MANDATE PICTURES
Corporate Overview
Founded in 2005, Mandate Pictures has established itself as a premier independent film entertainment studio renowned for its exceptional support of filmmakers and the creative process, innovative partnerships with Hollywood’s top creative talent and keen ability to build a successful business model for films in a wide variety of genres.
Mandate is a full-service production and financing company with a distinguished reputation and proven track record of success and profitability. Acquired by Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) in 2007, Mandate continues to operate as an independent brand delivering acclaimed commercial and independent films worldwide. Under President Nathan Kahane, Mandate has carved out a unique position in the film industry, having the creative autonomy and capital to finance, develop, package and produce theatrical films such as the Academy Award®-nominated film, Juno, directed by Jason Reitman, written by Diablo Cody and starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman.
Mandate’s current development and production slate includes an untitled sexy thriller starring Zac Efron (17 Again, Hairspray), which is being written by veteran scribe Leslie Dixon (Freaky Friday, The Thomas Crown Affair); Dream On, a teen dance movie written by Jason Ubadli; an original untitled comedy from screenwriter Annie Mumolo which will be produced by Dana Fox (What Happens in Vegas) and frequent Mandate collaborator Lorene Scafaria (Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist); writer Will Reiser’s autobiographical comedy about his battle with cancer at age 25, that will star James McAvoy and Seth Rogen; Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World, an original romantic comedy from Lorene Scafaria in which she will make herdirectorial debut as well as serve in a producerial capacity; and an untitled comedy to be written by D.V. DeVincentis (High Fidelity, Grosse Point Blank) based on the book You Are a Miserable Excuse for a Hero by Bob Powers with The Mark Gordon Company (2012, “Grey’s Anatomy”) producing.
Mandate’s recent theatrical releases include Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut Whip It, starring Academy Award®-nominee Ellen Page, Academy Award®-nominee Marcia Gay Harden and Kristin Wiig released by Fox Searchlight; Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, directed by Peter Sollett, starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings, distributed by Columbia Pictures; Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, the successful follow-up to the 2004 comedy hit distributed by New Line; and The Strangers, starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman, released by Universal’s Rogue Pictures. Mandate’s slate of upcoming films include The Baster, starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman, slated for release in 2010 by Miramax Films; and the third installment of the Harold and Kumar franchise.
Mandate continues to expand its filmmaker relationships by inking exclusive production deals with several of Hollywood’s top writers and directors. Mandate recently signed a two-year first-look deal with Mr. Mudd, the production company headed up by Academy Award®-nominated partner-producers Lianne Halfon, Russell Smith and award-winning actor, director and producer John Malkovich. The two companies had enormous success with Juno. Together, the two companies are working on Broken City, a noir script from renowned playwright Brian Tucker, as well as Paper Towns, the adaptation of John Green’s successful young adult novel.
In addition, Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Steve Zaillian’s Film Rites joined with Mandate to produce modestly budgeted, character-driven films, and the partners have a first-look deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment. Film Rites is producing projects Zaillian will write and/or direct, and films from emerging writers and filmmakers. Mandate co-finances and handles international sales for all of the films developed and produced as part of the pact. Some of the projects under this arrangement are Gangland, a comedy from scribe Pat Healy based on an original idea by Nacho Vigalondo (Timecrimes) that Vigalondo will also direct; My Dinner with Hervé which will be written and directed by Sacha Gervasi, a former journalist who conducted the last interview with French actor Herve Villechaize -- best known as “Tattoo” on the television series, Fantasy Island -- days before the actor committed suicide; and the Untitled Cryonics Project, a dark comedy to be written by Zach Helm and directed by Academy Award®-winner Errol Morris.
After teaming with Zack Helm on Stranger than Fiction and Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, Mandate sealed a first-look deal with Helm’s Gang of Two production company. Together with his producing partner Jim Garavente, Helm’s Gang of Two aims to produce films written by Helm and shepherd projects by other writers and directors.
Mandate also has a first-look deal with Lindsay Doran’s production company Three Strange Angels. The companies previously partnered on Stranger than Fiction, which was directed by Marc Forster, written by Zach Helm and starred Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah and Emma Thompson. The film was released by Columbia Pictures in 2006. Most recently, Lindsay Doran (Nanny McPhee, Sense and Sensibility) is set to produce The Ghouly Boys for Mandate through Three Strange Angels. Sam Esmail will write the fantasy adventure screenplay based on the comic book seriescreated, written and illustrated by Christopher.
