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Walden Media

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Walden Media, LLC
TypeFilm Financing
Publishing Company
IndustryFilm
Founded2000; 23 years ago (2000)
FounderMicheal Flaherty
Cary Granat
Headquarters
Key people
Frank Smith
(President & CEO)
Naia Cucukov
(EVP, Development & Production)
OwnerAnschutz Entertainment Group
DivisionsWalden Pond Press
Websitewalden.com

Walden Media, LLC or Walden Media is an American film investor, distributor, and publishing company founded in 2000 by Micheal Flaherty and Cary Granat. Its films are based on children's literature, biographies or historical events, as well as documentaries and some original screenplays.

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]

Walden Media operates Walden Pond Press, a joint venture with HarperCollins, which publishes middle grade books.[2]

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Micheal Flaherty (educator)

Micheal Flaherty (educator)

Micheal Flaherty is the co-founder and former president of Walden Media, a production company which focuses on films that entertain and educate. Through Walden, he has developed educational materials and programs that incite enthusiasm in the classroom and connect learning to entertainment.

Cary Granat

Cary Granat

Cary Granat is an American film producer and studio executive. He is best known for co-founding and serving as CEO for Walden Media from 2000 to 2009 and acting as president and COO of Miramax Films’ Dimension Division from 1995 to 2000. While at Walden Media, Granat secured the rights to C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series and oversaw production on the successful first film of the franchise, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Granat's other films include Scream, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Scary Movie, Amazing Grace, and Spy Kids.

Philip Anschutz

Philip Anschutz

Philip Frederick Anschutz is an American billionaire businessman who owns or controls companies in a variety of industries, including energy, railroads, real estate, sports, newspapers, movies, theaters, arenas and music. In 2004, he purchased the parent company of the Journal Newspapers, which under Anschutz's direction became the American conservative editorial newspaper Washington Examiner.

Walden Pond Press

Walden Pond Press

Walden Pond Press, established in 2008, is the co-publishing venture of film production company Walden Media and book publisher HarperCollins. The venture operates as an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books and its logo, a skipping stone on Walden Pond, is derivative of the Walden Media logo.

HarperCollins

HarperCollins

HarperCollins Publishers LLC is one of the Big Five English-language publishing companies, alongside Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Macmillan. The company is headquartered in New York City and is a subsidiary of News Corp. The name is a combination of several publishing firm names: Harper & Row, an American publishing company acquired in 1987—whose own name was the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company—together with Scottish publishing company William Collins, Sons, acquired in 1989.

Company history

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.[3] Granat was president of Miramax's Dimension Films division,[3][4] 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 notable releases include Holes in 2003, Because of Winn-Dixie in 2005,[4] 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.[5] All of these films are adaptations of popular children's books.

In late 2001, Anschutz Entertainment Group purchased a majority stake in the company, leaving the founders as minority shareholders.[3]

Walden Media signed a marketing partnership with 20th Century Fox in 2006 under the Fox Walden name. Several movies flopped under the partnership, so in October 2008, Fox Walden reduced its staffing.[3]

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.[3] Walden Media created a joint publishing venture with HarperCollins during the same year called Walden Pond Press.[6]

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.[7]

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Micheal Flaherty (educator)

Micheal Flaherty (educator)

Micheal Flaherty is the co-founder and former president of Walden Media, a production company which focuses on films that entertain and educate. Through Walden, he has developed educational materials and programs that incite enthusiasm in the classroom and connect learning to entertainment.

Cary Granat

Cary Granat

Cary Granat is an American film producer and studio executive. He is best known for co-founding and serving as CEO for Walden Media from 2000 to 2009 and acting as president and COO of Miramax Films’ Dimension Division from 1995 to 2000. While at Walden Media, Granat secured the rights to C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series and oversaw production on the successful first film of the franchise, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Granat's other films include Scream, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Scary Movie, Amazing Grace, and Spy Kids.

Dimension Films

Dimension Films

Dimension Films is an American film production company owned by Lantern Entertainment. It was formerly used as Harvey and Bob Weinstein's label within Miramax, which was acquired by The Walt Disney Company on June 30, 1993, to produce and release independent films and genre titles, specifically horror and science fiction films.

