Walden Media
Divisions | Walden Pond Press |
---|---|
Website | walden |
Walden Media, LLC or Walden Media is an American independent studio that develops, produces and finances feature films and television series for the U.S. and global markets. Its films focus on stories of courage drawn from biographies, historical events, and literature adaptations, as well as original screenplays. The company has also produced feature documentaries.
The corporate headquarters of Walden Media are located in
Walden Media operates Walden Pond Press, a joint venture with HarperCollins, which publishes middle grade books.[2]
Company history
Walden Media was formed 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 books.
In late 2001, Anschutz Entertainment Group purchased a majority stake in the company, leaving the founders as minority shareholders.[3]
On August 9, 2006, Walden Media announced they had entered into a joint-venture partnership with
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.[9]
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.[10]
In April 2023, Benjamin Tappen, a former EPIX executive, was named President of Production for Walden, overseeing the company's film and television development and production.[11]
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.[12]
Walden Media offers in-class teaching tools like educational guides and teacher kits[13] 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.[14]
Filmography
Type of film | |
---|---|
A | Animated film |
H | Live-action and animated film |
L | Live-action film |
D | Documentary film |
Feature films
Title | Release date | Co-production(s) | Distributor(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
D | Ghosts of the Abyss | April 11, 2003 | Earthship Productions Ascot Elite Entertainment Group Golden Village Telepool and UGC PH |
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Summit Entertainment |
L | Holes | April 18, 2003 | Chicago Pacific Entertainment
| |
L | Around the World in 80 Days | June 16, 2004 | Spanknyce Films Mostow/Lieberman Productions | |
L | I Am David | December 3, 2004 | Film and General | Lions Gate Films
Summit Entertainment |
D | Aliens of the Deep | January 28, 2005 | Walt Disney Pictures Earthship Productions |
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
|
L | Because of Winn-Dixie | February 18, 2005 | N/A | 20th Century Fox
|
L | The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | December 9, 2005 | Walt Disney Pictures | Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
|
L | Hoot | May 5, 2006 | The Kennedy/Marshall Company | New Line Cinema |
L | How to Eat Fried Worms | August 25, 2006 | Gran Via Productions | |
L | Charlotte's Web | December 15, 2006 | The K Entertainment Company Nickelodeon Movies |
Paramount Pictures |
L | Bridge to Terabithia | February 16, 2007 | N/A | Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Summit Entertainment |
L | The Seeker: The Dark is Rising | October 5, 2007 | 20th Century Fox (Fox-Walden)
| |
L | Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium | November 16, 2007 | Mandate Pictures | 20th Century Fox (Fox-Walden)
Mandate Pictures |
L | The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep
|
December 25, 2007 | Weta Workshop
Beacon Pictures |
Sony Pictures Releasing
|
L | Nim's Island | April 4, 2008 | N/A | 20th Century Fox (Fox-Walden) Universal Pictures Summit Entertainment |
L | The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian | May 16, 2008 | Walt Disney Pictures | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
L | Journey to the Center of the Earth | July 11, 2008 | N/A | New Line Cinema |
L | City of Ember | October 10, 2008 | Playtone | 20th Century Fox (Fox-Walden)
Summit Entertainment |
L | Bandslam | August 14, 2009 | N/A | Summit Entertainment |
L | Tooth Fairy | January 22, 2010 | Dune Entertainment
|
20th Century Fox
|
L | Ramona and Beezus | July 23, 2010 | Dune Entertainment
| |
D | Waiting for "Superman" | September 24, 2010 | Participant Media
|
Paramount Vantage |
L | The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader | December 10, 2010 | Dune Entertainment
|
20th Century Fox
|
L | Journey 2: The Mysterious Island | February 10, 2012 | Contrafilm
|
Warner Bros. Pictures |
L | Tooth Fairy 2 | March 6, 2012 | N/A | 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
|
