Image Entertainment Announces Hiring of Three Film Industry Veterans, Steven DeMille, Steve Saltman and J. Beck
CHATSWORTH, Calif.--Image Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq:DISK), a leading independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming in North America, today announced the hiring of three film industry veterans, Steven DeMille, Steve Saltman and J. Beck.
Steven DeMille has been brought on-board as Senior Vice President, Marketing and is charged with directing Image's marketing and creative efforts. Image's Vice President, Marketing, Feature Films, John Powers and Vice President, Marketing, New Releases, Nick Lamer will assist DeMille in developing and implementing the company's marketing strategies while Mary Schepis Johnson, Vice President of Creative Services, will continue to oversee the creative design aspects for the Company.
DeMille began his career in New York at Fox Lorber/New Video Group where he was involved in the launch of A&E Home Video in addition to providing marketing and art direction for Fox Lorber branded titles. John Woo's The Killer and Todd Haynes' Poison were among the titles he handled. From Fox Lorber, DeMille went on to co-found A-Pix Entertainment (a division of Unapix Entertainment) where he oversaw all home entertainment marketing for the rental and sell-thru marketplace. Branded content lines included Discovery Channel, Lifetime Home Video and Smithsonian Video products in addition to direct-to-video hits such as Jack Frost. In 2001, DeMille relocated to Los Angeles to oversee home entertainment marketing for First Look Home Entertainment. At First Look he merged the marketing departments of Capital Entertainment and DEJ Productions and oversaw all creative marketing after the merger with Ventura Distribution. DeMille is a graduate of The University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Steve Saltman will serve as Senior Vice President, Domestic Television Sales and is charged with managing Image's North American broadcast sales efforts which include traditional TV, cable, satellite, PPV and VOD formats. Saltman will also be involved with Image's international broadcast efforts and is teamed with Barbara Gomperz-McCarney, Image's Executive Director of International Operations.
Saltman brings to Image over 25 years of experience in entertainment and management, having held executive positions in sales, acquisitions, program development and talent management. Most recently, Saltman served as Vice President, Network and New Media for First Look Studios, responsible for film sales and licensing of all aspects of television, VOD, non-theatrical and new media/digital. Prior to First Look, Saltman worked in the same capacity for DEJ Productions where he served as Vice President, Worldwide Television and New Media.
J. Beck has been hired by Image as Vice President, Acquisitions and joins an established acquisitions team including Bruce Venezia, Vice President, Programming and George Steele III, Vice President, Acquisitions as well as London-based Wendy Rutland, Managing Director, Image UK. Together they will aggressively pursue program acquisitions that encompass all distribution rights and cross multiple genres including feature films, music concerts, comedy specials, television and theatre to name but a few. Beck started his career in New York producing commercials and music videos. In 1997 he relocated to Los Angeles where, after working as an agent trainee at ICM, went on to become the Vice President of Acquisitions for First Look Pictures, where he acquired over fifty films for both theatrical and home entertainment distribution.
“We're really excited to have these gentlemen on board. Collectively they bring Image years of knowledge, experience and expertise, encompassing the most important aspects of feature film production, acquisition and distribution,” stated David Borshell, Image's Chief Operating Officer. “We are making great strides in building our feature film division, one that is extremely competitive with all other independents currently in the marketplace.”
About Image Entertainment:
Image Entertainment, Inc. is a leading independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming in North America, with approximately 3,000 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 250 exclusive CD titles in domestic release and approximately 450 programs internationally via sublicense agreements. For many of its titles, the Company has exclusive audio and broadcast rights and, through its subsidiary Egami Media, Inc., has digital download rights to approximately 2,000 video programs and over 250 audio programs containing more than 4,000 tracks. The Company is headquartered in Chatsworth, California. For more information about Image Entertainment, Inc., please go to www.image-entertainment.com.
Steven DeMille has been brought on-board as Senior Vice President, Marketing and is charged with directing Image's marketing and creative efforts. Image's Vice President, Marketing, Feature Films, John Powers and Vice President, Marketing, New Releases, Nick Lamer will assist DeMille in developing and implementing the company's marketing strategies while Mary Schepis Johnson, Vice President of Creative Services, will continue to oversee the creative design aspects for the Company.
DeMille began his career in New York at Fox Lorber/New Video Group where he was involved in the launch of A&E Home Video in addition to providing marketing and art direction for Fox Lorber branded titles. John Woo's The Killer and Todd Haynes' Poison were among the titles he handled. From Fox Lorber, DeMille went on to co-found A-Pix Entertainment (a division of Unapix Entertainment) where he oversaw all home entertainment marketing for the rental and sell-thru marketplace. Branded content lines included Discovery Channel, Lifetime Home Video and Smithsonian Video products in addition to direct-to-video hits such as Jack Frost. In 2001, DeMille relocated to Los Angeles to oversee home entertainment marketing for First Look Home Entertainment. At First Look he merged the marketing departments of Capital Entertainment and DEJ Productions and oversaw all creative marketing after the merger with Ventura Distribution. DeMille is a graduate of The University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Steve Saltman will serve as Senior Vice President, Domestic Television Sales and is charged with managing Image's North American broadcast sales efforts which include traditional TV, cable, satellite, PPV and VOD formats. Saltman will also be involved with Image's international broadcast efforts and is teamed with Barbara Gomperz-McCarney, Image's Executive Director of International Operations.
Saltman brings to Image over 25 years of experience in entertainment and management, having held executive positions in sales, acquisitions, program development and talent management. Most recently, Saltman served as Vice President, Network and New Media for First Look Studios, responsible for film sales and licensing of all aspects of television, VOD, non-theatrical and new media/digital. Prior to First Look, Saltman worked in the same capacity for DEJ Productions where he served as Vice President, Worldwide Television and New Media.
J. Beck has been hired by Image as Vice President, Acquisitions and joins an established acquisitions team including Bruce Venezia, Vice President, Programming and George Steele III, Vice President, Acquisitions as well as London-based Wendy Rutland, Managing Director, Image UK. Together they will aggressively pursue program acquisitions that encompass all distribution rights and cross multiple genres including feature films, music concerts, comedy specials, television and theatre to name but a few. Beck started his career in New York producing commercials and music videos. In 1997 he relocated to Los Angeles where, after working as an agent trainee at ICM, went on to become the Vice President of Acquisitions for First Look Pictures, where he acquired over fifty films for both theatrical and home entertainment distribution.
“We're really excited to have these gentlemen on board. Collectively they bring Image years of knowledge, experience and expertise, encompassing the most important aspects of feature film production, acquisition and distribution,” stated David Borshell, Image's Chief Operating Officer. “We are making great strides in building our feature film division, one that is extremely competitive with all other independents currently in the marketplace.”
About Image Entertainment:
Image Entertainment, Inc. is a leading independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming in North America, with approximately 3,000 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 250 exclusive CD titles in domestic release and approximately 450 programs internationally via sublicense agreements. For many of its titles, the Company has exclusive audio and broadcast rights and, through its subsidiary Egami Media, Inc., has digital download rights to approximately 2,000 video programs and over 250 audio programs containing more than 4,000 tracks. The Company is headquartered in Chatsworth, California. For more information about Image Entertainment, Inc., please go to www.image-entertainment.com.
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