Holes (film)

Holes (film)

Holes is a 2003 American neo-Western comedy-drama film directed by Andrew Davis and written by Louis Sachar, based on his novel of the same name, originally published in August 1998. The film stars Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight, Patricia Arquette, Tim Blake Nelson and Shia LaBeouf.

Because of Winn-Dixie (film)

Because of Winn-Dixie (film)

Because of Winn-Dixie is a 2005 family film based on Kate DiCamillo's 2000 novel of the same name, with the screenplay written by Joan Singleton, produced by Trevor Albert and directed by Wayne Wang. It was produced by Walden Media and released by 20th Century Fox. It stars AnnaSophia Robb, Jeff Daniels, Cicely Tyson, Luke Benward, Dave Matthews, Eva Marie Saint, Courtney Jines, B.J. Hopper, Nick Price, Elle Fanning, Harland Williams, and John McConnell. It premiered at the USA Film Festival on January 26, 2005 and was theatrically released on February 18, 2005. It received mixed reviews from critics and earned $33.5 million against a production budget of $14 million. It was released on DVD and VHS on August 9, 2005, by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Charlotte's Web (2006 film)

Charlotte's Web (2006 film)

Charlotte's Web is a 2006 American fantasy comedy-drama film based on the 1952 novel of the same name by E. B. White. Directed by Gary Winick and written by Susannah Grant and Karey Kirkpatrick, it is the second film adaptation of White's book, and a live-action/CGI remake of the 1973 animated version produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The film stars Dakota Fanning, Kevin Anderson, and Beau Bridges, with voices provided by Dominic Scott Kay, Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey, Thomas Haden Church, André Benjamin, Cedric the Entertainer, Kathy Bates, Reba McEntire, and Robert Redford. Danny Elfman composed the film's score.

Bridge to Terabithia (2007 film)

Bridge to Terabithia (2007 film)

Bridge to Terabithia is a 2007 American fantasy drama film directed by Gábor Csupó and written by David L. Paterson and Jeff Stockwell. It is based on the 1977 novel of the same name by Katherine Paterson. The film stars Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Bailee Madison, Zooey Deschanel, and Robert Patrick. Its plot follows two 11-year-old friends who create a fantasy world called "Terabithia" to cope with reality and spend their free time together.

A Dog's Purpose (film)

A Dog's Purpose (film)

A Dog's Purpose is a 2017 American psychological comedy-drama adventure film directed by Lasse Hallström and written by W. Bruce Cameron, Cathryn Michon, Audrey Wells, Maya Forbes, and Wally Wolodarsky, based on the 2010 novel of the same name by W. Bruce Cameron. The film stars Britt Robertson, KJ Apa, Juliet Rylance, John Ortiz, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Peggy Lipton, Dennis Quaid, and Josh Gad. The first film from the novel covers themes of loyalty, grief, dysfunctional family, and reincarnation from one lifetime to another.

Anschutz Entertainment Group

Anschutz Entertainment Group

The Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), also known as AEG Worldwide, is an American global sporting and music entertainment presenter and a subsidiary of The Anschutz Corporation. It is the world's largest owner of sports teams and sports events. Under the AEG Presents brand, it is the world's second-largest presenter of live music and entertainment events, after Live Nation. AEG Presents was founded in 2002 as AEG Live.

HarperCollins

HarperCollins

HarperCollins Publishers LLC is one of the Big Five English-language publishing companies, alongside Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Macmillan. The company is headquartered in New York City and is a subsidiary of News Corp. The name is a combination of several publishing firm names: Harper & Row, an American publishing company acquired in 1987—whose own name was the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company—together with Scottish publishing company William Collins, Sons, acquired in 1989.

Frank H. Smith

Frank H. Smith

Frank H. Smith is an American media executive and producer, and current President and Chief Executive officer at Anschutz Film Group (AFG) and Walden Media. He is a former Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at New Line Cinema and Fine Line Features.

