Caravan Pictures: Difference between revisions

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
wow
 
(39 intermediate revisions by 24 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American film production company}}
⚫
{{Infobox company
{{pp-sock|small=yes}}
⚫
| name = Caravan Pictures
{{refimprove|date=July 2021}}
| logo = Caravan Pictures (logo).png
⚫
{{Infobox company
⚫
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
⚫
| name = Caravan Pictures
⚫
| fate = Closed
| logo = Caravan_Pictures_Logo_in_Vector.svg
⚫
| successor = [[Spyglass Entertainment]] <!-- for the executive and for Disney output schedule -->
⚫
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
Roger Birnbaum Productions
⚫
| fate = Closed
Barber/Birnbaum Productions
⚫
| successor = [[Spyglass Media Group|Spyglass Entertainment]] <!-- for the executive and for Disney output schedule -->
Birnbaum/Barber Productions
⚫
| founded = {{start date and age|1992|11|17}}
Roth Films
⚫
| founders = [[Roger Birnbaum]]<br>[[Joe Roth]]
⚫
| foundation = {{start date and age|1992|11|17}}
⚫
| defunct = {{end date and age|1999}}
⚫
| founders = [[Roger Birnbaum]]<br>[[Joe Roth]]<ref name=os/>
| hq_location_city = [[Santa Monica]], [[California]]
⚫
| defunct = {{start date and age|1999}}
| hq_location_country = [[United States]]
| location = [[Santa Monica]], California, United States<ref name=vty0/><ref name=lat/>
| industry = Entertainment
| industry = Entertainment
| key_people = Roger Birnbaum (chairman, CEO)<br>[[Jonathan Glickman]] (president)<ref name=vty/>
| key_people = Roger Birnbaum (chairman, CEO)<br>[[Jonathan Glickman]] (president)
| products = [[Film]]s
| products = [[Film]]s
| num_employees = 7
| num_employees = 7
| num_employees_year = 1997<ref name=vty/>
| num_employees_year = 1997
| parent = [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|The Walt Disney Studios]]
| parent = [[Buena Vista Distribution]]<ref name=vty0/>
| footnotes = <ref name=os/><ref name=vty0/><ref name=vty/>
}}
}}


'''Caravan Pictures, Inc.''' was an American film production company at [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]], formed by [[Roger Birnbaum]] and [[Joe Roth]]. Caravan's films were distributed by [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]].
'''Caravan Pictures, Inc.''' was an American film production company at [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]], formed by [[Roger Birnbaum]] and [[Joe Roth]]. Caravan's films were distributed by [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures Distribution]].


While Disney would sign directors and talent to two- and three-picture deals, Caravan would work with talent based on the project being produced and not lock them into agreements. The production company's slate strategy was to commit to screenwriters as directors, put bankable actors in predictable roles and low-budget movies with like break through talent. The unit had greenlight authority up to $30 million with the expectation of producing 5 to 7 films a year and did not have salary caps. They also did not have its own full business and legal affairs departments,<ref name="vty0" /> and executives did not have titles until 1997.<ref name=vty/>
While Disney would sign directors and talent to two- and three-picture deals, Caravan would work with talent based on the project being produced and not lock them into agreements. The production company's slate strategy was to commit to screenwriters as directors, put bankable actors in predictable roles, and low-budget movies with like breakthrough talent. The unit had greenlight authority up to $30 million with the expectation of producing 5 to 7 films a year and did not have salary caps. They also did not have its own full business and legal affairs departments,<ref name="vty0" /> and executives did not have titles until 1997.<ref name=vty/>


