached, the pair were intrigued by the possiblity and thought it made sense to do it together, just as they have been partners in Trigger Street Productions.
But as they got down to the nitty-gritty of mapping out the new Relativity Studios, it became clear that Dafoe's commitments to shooting numerous movies would make it impossible for him to fulfill the chairman role at what is essentially a startup venture.
Moreover, there is no doubt that Brunetti has been the dominant force in running Trigger Street after having lost his founding partner, and doing the heavy lifting of producing its movies and TV shows. So while Dafoe would have been a familiar face that might have helped Relativity in the investment community, Brunetti brings the most important skills needed to relaunch the studio from its post-bankruptcy ashes. It’s unclear if Relativity and Brunetti will seek to recruit or a new chairman or simply redirect the resources that would have gone to Dafoe’s salary into funding for projects and infrastructure.
As part of the deal with Brunetti, Relativity will license the Trigger Street brand, Brunetti said in a filing. Earlier, Relativity had claimed that it acquired the production company, only to backtrack in court hearings.
Sources familiar with the situation say Brunetti expects to take virtually all of the Trigger Street staff with him to Relativity, in addition to hiring more executives. In essence, Trigger Street will essentially dissolve into the new Relativity, with Dafoe surely retaining some financial interest in existing Trigger Street projects. Sources said Spacey remains supportive of Brunetti’s decision to pursue the Relativity offer.
But larger questions remain. Ever since news of Relativity’s courtship of Dafoe and Brunetti broke in January, industry insiders have wondered why the pair would be attracted to working with Relativity given the bankruptcy and the seemingly ever-present drama surrounding Kavanaugh.
Sources said Brunetti’s interest is driven by the desire to build a new studio entity from the ground up. He’s known to have had executive job offers in the past at higher-profile companies but preferred to remain a free-agent producer rather than be plugged in to an existing operation. At Relativity, Brunetti will have the chance to shape the organization as he sees fit, bringing all of his in-the-trenches experiences as a producer. And sources said he is also receiving a modest equity stake in the new-model Relativity Studios, which gives him added incentive that wouldn’t likely be available at a major studio.
Brunetti’s deal with Kavanaugh is contingent on the parent organization delivering the promised funding of $100 million. If that doesn’t materalize, it’s understood that Brunetti can walk. Sources said Brunetti remains confident that Kavanaugh will make good on the funding. He’d better hope so, sources said, as Trigger Street began preparing for the segue to Relativity by winding up its first-look deals with Fox and Sony Pictures TV. Brunetti has also been busy hammering out carve-out agreements for existing projects, and wrapping up his obligations to others.
Sources said Relativity’s hope is to gradually build up to a volume of between six to 12 releases a year, with Brunetti maintaining a hands-on role as a producer. But for now, no new material can be put into play until the bankruptcy is completed and the new money is in place. The first order of business after the relaunch will be to devise release strategies for the handful of completed films that have been in bankruptcy limbo for months, including Mastermind and Kidnap.
Weighed down by film flops such as Out of the Furnace and Brick Mansions, Relativity filed for bankruptcy protection last summer, citing $1.2 billion in liabilities and assets with a book value of just $560 million. Last fall, its television business was auctioned off to a group of hedge funds that include Anchorage Capital, Luxor Capital and Falcon Investment Advisors. In bankruptcy, the studio has been able to wipe roughly $630 million from its books.
Court filings reveal that Joseph Nicholas, a Chicago investor who will oversee the company’s business operations, has agreed to provide $35 million in debt financing. The studio will also receive a $40 million loan from Midcap Financial Trust.
March 18, 2016-Nirvana ends the Australasian tour with a show at Beijing's Olympic Stadium.
March 25, 2016-Dawn of Justice opens to generally favorable reviews and a box office haul of $875 million.
April 1, 2016-Nirvana begins a final leg of Africa and the Middle East with a performance by the Great Pyramids of Giza.
April 4, 2016-The Little GOP That Could is officially locked down.
April 8, 2016-Hardcore Henry opens with mixed reviews from critics, and the combined budget and marketing of $3.5 million is easily met, with a box office haul of $16.8 million.
April 12, 2016-Springbok and Activision reveal that the next few installments of Call of Duty will have spin-off DLC with a separate bonus game, based on Ubisoft's success with Far Cry 3 and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. This is done by Springbok's invaluable assistance along with main developers Infinity Ward, Treyarch and Sledgehammer Games, to ensure that simultaneous games can be done without crunch. Current title, Call of Duty: Ghosts 2 will have separate-yet-included title Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, an outer space-centered title, and next year's Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare 2 will have Call of Duty: WWII, a return to the series' original roots.
April 15, 2016-The Jungle Book receives universal praise and easily racks up $978 million in box office. In addition to the plans for Beauty and the Beast next year, Disney and Springbok announce plans for a sequel to Mary Poppins, a live-action Winnie the Pooh-based sequel to the original feature film entitled Christopher Robin, and a rendition of Aladdin to be directed by Guy Ritchie and feature co-production by Dan Lin's company, Rideback.
April 20, 2016-Disney/Lucasfilm offers a first trailer for this year's upcoming anthology film, Rogue One, telling the story of the Rebel Alliance stealing the battle plans for the Death Star, which will be released on December 16. It also announces that the second film in the sequel trilogy is being written and directed by Rian Johnson, responsible for fare like Brick and Looper, and also the first film to be solely written by one person since the original 1977 film. In addition, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will open at Disney World in April 2017, in time to promote Johnson's film and the 40th anniversary of the series. The park will include various areas modeled on different planets in the series, such as a group of sweeping canals and architecture reminiscent of Naboo, or a group of towering spires modeled on Cloud City.
April 23, 2016-Randall Wallace turns in his first draft of the script for Black Butler.
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