Paramount taps Weston as co-president of production
Weston to Par
April 26, 2005
Brad Weston has been confirmed as co-president of production for Paramount Pictures. Weston, who was co-president of the Miramax label Dimension Films, will oversee day-to-day development and production of the studio's annual slate of films and literary acquisitions along with fellow co-president Alli Shearmur, who was appointed earlier this month. Weston will report to Paramount Pictures president Gail Berman.
"I am pleased to bring an executive of Brad's caliber to the studio and to have forged, along with co-head Alli Shearmur, one of the strongest production teams in the business," said Paramount Pictures chairman and CEO Brad Grey, who made the announcement Monday. "Brad has strong creative instincts and a tremendous track record in film that truly speaks for itself. ... I can't wait to see what Brad and Alli's combined and highly complementary strengths will deliver for the studio."
As co-president of Dimension Films, Weston oversaw the development of a number of high-profile film and video releases for the studio, working closely with such directors as Robert Rodriguez and Wes Craven. Prior to that, Weston was head of acquisitions and development at Millennium Films from 1997-2000.
"I am excited to partner with Alli in building a great slate of films for Paramount," Weston said. "Aided by Brad Grey and Gail Berman's talented leadership, I look forward to developing compelling projects at this important time in the life of the studio."
The development, which was widely expected, is part of a major overhaul of Paramount's upper management echelons, which began with the appointment of Grey as successor to former Paramount head Sherry Lansing last month. Grey then tapped former Fox Broadcasting entertainment chief Berman to replace Paramount production head Donald De Line, beginning Sunday. In turn, Shearmur and Weston are, in effect, replacing Tom Jacobson and Karen Rosenfelt. Rosenfelt was co-president of production and has left the studio; Jacobson, who had served as co-president of Paramount Pictures, is negotiating an overall production deal at the studio. De Line, meanwhile, is setting up a new production deal at Warner Bros. Pictures, while stalwart Paramount producer Scott Rudin also is leaving the studio to set up shop at the Walt Disney Studios.
"I am pleased to bring an executive of Brad's caliber to the studio and to have forged, along with co-head Alli Shearmur, one of the strongest production teams in the business," said Paramount Pictures chairman and CEO Brad Grey, who made the announcement Monday. "Brad has strong creative instincts and a tremendous track record in film that truly speaks for itself. ... I can't wait to see what Brad and Alli's combined and highly complementary strengths will deliver for the studio."
As co-president of Dimension Films, Weston oversaw the development of a number of high-profile film and video releases for the studio, working closely with such directors as Robert Rodriguez and Wes Craven. Prior to that, Weston was head of acquisitions and development at Millennium Films from 1997-2000.
"I am excited to partner with Alli in building a great slate of films for Paramount," Weston said. "Aided by Brad Grey and Gail Berman's talented leadership, I look forward to developing compelling projects at this important time in the life of the studio."
The development, which was widely expected, is part of a major overhaul of Paramount's upper management echelons, which began with the appointment of Grey as successor to former Paramount head Sherry Lansing last month. Grey then tapped former Fox Broadcasting entertainment chief Berman to replace Paramount production head Donald De Line, beginning Sunday. In turn, Shearmur and Weston are, in effect, replacing Tom Jacobson and Karen Rosenfelt. Rosenfelt was co-president of production and has left the studio; Jacobson, who had served as co-president of Paramount Pictures, is negotiating an overall production deal at the studio. De Line, meanwhile, is setting up a new production deal at Warner Bros. Pictures, while stalwart Paramount producer Scott Rudin also is leaving the studio to set up shop at the Walt Disney Studios.
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