November 2014

Gersh Adds Four Agents to Comedy Department

The Gersh Agency’s Comedy Division has hired four new agents between the New York and Los Angeles offices, bringing the total number of staffers in the department to 15. All four hires will report to Rick Greenstein, senior partner and EVP and head of the comedy division who said that each of the respective new agents “bring specific skills that allow us to represent our clients both comprehensively and strategically. We currently have the strongest and most experienced team that we’ve ever had in the Comedy Department during my 20 year tenure at Gersh.”

See the full announcement on the Gersh Comedy Division’s expansion on Deadline.

Robert Ogden Barnum and Katie Mustard recognized as Variety’s “10 Producers To Watch”

Robert Ogden Barnum and Katie Mustard earned two of the ten coveted slots on Variety’s annual “10 Producers to Watch” list released this month, with each boasting a background of impressive credentials in the field.

Barnum first garnered attention for his producing on J.C. Chandor’s MARGIN CALL, and has since gone on to produce SHE’S FUNNY THAT WAY, among others. Up next on his slate is MILES AHEAD, the Miles Davis biopic with Don Cheadle set to star.

Mustard has also kept busy, working on films such as Simon Helberg’s WE’LL NEVER HAVE PARIS. Her next project, DAUGHTER OF GOD – a mystery-thriller starring Keanu Reeves – is currently in production.

Mustard and Barnum also collaborated on Paul Bettany’s directorial debut, SHELTER.

Read more about Robert Ogden Barnum and Katie Mustard on Variety.

Electric Entertainment’s Dean Devlin on passion and the film business

Dean Devlin, well-known for his producing credit on ‘Independence Day,’ discusses his upcoming projects and the role passion has played in the success of his independent film financing company, Electric Entertainment. Electric recently announced that it will be co-financing the film GO WITH ME alongside Enderby Entertainment.

“We just fell in love with GO WITH ME,” Devlin said. “We don’t have investors so Electric is a very passion-based company. I’ve done well by following my passions.”

In addition to GO WITH ME, Devlin is currently shooting GEOSTORM. On the television front, Devlin and Electric are producing ‘The Librarians,” which will premiere on TNT December 7^th.

Read the full article on Variety.

AFM Hot Lists

This year’s American Film Market recently wrapped with a strong smattering of Prodigy clients’ projects making the highly-coveted AFM ‘Buzz Title’ lists produced annually from the trades.

Electric Entertainment and Enderby Entertainment’s GO WITH ME was recognized by Screen Daily, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, respectively.

Also making all three lists was Fortitude International’s upcoming project “Urge,” starring Pierce Bronson. The thriller, currently in production, follows friends on an island that experiment with a dangerous new designer drug.

XYZ Films made two contributions this year, with titles YOGA HOSERS and 6 DAYS both featured. YOGA HOSERS is Kevin Smith’s follow-up to TUSK, while 6 DAYS details the SAS raid that ended the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege in London.

Das Films’ upcoming dance flick HEART BEATS 3D was also recognized for 2014. From the writer of STEP UP, the film is set to begin production in India in the upcoming months and will star Aimee Teegarden. Sriram Das and Guneet Monga will produce.

Read the fill lists here: Screen Daily, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety

Freestyle Releasing’s ZOMBEAVER’s gets release date

The highly-anticipated ZOMBEAVERS will be coming to the big screen on March 20, 2015 thanks to Freestyle Releasing for a limited theatrical release.

From the producers of AMERICAN PIE, CABIN FEVER and THE RING, the film follows a group of college students heading into the wilderness for spring break. Their carefree good time ends when zombie beavers attempt to eat them.

ZOMBEAVERS made its debut at the 2014 Berlin Film Festival and the trailer for the horror-comedy has already garnered more than 3.6 million views on YouTube.

Read more about ZOMBEAVERS on Variety.