Dean Wilson Named COO of First Look Studios

Dean Wilson Named COO of First Look Studios

LOS ANGELES, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- First Look Studios announced today that it has appointed seasoned entertainment executive, Dean Wilson, as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the First Look Studios. Wilson will report to Trevor Short, CEO of First Look Studios and Avi Lerner, Co-Chairman of First Look Holdings, which acquired control of First Look Studios in February 2007. First Look Holdings is owned by Nu Image and Henry Winterstern.

(Photo:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070430/LAM086 )

With more than 20 years of experience in the film industry, Wilson most recently served as head of new business development for Blockbuster Inc. with responsibility for the company's alternative movie distribution strategy. He joined Blockbuster in 1995 and during his career with the video rental giant held a variety of positions, both domestically and internationally, including Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, worldwide, where he was responsible for global studio relationships. He was also one of the founders of DEJ Productions, a film acquisition and distribution subsidiary of Blockbuster, which was sold to First Look Studios in 2005. Prior to Blockbuster Wilson was employed by Trans World Entertainment, a music and video retailer.

In his new position, Wilson will be responsible for the marketing, sale, acquisition and distribution of First Look's product lines, which include First Look's film acquisitions, its existing catalogue of over 1000 titles, and exclusive distribution properties such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Video Asia and Big Vision.

"Dean brings exactly the right blend of talents to this position," said Avi Lerner. "He understands the film acquisition, financing and production side of the business, but also has extensive experience in the global distribution and marketing of movies, a thorough knowledge of the new and future movie distribution technologies, and he is widely known and respected inside the business. His expertise will help to streamline the business of First Look and also help Nu Image and Millennium to produce films specifically to meet First Look's sales and marketing requirements."

"I have tremendous respect for Avi, Trevor, Danny, Henry and all the principals behind Nu Image/Millennium and First Look and I am excited to be joining the First Look group at this point in its development," said Wilson. "I look forward to leading First Look's efforts to gain the widest possible distribution for all our film properties."

Lerner founded Nu Image in 1992 as a film production company and Millennium Films three years later. Nu Image/Millennium Films produces 15 to 20 films a year and has a library of about 300 titles. First Look's operations include theatrical releasing, video and DVD operations, television distribution and branded entertainment. Nu Image handles foreign sales of First Look titles.

Photo: NewsCom:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070430/LAM086
AP Archive:

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Source: First Look Studios

CONTACT: Elizabeth Wolfe, Vice President, Publicity of First Look
Studios, +1-424-202-5062, or mobile, +1-818-371-0697

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