==History==
==History==
Caravan Pictures was founded by [[Roger Birnbaum]] and [[Joe Roth]] as a production company at [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Disney]] in 1992 to fill the Disney Studios' then-yearly 50 to 60 production and distribution slots. Caravan was given a five-year, 25-picture agreement with greenlight authority up to $30 million and an overhead budget of $3 million, and was expected to produce 5 to 7 films per year originally. After just releasing its first picture, ''[[The Three Musketeers (1993 film)|The Three Musketeers]]'', on Christmas 1993, Caravan expected to release 10 films in 1994<ref name=lat>{{cite news|last1=Frook|first1=John Evan|title=Roth, Birnbaum flex muscles at Caravan|url=https://variety.com/1994/film/news/roth-birnbaum-flex-muscles-at-caravan-117880/|accessdate=March 19, 2015|work=Variety|date=January 30, 1994}}</ref>, which could accelerate the end of the deal in 2 1/2 years instead of 5 years.<ref name=vty0>{{cite news|last1=Frook|first1=John Evan|title=Roth, Birnbaum flex muscles at Caravan|url=https://variety.com/1994/film/news/roth-birnbaum-flex-muscles-at-caravan-117880/|accessdate=March 19, 2015|work=Variety|date=January 30, 1994}}</ref> They were able to get the adaptation of ''[[Angie (1994 film)|Angie, I Says]]'' that was in turnaround at Fox, where they have previously worked.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Eller |first1=Claudia |title=Madonna faxes Roth her wrath |url=https://variety.com/1992/film/news/madonna-faxes-roth-her-wrath-102048/ |accessdate=September 6, 2017 |work=Variety |date=December 14, 1992}}</ref> In 1993, [[Jonathan Glickman]], who came from the [[University of Southern California|USC]]'s [[Peter Stark]] Program, joined Caravan as an intern.<ref name=vty>{{cite news|last1=Cox|first1=Dan|title=Glickman new prexy at Caravan|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/glickman-new-prexy-at-caravan-1116674347/|accessdate=September 6, 2017|work=Variety|date=September 18, 1997}}</ref>
Caravan Pictures was founded by [[Roger Birnbaum]] and [[Joe Roth]] as a production company at [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Disney]] in 1992 to fill the Disney Studios' then-yearly 50 to 60 production and distribution slots. Caravan was given a five-year, 25-picture agreement with greenlight authority up to $30 million and an overhead budget of $3 million, and was expected to produce 5 to 7 films per year originally. After just releasing its first picture, ''[[The Three Musketeers (1993 film)|The Three Musketeers]]'', on Christmas 1993, Caravan expected to release 10 films in 1994, which could accelerate the end of the deal in 2 1/2 years instead of 5 years.<ref name="vty0">{{cite news|last=Frook|first=John Evan|title=Roth, Birnbaum flex muscles at Caravan|url=https://variety.com/1994/film/news/roth-birnbaum-flex-muscles-at-caravan-117880/|access-date=March 19, 2015|work=Variety|date=January 30, 1994}}</ref> They were able to get the adaptation of ''[[Angie (1994 film)|Angie, I Says]]'' that was in turnaround at Fox, where they have previously worked.<ref>{{cite news |last=Eller |first=Claudia |title=Madonna faxes Roth her wrath |url=https://variety.com/1992/film/news/madonna-faxes-roth-her-wrath-102048/ |access-date=September 6, 2017 |work=Variety |date=December 14, 1992}}</ref> In 1993, [[Jonathan Glickman]], who came from the [[University of Southern California|USC]]'s [[Peter Stark]] Program, joined Caravan as an intern.<ref name="vty">{{cite news|last=Cox|first=Dan|date=September 18, 1997|title=Glickman new prexy at Caravan|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/glickman-new-prexy-at-caravan-1116674347/|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref>


When three out of the next four films flopped at the box office, Roth promised to cover ''[[I Love Trouble (1994 film)|I Love Trouble]]'' cost overruns pegged at $15 million if it did poorly. It eventually flopped as well.<ref name="thr">{{cite news|last1=Masters|first1=Kim|title=Joe Roth's 'Third Act': From 'Gigli' to Billion-Dollar Producer and Pro Soccer Superstar|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/joe-roths-third-act-gigli-655374|accessdate=September 6, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 14, 2013|language=en}}</ref>
When three out of the next four films flopped at the box office, Roth promised to cover ''[[I Love Trouble (1994 film)|I Love Trouble]]'' cost overruns pegged at $15 million if it did poorly. It eventually flopped as well.<ref name="thr">{{cite news|last=Masters|first=Kim|title=Joe Roth's 'Third Act': From 'Gigli' to Billion-Dollar Producer and Pro Soccer Superstar|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/joe-roths-third-act-gigli-655374|access-date=September 6, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 14, 2013|language=en}}</ref>


