In Memoriam Ed Asner

If you ran into Ed in his last four years wearing a bright purple polo shirt, chances are it was mine. He almost took it right off me at the first of our several lunches on Ventura Boulevard. I resisted, but went to the internet and ordered three identical ones for him. He called me to say thanks and to invite me to the next lunch. We had in common that we were from Kansas City, that we were both liberals (though he went closer to the wall on that score than I did, and that we both admired the longevity of his irascible humor. It was a pleasure getting to know him personally and I’m sorry to see him go before we could get him into one of our films. Ed, you rocked!

Congratulations to our friend and colleague Nancy Nigrosh who Joins The Partos Company To Head Motion Picture & TV Division!

Nancy Nigrosh, the industry veteran who has worked repping directors and writers as a talent and literary agent at Innovative Artists and running the lit department at Gersh, has joined The Partos Company. She has been tapped to head the Motion Picture & Television department at the Santa Monica-based agency, which is known for its representation of artists behind the camera.

Nigrosh previously ran the consulting firm Literary Business and taught at UCLA Extension’s Writers’ Program. During her career she has repped clients including helmers Kathryn Bigelow, Peter Bogdanovich, Chris Eyre, John Cameron Mitchell and Leslye Headland and scribes Barry Morrow, Amanda Brown, Luke Davies, Albert Magnoli and Stuart Beattie.

Partos, run by Walter Partos, reps clients including costume designers Albert Wolsky (Bugsy), Natalie O’Brien (Honey Boy) and Heidi Bivens (Mid90s); cinematographers Scott Cunningham (Kendrik Lamar’s “Humble”) and Maxime Alexandre; and producer Hartley Gorenstein (The Boys).

“Every agency has the same information, knows the same people and pursues the same projects,” Partos said. “Nancy has an incredible eye for material and, at the end of the day, choosing the right material is the difference between a great career and a good one. It is an honor to collaborate with her.”


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BET founder launches Urban Movie Channel

RLJ Entertainment, headed by Black Entertainment Television (BET) founder Robert L. Johnson, announced on Wednesday that it is entering the SVOD space with the Urban Movie Channel (UMC), featuring dramas, documentaries, comedies, horror films and stage plays.

At launch, it offers catalog titles, but a UMC spokesperson says it plans to offer original programming in the future, as well as exclusive premieres, beginning with Love the One You’re With, which debuts on Nov. 14. The service is only available in the United States.

“As founder of BET, I have gained a deep understanding and knowledge about the African-American and urban consumer and the entertainment content that appeals to them,” said Johnson (pictured) in a statement. “UMC was designed so that the African-American and urban creative community could directly reach consumers in a way that removes many of the restrictions associated with the legacy content development and distribution models. As more video is consumed over broadband, we believe that we can quickly become the preeminent provider of quality urban entertainment to what has largely been an under-served, yet highly-engaged audience.”

At launch, UMC features more than 150 titles, including live stand-up performances by Kevin Hart, Jamie Foxx, and Charlie Murphy; documentaries Dark Girls and I Ain’t Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac; feature films All Things Fall Apart starring 50 Cent, Mario Van Peebles and Ray Liotta, and The Suspect starring Mekhi Phifer, and the stage play What My Husband Doesn’t Know by David E. Talbert. Additional content will be added every month.

Programs previously released by RLJE under the One Village brand will be incorporated into UMC’s library, which will also include titles from RLJE’s existing Image independent feature film line.

UMC will launch with a free trial period for subscribers through Feb. 4, after which it will offer an introductory price of $2.99/month, or $29.99 a year. Thereafter, the price will be $4.99/month or $49.99/year.

The leadership team at RLJE is headed by Johnson, who is founder and chairman, and Miguel Penella, CEO. The company’s marketing, public relations and investor relations is being overseen by Traci Otey Blunt, RLJE’s EVP of marketing and corporate affairs.

A UMC spokesperson said the channel will be promoted primarily with web advertising and social media, as well as through traditional public relations avenues.

Reposted from Stream Daily

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