Walden Media

Walden Media, LLC
Film Financing
Publishing Company
Industry Film
Founded 2001 (2001)
Founder Micheal Flaherty
Cary Granat
Headquarters Los Angeles, California
Key people
 Frank Smith
(President & CEO)
Naia Cucukov
(SVP, Development & Production)
Philip Anschutz
(owner)
Parent Anschutz Entertainment Group
Divisions Walden Pond Press
Website walden.com

Walden Media, LLC or Walden Media is an American film investor, distributor, and publishing company best known as the producers of The Chronicles of Narnia series. Its films are based on notable classic or award-winning children's literature, compelling biographies or historical events, as well as documentaries and some original screenplays.

The corporate headquarters of Walden Media are located in Los Angeles, California.

Company history

Walden Media was founded in 2001 by Micheal Flaherty and Cary Granat. Granat was president of Miramax's Dimension Films division, and Flaherty came from the world of education.[1] The two were housemates at Tufts University before following different paths and then reuniting to form Walden Media[2] as a movie, television, publishing and Internet enterprise whose goal is to teach and entertain kids.

The company's notable releases include Holes in 2003, Because of Winn-Dixie in 2005, Charlotte's Web in 2006, Bridge to Terabithia, in 2007, three adaptations of The Chronicles of Narnia in 2005, 2008 and 2010, Ramona and Beezus in 2010, and both A Dog's Purpose and Wonder in 2017.[3] All of these films are adaptations of popular children's books.

Walden Media's publishing enterprise, Walden Pond Press, publishes the next generation of middle grade books—fast paced, funny, engaging, compulsively readable stories by well-established authors and new talent.[4] The two marked characteristics of the imprint are its high quality titles and its embrace of a multi-platform approach to storytelling. From 2004-2008, Walden Media published books in partnership with Penguin Books for Young Readers.

The company is owned by the Christian conservative Philip Anschutz, who has said he expects their movies "to be entertaining, but also to be life affirming and to carry a moral message."[5]

Education program

Walden Media is unique among film production and distribution companies in that it works with teachers, museums, and national organizations to develop supplemental educational programs and materials associated with its films and the original events and/or novels that inspire the films.[6]

Walden Media offers in-class teaching tools like educational guides and teacher kits[7] and sponsors seminars and forums for teachers to discuss their craft and to trade ideas on using media in the classroom. Directors, writers, and stars of the productions participate in these events.

In 2006, Walden Media sponsored the "Break the World Reading Record with Charlotte's Web". At noon on Wednesday, December 13, 547,826 readers in 2,451 locations, 50 states and 28 countries read an excerpt from Charlotte's Web, breaking the world record of 155,528 students from 737 schools in the United Kingdom who read William Wordsworth's poem, "Daffodils" in 2004.[8]

The company is named after Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Its logo is a rock skipping across a pond.

Filmography

Films Release date Co-produced with
Ghosts of the Abyss April 11, 2003 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures, Earthship Productions, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Golden Village, Telepool and UGC PH
Holes April 18, 2003 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures, Phoenix Pictures and Chicago Pacific Entertainment
Around the World in 80 Days June 16, 2004 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures, Spanknyce Films, and Mostow/Lieberman Productions
I Am David December 3, 2004 co-production with Lionsgate and Film and General
Because of Winn-Dixie February 18, 2005 co-production with 20th Century Fox
Aliens of the Deep January 28, 2005 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures and Earthship Productions
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe December 9, 2005 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures
Hoot May 5, 2006 co-produced by New Line Cinema and The Kennedy/Marshall Company
How to Eat Fried Worms August 25, 2006 co-production with New Line Cinema and Gran Via Productions
Charlotte's Web December 15, 2006 co-production with Paramount Pictures, The K Entertainment Company, and Nickelodeon Movies
Bridge to Terabithia February 16, 2007 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures
The Seeker: The Dark is Rising October 5, 2007 co-production with 20th Century Fox
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium November 16, 2007 co-production with 20th Century Fox, Mandate Pictures and FilmColony
The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep December 25, 2007 co-production with Columbia Pictures, Revolution Studios, Strike Entertainment, Ecosse Films, Weta Workshop and Beacon Pictures
Nim's Island April 4, 2008 co-production with 20th Century Fox
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian May 16, 2008 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures
Journey to the Center of the Earth July 11, 2008 co-production with New Line Cinema
City of Ember October 10, 2008 co-production with 20th Century Fox and Playtone
Bandslam August 14, 2009 co-produced by Summit Entertainment
Tooth Fairy January 22, 2010 co-production with 20th Century Fox, Mayhem Pictures, Blumhouse Productions and Dune Entertainment
Ramona and Beezus July 23, 2010 co-production with 20th Century Fox, Di Novi Pictures and Dune Entertainment
Waiting for "Superman" September 24, 2010 co-production with Paramount Vantage and Participant Media
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader December 10, 2010 co-production with 20th Century Fox and Dune Entertainment
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island February 10, 2012 co-production with Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema and Contrafilm
Tooth Fairy 2 March 6, 2012 co-production with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Won't Back Down September 28, 2012 co-production with 20th Century Fox and Gran Via Productions
Chasing Mavericks October 26, 2012 co-production with 20th Century Fox
Parental Guidance December 25, 2012 co-production with 20th Century Fox, Chernin Entertainment, Face Productions and Dune Entertainment
Return to Nim's Island March 15, 2013 co-production with ARC Entertainment
The Giver August 15, 2014 co-production with The Weinstein Company
Everest September 18, 2015 co-production with Universal Pictures, Cross Creek Pictures, and Working Title Films
The BFG July 1, 2016 co-production with Walt Disney Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Reliance Entertainment and The Kennedy/Marshall Company
The Resurrection of Gavin Stone January 20, 2017 co-production with Blumhouse Tilt, WWE Studios, and Vertical Church Films
A Dog's Purpose January 27, 2017 co-production with Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Reliance Entertainment, and Pariah Entertainment Group
Wonder November 17, 2017 co-production with Lionsgate, Participant Media, and Mandeville Films
The Star co-production with Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Affirm Films, Franklin Entertainment, and The Jim Henson Company[9]