Roth moved on to be Disney studio chief on August 24, 1994, leaving Birnbaum in charge.<ref name=os>{{cite news|title=Seasoned Performer Takes Lead Studio Role|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994-08-28/business/9408260442_1_joe-roth-caravan-pictures-morgan-creek|accessdate=19 February 2013|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=August 28, 1994|agency=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Disney CEO Michael Eisner was so set on replacing [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] as Disney studio chief with Roth that he forgave the cost overrun debt and paid Roth $40 million of fees for 21 unproduced films under the deal.<ref name="thr" />
Roth moved on to be Disney studio chief on August 24, 1994, leaving Birnbaum in charge.<ref name=os>{{cite news|title=Seasoned Performer Takes Lead Studio Role|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994-08-28/business/9408260442_1_joe-roth-caravan-pictures-morgan-creek|access-date=19 February 2013|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=August 28, 1994|agency=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Disney CEO Michael Eisner was so set on replacing [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] as Disney studio chief with Roth that he forgave the cost overrun debt and paid Roth $40 million of fees for 21 unproduced films under the deal.<ref name="thr" />


Caravan was restructured in September 1998 to expand production in quantity and to TV films. Glickman was promoted to president of Caravan at that time, which led Birnbaum to start giving out titles to executives.<ref name=vty/>
Caravan was restructured in September 1998 to expand production in quantity and television films. Glickman was promoted to president of Caravan at that time, which led Birnbaum to start giving out titles to executives.<ref name=vty/>


In August 1998, Birnbaum left Caravan to co-found [[Spyglass Entertainment]] (with [[Gary Barber]], former vice chairman and COO of [[Morgan Creek Productions]]) at Roth's prompting, in which Disney took an equity stake and signed a five-year distribution agreement. With Disney cutting its yearly production output, Roth recommended forming a self-financing production firm similar to [[Regency Enterprises|New Regency Productions]]. After Caravan's remaining three films were released, the company went inactive. Caravan's slate of movie projects and an initial financial advance of $10 million to $20 million against future overages were also contributed by Disney.<ref>Eller, Clauida (August 21, 1998). [http://articles.latimes.com/1998/aug/21/business/fi-15109 Spyglass Offers Disney Lower-Risk Deals]. Los Angeles Times. Accessed on March 18, 2015.</ref>
In August 1998, Birnbaum left Caravan to co-found [[Spyglass Entertainment]] (with [[Gary Barber]], former vice chairman and COO of [[Morgan Creek Productions]]) at Roth's prompting, in which Disney took an equity stake and signed a five-year distribution agreement. With Disney cutting its yearly production output, Roth recommended forming a self-financing production firm similar to [[Regency Enterprises|New Regency Productions]]. After Caravan's remaining three films were released, the company went inactive. The final production credited to Caravan is the 1999 Disney film ''[[Inspector Gadget (film)|Inspector Gadget]]''; on a rather ironic note, if not a brief moment of foreshadowing, the Caravan logo at the end of the film shows the man walking as usual before sprouting a propeller from his hat ''á la'' Gadget and flying away offscreen, never to be seen again. Caravan's slate of movie projects and an initial financial advance of $10 million to $20 million against future overages were also contributed by Disney.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Eller|first=Clauida|date=1998-08-21|title=Spyglass Offers Disney Lower-Risk Deals|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-aug-21-fi-15109-story.html|access-date=2015-03-18|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref>


