Walden Media
 | |
| Company type | Film Financing Publishing Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Micheal Flaherty Chip Flaherty Cary Granat |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California (corporate headquarters) , Boston, Massachusetts (Education, Outreach, Interactive and Publishing office) |
Key people | Frank Smith (President & CEO) Naia Cucukov (VP, Development & Production) Philip Anschutz (owner) |
| Parent | Anschutz Entertainment Group |
| Divisions | Walden TV |
| Website | walden |
Walden Media, LLC or Walden Media Group is an American film investor, distributor, and publishing company best known as the producers of The Chronicles of Narnia series. Its films are based on notable classic or award-winning children's literature, compelling biographies or historical events, as well as documentaries and some original screenplays.
The corporate headquarters of Walden Media are located in Los Angeles, California, and the Education, Outreach, Interactive and Publishing office is in Boston, Massachusetts.
Company history
Walden Media was founded in 2001 by brothers Chip Flaherty & Micheal Flaherty and Cary Granat. Granat was president of Miramax's Dimension Films division, and Flaherty came from the world of education. Flaherty was called an "entrepreneur in education" by The Boston Globe for his work with innovative programs meant to help underprivileged students gain access to quality education.[1] The two were housemates at Tufts University before following different paths and then reuniting to form Walden Media[2] as a movie, television, publishing and Internet enterprise whose goal is to teach and entertain kids. The company is owned by the Christian conservative Philip Anschutz, who has said he expects their movies "to be entertaining, but also to be life affirming and to carry a moral message."[3]
The company's notable releases include Holes in 2003, Because of Winn-Dixie for Twentieth Century Fox in 2005, How to Eat Fried Worms and Charlotte's Web in 2006, and Bridge to Terabithia, in 2007, as well as three adaptations of The Chronicles of Narnia in 2005, 2008 and 2010.[4] All of these films are adaptations of popular children's books.
On August 8, 2006, Walden Media announced a joint venture with 20th Century Fox called FoxWalden. The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising was the first films released under the venture. Previously announced films at other studios will remain in place.[5]
On August 1, 2013, the Anschutz Film Group, which includes Walden Media and Bristol Bay Productions, announced that it will focus on co-financing films made by third parties.[6]
Education program
Walden Media is unique among film production and distribution companies in that it works with teachers, museums, and national organizations to develop supplemental educational programs and materials associated with its films and the original events and/or novels that inspire the films.[7]
Walden Media offers in-class teaching tools like educational guides and teacher kits[8] and sponsors seminars and forums for teachers to discuss their craft and to trade ideas on using media in the classroom. Directors, writers, and stars of the productions participate in these events.
In 2006, Walden Media sponsored the "Break the World Reading Record with Charlotte's Web". At noon on Wednesday, December 13, 547,826 readers in 2,451 locations, 50 states and 28 countries read an excerpt from Charlotte's Web, breaking the world record of 155,528 students from 737 schools in the United Kingdom who read William Wordsworth's poem, "Daffodils" in 2004.[9]
Etymology and logo
The company is named after Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Its logo is a rock skipping across a pond.
Filmography
| Films | Release date | Co-produced with |
|---|---|---|
| Ghosts of the Abyss | April 11, 2003 | co-production with Walt Disney Pictures, Earthship Productions, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Golden Village, Telepool and UGC PH |
| Holes | April 18, 2003 | co-production with Walt Disney Pictures, Phoenix Pictures and Chicago Pacific Entertainment |
| Around the World in 80 Days | June 16, 2004 | co-production with Walt Disney Pictures, Spanknyce Films, and Mostow/Lieberman Productions |
| I Am David | December 3, 2004 | co-production with Lionsgate and Film and General |
| Because of Winn-Dixie | February 18, 2005 | co-production with 20th Century Fox |
| Aliens of the Deep | January 28, 2005 | co-production with Walt Disney Pictures and Earthship Productions |
| The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | December 9, 2005 | co-production with Walt Disney Pictures |
| Hoot | May 5, 2006 | co-produced by New Line Cinema and The Kennedy/Marshall Company |
| How to Eat Fried Worms | August 25, 2006 | co-production with New Line Cinema and Gran Via Productions |
| Charlotte's Web | December 15, 2006 | co-production with Paramount Pictures, The K Entertainment Company, and Nickelodeon Movies |
