Libya’s Major General Engineer Al-Saadi Qadhafi has come on board as the major financier behind Natural Selection LLC, a new $100m+ private equity funded production company. Matty Beckerman formed Natural Selection, and will serve as CEO, based in Los Angeles.
In addition to funding from Qadhafi (who is the son of Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi), Natural Selection will be backed by various private equity groups from around the world.
The company aims to produce a slate of about 20 films over the next five years, with budgets of $15m or below. Natural Selection said it plans to finance projects independently “using [foreign and state] tax credits, established equity and foreign sales as an investment base.”
Natural Selection said it is exploring projects both domestic and international, in all genres, for “all distribution platforms.”
The private equity group was structured by Schuyler Moore at Stroock Stroock and Lavan, LLP and Natural Selection is represented by WME Global (Graham Taylor’s newly rebranded arm of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment). WME Global will handle North American sales on some of Natural Selection’s titles, and international sales will be handled on a film-by-film basis by other sales outfits.
“We are thrilled to be working with Saadi and our other partners to launch Natural Selection, with the goal of providing development and production opportunities for high quality filmmakers and projects,” Beckerman said. “With the economy in its current state, financing for even the best projects is hard to find. We’re thrilled about what we will be able to offer to the film industry as Saadi brings along incredible resources, a strong financial understanding of the movie business and, most importantly, a passion for film.”
“As an avid film fan, I’m extremely excited about this venture, working with Matty, and with an industry that I hold close to my heart,” says Qadhafi, a former professional footballer who currently works on infrastructure development and international relations in Libya. “I have always held a strong affection towards the film industry and am proud I can now support it through my involvement here.”
Beckerman had been General Manager of Bulletproof Recording Company Inc, a film soundtrack and music supervision company that worked on projects including Nancy Drew, Charlotte’s Web and Hamlet 2. Prior to that, he founded Now Or Never Records.
Natural Selection plans to add other hires, which will be announced in coming months.
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