==List of notable Caravan Pictures films==
==List of notable Caravan Pictures films==
Line 42: Line 43:
!Release Date
!Release Date
!Disney label released as
!Disney label released as
!Notes
!Budget
!Budget
!Gross
!Gross
|-
|-
|''[[The Three Musketeers (1993 film)|The Three Musketeers]]''<ref name=lat/><ref name=vty0/>
|''[[The Three Musketeers (1993 film)|The Three Musketeers]]''<ref name=vty0/>
|November 12, 1993
|November 12, 1993
|[[Walt Disney Pictures]]
|[[Walt Disney Pictures]]
|co-production with [[Jon Avnet|Avnet]]-[[Jordan Kerner|Kerner]] Productions; first film
|$17 million
|$17 million
|$53,898,845
|$53,898,845
Line 54: Line 57:
|March 4, 1994
|March 4, 1994
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
|co-production with Morra-[[Larry Brezner|Brezner]]-Steinberg-[[Stephen Tenenbaum|Tenenbaum]] Productions
|$26 million
|$26 million
|$9,398,308
|$9,398,308
Line 60: Line 64:
|June 29, 1994
|June 29, 1994
|[[Touchstone Pictures]]
|[[Touchstone Pictures]]
|co-production with [[Nancy Meyers]]/[[Charles Shyer]] Productions
|$45 million
|$45 million
|$61,947,267
|$61,947,267
Line 65: Line 70:
|''[[Angels in the Outfield (1994 film)|Angels in the Outfield]]''<ref name="thr" />
|''[[Angels in the Outfield (1994 film)|Angels in the Outfield]]''<ref name="thr" />
|July 15, 1994
|July 15, 1994
|Walt Disney Pictures
|[[Walt Disney Pictures]]
⚫
|
|$24 million
|$24 million
|$50,236,831
|$50,236,831
Line 71: Line 77:
|''[[A Low Down Dirty Shame]]''
|''[[A Low Down Dirty Shame]]''
|November 23, 1994
|November 23, 1994
|Hollywood Pictures
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
|
|$10 million
|$10 million
|$29,392,418
|$29,392,418
Line 77: Line 84:
|''[[Houseguest]]''
|''[[Houseguest]]''
|January 6, 1995
|January 6, 1995
|Hollywood Pictures
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
|
|$10.5 million
|$10.5 million
|$26,325,256
|$26,325,256
Line 83: Line 91:
|''[[The Jerky Boys: The Movie]]''
|''[[The Jerky Boys: The Movie]]''
|February 3, 1995
|February 3, 1995
|Touchstone Pictures
|[[Touchstone Pictures]]
|
|$8 million
|$8 million
|$7,555,256
|$7,555,256
Line 89: Line 98:
|''[[Heavyweights]]''
|''[[Heavyweights]]''
|February 17, 1995
|February 17, 1995
|Walt Disney Pictures
|[[Walt Disney Pictures]]
