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Virtual Studios

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Virtual Studios, LLC
TypePrivate limited company
IndustryEntertainment
Founded1986; 37 years ago (1986)
FoundersTibor Hernadí,
Benjamin Waisbren
Defunct2009; 14 years ago (2009)
FateClosed
Headquarters
Key people
Tibor Hernadí
ProductsMotion pictures
ServicesFilm financing,
Film production,
Film distribution,
Film development

Virtual Studios LLC was an American film financier, distributor and production studio based in The United States of America.

History

Establishment and early years

Virtual Studios was founded by film directors and producers Tibor Hernadí and Benjamin Waisbren in 1986 as a film financier and media company. The funding was backed by Hedge fund, Pacific Title, and Stark Investments.

Film industry

The companies first film production and financing credits were the comedy-romance film Duane Hopwood and the dystopian political thriller film V for Vendetta in 2005. In 2006 they signed a deal to produce and finance films in association with Warner Bros.[1] Their next films (Poseidon, V for Vendetta, The Good German and 300) were all distributed by Warner Bros. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford was their last film they co-produced for Warner Bros. and the deal was signed off. Their last film was Bangkok Dangerous and the company was left dormant after the film became a box-office flop.

Virtual Films

Virtual Studios started a film distribution company called Virtual Films in early 2006. The company was short-lived and only lasted a year, and it was shut down in 2007. First Born was the only film Virtual Films distributed.

Discover more about History related topics

Benjamin Waisbren

Benjamin Waisbren

Benjamin Waisbren is an American film producer, who co-founded Virtual Studios in 1986, a studio that was a film financier, distribution and production company, he worked for the company until 2008, it was closed in 2009

Hedge fund

Hedge fund

A hedge fund is a pooled investment fund that trades in relatively liquid assets and is able to make extensive use of more complex trading, portfolio-construction, and risk management techniques in an attempt to improve performance, such as short selling, leverage, and derivatives. Financial regulators generally restrict hedge fund marketing to institutional investors, high net worth individuals, and accredited investors.

Duane Hopwood

Duane Hopwood

Duane Hopwood is a 2005 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Matt Mulhern, and starring David Schwimmer, Janeane Garofalo, Judah Friedlander, John Krasinski and Steve Schirripa. After being featured in the Sundance Film Festival in January 2005, it later had a limited theatrical release in November 2005. The film's plot centers on the title character (Schwimmer), an alcoholic whose life is spiraling downward rapidly after his divorce from Linda (Garofalo).

V for Vendetta (film)

V for Vendetta (film)

V for Vendetta is a 2005 dystopian political action film directed by James McTeigue from a screenplay by the Wachowskis. It is based on the 1988 DC Vertigo Comics limited series of the same title by Alan Moore, David Lloyd, and Tony Weare. The film, set in a future where a fascist totalitarian regime has subjugated the UK, centres on V, an anarchist and masked freedom-fighter who attempts to ignite a revolution through elaborate terrorist acts, and on Evey Hammond a young woman caught up in V's mission. Stephen Rea portrays a detective leading a desperate quest to stop V.

Warner Bros.

Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. Founded in 1923 by four brothers, Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner, the company established itself as a leader in the American film industry before diversifying into animation, television, and video games, and is one of the "Big Five" major American film studios, as well as a member of the Motion Picture Association (MPA).

Poseidon (film)

Poseidon (film)

Poseidon is a 2006 American action disaster film directed and co-produced by Wolfgang Petersen. It is the third film adaptation of Paul Gallico's 1969 novel The Poseidon Adventure, and a loose remake of the 1972 film of the same name. It stars Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas and Richard Dreyfuss with Emmy Rossum, Jacinda Barrett, Mike Vogel, Jimmy Bennett, and Andre Braugher in supporting roles. It was produced and distributed by Warner Bros. in association with Virtual Studios. It had a simultaneous release in IMAX format. It was released on May 12, 2006, and nominated at the 79th Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects. It grossed $181 million worldwide on a budget of $160 million; however, after the costs of promotion and distribution, it lost around $77 million for the studio.