Fine Line Features

Fine Line Features

Fine Line Features was the specialty films division of New Line Cinema. From 1991 to 2005, under founder and president Ira Deutchman, Fine Line acquired, distributed and marketed films of a more "indie" flavor than its parent company, including such critically acclaimed films as Hoop Dreams, The Player, Short Cuts, Night on Earth, Spanking the Monkey, Shine, My Own Private Idaho, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle. In 2005, New Line teamed up with fellow Time Warner subsidiary HBO to form Picturehouse, a new specialty film label into which Fine Line was folded into.

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.[8]

Walden Media offers in-class teaching tools like educational guides and teacher kits[9] 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.[10]

Filmography

Key to the colors used below
Type of film
A Animated film
H Live-action and animated film
L Live-action film
D Documentary film

Feature films

Title Release date
L Holes April 18, 2003 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures, Phoenix Pictures and Chicago Pacific Entertainment
L Soul Plane May 28, 2004 co-production with Metro Goldwyn Mayer
L Around the World in 80 Days June 16, 2004 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures, Spanknyce Films, and Mostow/Lieberman Productions
L I Am David December 3, 2004 co-production with Lionsgate and Film and General
D Aliens of the Deep January 28, 2005 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures and Earthship Productions
L Because of Winn-Dixie February 18, 2005 co-production with 20th Century Fox
L The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe December 9, 2005 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures
L Hoot May 5, 2006 co-produced by New Line Cinema and The Kennedy/Marshall Company
L How to Eat Fried Worms August 25, 2006 co-production with New Line Cinema and Gran Via Productions
L Charlotte's Web December 15, 2006 co-production with Paramount Pictures, The K Entertainment Company, and Nickelodeon Movies
L Bridge to Terabithia February 16, 2007 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures
L The Seeker: The Dark is Rising October 5, 2007 co-production with 20th Century Fox
L Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium November 16, 2007 co-production with 20th Century Fox and Mandate Pictures
L 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 the
L Nim's Island April 4, 2008 co-production with 20th Century Fox (North America), Universal Pictures (Germany, Latin America, Spain, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand) and Summit Entertainment (International)
L The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian May 16, 2008 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures
L Journey to the Center of the Earth July 11, 2008 co-production with New Line Cinema
L City of Ember October 10, 2008 co-production with 20th Century Fox and Playtone
L Bandslam August 14, 2009 co-produced by Summit Entertainment
L Tooth Fairy January 22, 2010 co-production with 20th Century Fox, Mayhem Pictures, Blumhouse Productions and Dune Entertainment
L Ramona and Beezus July 23, 2010 co-production with 20th Century Fox, Di Novi Pictures and Dune Entertainment
D Waiting for "Superman" September 24, 2010 co-production with Paramount Vantage and Participant Media
L The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader December 10, 2010 co-production with 20th Century Fox and Dune Entertainment
L Journey 2: The Mysterious Island February 10, 2012 co-production with Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema and Contrafilm
L Tooth Fairy 2 March 6, 2012 co-production with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
L Won't Back Down September 28, 2012 co-production with 20th Century Fox and Gran Via Productions
L Chasing Mavericks October 26, 2012 co-production with 20th Century Fox
L Parental Guidance December 25, 2012 co-production with 20th Century Fox, Chernin Entertainment, Face Productions and Dune Entertainment
L Return to Nim's Island March 15, 2013 co-production with ARC Entertainment
L Dear Dumb Diary September 6, 2013 co-production with ARC Entertainment, Zucker Productions, and Triple D Productions
L The Giver August 15, 2014 co-production with The Weinstein Company
L Everest September 18, 2015 co-production with Universal Pictures, Cross Creek Pictures, and Working Title Films
L The BFG July 1, 2016 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Reliance Entertainment and The Kennedy/Marshall Company
L The Resurrection of Gavin Stone January 20, 2017 co-production with Blumhouse Tilt, WWE Studios, and Vertical Church Films
L A Dog's Purpose January 27, 2017 co-production with Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Reliance Entertainment, and Pariah Entertainment Group
L Wonder November 17, 2017 co-production with Lionsgate, Participant Media, and Mandeville Films
A The Star co-production with Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Affirm Films, Franklin Entertainment, and The Jim Henson Company[11]
L A Dog's Journey May 17, 2019 co-production with Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Reliance Entertainment, Alibaba Pictures, and Pariah Entertainment Group
H Dora and the Lost City of Gold August 9, 2019 co-production with Paramount Pictures, Paramount Players, Nickelodeon Movies, Media Rights Capital, and Burr! Productions
L Playing with Fire November 8, 2019 co-production with Paramount Pictures, Paramount Players, Nickelodeon Movies, and Broken Road Productions
L A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting October 15, 2020 co-production with The Montecito Picture Company; distributed by Netflix
L Finch November 5, 2021 co-production with Amblin Entertainment, Reliance Entertainment, ImageMovers, and Misher Films; distributed by Apple TV+
A Rumble December 15, 2021 co-production with Paramount Animation, WWE Studios, and Reel FX Animation Studios; distributed by Paramount+

