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MUMBAI: After the termination of the distribution
pact with Universal Studios last week, DreamWorks
co-founder Steven Spielberg has moved into
newer pastures to churn out the much-needed
cash required to finance, market and distribute
the Oscar-winning director's forthcoming
slate in partnership with Reliance Big Entertainment.
DreamWorks
Studios has secured a deal with Walt Disney
Company. Under the terms, Disney will market
and distribute at least six live-action
films coming out of the Studios Touchstone
Pictures banner each year. The first project
from the production basket will be released
sometime in 2010.
Reliance,
a 50:50 partner with DreamWorks in a newly
created company, will get to distribute
these movies in India.
Under
the new agreement, Disney will also provide
a bridge financing loan to DreamWorks to
match up to the $350 million coming in as
equity from Reliance ADAG's pocket.
Disney
stepped in after Dreamworks and Universal
Studios axed their distribution pact signed
last year following disagreements over financing.
The
deal will help Disney boost its annual movie
slate without incurring further financial
risk.
Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook said,
"Spielberg has made some of the biggest
films of all time and continues to be one
of the great icons of our industry. Thus,
his motion pictures will be the perfect
compliment to the already robust slate of
Disney."
Last
year, post the DreamWorks Studios-Paramount
break up, Spielberg partnered with Reliance
Big Entertainment to build a $1.5 billion
company that would finance 32 movies over
six years.
However,
stung by the ongoing economic recession
bug, the funding would now be raised in
various legs. JPMorgan Chase & Co is
arranging a $350 million debt within three
months. Reliance will put in a similar amount
as equity.
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