Bill Mechanic
Encyclopedia
Bill Mechanic was chairman and chief executive officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment
from 1994 to 2000. He oversaw all operations of the studio including worldwide feature film production, marketing and distribution activities; as well as all worldwide operations for Fox Video, Fox Interactive, Licensing and Merchandising, and Fox Music. As a result of his leadership, in 1998 Twentieth Century Fox was the number-one studio in worldwide box-office gross. That same year, Fox Music produced five of the top ten selling soundtracks: Titanic, Hope Floats, Doctor Dolittle, Bulworth, and Ally McBeal. In addition, during his reign the studio produced six of the top ten grossing movies of all time and six of the top ten selling live-action videos-both domestically and internationally-including the best-selling video in history, Titanic. Fox produced the number-one grossing films worldwide in 1995, 1996 and 1997 with Die Hard with a Vengeance, Independence Day and Titanic. In all, the studio earned 72 Oscar nominations including 5 Best Picture nominations under his management.
During his tenure at Fox, the company significantly expanded its production capacity by creating four film divisions-Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000, Fox Searchlight Pictures, and Fox Family Films. Among the hit films produced under his supervision were: Cast Away, Best Picture Academy Award winner Titanic, X-Men, Academy Award winner Moulin Rouge, Independence Day, Ice Age, Fight Club, Entrapment, Big Momma's House, Minority Report, What Lies Beneath, Planet of the Apes, Men of Honor, Sexy Beast, Never Been Kissed, There's Something About Mary, Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition, Best Picture Academy Award winner Braveheart, Academy Award winner Boys Don't Cry, Quills, Mrs. Doubtfire, Speed, True Lies, Die Hard with a Vengeance, The Full Monty, Dr. Dolittle, The X-Files, Me, Myself & Irene, The Thin Red Line, Ever After, William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet, Broken Arrow, Courage Under Fire, Soul Food, Anastasia and Waiting to Exhale.
Under Mechanic, the studio also released Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, the new chapter in George Lucas' epic saga, in 1999.
Mechanic came to Fox from the Walt Disney Studios, where he served as president of international distribution and worldwide video, overseeing international theatrical, worldwide home video, and worldwide pay television. He began at Disney in 1984, subsequently building its home-video units both in the United States and overseas from minor industry players to nearly double the size of their nearest competitors. The division grew from $30 million in revenue to over $3 billion and notched the majority of the all-time best-selling video. Mechanic pioneered the concept of direct sales to mass merchants, which has become an important part of the home entertainment business today.
One of Mechanic's critical moves was when he ended a five-year relationship between Disney and Warner Bros. for the overseas distribution of the Disney studio's theatrical product and set up BVI, the first completely new international theatrical distribution organization in more than three decades. In its first full year of operation, the unit became the industry's #1 Distributor. It was the first completely new international theatrical distribution organization in more than three decades.
Mechanic had also served as both senior vice president of Walt Disney Home Video and vice president of pay television sales for the Walt Disney Company. During this period, he also oversaw network specials for Disney Television that received several Emmy Awards nominations.
Before joining Disney in 1984, Mechanic held the position of vice president of pay TV and post-theatrical markets for Paramount and senior creative executive at Paramount Pictures
. From 1978 to 1982 he worked for Select TV Programming Inc., as vice president of programming.
Mechanic serves on the board of counselors for USC Film School, and the Board of National Film Theatre American Friends. He has also served on the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
. He has been honored with the Showman of the Year Award by the Producers Guild of America; is in the Video Hall of Fame; and has received a Crystal Award from Women in Film. He has also been president of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival, and chairman of the international jury at the Venice International Film Festival.
Currently, Mechanic is producing movies through his independent production company, Pandemonium Films. The Coraline producer recently gave the keynote speech at the annual Independent Film & Television Alliance Production Conference. Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman will produce the 82nd Academy Awards
. The Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre, and televised live by the ABC Television Network.
Bill Mechanic graduated from Michigan State University
in 1973 with a degree in English.