|
|
|
|$17,689,177
|$17,689,177
Line 95: Line 105:
|''[[Tall Tale (film)|Tall Tale]]''
|''[[Tall Tale (film)|Tall Tale]]''
|March 24, 1995
|March 24, 1995
|Walt Disney Pictures
|[[Walt Disney Pictures]]
|
|$32 million
|$32 million
|$11,047,627
|$11,047,627
Line 101: Line 112:
|''[[While You Were Sleeping (film)|While You Were Sleeping]]''<ref name=vty/>
|''[[While You Were Sleeping (film)|While You Were Sleeping]]''<ref name=vty/>
|April 21, 1995
|April 21, 1995
|Hollywood Pictures
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
| rowspan="2" |co-production with [[Roger Birnbaum|Roger Birnbaum Productions]]
|$17 million
|$17 million
|$182,057,016
|$182,057,016
Line 107: Line 119:
|''[[The Big Green]]''
|''[[The Big Green]]''
|September 29, 1995
|September 29, 1995
|Walt Disney Pictures
|[[Walt Disney Pictures]]
|$12 million
|$12 million
|$17,725,500
|$17,725,500
Line 113: Line 125:
|''[[Dead Presidents]]''<ref name=vty/>
|''[[Dead Presidents]]''<ref name=vty/>
|October 4, 1995
|October 4, 1995
|Hollywood Pictures
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
|co-production with [[Hughes brothers|Underworld Entertainment]]
|$10 million
|$10 million
|$24,147,179
|$24,147,179
|-
|-
|''[[Powder (film)|Powder]]''<ref name=vty/>
|''[[Powder (1995 film)|Powder]]''<ref name=vty/>
|October 27, 1995
|October 27, 1995
|Hollywood Pictures
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
|co-production with [[Daniel Grodnik|Daniel Grodnik Productions]] and [[Roger Birnbaum|Roger Birnbaum Productions]]
|$9.5 million
|$9.5 million
|$30,862,156
|$30,862,156
Line 125: Line 139:
|''[[Before and After (film)|Before and After]]''
|''[[Before and After (film)|Before and After]]''
|February 23, 1996
|February 23, 1996
|Hollywood Pictures
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
|co-production with [[Barbet Schroeder|Schroeder]]/Hoffman Productions
|$35 million
|$35 million
|$8,797,839
|$8,797,839
Line 131: Line 146:
|''[[Celtic Pride]]''
|''[[Celtic Pride]]''
|April 19, 1996
|April 19, 1996
|Hollywood Pictures
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
| rowspan="4" |co-production with [[Roger Birnbaum|Roger Birnbaum Productions]]
|
|
|$9,255,027
|$9,255,027
|-
|-
⚫
|''[[First Kid]]''

