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Formerly | Millennium Entertainment |
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Company type | Private |
Industry | Film, home entertainment, distribution |
Predecessor | First Look Studios |
Founded | 2010 |
Defunct | June 30, 2016 |
Fate | Chapter 7 bankruptcy |
Successor | FilmRise |
Headquarters | |
Products | Independent theatrical films, DVD, Blu-ray |
Website | www![]() |
Alchemy (formerly Millennium Entertainment) was an American independent global film distributor based in Los Angeles, California. The company acquired and distributed feature films, television series and specialty programming.[1]
History
[edit]Millennium Entertainment was 60% owned by production company Nu Image. Exclusive Media Group owned 20% and Prentice Capital owned the remaining stock.[2] Following its formation in 2010, the company marked its first noteworthy theatrical release in 2011 with Trust, starring Academy Award nominees Clive Owen, Catherine Keener, and Viola Davis.[3] Alchemy owns and operates[1] a film library consisting of over 1,000 titles, including Paris, Je’TAime, Transsiberian, and Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, as well as the recent titles Elephant White, starring Djimon Hounsou and Kevin Bacon; Shadows and Lies, starring James Franco; and Blitz, starring Jason Statham.
![](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d9/Millennium_Entertainment.png/150px-Millennium_Entertainment.png)
Television series released by Alchemy include The Cosby Show, Baywatch, and A Different World. First Look Studios originally released all eight seasons of The Cosby Show, A Different World, and other shows on DVD, but they eventually filed bankruptcy in 2010.[4][5] Millennium Entertainment acquired all of First Look Studios’ assets, and continued to release them in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and other U.S. Territories.[6] In April 2013, it was announced that Millennium Entertainment would be sold, and an investment company, Salem Partners, would assist in the sale.[2] In August 2014 the company's library and distribution assets had been sold to a consortium consisting of its current management and Virgo Investment Group. The new owners renamed the company Alchemy in January 2015, finally cutting ties to its former sister company Millennium Films.[7]
In July 2015 Alchemy acquired the film distribution assets of ANconnect and the digital film and television distributor Anderson Digital, both divisions of Anderson Media Corporation.[8] The transaction will result in the addition of 40 new employees to the existent 70 and expand the company's catalogue to over 1,300 films and 3,000 TV episodes.[9] In December 2015 Bill Lee exited the company as CEO.[10]
Bankruptcy
[edit]In February 2016 Alchemy laid off 40 employees, equaling 40% of the company's entire staff.[11][12] due to liquidity issues.[13] The company began selling off previously acquired films including The Lobster,[14] Free Fire,[15] Mia Madre,[16] 31[17] and Evolution.[18] The Lobster and Free Fire were purchased by A24, while Madre was sold to Music Box Films, 31 to Saban Films and Evolution to IFC Midnight.[19][20][21][22][23] The last of their acquisitions, Zeroville, wasn't released until 2019.[24]
Alchemy filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 30, 2016.[25] All employees were released following the bankruptcy.[26][27]
Alchemy's remaining film library is currently owned by FilmRise.
Releases
[edit]TV series
[edit]- Bethenny Ever After
- Baywatch
- The Cosby Show
- A Different World[28]
- Flipping Out
- Guy's Big Bite
- Hell's Kitchen
- The Invisible Man
- Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List
- McMillan & Wife
- Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles
- The Millionaire Matchmaker
- Pregnant In Heels
- The Rachel Zoe Project
- Tabatha Takes Over
- Unsolved Mysteries
Animated
[edit]Films
[edit]- Alpha Males Experiment
- Are You Here
- The Babymakers
- Bernie
- Blitz
- Buck Wild
- Control
- Dead Awake
- Dead Sushi
- The Elephant in the Living Room
- Elephant White
- Elsa & Fred
- Faces in the Crowd
- Fake
- High Road
- Hisss
- The Iceman
- Intruders
- Laddaland
- Life of a King
- Linklater
- The Liquidator
- Little Birds
- A Little Bit of Heaven
- Love
- Moonwalkers
- The Nocturnal
- Persecuted
- Playing Dirty
- Puncture
- Rampart
- Red Lights
- Rob the Mob
- The Runner
- Sacrifice
- Shadows and Lies
- Skin Traffik
- So Undercover
- Spiders
- Stolen
- Straight A's
- Strangerland
- Stuck in Love
- Survivor
- The Taking of Deborah Logan
- Trespass
- Trust
- The Ultimate Yogi
- Upside Down
- The Wedding Weekend
- Welcome to Me
- What Maisie Knew
- It's Alive
Distributed lines
[edit]- UFC Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Video Asia
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Millennium Entertainment Company Profile". Millennium Entertainment. Archived from the original on 19 May 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ^ a b Millennium On The Block; Salem Partners To Handle Sale Of Distribution Unit. Deadline Hollywood (April 22, 2013).