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
from 1994 to 2000. He oversaw all operations of the studio including worldwide feature film production, marketing and distribution activities; as well as all worldwide operations for Fox Video, Fox Interactive, Licensing and Merchandising, and Fox Music. As a result of his leadership, in 1998 Twentieth Century Fox was the number-one studio in worldwide box-office gross. That same year, Fox Music produced five of the top ten selling soundtracks: Titanic, Hope Floats, Doctor Dolittle, Bulworth, and Ally McBeal. In addition, during his reign the studio produced six of the top ten grossing movies of all time and six of the top ten selling live-action videos-both domestically and internationally-including the best-selling video in history, Titanic. Fox produced the number-one grossing films worldwide in 1995, 1996 and 1997 with Die Hard with a Vengeance, Independence Day and Titanic. In all, the studio earned 72 Oscar nominations including 5 Best Picture nominations under his management.
During his tenure at Fox, the company significantly expanded its production capacity by creating four film divisions-Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000, Fox Searchlight Pictures, and Fox Family Films. Among the hit films produced under his supervision were: Cast Away, Best Picture Academy Award winner Titanic, X-Men, Academy Award winner Moulin Rouge, Independence Day, Ice Age, Fight Club, Entrapment, Big Momma's House, Minority Report, What Lies Beneath, Planet of the Apes, Men of Honor, Sexy Beast, Never Been Kissed, There's Something About Mary, Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition, Best Picture Academy Award winner Braveheart, Academy Award winner Boys Don't Cry, Quills, Mrs. Doubtfire, Speed, True Lies, Die Hard with a Vengeance, The Full Monty, Dr. Dolittle, The X-Files, Me, Myself & Irene, The Thin Red Line, Ever After, William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet, Broken Arrow, Courage Under Fire, Soul Food, Anastasia and Waiting to Exhale.
Under Mechanic, the studio also released Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, the new chapter in George Lucas' epic saga, in 1999.
Mechanic came to Fox from the Walt Disney Studios, where he served as president of international distribution and worldwide video, overseeing international theatrical, worldwide home video, and worldwide pay television. He began at Disney in 1984, subsequently building its home-video units both in the United States and overseas from minor industry players to nearly double the size of their nearest competitors. The division grew from $30 million in revenue to over $3 billion and notched the majority of the all-time best-selling video. Mechanic pioneered the concept of direct sales to mass merchants, which has become an important part of the home entertainment business today.
One of Mechanic's critical moves was when he ended a five-year relationship between Disney and Warner Bros. for the overseas distribution of the Disney studio's theatrical product and set up BVI, the first completely new international theatrical distribution organization in more than three decades. In its first full year of operation, the unit became the industry's #1 Distributor. It was the first completely new international theatrical distribution organization in more than three decades.
Mechanic had also served as both senior vice president of Walt Disney Home Video and vice president of pay television sales for the Walt Disney Company. During this period, he also oversaw network specials for Disney Television that received several Emmy Awards nominations.
Before joining Disney in 1984, Mechanic held the position of vice president of pay TV and post-theatrical markets for Paramount and senior creative executive at Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
. From 1978 to 1982 he worked for Select TV Programming Inc., as vice president of programming.
Mechanic serves on the board of counselors for USC Film School, and the Board of National Film Theatre American Friends. He has also served on the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
. He has been honored with the Showman of the Year Award by the Producers Guild of America; is in the Video Hall of Fame; and has received a Crystal Award from Women in Film. He has also been president of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival, and chairman of the international jury at the Venice International Film Festival.
Currently, Mechanic is producing movies through his independent production company, Pandemonium Films. The Coraline producer recently gave the keynote speech at the annual Independent Film & Television Alliance Production Conference. Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman will produce the 82nd Academy Awards
82nd Academy Awards
The 82nd Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , honored the best films of 2009 and took place March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST. The ceremony was scheduled well after...
. The Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre, and televised live by the ABC Television Network.
Bill Mechanic graduated from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1973 with a degree in English.