Ghost House Pictures, founded by legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, Nathan Kahane and Joe Drake, is a production label dedicated to the financing, development and release of films in the horror/thriller genre. Films released under the Ghost House banner include 30 Days of Night, The Grudge I and II, The Messengers and Boogeyman, all of which opened at #1 at the box office. The most recent Ghost House film Drag Me To Hell, directed by Sam Raimi, was released in May 2009 by Universal Pictures.
EXECUTIVE PROFILES
JOE DRAKE
Co-Chief Operating Officer of Lionsgate and President, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group / CEO, Mandate Pictures
In 2007, Joe Drake returned to Lionsgate as Co-Chief Operating Officer of the Company and President of its Motion Picture Group, with oversight of all areas of the company’s theatrical production, distribution, marketing, acquisition and international theatrical operations, as well as joint responsibility for its corporate budgeting, planning and strategic growth initiatives.
Lionsgate is a $1.5 billion next generation filmed entertainment studio with a diversified presence in motion pictures, television, home entertainment, family entertainment, video on demand, digitally delivered content and channel platforms. The company’s production and distribution operations are backed by a 12,000-title filmed entertainment library, one of the largest in the world.
Lionsgate’s motion picture slate generated the best quarterly box-office performance in the company’s history in the January–March 2009 quarter, propelled by such hits as Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail, The Haunting in Connecticut and My Bloody Valentine 3D. Other recent successes include Rambo, The Bank Job, Forbidden Kingdom, Saw V, Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys and Transporter 3.
Lionsgate continues to strengthen its international operations, with self-distribution throughout the U.K. and Canada, international sales and distribution augmented by the acquisition of Mandate Pictures in September 2007 and a series of new international business initiatives in the pipeline.
Drake was President of Lionsgate International from 2000–2001, then left to become founder and CEO of his own company, Mandate Pictures, which evolved into a leading entertainment company dedicated to the self-financing, development and production of motion pictures and other filmed entertainment for worldwide distribution. Lionsgate acquired Mandate in September 2007, and it has generated such global box-office hits as Juno, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, the Harold & Kumar franchise, Stranger Than Fiction and 30 Days of Night. Its Ghost House Pictures venture with legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi has produced The Grudge and Boogeyman horror franchises, which have collectively spawned five No. 1 box-office hits.
NATHAN KAHANE
President, Mandate Pictures
Having served as an executive producer on more than 25 films in his career, Nathan Kahane has a reputation of being one of the most respected filmmaker-friendly executives in the business. Since 2005, Kahane has been the creative force and an integral component behind the growth of Mandate Pictures. In his role as president of Mandate, Kahane oversees the company’s growing feature slate while nurturing relationships with high-level talent and filmmakers, and he has developed a unique ability to put together winning business models behind compelling films.
While at Mandate, Kahane has successfully overseen the development and production of exceptional and distinct films such as the Academy Award®-winning (Best Original Screenplay, written by Diablo Cody) $130 million box-office sensation Juno, and the critical darling Stranger Than Fiction. Most recently, he has served as an executive producer on films including Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut Whip It released by Fox Searchlight; The Baster, starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman, to be released by Miramax Films in 2010; and Columbia Pictures’ Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, directed by Peter Sollett and starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings. He produced Rogue Pictures’ The Strangers, which starred Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman; Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and its sequel Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, both distributed by New Line Cinema, and he will serve as a producer on the upcoming installment of the Harold & Kumar series.
Kahane is currently shepherding Mandate’s diverse production and development slate which includes writer Will Reiser’s autobiographical comedy about his battle with cancer at age 25, that will star James McAvoy and Seth Rogen; a sexy thriller from Leslie Dixon in which Zac Efron is set to star; You’re A Miserable Excuse For A Hero, a screenplay to be penned by acclaimed screenwriter D.V. Devincentis; and an untitled comedy project from screenwriter Annie Mumolo, produced by Lorene Scafaria and Dana Fox.
Kahane also oversees the daily operations of Ghost House Pictures, a production label he founded along with legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Joe Drake. Under this banner he has shepherded a string of hit movies including The Grudge, 30 Days of Night, The Messengers and the upcoming 30 Days of Night: Dark Days, currently in production. Most recently Kahane served as executive producer on Drag Me To Hell.
