Former American film production
Good Machine Productions was an American
independent
film production ,
film distribution , and foreign sales company started in the early 1990 by its co-founders and producers,
Ted Hope and
James Schamus .
David Linde joined as a partner in the late 1990s and also started the international sales company Good Machine International.
[1] They sold the company to
Universal Pictures ,
[2] where it was then merged with
USA Films and
Universal Focus to create
Focus Features .
[3] Hope, along with the heads of production development and business affairs (
Anthony Bregman ,
Anne Carey , and Diana Victor) then went on to form the independent production company
This Is That Productions . Schamus and Linde became co-presidents of Focus Features.
[4]
In 2001, the
Museum of Modern Art celebrated the tenth anniversary of Good Machine's work, commemorating their support of international and domestic filmmakers.
[5]
Background
Good Machine was involved in production and/or distribution of a number of films, including
Ang Lee 's
The Ice Storm and
Ride with the Devil ;
Hal Hartley
[6] projects such as
Flirt (1995),
[7]
Edward Burns 's
The Brothers McMullen and
Todd Solondz 's
Happiness .
[8]
History
Launched in 1990 from a small loft space in lower Manhattan by writer/producer/Columbia professor
James Schamus and his partner,
Ted Hope , Good Machine produced many important independent films over the years, among them
Safe (Todd Haynes, 1995) and
The Wedding Banquet (Ang Lee, 1993). The company survived by doing line producing for hire and keeping overhead costs low. Many films were commercially successful thanks to centrist marketing strategies. David Linde joining in 1997 and creating the foreign sales company gave Schamus, Hope and Linde greater control of Good Machine's products, increased financing sources, and provided information about what people in the marketplace wanted.
[9] In 1997, it was announced that Good Machine would become the foreign sales agent of films produced and distributed by
October Films , in order to acquire worldwide rights of the films.
[10] In 1998, it struck a deal with
Universal .
[11] Previously, the company had a one-time production deal with
20th Century Fox , which was signed in 1996.
[12] It was dismantled in 2002, when it merged with Focus Features.
[13]
Disbandment
In 2003, Good Machine was acquired by
Universal Pictures .
[14] James Schamus and David Linde remained with Universal, serving as co-presidents of
Focus Features .
[15]
Ted Hope chose to part with the company to form the
This is that Corporation
[16] (This Is That Productions) with Good Machine Director of Development
Anne Carey , Director of Production
Anthony Bregman , and Director of Business Affairs Diana Victor. Under the This Is That banner they produced films such as
Adventureland ,
The Savages , and
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind .
[17]
Filmography
The Hours and Times (1991) — US distribution
Keep It for Yourself (1991) — coproduced with Allarts
Pushing Hands (1991) ― coproduced with Central Motion Pictures
Simple Men (1992) — coproduced with
Fine Line Features
The Wedding Banquet (1993) ― coproduced with Central Motion Pictures
Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) ― coproduced with Central Motion Pictures
What Happened Was (1994) — coproduced with
Genre Films
The Brothers McMullen (1995) – coproduced with Videography Prods.
Flirt (1995)
Safe (1995) — coproduced with
American Playhouse and
Channel Four Films
She's the One (1996) — coproduced with Marlboro Road Gang Productions and South Fork Pictures
Walking and Talking (1996) — coproduced with
Channel Four Films ,
Zenith Productions ,
Pandora Film ,
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment , Makido Films (France), Electric, and TEAM Communications Group
The Ice Storm (1997)
The Myth of Fingerprints (1997) —
Sony Pictures Classics
Office Killer (1997) — coproduced with Strand, Kardana/Swinsky Films, and Good Fear
Happiness (1998) — Good Machine Releasing
No Looking Back (1998) — coproduced with
Polygram Filmed Entertainment Group , Marlboro Road Gang, and South Fork Pictures
Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (1998) — Good Machine International
The Lifestyle (1999) — coproduced with Swinging T Productions
Ride with the Devil (1999) — coproduced with
USA Films
Trick (1999) — coproduced with
Fine Line Features
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) — Good Machine International; coproduced with Asian Union Film & Entertainment,
China Film Co-Productions Corporation ,
Sony Pictures Classics ,
Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia , Edko Films, and Zoom Hunt Productions
The Tao of Steve (2000) —
Sony Pictures Classics
Buffalo Soldiers (2001) — coproduced with
FilmFour ,
Grosvenor Park Productions , and
Odeon Film
Human Nature (2001) — co-produced with
StudioCanal
In the Bedroom (2001) — coproduced with Eastern Standard Film Company and GreeneStreet Films
Lovely & Amazing (2001) — coproduced with Blow Up Pictures
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) — coproduced with
Working Title Films ,
Gramercy Pictures ,
Mike Zoss Productions , and
Constantin Film
Storytelling (2001) — coproduced with
Killer Films and
New Line Cinema
Y Tu Mamá También (2001) — Good Machine International
Adaptation (2002) — coproduced with
Columbia Pictures ,
Intermedia , and
Propaganda Films
The Laramie Project (2002) — coproduced with
HBO Films
American Splendor (2003) — coproduced with
Dark Horse Entertainment , and
HBO Films
Hulk (2003) — coproduced with
Marvel Enterprises , and
Valhalla Motion Pictures
References
^ McClintock, Pamela (9 September 2011).
"James Schamus' Life on the Film Festival Circuit" . The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 September 2011 .
^ Verrier, Richard (2002-05-03).
"Universal Studios to Acquire Good Machine" . Los Angeles Times .
ISSN
0458-3035 . Retrieved 2017-10-30 .
^
"Universal buys Good Machine and merges it with USA Films" . Screen . Retrieved 2017-10-30 .
^ Anderson, Ariston (11 May 2016).
"Locarno Film Fest to Honor Producer David Linde" . The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 May 2016 .
^
"Museum of Modern Art celebrates Good Machine's 10th anniversary," The Advocate (FEBRUARY 13 2001).
^
"Good Machine [us]" . IMDb . Retrieved 2017-10-30 .
^ Macnab, Geoffrey (2013). FilmCraft. Producing . Swart, Sharon. Burlington, MA: Focal Press.
ISBN
978-0240823744 .
OCLC
859154290 .
^
"Good Machine [us]" . IMDb . Retrieved 2017-10-30 .
^ Hopewell, John (5 August 2016).
"David Linde Talks About His Career, China, the Future of Film at Locarno" . Variety. Retrieved 5 August 2016 .
^
"October Machine-ready" . Variety . 1997-07-31. Retrieved 2022-01-01 .
^ Petrikin, Chris (1998-08-27).
"U tools deal with Good Machine" . Variety . Retrieved 2021-06-14 .
^ Roman, Monica (1997-05-08).
"MACHINE FOR HIRE" . Variety . Retrieved 2022-01-01 .
^ Harris, Dana; DiOrio, Carl (2002-05-03).
"Good Machine buy alters Focus at U" . Variety . Retrieved 2021-06-14 .
^ Verrier, Richard.
"Universal Studios to Acquire Good Machine," Los Angeles Times (MAY 3, 2002).
^ Anderson, Ariston (11 May 2016).
"Locarno Film Fest to Honor Producer David Linde" . The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 May 2016 .
^ Macaulay, Scott.
"Indie Film is Alive,"
Filmmaker Magazine (Sep. 14, 2017).
^ Pond, Steve.
"Ted Hope, Anne Carey Shut Doors, Stay in Business," The Wrap (Sept. 28, 2010).
External links