The Good German

The Good German

The Good German is a 2006 American neo-noir crime film. A film adaptation of Joseph Kanon's 2001 novel of the same name, it was directed by Steven Soderbergh, and stars George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, and Tobey Maguire. Set in Berlin following the Allied victory over the Nazis, it begins as a murder mystery but weaves in elements involving the American postwar employment of Nazi rocket scientists in Operation Paperclip.

300 (film)

300 (film)

300 is a 2006 American epic historical action film loosely based on the 1998 comic series of the same name by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley. Both are fictionalized retellings of the Battle of Thermopylae in the Greco-Persian Wars. The film was co-written and directed by Zack Snyder, while Miller served as executive producer and consultant. It was filmed mostly with a superimposition chroma key technique to replicate the imagery of the original comic book. The plot revolves around King Leonidas, who leads 300 Spartans into battle against the Persian "God-King" Xerxes and his invading army of more than 300,000 soldiers. As the battle rages, Queen Gorgo attempts to rally support in Sparta for her husband.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a 2007 American epic revisionist Western film written and directed by Andrew Dominik and starring Brad Pitt as Jesse James. Adapted from Ron Hansen's 1983 novel of the same title, the film dramatizes the relationship between Jesse James and Robert Ford, focusing on the events that lead up to the titular killing.

Bangkok Dangerous (2008 film)

Bangkok Dangerous (2008 film)

Bangkok Dangerous is a 2008 American action thriller film written and directed by the Pang Brothers, and starring Nicolas Cage. It is a remake of the Pangs' 1999 debut Bangkok Dangerous, a Thai film, for which Cage's production company, Saturn Films, purchased the remake rights.

Closure

Virtual Studios ultimately closed in 2009 after being dormant for a year due to Hernadí and Waisbrein leaving the company to pursue other ventures.

Films

Release date Film title Notes
November 11, 2005 Duane Hopwood distributed by IFC Films; co-produced by Big Beach; first Virtual Studios film
March 17, 2006 V For Vendetta

distributed and produced by Warner Bros.; co-produced by Silver Pictures Anarchos Productions Inc., Vertigo, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and Fünfte Babelsberg Film GmbH.

May 12, 2006 Poseidon

distributed by Warner Bros.; co-produced by, Irwin Allen Productions, Next Entertainment, Radiance Productions and Synthesis Entertainment.

December 8, 2006 Blood Diamond distributed by Warner Bros.; co-produced by Bedford Falls Productions and Initial Entertainment Group
December 15, 2006 The Good German distributed by Warner Bros.; co-produced by Section 8
March 9, 2007 300 distributed by Warner Bros.; co-produced by Legendary Pictures, Atmosphere Pictures and Hollywood Gang Productions
March 20, 2007 First Born
April 26, 2007 Gardener of Eden co-produced by Appian Way Productions
April 27, 2007 Next distributed by Paramount Pictures; co-produced by Revolution Studios, Initial Entertainment Group and Saturn Films
June 15, 2007 Nancy Drew distributed by Warner Bros.; co-produced by Jerry Weintraub Productions
September 21, 2007 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford distributed by Warner Bros.; co-produced by Scott Free Productions and Plan B Entertainment
January 18, 2008 Cassandra's Dream distributed by StudioCanal Limited overseas while The Weinstein Company handled the US Distribution rights; co-produced by The Wild Bunch
September 5, 2008 Bangkok Dangerous distributed by Lionsgate; co-produced by Saturn Films and Blue Star Entertainment; final Virtual Studios film

Discover more about Films related topics

Duane Hopwood

Duane Hopwood

Duane Hopwood is a 2005 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Matt Mulhern, and starring David Schwimmer, Janeane Garofalo, Judah Friedlander, John Krasinski and Steve Schirripa. After being featured in the Sundance Film Festival in January 2005, it later had a limited theatrical release in November 2005. The film's plot centers on the title character (Schwimmer), an alcoholic whose life is spiraling downward rapidly after his divorce from Linda (Garofalo).

IFC Films

IFC Films

IFC Films is an American film production and distribution company based in New York. It is an offshoot of IFC owned by AMC Networks. It distributes mainly independent films under its own name, select foreign films and documentaries under its Sundance Selects label and genre films under its IFC Midnight label. It operates the IFC Center.

Big Beach (company)

Big Beach (company)

Big Beach is an American independent production company founded in 2004 by Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf, based in New York City. It is best known for their lower-budget comedy-drama films, including the 2006 film Little Miss Sunshine.