Kahane’s commitment to producing quality films at ‘independent’ budgets has generated success for the company with movies that have crushed at the box office, as well as launched franchises such as the Harold & Kumar and The Grudge series. Kahane expanded Mandate’s filmmaker relationships by inking exclusive production deals with Mr. Mudd, the production company headed by Academy Award®-winning partner-producers Lianne Halfon, Russell Smith and award-winning actor, director and producer John Malkovich; Academy Award®-winner Steven Zaillian’s production company Film Rites; writer/director Zack Helm’s Gang of Two production company; and Lindsay Doran’s production company Three Strange Angels.
Prior to joining Senator International, he co-headed the development and production slate for Mark Canton’s production company The Canton Company (housed at Warner Bros.), where he was executive vice president of production. Kahane is a graduate of the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and began his entertainment career in the agent training program at ICM.
MATTHEW BAKAL
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
As Chief Financial Officer of Mandate Pictures, Matthew Bakal oversees the day-to-day financial management and operations of the company and its developing projects. With his unique background and extensive experience in both the creative and financial sides of the entertainment business, Bakal brings with him a keen understanding of how to build effective financial structures and operations to maximize Mandate’s growing assets. Bakal comes to Mandate from IBM Global Business Services where, as a Media and Entertainment Senior Strategy Consultant, Bakal led strategic planning, integration and business development projects for diverse media companies, including TV networks, video retailers and production studios. Bakal is also the co-founder of Strategic Film Partners, a film finance consulting firm that advises both film production studios and private equity funds on film investment strategies.
Previously, Bakal was Director of Development and Production for The Canton Company, a former production company at Warner Bros. Studios, where he worked with Mandate Pictures President Nathan Kahane. While there, Bakal supervised development, production and post-production of projects, including: Get Carter, Angel Eyes and the pilot for the WB television series Jack and Jill. Bakal also negotiated property rights acquisitions for dozens of projects. On the creative side, Bakal worked as a producer and writer for Klasky-Csupo Entertainment, a production house of Nickelodeon where he was responsible for developing new content and programs.
Bakal is an alumnus of the prestigious Warner Bros. Television Comedy Workshop., Bakal holds an A.B. in English and American Literature from Harvard College and a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
KELLI KONOP
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF PHYSICAL PRODUCTION
Kelli Konop brings more than ten years of industry and production experience to her position as Executive Vice President of Physical Production for Mandate Pictures. From pre-production through post, Konop oversees all aspects of physical production for Mandate’s entire slate of films, as well as those produced under the Ghost House Pictures banner. She joined Mandate’s production team while serving as the Executive in Charge of Production on Zack Helm’s critically-acclaimed feature Stranger Than Fiction, starring Will Ferrell.
While at Mandate, Konop was co-producer on the Academy Award®-nominated and box-office sensation Juno, as well as the hit comedy, Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. Konop served as anexecutive-producer on The Strangers, Bryan Bertino’s directorial debut starring Liv Tyler. Her other producing credits include Rodrigo Garcia’s Passengers; Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist directed by Peter Sollett; Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut, Whip It; the upcoming film Peacock, starring Cillian Murphy and Ellen Page; and The Baster, starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman. Her Ghost House credits include the thrillers The Messengers, starring Dylan McDermott and Penelope Ann Miller, and Rise, starring Lucy Liu and Robert Forster; 30 Days of Night directed by David Slade; and Drag Me to Hell, written and directed by Sam Raimi. Konop is currently working on a number of Mandate’s upcoming feature films including Untitled Cryonics Project, currently being written by Zach Helm with Erroll Morris set to direct; You’re A Miserable Excuse For A Hero from screenwriter D.V. DeVincentis; and writer Will Reiser’s autobiographical comedy about his battle with cancer at age 25, that will star James McAvoy and Seth Rogen.
A graduate of Washington University with a degree in psychology and business, Konop went on to become a successful film producer. A producer on more than 25 films, Konop’s credits include: Bring It On Again, one of the all-time top-selling DVD originals; the hit Universal Studios comedies Beethoven's 3rd and 4th; The Breed for Sony Screen Gems and Steve James’ Joe and Max, the acclaimed, Starz! made-for-TV movie about legendary prizefighters Joe Louis and Max Schmeling. Additionally, she executive produced Frankie Flower’s Haven, starring Orlando Bloom, Bill Paxton and Zoe Saldana.