⚫
|August 30, 1996
⚫
|[[Walt Disney Pictures]]
⚫
|$5 million
⚫
|$26,491,793
|-
|''[[The Rich Man's Wife]]''
|''[[The Rich Man's Wife]]''
|September 13, 1996
|September 13, 1996
|Hollywood Pictures
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
|
|
|$8,543,587
|$8,543,587
⚫
|-
⚫
|''[[First Kid]]''
⚫
|December 20, 1996
⚫
|Walt Disney Pictures
⚫
|$5 million
⚫
|$26,491,793
|-
|-
|''[[Metro (1997 film)|Metro]]''
|''[[Metro (1997 film)|Metro]]''
|January 17, 1997
|January 17, 1997
|Touchstone Pictures
|[[Touchstone Pictures]]
|$55 million
|$55 million
|$31,987,563
|$31,987,563
Line 156: Line 171:
|''[[Grosse Pointe Blank]]''<ref name=vty/>
|''[[Grosse Pointe Blank]]''<ref name=vty/>
|April 11, 1997
|April 11, 1997
|Hollywood Pictures
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
|co-production with [[Roger Birnbaum|Roger Birnbaum Productions]], Roth/[[Susan Arnold|Arnold]] Productions and New Crime Entertainment
|$15 million
|$15 million
|$28,084,357
|$28,084,357
Line 162: Line 178:
|''[[Gone Fishin' (film)|Gone Fishin']]''
|''[[Gone Fishin' (film)|Gone Fishin']]''
|May 30, 1997
|May 30, 1997
|Hollywood Pictures
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
|co-production with [[Roger Birnbaum|Roger Birnbaum Productions]]
|$53 million
|$53 million
|$19,736,932
|$19,736,932
Line 168: Line 185:
|''[[G.I. Jane]]''<ref name=vty/>
|''[[G.I. Jane]]''<ref name=vty/>
|August 22, 1997
|August 22, 1997
|Hollywood Pictures
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
|co-production with [[Scott Free Productions]], [[Largo Entertainment]], [[Roger Birnbaum|Roger Birnbaum Productions]] and [[Demi Moore|Moving Pictures]]
|$50 million
|$50 million
|$97,169,156
|$97,169,156
|-
|-
|''[[RocketMan]]''<ref name=vty/>
|''[[RocketMan (1997 film)|RocketMan]]''<ref name=vty/>
|October 10, 1997
|October 10, 1997
|Walt Disney Pictures
|[[Walt Disney Pictures]]
|co-production with [[Roger Birnbaum|Roger Birnbaum Productions]] and Gold/Miller Management
|$16 million
|$16 million
|$15,448,043
|$15,448,043
Line 180: Line 199:
|''[[Washington Square (film)|Washington Square]]''<ref name=vty/>
|''[[Washington Square (film)|Washington Square]]''<ref name=vty/>
|October 17, 1997
|October 17, 1997
|Hollywood Pictures
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
|co-production with [[Roger Birnbaum|Roger Birnbaum Productions]] and Alchemy Filmworks
|$15 million
|$15 million
|$1,851,761
|$1,851,761
Line 186: Line 206:
|''[[Six Days, Seven Nights]]''<ref name=vty/>
|''[[Six Days, Seven Nights]]''<ref name=vty/>
|June 12, 1998
|June 12, 1998
|Touchstone Pictures
|[[Touchstone Pictures]]
|co-production with [[Roger Birnbaum|Roger Birnbaum Productions]] and [[Ivan Reitman|Northern Lights Entertainment]]
|$70 million
|$70 million
|$164,839,294
|$164,839,294
Line 192: Line 213:
|''[[Simon Birch]]''<ref name=vty/>
|''[[Simon Birch]]''<ref name=vty/>
|September 11, 1998
|September 11, 1998
|Hollywood Pictures
|[[Hollywood Pictures]]
|co-production with [[Roger Birnbaum|Roger Birnbaum Productions]] and [[Laurence Mark|Laurence Mark Productions]]
|$30 million
|$30 million
|$18,252,684
|$18,252,684
Line 198: Line 220:
|''[[Holy Man]]''<ref name=vty/>
|''[[Holy Man]]''<ref name=vty/>
|October 9, 1998
|October 9, 1998
|Touchstone Pictures
|[[Touchstone Pictures]]
|co-production with [[Roger Birnbaum|Roger Birnbaum Productions]]
|$60 million
|$60 million
|$12,069,719
|$12,069,719
Line 204: Line 227:
|''[[Inspector Gadget (film)|Inspector Gadget]]''
|''[[Inspector Gadget (film)|Inspector Gadget]]''
|July 23, 1999
|July 23, 1999
|Walt Disney Pictures
|[[Walt Disney Pictures]]
|co-production with [[Jon Avnet|Avnet]]/[[Jordan Kerner|Kerner]] Productions, [[Roger Birnbaum|Roger Birnbaum Productions]] and [[DIC Entertainment|DiC Entertainment]]; final film
|$90 million
|$90 million
|$134,403,112
|$134,403,112
Line 210: Line 234:


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references />

==External links==
* {{imdb company|id=0072626|company=Caravan Pictures}}


{{Walt Disney Studios}}
{{Walt Disney Studios}}
{{Authority control}}


⚫
[[Category:Entertainment companies established in 1992]]
⚫
[[Category:Media companies established in 1992]]
⚫
[[Category:Media companies disestablished in 1999]]
⚫
[[Category:Defunct American film studios]]
⚫
[[Category:The Walt Disney Studios]]
⚫
[[Category:Entertainment companies based in California]]
⚫
[[Category:Film production companies of the United States]]
⚫
[[Category:Companies based in Santa Monica, California]]
⚫
[[Category:Defunct companies based in the Greater Los Angeles Area]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in California]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in California]]
[[Category:1999 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:1999 disestablishments in California]]
⚫
[[Category:American companies established in 1992]]
⚫
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 1999]]
⚫
[[Category:Companies based in Santa Monica, California]]
⚫
[[Category:Defunct American film studios]]
⚫
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Disney production studios]]
[[Category:Disney production studios]]
⚫
[[Category:Entertainment companies based in California]]
⚫
[[Category:Film production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 1999]]
⚫
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1992]]
⚫
[[Category:Walt Disney Studios (division)]]

Latest revision as of 03:36, 12 January 2024

Caravan Pictures
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedNovember 17, 1992; 31 years ago (1992-11-17)
FoundersRoger Birnbaum
Joe Roth
Defunct1999; 25 years ago (1999)
FateClosed
SuccessorSpyglass Entertainment
Headquarters
Santa Monica, California
,
United States
Key people
Roger Birnbaum (chairman, CEO)
Jonathan Glickman (president)
ProductsFilms
Number of employees
7 (1997)
ParentThe Walt Disney Studios
Footnotes / references
[1][2][3]

Caravan Pictures, Inc. was an American film production company at Walt Disney Studios, formed by Roger Birnbaum and Joe Roth. Caravan's films were distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

While Disney would sign directors and talent to two- and three-picture deals, Caravan would work with talent based on the project being produced and not lock them into agreements. The production company's slate strategy was to commit to screenwriters as directors, put bankable actors in predictable roles, and low-budget movies with like breakthrough talent. The unit had greenlight authority up to $30 million with the expectation of producing 5 to 7 films a year and did not have salary caps. They also did not have its own full business and legal affairs departments,[2] and executives did not have titles until 1997.[3]

History

Caravan Pictures was founded by Roger Birnbaum and Joe Roth as a production company at Disney in 1992 to fill the Disney Studios' then-yearly 50 to 60 production and distribution slots. Caravan was given a five-year, 25-picture agreement with greenlight authority up to $30 million and an overhead budget of $3 million, and was expected to produce 5 to 7 films per year originally. After just releasing its first picture, The Three Musketeers, on Christmas 1993, Caravan expected to release 10 films in 1994, which could accelerate the end of the deal in 2 1/2 years instead of 5 years.[2] They were able to get the adaptation of Angie, I Says that was in turnaround at Fox, where they have previously worked.[4] In 1993, Jonathan Glickman, who came from the USC's Peter Stark Program, joined Caravan as an intern.[3]

When three out of the next four films flopped at the box office, Roth promised to cover I Love Trouble cost overruns pegged at $15 million if it did poorly. It eventually flopped as well.[5]

Roth moved on to be Disney studio chief on August 24, 1994, leaving Birnbaum in charge.[1] Disney CEO Michael Eisner was so set on replacing Jeffrey Katzenberg as Disney studio chief with Roth that he forgave the cost overrun debt and paid Roth $40 million of fees for 21 unproduced films under the deal.[5]

Caravan was restructured in September 1998 to expand production in quantity and television films. Glickman was promoted to president of Caravan at that time, which led Birnbaum to start giving out titles to executives.[3]

In August 1998, Birnbaum left Caravan to co-found Spyglass Entertainment (with Gary Barber, former vice chairman and COO of Morgan Creek Productions) at Roth's prompting, in which Disney took an equity stake and signed a five-year distribution agreement. With Disney cutting its yearly production output, Roth recommended forming a self-financing production firm similar to New Regency Productions. After Caravan's remaining three films were released, the company went inactive. The final production credited to Caravan is the 1999 Disney film Inspector Gadget; on a rather ironic note, if not a brief moment of foreshadowing, the Caravan logo at the end of the film shows the man walking as usual before sprouting a propeller from his hat á la Gadget and flying away offscreen, never to be seen again. Caravan's slate of movie projects and an initial financial advance of $10 million to $20 million against future overages were also contributed by Disney.[6]

