Universal Pictures and Focus Features are consolidating their worldwide acquisitions operations to support NBC Universal's global theatrical distribution network.
Universal Pictures chairman Marc Shmuger, co-chairman David Linde, and Focus Features and Rogue Pictures chairman James Schamus will oversee the restructured division along with Universal executive vice president Michael Joe and Focus president and Rogue co-president Andrew Karpen.
Day-to-day supervision will lie with Jason Resnick, who has been promoted to the new post of senior vice president and general manager of worldwide acquisitions.
Under the new structure buyers will be assigned to various regions and will take responsibility for acquiring product for all the different labels. Resnick will continue to be based in Universal City and will also work directly on key accounts worldwide.
The venture will encompass Universal Pictures International (UPI) and it is understood there will be no reduction in overall staff as a result of the restructure.
UPI acquisitions director Ben Roberts will focus on acquisitions from the UK and Europe, reporting to Resnick. New York-based manager of acquisitions Anikah McLaren and London-based manager of acquisitions Eleonore de Prunele will support Roberts, who will also work directly in Germany with Klaus Hefele, Universal's local acquisition manager for that territory.
Dylan Wilcox, also reporting to Resnick and currently serving as Focus' director of acquisitions, will handle Latin America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Chan Phung will serve as coordinator of acquisitions, working on Latin America, Asia, and Australia/New Zealand with Wilcox.
Resnick and Wilcox will also work closely in Japan with Keizo Kabata, Universal's local acquisition manager for that territory.
Resnick will directly oversee all North American-based acquisitions with Wilcox in Los Angeles and McLaren in New York.
The new organisation will also coordinate closely with UPI president David Kosse and Universal Pictures International Entertainment (UPIE) president Eddie Cunningham as the company moves aggressively into acquiring overseas rights.
Recent international territory acquisitions include the drama The Other Boleyn Girl, which UPI and Focus Features International will distribute internationally; and the thriller Untraceable, which UPI acquired in six territories from Lakeshore International last November including the UK, France and Germany.
'This move enables our talented acquisitions executives to aggressively pursue opportunities for the entire company,' Joe and Karpen said. 'By placing people in charge of regions, rather than film labels, producers will now have the opportunity to access our unique, global organisation in a simple and precise way.'
Since 2003 Resnick has served as senior vice president of acquisitions at Focus Features and Universal. His acquisitions include Ray, The Motorcycle Diaries, Swimming Pool, and Dave Chappelle's Block Party.
He joined Universal's feature division as executive director of acquisitions after working as director of acquisitions and new business development at Universal Home Entertainment Production. Prior to that he was a buyer for Samuel Goldwyn Company.
Universal Pictures chairman Marc Shmuger, co-chairman David Linde, and Focus Features and Rogue Pictures chairman James Schamus will oversee the restructured division along with Universal executive vice president Michael Joe and Focus president and Rogue co-president Andrew Karpen.
Day-to-day supervision will lie with Jason Resnick, who has been promoted to the new post of senior vice president and general manager of worldwide acquisitions.
Under the new structure buyers will be assigned to various regions and will take responsibility for acquiring product for all the different labels. Resnick will continue to be based in Universal City and will also work directly on key accounts worldwide.
The venture will encompass Universal Pictures International (UPI) and it is understood there will be no reduction in overall staff as a result of the restructure.
UPI acquisitions director Ben Roberts will focus on acquisitions from the UK and Europe, reporting to Resnick. New York-based manager of acquisitions Anikah McLaren and London-based manager of acquisitions Eleonore de Prunele will support Roberts, who will also work directly in Germany with Klaus Hefele, Universal's local acquisition manager for that territory.
Dylan Wilcox, also reporting to Resnick and currently serving as Focus' director of acquisitions, will handle Latin America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Chan Phung will serve as coordinator of acquisitions, working on Latin America, Asia, and Australia/New Zealand with Wilcox.
Resnick and Wilcox will also work closely in Japan with Keizo Kabata, Universal's local acquisition manager for that territory.
Resnick will directly oversee all North American-based acquisitions with Wilcox in Los Angeles and McLaren in New York.
The new organisation will also coordinate closely with UPI president David Kosse and Universal Pictures International Entertainment (UPIE) president Eddie Cunningham as the company moves aggressively into acquiring overseas rights.
Recent international territory acquisitions include the drama The Other Boleyn Girl, which UPI and Focus Features International will distribute internationally; and the thriller Untraceable, which UPI acquired in six territories from Lakeshore International last November including the UK, France and Germany.
'This move enables our talented acquisitions executives to aggressively pursue opportunities for the entire company,' Joe and Karpen said. 'By placing people in charge of regions, rather than film labels, producers will now have the opportunity to access our unique, global organisation in a simple and precise way.'
Since 2003 Resnick has served as senior vice president of acquisitions at Focus Features and Universal. His acquisitions include Ray, The Motorcycle Diaries, Swimming Pool, and Dave Chappelle's Block Party.
He joined Universal's feature division as executive director of acquisitions after working as director of acquisitions and new business development at Universal Home Entertainment Production. Prior to that he was a buyer for Samuel Goldwyn Company.
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