NICOLE BROWN
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTION
As Senior Vice President of Production for Mandate Pictures, Nicole Brown oversees the development for the company’s slate of films and manages Mandate’s creative infrastructure. Brown’s expertise lies in seeking out compelling material and closely collaborating with writers and directors to build entrepreneurial opportunities around their projects. She recently served as a co-producer on Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut Whip It released by Fox Searchlight; Peter Sollett’s Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings; the crime thriller The Horsemen, starring Dennis Quaid and Ziyi Zhang; as well as the hit Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, the follow-up to 2004’s comedy for New Line. Brown is currently shepherding the third installment of the Harold & Kumar franchise; Peacock with Cillian Murphy and Ellen Page; an untitled thriller from Leslie Dixon starring Zac Efron; Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World from screenwriter Lorene Scafaria.
Before joining Mandate, Brown was a development executive at Marc Platt Productions where, in addition to her role as associate producer on Honey, starring Jessica Alba, she helped set up several projects at various studios, including: Nappily Ever After, starring Halle Berry; The Book Of Leo, starring Seann William Scott; the Dusty Springfield biopic, Say You Love Me, starring Kristin Chenoweth; Compositions in Black and White, starring Alicia Keys for Sony; The Untitled Marla Ruzica Project, starring Kirsten Dunst for MTV and Paramount; Love In The Driest Season for HBO; and a horror remake with Alexandra Seros entitled A Child's Game at Gold Circle. Brown also sold two hotly contested comic books to Universal, Talent and Tag. A Columbia University graduate, Phi Beta Kappa, Brown began her career at Miramax in New York.
TENDO NAGENDA
VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTION
With ten years of development, film production and finance experience, Tendo Nagenda brings a unique perspective to his post as Vice President of Production at Mandate Pictures. Having had a hand in both the financial and creative development of many high-profile projects, Nagenda is well suited to serve Mandate’s mission of fostering compelling material and putting together successful business models for its film slate. Since joining Mandate in December 2007, Nagenda has been actively developing a diverse array of projects including an untitled comedy from screenwriter Annie Mumolo, Matthew Carnahan’s (The Kingdom, Lions for Lambs) next project and Broken City, the neo-noir drama written by Brian Tucker. He will serve as a co-producer on the latter two projects. Nagenda is also overseeing the production of Gangland, a comedy from scribe Pat Healy based on an original idea by Nacho Vigalondo (Timecrimes) that Vigalondo will also direct; Untitled Cryonics Project, written by Zach Helm with Erroll Morris set to direct; My Dinner with Herve, a project based on Sacha Gervai’s last dinner with actor Herve Villechaize days before the actor committed suicide which he will also write and direct; and an untitled comedy based on Will Reiser’s battle with cancer at age 25, starring James McAvoy, which Seth Rogen is producing and will also co-star.
Nagenda joined Mandate’s team after serving as a creative executive at Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment. His slate at Plan B included Paramount’s World War Z and DreamWorks’ Zebra Murders. As a junior creative executive at Warner Independent Pictures, where under Mark Gill he worked on high-profile projects such as George Clooney’s Good Night and Good Luck and the hit documentary March of the Penguins. Nagenda liaised for the production teams of Richard Linklater’s A Scanner Darkley starring Robert Downey, Jr., Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder and Woody Harrelson; Every Word is True starring Sandra Bullock;and The Jacket with Adrien Brody and Kiera Knightly. A graduate of Claremont McKenna College with a dual degree in Economics and Government, Nagenda began his career as a Consultant for Deloitte & Touche, LLP, a financial auditing firm with clients including E! Entertainment Television and Wherehouse Entertainment. He quickly found a place as a Production Finance analyst at HBO.
MARY LEE
CREATIVE EXECUTIVE
Mary Lee has been an integral part of Mandate’s creative development, team earning her first on-screen credit for the Academy Award®-nominated Juno. She served as co-producer on Passengers, starring Anne Hathaway and Patrick Wilson and The Baster starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman. She is currently overseeing the Mandate/Mr. Mudd collaboration, Paper Towns, an adaption of John Green’s young adult novel of the same title;and Dream On, a teen dance movie being produced by Laurence Mark. As part of the creative team, Lee both seeks out potential projects for the company and oversees development on a number of films. Lee also helps foster Mandate’s extensive and diverse slate, including the third installment of The Grudge and Messengers 2, both produced under the Ghost House Pictures banner; You’re A Miserable Excuse For A Hero, a screenplay being written by acclaimed screenwriter D.V. Devincentis; and The Ghouly Boys, a screenplay based on the popular comic book series of the same name being produced by Lindsay Doran.
A graduate from USC with a major in business and a minor in film, Lee began her career at CAA in their motion picture talent department. |