Alchemy (formerly Millennium Entertainment ) was an American independent global
film distributor based in
Los Angeles, California . The company acquired and distributed feature films, television series and specialty programming.
[1]
History
Millennium Entertainment was 60% owned by production company
Nu Image .
Exclusive Media Group owned 20% and Prentice Capital owned the remaining stock.
[2] Following its formation in 2010, the company marked its first noteworthy theatrical release in 2011 with
Trust , starring Academy Award nominees
Clive Owen ,
Catherine Keener , and
Viola Davis .
[3] Alchemy owns and operates
[1] a film library consisting of over 1,000 titles, including Paris , Je’TAime ,
Transsiberian , and
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , as well as the recent titles
Elephant White , starring
Djimon Hounsou and
Kevin Bacon ;
Shadows and Lies , starring
James Franco ; and Blitz , starring
Jason Statham .
Millennium Entertainment logo
Television series released by Alchemy include
The Cosby Show ,
Baywatch , and
A Different World .
First Look Studios originally released all eight seasons of The Cosby Show , A Different World , and other shows on DVD, but they eventually filed bankruptcy in 2010.
[4]
[5] Millennium Entertainment acquired all of First Look Studios’ assets, and continued to release them in the
United States ,
Canada ,
Bermuda , and other
U.S. Territories .
[6] In April 2013, it was announced that Millennium Entertainment would be sold, and an investment company, Salem Partners, would assist in the sale.
[2] In August 2014 the company's library and distribution assets had been sold to a consortium consisting of its current management and Virgo Investment Group. The new owners renamed the company Alchemy in January 2015, finally cutting ties to its former sister company
Millennium Films .
[7]
In July 2015 Alchemy acquired the film distribution assets of ANconnect and the digital film and television distributor Anderson Digital, both divisions of Anderson Media Corporation.
[8] The transaction will result in the addition of 40 new employees to the existent 70 and expand the company's catalogue to over 1,300 films and 3,000 TV episodes.
[9] In December 2015 Bill Lee exited the company as CEO.
[10]
Bankruptcy
In February 2016 Alchemy laid off 40 employees, equaling 40% of the company's entire staff.
[11]
[12] due to liquidity issues.
[13] The company began selling off previously acquired films including
The Lobster ,
[14]
Free Fire ,
[15]
Mia Madre ,
[16]
31
[17] and
Evolution .
[18] The Lobster and Free Fire were purchased by
A24 , while Madre was sold to
Music Box Films , 31 to
Saban Films and Evolution to
IFC Midnight .
[19]
[20]
[21]
[22]
[23] The last of their acquisitions,
Zeroville , wasn't released until 2019.
[24]
Alchemy filed for
Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 30, 2016.
[25] All employees were released following the bankruptcy.
[26]
[27]
Alchemy's remaining film library is currently owned by
FilmRise .
Releases
TV series
Animated
Films
Distributed lines
References
^
a
b
"Millennium Entertainment Company Profile" . Millennium Entertainment . Archived from
the original on 19 May 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013 .
^
a
b
Millennium On The Block; Salem Partners To Handle Sale Of Distribution Unit.
Deadline Hollywood (April 22, 2013).
^
"Trust" . Millennium Films . Archived from
the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ Ofgang, Kenneth.
"Court Revives Suit Over Profits From Ving Rhames Movie" . Metropolitan News-Enterprise. Retrieved 5 March 2013 .
^
"FIRST LOOK MEDIA INC (FIRST:OTC US): Stock Quote & Company Profile - Businessweek" . Businessweek . Bloomberg. Archived from
the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013 .
^
"First Look Studios Acquired by Millennium Entertainment" . Blu-ray.com . Retrieved 5 March 2013 .
^
"Millennium Entertainment Picks a Name: Alchemy" . 8 January 2015.
^
The Wrap: "Alchemy Acquires ANconnect and Anderson Digital, Creates Alliance With ARC Entertainment" By Tim Kenneally July 13, 2015
^
Hollywood Reporter: "Alchemy Acquires ANconnect, Anderson Digital and Signs Pact With ARC Entertainment" July 13, 2015
^ Galuppo, Mia (December 7, 2015).
"Bill Lee Abruptly Exits as Alchemy CEO" . TheHollywoodReporter.com. Retrieved February 18, 2016 .
^ McNary, Dave (February 17, 2016).
"Indie Distributor Alchemy Hit With 40 Layoffs" . Variety.com. Retrieved February 18, 2016 .
^ Brooks, Brian; D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 16, 2016).
"Alchemy Faces Financial Woes, Slashes Staff & Uncovers "Discrepancies Within Parts Of Its Businesses" " .
Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 18, 2016 .
^
IndieWire: "How the DVD Business Is Destroying Alchemy" By Eric Kohn February 17, 2016
^ McNary, Dave; Seetoodeh, Ramin (May 19, 2015).
"Cannes: 'The Lobster' Selling to Alchemy (EXCLUSIVE)" .
Variety . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ Fleming, Mike Jr.; Jaffar, Ali (November 12, 2015).
"Alchemy Closes Deal For Ben Wheatley's White-Hot 'Free Fire' – AFM" .
Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 19, 2015).
"Alchemy Takes U.S. Rights To Nanni Moretti's 'Mia Madre' – Cannes" .
Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 1, 2015).
"Alchemy Acquires Rights To Rob Zombie-Directed '31' " .
Deadline . Retrieved March 15, 2022 .
^ Hipes, Patrick (August 13, 2015).
" 'Evolution', Toronto-Bound Horror Pic, Acquired By Alchemy; 'Somali Project' Docks At Vladar Co" . Deadline . Retrieved March 15, 2022 .
^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 1, 2016).
"A24 Postpones 'The Lobster' Theatrical Release – Update" .
Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 10, 2016).
"A24 Scoops Up Brie Larson Action Thriller 'Free Fire' In Wake Of Alchemy Financial Turmoil" .
Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 19, 2016).
"Music Box Rescues Nanni Moretti's 'Mia Madre' From Alchemy" .
Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ Hipes, Patrick; D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 24, 2016).
"Rob Zombie's '31' Acquired By Saban Films For September Release" . Yahoo! Finance . Retrieved March 15, 2022 .
^ Erbland, Kate (March 23, 2016).
"IFC Midnight Picks Up Former Alchemy Feature 'Evolution' " .
IndieWire . Retrieved March 15, 2022 .
^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 1, 2019).
"James Franco's Delayed 'Zeroville' Saved By myCinema; Distrib's Slate Includes Julian Fellowes' 'The Chaperone' – CinemaCon" . Deadline . Retrieved March 15, 2022 .
^
"Alchemy Files For Chapter 7-Names Long List of Creditors" . Deadline Hollywood . 7 July 2016.
^
"Alchemy" . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^ McNary, Dave (July 7, 2016).
"Alchemy Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Protection" .
Variety . Retrieved August 7, 2016 .
^
"Millennium Entertainment TV Shows" . DVD Empire.com . Right Ascension, Inc. Retrieved 5 March 2013 .
External links