May 18, 2004
NEW LINE CINEMA INKS FIRST-LOOK DEAL WITH CHICKEN HOUSE
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New York (May 18, 2004) – Innovative publisher, Chicken House, has made a first-look deal with New Line Cinema it was announced by Toby Emmerich, President New Line Production. As part of this unique first-look publishing deal, Barry Cunningham and the Chicken House will also have the opportunity to co-produce projects as well as develop their own writers’ ideas for the screen.
The Chicken House is an independent children’s book company based in Somerset England, with an enthusiasm and talent for finding new writers, artists and ideas. Barry Cunningham, the publisher credited with discovering J. K. Rowling, leads the small company. In less than four years the Chicken House has achieved international recognition.
Stephen Moore of The Kohner Agency negotiated the deal for Chicken House.
“Our exciting relationship with New Line opens up a wonderful way for Chicken House authors to explore the possibilities of their work, and a new way to build our talent together,” said Cunningham. “This venture allows us to use our story telling skills for a whole new audience, and I am so pleased to be working with Ileen Maisel and Mark Ordesky, a couple of fine story-tellers too!”
The deal was negotiated by Erik Ellner, and will be overseen by Mark Ordesky, Executive Vice President, New Line Production and Ileen Maisel, Senior Vice President, European Productions and Acquisitions.
“Chicken House is an amazing company,” said Ordesky and Maisel. “Their books are original, imaginative and fun – everything we would look for in a movie for kids and parents – and we are thrilled to be bringing some of these wonderful new stories to life on a big screen.”
New Line Cinema is the oldest and most successful independent film company in the world. In addition to the production, marketing and distribution of theatrical motion pictures, the fully integrated studio has divisions devoted to home entertainment, television, music, theater, licensing, merchandising and international marketing and distribution. New Line has been a pioneer in franchise filmmaking and its Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the most successful film franchise in history. Together with its subsidiary, Fine Line Features, New Line is a unit of Time Warner.