Upcoming

Films Release date Co-produced with
A Dog's Journey May 17, 2019 Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment
Dora the Explorer August 2, 2019 Paramount Players and Nickelodeon Movies
Monster on the Hill[10] 2020 Paramount Animation and Reel FX
How the Girl Guides Won the War[11] TBA Lionsgate
Billion Dollar Spy[12] Weed Road Pictures

Published books

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PENGUIN BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS

  • The White Giraffe by Lauren St John
  • Paddywhack Lane by Bob Fuller
  • Jim Thorpe: Original All American by Joseph Bruchac
  • Simon Bloom, the Gravity Keeper by Michael Reisman
  • Simon Bloom: The Octopus Effect by Michael Reisman
  • Savvy by Ingrid Law
  • Scumble by Ingrid Law
  • Dolphin Song by Lauren St. John
  • Mike Lupica's Comeback Kid Book Series: Two-Minute Drill by Mike Lupica
  • Mike Lupica's Comeback Kid Book Series: Safe at Home by Mike Lupica
  • Mike Lupica's Comeback Kid Book Series: Hot Hand by Mike Lupica
  • Mike Lupica's Comeback Kid Book Series: Shoot Out by Mike Lupica
  • Dolphin Song Lauren St. John
  • The Last Leopard by Lauren St. John
  • The Elephant's Tale by Lauren St. John
  • Raspberries by Jay O'Callahan
  • Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
  • Max Cassidy: Escape from Shadow Island by Paul Adam

References

  1. ↑ "Who we are". Walden Media
  2. ↑ Jensen, Jeff. "The Family Business". Entertainment Weekly, 28 April 2006: 58–61.
  3. ↑ Between Hollywood and Godlywood: the Case of Walden Media by Nathalie Dupont, Peter Lang, 2015
  4. ↑ HarperCollins Children's Imprints
  5. ↑ Berkowitz, Bill. "The movie, the media, and the conservative politics of Philip Anschutz". Media Transparency, 2 December 2005.
  6. ↑ ""Our Company"". Walden Media. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007.
  7. ↑ Deahl, Rachel. "Walden Media Works to Make Moviegoers Readers". Publishers Weekly, 16 January 2006.
  8. ↑ Toomey, Shamus. "I've Never Broken a World Record". Chicago Sun-Times, 14 December 2006.
  9. ↑ "The Star - Official Site - Sony Pictures".
  10. ↑ Dave Mcnary. "Paramount Grows Its Animation Slate With 'Monster on the Hill,'". Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  11. ↑ Anita Busch (March 13, 2018). "Lionsgate Options 'Girl Guides' Book For Producer Marc Platt & Walden Media; Screenwriter Hired To Adapt". Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  12. ↑ Dave Mcnary (March 15, 2018). "Amma Asante to Direct 'Billion Dollar Spy' Film Adaptation". Retrieved May 9, 2018.
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