Industry veterans Amanda Sherwin, Mike Messina and Seth Needle are teaming as much as launch Blue Harbor Entertainment, a brand new distribution, advertising and consulting firm. The information comes because the American Film Market kicks off this week in Santa Monica the place the executives can be on the bottom searching for companions. Blue Harbor is seeking to distribute 10 to fifteen function movie releases per 12 months, in addition to present advisory companies to 3rd events. The trio are at the moment negotiating a number of offers.  

“Blue Harbor provides an alternative path for filmmakers — the opportunity to hire their distributor, and work with them, collaboratively and transparently, to bring their films to audiences,” mentioned Needle. “Whether that’s something they decide once they have a completed picture, during the packaging stage or somewhere in between, we are here to help them craft a strategy for success.”

Blue Harbor Entertainment says it would provide advertising and distribution companies, overseeing a film’s rollout throughout theatrical, residence leisure and digital streaming platforms, in addition to arranging its tv offers. In return it would cost a service payment. The objective is to assist filmmakers discover a higher method to self-distribute their films. Every 12 months, a number of films hit the pageant circuit seeking to promote themselves to a distributor, however the actuality is that many fail to safe a deal in a well timed vogue or must accept an association that isn’t terribly worthwhile.

“There’s been a lot of consolidation in the distribution space and that means fewer deals,” says Needle. “And the ones being offered aren’t that favorable. Something has to be wildly successful for most filmmakers to see any upside.”

Needle famous that many distribution offers tie up the rights to a film for 25 to 30 years, the place as Blue Harbor will solely come on for a number of years.

“A lot of these films deserve to get out there and they were having a tough time doing it,” says Sherwin.

The firm expects to start releasing movies in early 2024.

“A lot of filmmakers are frustrated, and they’re like, ‘There’s got to be another option,’” says Messina. “And that’s what we provide. It won’t be an option for everybody, but for many filmmakers it’s a really compelling solution to the challenges that we’ve seen in the market.”

Sherwin, Messina and Needle have collectively labored on lots of of releases. The trio most just lately served in high govt roles at Screen Media.  Their current successes embody Rod Lurie’s critically acclaimed function movie “The Outpost,” which hit the highest spot on a number of VOD platforms after its 2020 launch; the Nicolas Cage thriller “Willy’s Wonderland”; and the award-winning documentary “Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street,” which premiered on the Sundance Film Festival.

“We were able to establish a lot of filmmaker relationships and this allows us to work more closely with this talent,” says Sherwin.

Sherwin most just lately served as senior VP of selling at Screen Media working the campaigns for greater than 20 releases yearly. Prior to that function, Sherwin consulted for PBS Distribution and managed theatrical service supplier Paladin, overseeing the releases on an array of movies from the hit “What We Do in the Shadows” to the Oscar-nominated documentary “For Sama.” Sherwin started her profession at CFP, a precursor to Lionsgate, the place she later assumed the function of Vice President of Marketing. She then went on to assist begin AssumeFilm, the place she served as SVP of selling and distribution.

Messina has labored in impartial movie for greater than 25 years. In his current function as exec VP of distribution at Screen Media, he oversaw the distribution, advertising, and gross sales of greater than 100 films. Previously, Messina spearheaded impartial movie distribution and acquisitions at Starz and managed international streaming gross sales of Starz Original Series, together with “Spartacus” and “Power.” He was additionally a senior govt at New Amsterdam Entertainment, the place his producing credit included “Dawn of the Dead.” 

Needle beforehand served as exec VP of worldwide acquisitions and co-productions at Screen Media for the previous 12 years. During his tenure, he was answerable for high-profile acquisitions like “The Outpost,” Terry Gilliam’s “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote,” and “Stephen King’s A Good Marriage,” which King penned himself. He additionally established strategic enterprise relationships with Focus Features, Starz, Roadside Attractions, and extra. In addition, Needle oversaw all content material licensing for the corporate’s streaming platforms that included Crackle, Popcornflix, and Redbox. Prior to Screen Media, Needle labored within the acquisitions division at Lionsgate and within the analysis division at Marketcast.