V for Vendetta (film)

V for Vendetta (film)

V for Vendetta is a 2005 dystopian political action film directed by James McTeigue from a screenplay by the Wachowskis. It is based on the 1988 DC Vertigo Comics limited series of the same title by Alan Moore, David Lloyd, and Tony Weare. The film, set in a future where a fascist totalitarian regime has subjugated the UK, centres on V, an anarchist and masked freedom-fighter who attempts to ignite a revolution through elaborate terrorist acts, and on Evey Hammond a young woman caught up in V's mission. Stephen Rea portrays a detective leading a desperate quest to stop V.

Warner Bros.

Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. Founded in 1923 by four brothers, Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner, the company established itself as a leader in the American film industry before diversifying into animation, television, and video games, and is one of the "Big Five" major American film studios, as well as a member of the Motion Picture Association (MPA).

Silver Pictures

Silver Pictures

Silver Pictures is an American film production company founded by Hollywood producer Joel Silver in 1980.

Poseidon (film)

Poseidon (film)

Poseidon is a 2006 American action disaster film directed and co-produced by Wolfgang Petersen. It is the third film adaptation of Paul Gallico's 1969 novel The Poseidon Adventure, and a loose remake of the 1972 film of the same name. It stars Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas and Richard Dreyfuss with Emmy Rossum, Jacinda Barrett, Mike Vogel, Jimmy Bennett, and Andre Braugher in supporting roles. It was produced and distributed by Warner Bros. in association with Virtual Studios. It had a simultaneous release in IMAX format. It was released on May 12, 2006, and nominated at the 79th Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects. It grossed $181 million worldwide on a budget of $160 million; however, after the costs of promotion and distribution, it lost around $77 million for the studio.

Blood Diamond

Blood Diamond

Blood Diamond is a 2006 American political action thriller film directed and co-produced by Edward Zwick and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, and Djimon Hounsou. The title refers to blood diamonds, which are diamonds mined in war zones and sold to finance conflicts, and thereby profit warlords and diamond companies around the world.

Bedford Falls Productions

Bedford Falls Productions

Bedford Falls Productions is the production company of Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, the creators of the television series Thirtysomething and Once and Again, and producers of Legends of the Fall and Blood Diamond. The company is also known for producing the series My So-Called Life, and the Academy Award-winning films Shakespeare in Love and Traffic.

The Good German

The Good German

The Good German is a 2006 American neo-noir crime film. A film adaptation of Joseph Kanon's 2001 novel of the same name, it was directed by Steven Soderbergh, and stars George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, and Tobey Maguire. Set in Berlin following the Allied victory over the Nazis, it begins as a murder mystery but weaves in elements involving the American postwar employment of Nazi rocket scientists in Operation Paperclip.

Section Eight Productions

Section Eight Productions

Section Eight Productions, or just Section Eight, was an American film production company founded in 2000 by film director Steven Soderbergh and actor/director George Clooney. It produced the critical hits Far from Heaven, Insomnia, Syriana, A Scanner Darkly and Michael Clayton, as well as Clooney-directed films Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Good Night, and Good Luck. In 2005, Syriana and Good Night, and Good Luck picked up eight Oscars nominations between them. With Soderbergh citing a desire to focus on directing, and Clooney forming production company Smokehouse Pictures with Grant Heslov, the two decided to shut down Section Eight at the end of 2006.

300 (film)

300 (film)

300 is a 2006 American epic historical action film loosely based on the 1998 comic series of the same name by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley. Both are fictionalized retellings of the Battle of Thermopylae in the Greco-Persian Wars. The film was co-written and directed by Zack Snyder, while Miller served as executive producer and consultant. It was filmed mostly with a superimposition chroma key technique to replicate the imagery of the original comic book. The plot revolves around King Leonidas, who leads 300 Spartans into battle against the Persian "God-King" Xerxes and his invading army of more than 300,000 soldiers. As the battle rages, Queen Gorgo attempts to rally support in Sparta for her husband.

Source: "Virtual Studios", Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, (2023, February 5th), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Studios.

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References
  1. ^ Kay, Jeremy. "Warner Bros taps Virtual Studios to co-finance six titles". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 2021-04-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)


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