Television series

Title Years Network Notes Ref.
The Baby-Sitters Club 2020-2021 Netflix co-production with Terrible Baby Productions, Paulilu, and Michael De Luca Productions [12][13]
Upcoming
Manhunt TBA Apple TV+ co-production with Apple Studios, Lionsgate Television, POV Entertainment and 3 Arts Entertainment [14]

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List of films with live action and animation

List of films with live action and animation

This is a list of films with live-action and animation, films that combine live action and animated elements, typically interacting.

Live action

Live action

Live action is a form of cinematography or videography that uses photography instead of animation. Some works combine live-action with animation to create a live-action animated film. Live-action is used to define film, video games or similar visual media. According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, live action "[involves] real people or animals, not models, or images that are drawn, or produced by computer."

Holes (film)

Holes (film)

Holes is a 2003 American neo-Western comedy-drama film directed by Andrew Davis and written by Louis Sachar, based on his novel of the same name, originally published in August 1998. The film stars Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight, Patricia Arquette, Tim Blake Nelson and Shia LaBeouf.

Around the World in 80 Days (2004 film)

Around the World in 80 Days (2004 film)

Around the World in 80 Days is a 2004 American action adventure comedy film based on Jules Verne's 1873 novel of the same name and remake of the movie of the same name of 1956. It stars Jackie Chan, Steve Coogan and Cécile de France. The film is set in the nineteenth century and centers on Phileas Fogg (Coogan), here reimagined as an eccentric inventor, and his efforts to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days. During the trip, he is accompanied by his Chinese valet, Passepartout (Chan). For comedic reasons, the film intentionally deviated wildly from the novel and included a number of anachronistic elements. With production costs of about $110 million and estimated marketing costs of $30 million, it earned $24 million at the U.S. box office and $48 million worldwide, making it a box office failure.

I Am David (film)

I Am David (film)

I Am David is a 2003 American drama film written and directed by Paul Feig in his directorial debut. It is based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Anne Holm. The film was produced by Walden Media and Lions Gate Entertainment.

Lionsgate

Lionsgate

Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation, doing business as Lionsgate, is a Canadian-American entertainment company. It was formed by Frank Giustra on July 10, 1997, domiciled in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and is currently headquartered in Santa Monica, California, United States. In addition to its flagship Lionsgate Films division, the company contains other divisions such as Lionsgate Television and Lionsgate Interactive. It owns a variety of subsidiaries such as Summit Entertainment, Debmar-Mercury, and Starz Inc.

Aliens of the Deep

Aliens of the Deep

Aliens of the Deep is a 2005 American documentary film directed in part by James Cameron alongside fellow cameraman and friend Steven Quale, and filmed in the IMAX 3D format. It was produced by Walden Media and Walt Disney Pictures. Cameron teams with NASA scientists to explore the mid-ocean ridges, submerged chains of mountains in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans that are home to some of the planet's more unusual forms of life.