| Bridge to Terabithia | February 16, 2007 | co-production with Walt Disney Pictures |
| The Seeker: The Dark is Rising | October 5, 2007 | co-production with 20th Century Fox |
| Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium | November 16, 2007 | co-production with 20th Century Fox, Mandate Pictures and FilmColony |
| The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep | December 25, 2007 | co-production with Columbia Pictures, Revolution Studios, Strike Entertainment, Ecosse Films, Weta Workshop and Beacon Pictures |
| Nim's Island | April 4, 2008 | co-production with 20th Century Fox |
| The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian | May 16, 2008 | co-production with Walt Disney Pictures |
| Journey to the Center of the Earth | July 11, 2008 | co-production with New Line Cinema |
| City of Ember | October 10, 2008 | co-production with 20th Century Fox and Playtone |
| Bandslam | August 14, 2009 | co-produced by Summit Entertainment |
| Tooth Fairy | January 22, 2010 | co-production with 20th Century Fox, Mayhem Pictures, Blumhouse Productions and Dune Entertainment |
| Ramona and Beezus | July 23, 2010 | co-production with 20th Century Fox, Di Novi Pictures and Dune Entertainment |
| Waiting for "Superman" | September 24, 2010 | co-production with Paramount Vantage and Participant Media |
| The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader | December 10, 2010 | co-production with 20th Century Fox and Dune Entertainment |
| Journey 2: The Mysterious Island | February 10, 2012 | co-production with Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema and Contrafilm |
| Tooth Fairy 2 | March 6, 2012 | co-production with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment |
| Won't Back Down | September 28, 2012 | co-production with 20th Century Fox and Gran Via Productions |
| Chasing Mavericks | October 26, 2012 | co-production with 20th Century Fox |
| Parental Guidance | December 25, 2012 | co-production with 20th Century Fox, Chernin Entertainment, Face Productions and Dune Entertainment |
| Return to Nim's Island | March 15, 2013 | co-production with ARC Entertainment |
| The Giver | August 15, 2014 | co-production with The Weinstein Company |
| Everest | September 18, 2015 | co-production with Universal Pictures, Cross Creek Pictures, and Working Title Films |
| The BFG | July 1, 2016 | co-production with Walt Disney Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Reliance Entertainment and The Kennedy/Marshall Company |
| The Resurrection of Gavin Stone | January 20, 2017 | co-production with Blumhouse Tilt, WWE Studios, and Vertical Church Films |
| A Dog's Purpose | January 27, 2017 | co-production with Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Reliance Entertainment, and Pariah Entertainment Group |
Upcoming
- Wonder (2017) (co-production with Lionsgate, Participant Media, and Mandeville Films)
- The Star (2017) (co-production with Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Affirm Films, Franklin Entertainment, and The Jim Henson Company)[10]
- Santa Is Real (TBA) (co-production with New Regency)[11]
- Flat Stanley (TBA) (co-production with 20th Century Fox) [12]
Published books
- The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John
- Mike Lupica's Comeback Kid Book Series: Two-Minute Drill by Mike Lupica
- Mike Lupica's Comeback Kid Book Series: Hot Hand by Mike Lupica
- Paddywhack Lane by Bob Fuller
- Jim Thorpe: Original All American by Joseph Bruchac
- Simon Bloom, the Gravity Keeper by Michael Reisman
- Savvy by Ingrid Law
- Dolphin Song by Lauren St. John
- Mike Lupica's Comeback Kid Book Series: Safe at Home by Mike Lupica
References
- ^ "Who we are". Walden Media
- ^ Jensen, Jeff. "The Family Business". Entertainment Weekly, 28 April 2006: 58–61.
- ^ Berkowitz, Bill. "The movie, the media, and the conservative politics of Philip Anschutz". Media Transparency, 2 December 2005.
- ^ Between Hollywood and Godlywood: the Case of Walden Media by Nathalie Dupont, Peter Lang, 2015
- ^ "Fox Filmed Entertainment and Walden Media Enter into Joint Venture to Market and Release Films for the Family Audience". Walden Media press release.
- ^ Jen Yamato. "Layoffs Hit 'Chronicles Of Narnia' Producer Walden Media - Deadline". Deadline.
- ^ ""Our Company"]. Walden Media [http://www.walden.com corporate site".
{{cite web}}: External link in|title= - ^ Deahl, Rachel. "Walden Media Works to Make Moviegoers Readers". Publishers Weekly, 16 January 2006.
- ^ Toomey, Shamus. "I've Never Broken a World Record". Chicago Sun-Times, 14 December 2006.
- ^ "The Star - Official Site - Sony Pictures".
- ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (October 9, 2014). "'Santa Is Real' Musical Lands 'Perks Of A Wallflower' Helmer Stephen Chbosky". Deadline.
- ^ Tatiana Siegel (July 3, 2014). "Fox's 'Flat Stanley' Movie Gets New Writers, Director (Exclusive)". Retrieved December 25, 2016.