L | Won't Back Down | September 28, 2012 | Gran Via Productions
|
20th Century Fox
|
L | Chasing Mavericks | October 26, 2012 | N/A | |
L | Parental Guidance | December 25, 2012 | Dune Entertainment
| |
L | Return to Nim's Island | March 15, 2013 | ARC Entertainment | Hallmark Channel |
L | Dear Dumb Diary | September 6, 2013 | ARC Entertainment Zucker Productions Triple D Productions | |
L | The Giver | August 15, 2014 | N/A | The Weinstein Company |
L | Everest | September 18, 2015 | Cross Creek Pictures Working Title Films |
Universal Pictures |
L | The BFG | July 1, 2016 | Walt Disney Pictures Amblin Entertainment Reliance Entertainment The Kennedy/Marshall Company |
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Reliance Entertainment Mister Smith Entertainment |
L | The Resurrection of Gavin Stone | January 20, 2017 | Blumhouse Tilt Vertical Church Films |
BH Tilt
|
L | A Dog's Purpose | January 27, 2017 | Universal Pictures Amblin Entertainment Reliance Entertainment Pariah Entertainment Group |
Universal Pictures Reliance Entertainment Mister Smith Entertainment |
L | Wonder | November 17, 2017 | Participant Media
Mandeville Films |
Lionsgate |
A | The Star | Sony Pictures Releasing
| ||
L | A Dog's Journey | May 17, 2019 | Universal Pictures Amblin Entertainment Reliance Entertainment Pariah Entertainment Group
|
Universal Pictures Reliance Entertainment Mister Smith Entertainment |
H | Dora and the Lost City of Gold | August 9, 2019 | Burr! Productions
|
Paramount Pictures |
L | Playing with Fire | November 8, 2019 | Paramount Players Nickelodeon Movies Broken Road Productions | |
L | A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting | October 15, 2020 | The Montecito Picture Company | Netflix |
L | Finch | November 5, 2021 | Amblin Entertainment Reliance Entertainment ImageMovers Misher Films |
Apple TV+ |
A | Rumble | December 15, 2021 | Reel FX Animation Studios
|
Paramount+ |
Television series
Title | Years | Network | Co-production(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Baby-Sitters Club | 2020-2021 | Netflix | co-production with Terrible Baby Productions, Paulilu, and Michael De Luca Productions | [16][17] |
Manhunt | 2024 | Apple TV+ | co-production with Apple Studios, Lionsgate Television, Dovetale Productions, POV Entertainment, Monarch Pictures and 3 Arts Entertainment | [18] |
Etymology and logo
The company is named after Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Its logo is a stone skipping across a pond.
References
- ^ Berkowitz, Bill. "The movie, the media, and the conservative politics of Philip Anschutz". Media Transparency, 2 December 2005.
- ^ HarperCollins Children's Imprints
- ^ a b c d e Eller, Claudia (November 14, 2008). "Granat out at Walden Media". LA Times Blogs - Company Town. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
- ^ a b Jensen, Jeff. "The Family Business". Entertainment Weekly, 28 April 2006: 58–61.
- ^ Between Hollywood and Godlywood: the Case of Walden Media by Nathalie Dupont, Peter Lang, 2015
- ^ Staff, M. W. (9 August 2006). "Walden Media and Fox Filmed Entertainment Partner Up". MovieWeb. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ Borys Kit (17 May 2007). "Fox Walden puts four on calendar". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ Gallagher, Brian (2 October 2008). "Fox Walden Is No More". MovieWeb. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "Walden Media partners with HarperCollins". Los Angeles Times. 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2019-08-22.
- ^ "Walden Media - Home".
- ^ "Walden Media Hires Benjamin Tappan as President of Production". Variety. 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ "Our Company". Walden Media. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved February 1, 2007.
- ^ Deahl, Rachel. "Walden Media Works to Make Moviegoers Readers". Publishers Weekly, 16 January 2006.
- ^ Toomey, Shamus. "I've Never Broken a World Record". Chicago Sun-Times, 14 December 2006.
- ^ "The Star - Official Site - Sony Pictures".
- ^ "Netflix's 'Baby-Sitters Club' Adaptation Gets Premiere Date - Watch First Teaser Here (Video)". TheWrap. 2020-05-08. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ Charm, Neil (2 July 2020). "Netflix's adaptation of The Baby-Sitters Club aims at homebound families | BusinessWorld". Retrieved 2020-10-01.
- ^ 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.