List of notable Caravan Pictures films

Title Release Date Disney label released as Notes Budget Gross
The Three Musketeers[2] November 12, 1993 Walt Disney Pictures co-production with Avnet-Kerner Productions; first film $17 million $53,898,845
Angie[1] March 4, 1994 Hollywood Pictures co-production with Morra-Brezner-Steinberg-Tenenbaum Productions $26 million $9,398,308
I Love Trouble[5] June 29, 1994 Touchstone Pictures co-production with Nancy Meyers/Charles Shyer Productions $45 million $61,947,267
Angels in the Outfield[5] July 15, 1994 Walt Disney Pictures $24 million $50,236,831
A Low Down Dirty Shame November 23, 1994 Hollywood Pictures $10 million $29,392,418
Houseguest January 6, 1995 Hollywood Pictures $10.5 million $26,325,256
The Jerky Boys: The Movie February 3, 1995 Touchstone Pictures $8 million $7,555,256
Heavyweights February 17, 1995 Walt Disney Pictures $17,689,177
Tall Tale March 24, 1995 Walt Disney Pictures $32 million $11,047,627
While You Were Sleeping[3] April 21, 1995 Hollywood Pictures co-production with Roger Birnbaum Productions $17 million $182,057,016
The Big Green September 29, 1995 Walt Disney Pictures $12 million $17,725,500
Dead Presidents[3] October 4, 1995 Hollywood Pictures co-production with Underworld Entertainment $10 million $24,147,179
Powder[3] October 27, 1995 Hollywood Pictures co-production with Daniel Grodnik Productions and Roger Birnbaum Productions $9.5 million $30,862,156
Before and After February 23, 1996 Hollywood Pictures co-production with Schroeder/Hoffman Productions $35 million $8,797,839
Celtic Pride April 19, 1996 Hollywood Pictures co-production with Roger Birnbaum Productions $9,255,027
First Kid August 30, 1996 Walt Disney Pictures $5 million $26,491,793
The Rich Man's Wife September 13, 1996 Hollywood Pictures $8,543,587
Metro January 17, 1997 Touchstone Pictures $55 million $31,987,563
Grosse Pointe Blank[3] April 11, 1997 Hollywood Pictures co-production with Roger Birnbaum Productions, Roth/Arnold Productions and New Crime Entertainment $15 million $28,084,357
Gone Fishin' May 30, 1997 Hollywood Pictures co-production with Roger Birnbaum Productions $53 million $19,736,932
G.I. Jane[3] August 22, 1997 Hollywood Pictures co-production with Scott Free Productions, Largo Entertainment, Roger Birnbaum Productions and Moving Pictures $50 million $97,169,156
RocketMan[3] October 10, 1997 Walt Disney Pictures co-production with Roger Birnbaum Productions and Gold/Miller Management $16 million $15,448,043
Washington Square[3] October 17, 1997 Hollywood Pictures co-production with Roger Birnbaum Productions and Alchemy Filmworks $15 million $1,851,761
Six Days, Seven Nights[3] June 12, 1998 Touchstone Pictures co-production with Roger Birnbaum Productions and Northern Lights Entertainment $70 million $164,839,294
Simon Birch[3] September 11, 1998 Hollywood Pictures co-production with Roger Birnbaum Productions and Laurence Mark Productions $30 million $18,252,684
Holy Man[3] October 9, 1998 Touchstone Pictures co-production with Roger Birnbaum Productions $60 million $12,069,719
Inspector Gadget July 23, 1999 Walt Disney Pictures co-production with Avnet/Kerner Productions, Roger Birnbaum Productions and DiC Entertainment; final film $90 million $134,403,112

References

  1. ^ a b c "Seasoned Performer Takes Lead Studio Role". Orlando Sentinel. Los Angeles Times. August 28, 1994. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d Frook, John Evan (January 30, 1994). "Roth, Birnbaum flex muscles at Caravan". Variety. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Cox, Dan (September 18, 1997). "Glickman new prexy at Caravan". Variety. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  4. ^ Eller, Claudia (December 14, 1992). "Madonna faxes Roth her wrath". Variety. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d Masters, Kim (November 14, 2013). "Joe Roth's 'Third Act': From 'Gigli' to Billion-Dollar Producer and Pro Soccer Superstar". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  6. ^ Eller, Clauida (1998-08-21). "Spyglass Offers Disney Lower-Risk Deals". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caravan_Pictures&oldid=1195059762"