Sony Pictures Animation has set a first look producing deal with The Gotham Group to supply four-quadrant family films -- the first SPA has made.
The Gotham Group is a leading creator-driven management and production firms in the entertainment industry. Ellen Goldsmith-Vein is the founder and CEO of the company, which represents directors, writers, authors, actors, illustrators, publishing houses and comic book companies. The Gotham Group's clients include Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, HarperCollins Children's Books (U.S. and U.K.), Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt, Dark Horse Ent., SAF Comics, Bloomsbury Children's Books USA/Walker & Co., and Simon Spotlight Ent.
"Ellen Goldsmith-Vein has impeccable taste in material and phenomenal talent relationships," said Bob Osher, president of Sony Pictures Digital Productions. "With her client base and Gotham's association with the top publishers, we are excited to team with Ellen and her team to find original stories, characters and talent."
"Since I joined Sony Pictures Animation, Ellen has been a true ally in discovering new talent and original material," said Hannah Minghella, president of production for Sony Pictures Animation. "We see this relationship as a vital part of our continuing design to make Sony Pictures Animation a home for creative talent and formalizes what has already been a significant creative relationship."
The Gotham Group's first major producing effort, THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, was released in February of this year to critical praise and has grossed over $200 million worldwide.
Gotham is currently in production on DEAD SPACE, an animated feature for Starz! Media, and 3D CGI large format film QUANTUM QUEST, the first film ever initiated by NASA/JPL. The Gotham Group recently announced a partnership with the Chungnan Techno Park, Chungam province of South Korea, and several South Korean corporations in an unprecedented public-private partnership, to form an animation fund totaling more than $300 million for the purpose of financing, producing and distributing six to eight animated and live action/animated hybrid feature films.
SPA is working on CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS as well as a direct-to-video OPEN SEASON sequel.
