WB Creates New Warner Independent Pictures

Warner Bros. Entertainment announced today the creation of Warner Independent Pictures, an autonomous film label to be headed by Mark Gill as its President. Gill will oversee all aspects of the new company, including development, production, acquisition, marketing and distribution.

In making the announcement, Barry Meyer, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, and Alan Horn, President & Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., noted, "For strategic and creative reasons, we have long felt that in order to truly be a 'full-service' studio, we need to produce, distribute and market all genres of films, with all size budgets to all potential audiences and not be limited by traditional, mainstream definitions of a 'studio' film. We now feel the time is right, and with Jeff (Robinov) and Mark we have the perfect team to create a special place for established as well as new directors to turn projects that they are passionate about into top-quality, successful motion pictures."

As with all feature films from Warner Bros. Entertainment Companies, Horn retains the ultimate "greenlight" authority, with Gill and Warner Independent reporting directly to Jeff Robinov, President, Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.

The initial strategy is for Warner Independent to produce or acquire up to 10 films per year with production budgets up to $20 million for worldwide release, drawing from new directors and established filmmakers, as well as from international filmmakers who are already a part of Warner Bros. Pictures International's "in-country" film production and distribution program. Warner Independent will also acquire films that are better suited for a boutique-like release slate.

"Mark's production, marketing and distribution experience make him uniquely qualified to lead our efforts," said Horn. "We will look to him not just to execute our strategy and beliefs, but more importantly to use his talent and insights to create a genuinely unique film entity."

"Warner Independent will operate as a true independent film company with its growth and direction developing organically," said Robinov. "While it might be difficult to precisely define or label Warner Independent, our purpose couldn't be more clear. We want to create a home for director-driven films that don't fit into, or are simply not suited for, the distribution patterns, marketing budgets and commercial pressures that are inherent to mainstream studio films. We want to be the place where filmmakers want to do all of their films, from their first to their last, from the smallest to the biggest."

Warner Independent Pictures is a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company and will be housed on the Warner Bros. Studios lot in Burbank.

"Clearly, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that was impossible to resist," said Gill. "While I'll mainly be working with Jeff and the independent team we're assembling now, I'm also looking forward to the benefits of new relationships to be forged throughout Warner Bros. Entertainment."