- ^ "Trust". Millennium Films. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
- ^ Ofgang, Kenneth. "Court Revives Suit Over Profits From Ving Rhames Movie". Metropolitan News-Enterprise. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ^ "FIRST LOOK MEDIA INC (FIRST:OTC US): Stock Quote & Company Profile - Businessweek". Businessweek. Bloomberg. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ^ "First Look Studios Acquired by Millennium Entertainment". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ^ "Millennium Entertainment Picks a Name: Alchemy". 8 January 2015.
- ^ The Wrap: "Alchemy Acquires ANconnect and Anderson Digital, Creates Alliance With ARC Entertainment" By Tim Kenneally July 13, 2015
- ^ Hollywood Reporter: "Alchemy Acquires ANconnect, Anderson Digital and Signs Pact With ARC Entertainment" July 13, 2015
- ^ Galuppo, Mia (December 7, 2015). "Bill Lee Abruptly Exits as Alchemy CEO". TheHollywoodReporter.com. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
- ^ McNary, Dave (February 17, 2016). "Indie Distributor Alchemy Hit With 40 Layoffs". Variety.com. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
- ^ Brooks, Brian; D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 16, 2016). "Alchemy Faces Financial Woes, Slashes Staff & Uncovers "Discrepancies Within Parts Of Its Businesses"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
- ^ IndieWire: "How the DVD Business Is Destroying Alchemy" By Eric Kohn February 17, 2016
- ^ McNary, Dave; Seetoodeh, Ramin (May 19, 2015). "Cannes: 'The Lobster' Selling to Alchemy (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr.; Jaffar, Ali (November 12, 2015). "Alchemy Closes Deal For Ben Wheatley's White-Hot 'Free Fire' – AFM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 19, 2015). "Alchemy Takes U.S. Rights To Nanni Moretti's 'Mia Madre' – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 1, 2015). "Alchemy Acquires Rights To Rob Zombie-Directed '31'". Deadline. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (August 13, 2015). "'Evolution', Toronto-Bound Horror Pic, Acquired By Alchemy; 'Somali Project' Docks At Vladar Co". Deadline. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 1, 2016). "A24 Postpones 'The Lobster' Theatrical Release – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 10, 2016). "A24 Scoops Up Brie Larson Action Thriller 'Free Fire' In Wake Of Alchemy Financial Turmoil". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 19, 2016). "Music Box Rescues Nanni Moretti's 'Mia Madre' From Alchemy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick; D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 24, 2016). "Rob Zombie's '31' Acquired By Saban Films For September Release". Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ Erbland, Kate (March 23, 2016). "IFC Midnight Picks Up Former Alchemy Feature 'Evolution'". IndieWire. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 1, 2019). "James Franco's Delayed 'Zeroville' Saved By myCinema; Distrib's Slate Includes Julian Fellowes' 'The Chaperone' – CinemaCon". Deadline. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ "Alchemy Files For Chapter 7-Names Long List of Creditors". Deadline Hollywood. 7 July 2016.
- ^ "Alchemy". Retrieved August 7, 2016.
- ^ McNary, Dave (July 7, 2016). "Alchemy Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Protection". Variety. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
- ^ "Millennium Entertainment TV Shows". DVD Empire.com. Right Ascension, Inc. Retrieved 5 March 2013.