| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Ben Nearn Tom Rice |
| Headquarters | |
Key people | Ben Nearn Tom Rice |
| Products | Film production |
| Website | sycamorepictures.com |
Sycamore Pictures is an American production company founded by producers Ben Nearn and Tom Rice.
History
The company was formed in 2011 with a focus on producing films with a "more redemptive tone"[1] suitable for families. Nearn, formerly an investment banker who moved on to become COO and a minority investor in Cross Creek Pictures, maintains the company's Memphis offices; Rice, an independent film producer and writer, maintains the Los Angeles office.[1] The startup funds for Sycamore were raised by Nearn from investors both from the Memphis area and elsewhere, with a business model based on profit participation by actors, directors and creative personnel.[1]
The company's first production, The Way Way Back, had its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013, where distribution rights were purchased for US$9.75 million,[2] reportedly the largest distribution deal made at the festival that year.[3]
Begin Again (2014) has been described as "an old-fashioned, let’s-put-on-a-show movie musical disguised as an indie relationship drama" and as "that real rarity, a feel-good story of friendship — not sexual love — between a man and woman."[4]
Merry Friggin' Christmas, scheduled for release in late 2014, features Robin Williams in the last movie he made before his death in 2014.[5]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Director | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Way, Way Back | Nat Faxon and Jim Rash | co-production with The Walsh Company and OddLot Entertainment; distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures; Sycamore's first film |
| Begin Again | John Carney | co-production with Exclusive Media, Black Label Media, Likely Story and Apatow Productions; distributed by The Weinstein Company | |
| 2014 | A Merry Friggin' Christmas | Tristram Shapeero | distributed by Phase 4 Films and Entertainment One Films |
| 2015 | Mississippi Grind | Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck | co-production with Electric City Entertainment; distributed by A24, DirecTV (United States) and Annapurna International (international) |
| 2016 | The Hollars | John Krasinski | co-production with Groundswell Productions and Sunday Night Productions; distributed by Sony Pictures Classics |
| Collide | Eran Creevy | co-production with IM Global, DMG Entertainment, Silver Pictures, Hands-on Producers GmbH, 42 and Automatik Entertainment; distributed by Open Road Films (United States) and Universum Film (Germany) | |
| 2017 | Speech & Debate | Dan Harris | distributed by Vertical Entertainment |
| Unicorn Store | Brie Larson | co-production with Rhea Films, The District, Rip Cord Productions, Hercules Film Fund and 51 Entertainment; distributed by Netflix | |
| 2020 | Greyhound | Aaron Schneider | co-production with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Stage 6 Films, FilmNation Entertainment, Bron Creative, Zhengfu Pictures and Playtone; distributed by Apple TV+ |
References
- 1 2 3 Beifuss, John (5 August 2013). "Memphis Commercial Appeal". Memphis-based 'Way Back' Producer Looks Forward. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
- ↑ Rucker, LaReeca (26 July 2013). "Jackson-born producer 'Way, Way' on his way". The Clarion Ledger.
- ↑ Shaw, Lucas (28 January 2013). "Business Insider". How Fox Searchlight Made The Biggest Deal At Sundance: $9.75M On An Egg Sandwich. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
- ↑ "Movie Capsules: What's Showing". Memphis Commercial Appeal. August 29, 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ↑ Khatchatourian, Maane (August 16, 2014). "Robin Williams in 'A Merry Friggin' Christmas' Clip". Variety. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
External links