The US production company Propaganda/Satellite Films is severing
its ties with Academy Commercials to launch its own full-service
operation.
The company will be jointly managed by the current executive producer,
Jani Guest, and Richard Packer, the head of television at HHCL &
Partners.
BRW Films, Italy's largest production company, which is in the process
of a flotation, is taking a majority stake in the new venture.
Propaganda expects to open a London office in August with expansion into
Germany and France planned by the end of the year.
"In the beginning we had different aims to Academy, Colin Hickson, the
president of Propaganda, said. "We wanted to establish a presence in the
UK. Now that we have achieved that we want to sign and nurture our own
local talent."
Propaganda has made several attempts to launch in the UK but with little
success. It closed its office in the UK in 1995 after its managing
director, Mark Andrews, quit. Packer was also involved at that time.
In June 1995 a new satellite company, Federation, was set up by former
president Steve Dickstein, but it also failed to make an impact.
In 1998, Propaganda linked up with Academy, which provided UK production
facilities and support for Propaganda's US directors.
The company expects to announce a major signing by the end of the
year.
Its roster of directors includes Spike Jonze, Kuntz & Maguire and Dante
Ariola.
Lizzie Gower, the managing director of Academy, said: "I wish Jani and
Richard every success and I'm sure that it will be a very successful
production company."
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