Walden Media
 Logo used since 2003 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film Television |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Micheal Flaherty Cary Granat |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | Frank Smith (president & CEO) Benjamin Tappan (president of production) |
| Parent | Anschutz Entertainment Group (2001–present) |
| Divisions | Walden Pond Press |
| Website | walden |
Walden Media, LLC is an American independent studio that develops, produces and finances feature films and television series for the U.S. and global markets. Its films focus on stories of courage drawn from biographies, historical events, and literature adaptations, as well as original screenplays. The company has also produced feature documentaries.
The corporate headquarters of Walden Media are located in Los Angeles, California. 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."[1]
The company's notable releases include Holes in 2003, Because of Winn-Dixie in 2005,[2] Charlotte's Web in 2006, Bridge to Terabithia, in 2007, three adaptations of The Chronicles of Narnia in 2005, 2008 and 2010, Ramona and Beezus in 2010, and both A Dog's Purpose and Wonder in 2017.[3] All of these films are adaptations of popular books. Walden Media operates Walden Pond Press, a joint venture with HarperCollins, which publishes middle grade books.[4]
History
[edit]Walden Media was founded in 2000 by Micheal Flaherty and Cary Granat as a movie, television, publishing and Internet enterprise whose goal is to teach and entertain kids.[5] Granat was president of Miramax's Dimension Films division,[5][2] and Flaherty came from the world of education. The two were housemates at Tufts University before following different paths, and later reunited to form the company. The company's formation was officially announced in May 2001.[6][7] During the summer of 2001, Walden entered into their first film deals; with Phoenix Pictures to finance and co-produce Holes, an adaption of the children's book of the same name, in July[8] and with director James Cameron to distribute his documentary Ghosts of the Abyss, focusing on the remains of the RMS Titanic, in August.[9] In December, Walden announced that they had acquired the rights to produce films based on The Chronicles of Narnia.[10] In late 2001, Anschutz Entertainment Group purchased a majority stake in the company, leaving the founders as minority shareholders.[5]
In February 2002, Walden entered into a partnership with Summit Entertainment who would pre-sell their films internationally.[11] In October, Walden entered into a two-year first-look agreement with Walt Disney Pictures following their acquisition of the distribution rights to Ghosts of the Abyss in North America and the United Kingdom, and Holes in a majority of territories.[12] Walden's first film, Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey, was released theatrically that same month.[13]
In July 2004, Walden signed a five-picture production and deal with 20th Century Fox.[14]
On August 9, 2006, Walden Media announced an extension to their partnership with Fox Filmed Entertainment, which would release education-themed family-friendly pictures that would be released under G or PG ratings. All films would be released under the 20th Century Fox banner.[15] The company, now named "Fox-Walden", announced the release of its first four films in May 2007.[16]
In March 2008, Michael Bostick, formerly of Imagine Films, was hired as creative officer. Cary Granat was released from his co-CEO title effective December 1, 2008, with Bostick replacing him.[5] Walden Media created a joint publishing venture with HarperCollins during the same year called Walden Pond Press.[17] On October 2, 2008, it was announced that Fox-Walden would reduce its staff and cease operations as a standalone company, being folded into 20th Century Fox as a division. This was after all the films released under the venture had flopped at the box office in North America. The downsizing of Fox-Walden did not affect the partnership between both Fox and Walden Media and they would still release family-friendly movies together under the Fox-Walden banner.[18][5]
Frank Smith was named CEO in 2013 after working with the company for ten years. Prior to joining the Anschutz Film Group, Smith worked at New Line Cinema/Fine Line Features.[19]
In April 2023, Benjamin Tappan, a former EPIX executive, was named President of Production for Walden, overseeing the company's film and television development and production.[20]
Education program
[edit]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.[21]
Walden Media offers in-class teaching tools like educational guides and teacher kits[22] and sponsors seminars and forums for teachers to discuss their practice and to share 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.[23]
Filmography
[edit]| Type of film | |
|---|---|
| A | Animated film |
| H | Live-action and animated film |
| L | Live-action film |
| D | Documentary film |
Feature films
[edit]Television series
[edit]| Title | Years | Network | Co-production(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Baby-Sitters Club | 2020–2021 | Netflix | co-production with Terrible Baby Productions, Paulilu, and Michael De Luca Productions | [26][27] |
| Manhunt | 2024 | Apple TV+ | co-production with Apple Studios, Lionsgate Television, Dovetale Productions, POV Entertainment, Monarch Pictures and 3 Arts Entertainment | [28] |
| Upcoming | ||||
| Holes | TBA | Disney+ | co-production with 20th Television and Goddard Textiles | [29] |
Etymology and logo
[edit]The company is named after Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Its logo is a stone skipping across a pond.
References
[edit]- ^ Berkowitz, Bill. "The movie, the media, and the conservative politics of Philip Anschutz". Media Transparency, 2 December 2005.
- ^ a b Jensen, Jeff. "The Family Business". Entertainment Weekly, 28 April 2006: 58–61.
- ^ Between Hollywood and Godlywood: the Case of Walden Media by Nathalie Dupont, Peter Lang, 2015
- ^ HarperCollins Children's Imprints
- ^ a b c d e Eller, Claudia (November 14, 2008). "Granat out at Walden Media". LA Times Blogs - Company Town. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
- ^ https://www.screendaily.com/granat-anschutz-become-classroom-mates/405643.article
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20021018004054fw_/http://www.walden.com/press/articles/bloomberg050701.html
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20020206022136fw_/http://www.walden.com/press/articles/hollywoodReporter072701.html
- ^ https://www.screendaily.com/james-cameron-is-going-back-to-titanic/406547.article
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20020118165505fw_/http://www.walden.com/press/articles/walden120601.html
- ^ Poirier, Agnes (April 25, 2003). "Ghosts of the Abyss". Screen International. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20030405202515fw_/http://www.walden.com/press/articles/variety100102.html
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20021218180859fw_/http://www.walden.com/press/articles/associatedPress101702.html
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20040724223144/http://www.walden.com/about/news/walden_07_12_04.jsp
- ^ Staff, M. W. (August 9, 2006). "Walden Media and Fox Filmed Entertainment Partner Up". MovieWeb. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ Borys Kit (May 17, 2007). "Fox Walden puts four on calendar". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ "Walden Media partners with HarperCollins". Los Angeles Times. May 13, 2008. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
- ^ Gallagher, Brian (October 2, 2008). "Fox Walden Is No More". MovieWeb. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ "Walden Media - Home".
- ^ "Walden Media Hires Benjamin Tappan as President of Production". Variety. April 18, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ "Our Company". Walden Media. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved February 1, 2007.
- ^ 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".
- ^ Grobar, Matt (December 7, 2023). "Russell Crowe, Rami Malek & Michael Shannon Set For James Vanderbilt's Historical Drama Nuremberg". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ "Netflix's 'Baby-Sitters Club' Adaptation Gets Premiere Date - Watch First Teaser Here (Video)". TheWrap. May 8, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ^ Charm, Neil (July 2, 2020). "Netflix's adaptation of The Baby-Sitters Club aims at homebound families | BusinessWorld". BusinessWorld. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 30, 2022). "Apple's Lincoln Assassination Limited Series Manhunt Finds Its Dr. Mudd In Matt Walsh". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (January 7, 2025). "'Holes' TV Series Picked Up to Pilot by Disney+ (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- American animation studios
- Film production companies of the United States
- Film distributors of the United States
- Walden Media films
- American companies established in 2000
- Entertainment companies based in California
- Companies based in Los Angeles
- Entertainment companies established in 2000
- 2000 establishments in California
- Anschutz Corporation