Alchemy (company)
Film distribution company
Alchemy (formerly Millennium Entertainment ) was an American independent global film distributor based in Los Angeles, California . The company acquired and distributed feature films, television series and specialty programming.[ 1]
History
Millennium Entertainment was 60% owned by production company Nu Image . Exclusive Media Group owned 20% and Prentice Capital owned the remaining stock.[ 2] Following its formation in 2010, the company marked its first noteworthy theatrical release in 2011 with Trust , starring Academy Award nominees Clive Owen , Catherine Keener , and Viola Davis .[ 3] Alchemy owns and operates[ 1] a film library consisting of over 1,000 titles, including Paris , Je’TAime , Transsiberian , and Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , as well as the recent titles Elephant White , starring Djimon Hounsou and Kevin Bacon ; Shadows and Lies , starring James Franco ; and Blitz , starring Jason Statham .
Millennium Entertainment logo
Television series released by Alchemy include The Cosby Show , Baywatch , and A Different World . First Look Studios originally released all eight seasons of The Cosby Show , A Different World , and other shows on DVD, but they eventually filed bankruptcy in 2010.[ 4] [ 5] Millennium Entertainment acquired all of First Look Studios’ assets, and continued to release them in the United States , Canada , Bermuda , and other U.S. Territories .[ 6] In April 2013, it was announced that Millennium Entertainment would be sold, and an investment company, Salem Partners, would assist in the sale.[ 2] In August 2014 the company's library and distribution assets had been sold to a consortium consisting of its current management and Virgo Investment Group. The new owners renamed the company Alchemy in January 2015, finally cutting ties to its former sister company Millennium Films .[ 7]
In July 2015 Alchemy acquired the film distribution assets of ANconnect and the digital film and television distributor Anderson Digital, both divisions of Anderson Media Corporation.[ 8] The transaction will result in the addition of 40 new employees to the existent 70 and expand the company's catalogue to over 1,300 films and 3,000 TV episodes.[ 9] In December 2015 Bill Lee exited the company as CEO.[ 10]
Bankruptcy
In February 2016 Alchemy laid off 40 employees, equaling 40% of the company's entire staff.[ 11] [ 12] due to liquidity issues.[ 13] The company began selling off previously acquired films including The Lobster ,[ 14] Free Fire ,[ 15] Mia Madre ,[ 16] 31 [ 17] and Evolution .[ 18] The Lobster and Free Fire were purchased by A24 , while Madre was sold to Music Box Films , 31 to Saban Films and Evolution to IFC Midnight .[ 19] [ 20] [ 21] [ 22] [ 23] The last of their acquisitions, Zeroville , wasn't released until 2019.[ 24]
Alchemy filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 30, 2016.[ 25] All employees were released following the bankruptcy.[ 26] [ 27]
Alchemy's remaining film library is currently owned by FilmRise .
Releases
TV series
Animated
Films
Distributed lines
References
^ a b "Millennium Entertainment Company Profile" . Millennium Entertainment . Archived from the original on 19 May 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013 .
^ a b Millennium On The Block; Salem Partners To Handle Sale Of Distribution Unit. Deadline Hollywood (April 22, 2013).
^ "Trust" . Millennium Films . Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ Ofgang, Kenneth. "Court Revives Suit Over Profits From Ving Rhames Movie" . Metropolitan News-Enterprise. Retrieved 5 March 2013 .
^ "FIRST LOOK MEDIA INC (FIRST:OTC US): Stock Quote & Company Profile - Businessweek" . Businessweek . Bloomberg. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013 .
^ "First Look Studios Acquired by Millennium Entertainment" . Blu-ray.com . Retrieved 5 March 2013 .
^ "Millennium Entertainment Picks a Name: Alchemy" . 8 January 2015.
^ The Wrap: "Alchemy Acquires ANconnect and Anderson Digital, Creates Alliance With ARC Entertainment" By Tim Kenneally July 13, 2015
^ Hollywood Reporter: "Alchemy Acquires ANconnect, Anderson Digital and Signs Pact With ARC Entertainment" July 13, 2015
^ Galuppo, Mia (December 7, 2015). "Bill Lee Abruptly Exits as Alchemy CEO" . TheHollywoodReporter.com. Retrieved February 18, 2016 .
^ McNary, Dave (February 17, 2016). "Indie Distributor Alchemy Hit With 40 Layoffs" . Variety.com. Retrieved February 18, 2016 .
^ Brooks, Brian; D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 16, 2016). "Alchemy Faces Financial Woes, Slashes Staff & Uncovers "Discrepancies Within Parts Of Its Businesses" " . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 18, 2016 .
^ IndieWire: "How the DVD Business Is Destroying Alchemy" By Eric Kohn February 17, 2016
^ McNary, Dave; Seetoodeh, Ramin (May 19, 2015). "Cannes: 'The Lobster' Selling to Alchemy (EXCLUSIVE)" . Variety . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ Fleming, Mike Jr.; Jaffar, Ali (November 12, 2015). "Alchemy Closes Deal For Ben Wheatley's White-Hot 'Free Fire' – AFM" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 19, 2015). "Alchemy Takes U.S. Rights To Nanni Moretti's 'Mia Madre' – Cannes" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 1, 2015). "Alchemy Acquires Rights To Rob Zombie-Directed '31' " . Deadline . Retrieved March 15, 2022 .
^ Hipes, Patrick (August 13, 2015). " 'Evolution', Toronto-Bound Horror Pic, Acquired By Alchemy; 'Somali Project' Docks At Vladar Co" . Deadline . Retrieved March 15, 2022 .
^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 1, 2016). "A24 Postpones 'The Lobster' Theatrical Release – Update" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 10, 2016). "A24 Scoops Up Brie Larson Action Thriller 'Free Fire' In Wake Of Alchemy Financial Turmoil" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 19, 2016). "Music Box Rescues Nanni Moretti's 'Mia Madre' From Alchemy" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ Hipes, Patrick; D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 24, 2016). "Rob Zombie's '31' Acquired By Saban Films For September Release" . Yahoo! Finance . Retrieved March 15, 2022 .
^ Erbland, Kate (March 23, 2016). "IFC Midnight Picks Up Former Alchemy Feature 'Evolution' " . IndieWire . Retrieved March 15, 2022 .
^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 1, 2019). "James Franco's Delayed 'Zeroville' Saved By myCinema; Distrib's Slate Includes Julian Fellowes' 'The Chaperone' – CinemaCon" . Deadline . Retrieved March 15, 2022 .
^ "Alchemy Files For Chapter 7-Names Long List of Creditors" . Deadline Hollywood . 7 July 2016.
^ "Alchemy" . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ McNary, Dave (July 7, 2016). "Alchemy Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Protection" . Variety . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ "Millennium Entertainment TV Shows" . DVD Empire.com . Right Ascension, Inc. Retrieved 5 March 2013 .
External links