Because of Winn-Dixie (film)

Because of Winn-Dixie (film)

Because of Winn-Dixie is a 2005 family film based on Kate DiCamillo's 2000 novel of the same name, with the screenplay written by Joan Singleton, produced by Trevor Albert and directed by Wayne Wang. It was produced by Walden Media and released by 20th Century Fox. It stars AnnaSophia Robb, Jeff Daniels, Cicely Tyson, Luke Benward, Dave Matthews, Eva Marie Saint, Courtney Jines, B.J. Hopper, Nick Price, Elle Fanning, Harland Williams, and John McConnell. It premiered at the USA Film Festival on January 26, 2005 and was theatrically released on February 18, 2005. It received mixed reviews from critics and earned $33.5 million against a production budget of $14 million. It was released on DVD and VHS on August 9, 2005, by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Hoot (film)

Hoot (film)

Hoot is a 2006 American family comedy film, based on Carl Hiaasen's novel of the same name. It was written and directed by Wil Shriner, and produced by New Line Cinema and Walden Media. The film stars Luke Wilson, Logan Lerman, Brie Larson, Tim Blake Nelson, Neil Flynn and Robert Wagner. Filming took place from July to September 2005 in Florida, with additional shooting in California the following January. The film was released on May 5, 2006. Hoot was a commercial failure, and received negative reviews from critics.

How to Eat Fried Worms (film)

How to Eat Fried Worms (film)

How to Eat Fried Worms is a 2006 American comedy film written and directed by Bob Dolman and produced by Mark Johnson and Philip Steuer with music by Mark Mothersbaugh and Robert Mothersbaugh. It is loosely based on Thomas Rockwell's 1973 children's book of the same name. It was also produced by Walden Media, and distributed by New Line Cinema.

Mark Johnson (producer)

Mark Johnson (producer)

Mark Johnson is an American producer. Johnson won the Academy Award for Best Picture for producing the 1988 film Rain Man.

Charlotte's Web (2006 film)

Charlotte's Web (2006 film)

Charlotte's Web is a 2006 American fantasy comedy-drama film based on the 1952 novel of the same name by E. B. White. Directed by Gary Winick and written by Susannah Grant and Karey Kirkpatrick, it is the second film adaptation of White's book, and a live-action/CGI remake of the 1973 animated version produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The film stars Dakota Fanning, Kevin Anderson, and Beau Bridges, with voices provided by Dominic Scott Kay, Julia Roberts, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey, Thomas Haden Church, André Benjamin, Cedric the Entertainer, Kathy Bates, Reba McEntire, and Robert Redford. Danny Elfman composed the film's score.

The company is named after Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Its logo is a rock skipping across a pond.

Source: "Walden Media", Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, (2023, February 28th), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walden_Media.

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References
  1. ^ Berkowitz, Bill. "The movie, the media, and the conservative politics of Philip Anschutz". Media Transparency, 2 December 2005.
  2. ^ HarperCollins Children's Imprints
  3. ^ a b c d e Eller, Claudia (November 14, 2008). "Granat out at Walden Media". LA Times Blogs - Company Town. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Jensen, Jeff. "The Family Business". Entertainment Weekly, 28 April 2006: 58–61.
  5. ^ Between Hollywood and Godlywood: the Case of Walden Media by Nathalie Dupont, Peter Lang, 2015
  6. ^ "Walden Media partners with HarperCollins". Los Angeles Times. 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  7. ^ "Walden Media - Home".
  8. ^ "Our Company". Walden Media. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved February 1, 2007.
  9. ^ Deahl, Rachel. "Walden Media Works to Make Moviegoers Readers". Publishers Weekly, 16 January 2006.
  10. ^ Toomey, Shamus. "I've Never Broken a World Record". Chicago Sun-Times, 14 December 2006.
  11. ^ "The Star - Official Site - Sony Pictures".
  12. ^ "Netflix's 'Baby-Sitters Club' Adaptation Gets Premiere Date - Watch First Teaser Here (Video)". TheWrap. 2020-05-08. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  13. ^ Charm, Neil (2 July 2020). "Netflix's adaptation of The Baby-Sitters Club aims at homebound families | BusinessWorld". Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  14. ^ 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 31 March 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
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