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Propaganda Films

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For the film genre, see propaganda film.

Propaganda Films
Company typeSubsidiary
Industry
  • Film
  • Television
  • Music
Founded1986; 38 years ago (1986)
Founders
Defunct2002 (2002)
FateClosed
Successors
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
United States
Products
  • Feature films
  • Television series
  • Music videos
  • Commercials
Owner
Parent

Propaganda Films (stylized as PЯOPAGAИDA FILMS) was an American production company specializing in television commercials and music videos, founded in 1986 by producers Steve Golin and Sigurjón Sighvatsson and directors David Fincher, Nigel Dick, Dominic Sena[1] and Greg Gold.[2] By 1990, the company was producing almost a third of all music videos made in the U.S.[3]

Founding and early work (1986–1990)

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As the name suggests, the production company was founded with the intent to focus on the medium of films; those that Golin and Sighvatsson couldn't get enough financing and creative control for elsewhere. However, in order to create financial stability, the company focused on a base of music video production.[3] The company also branched off into producing television commercials, which along with music videos were considered inherently lesser quality than films. Gold later commented:

We were the first company that wanted to apply the principals of the commercial industry to music videos... [and] we wanted to take the aesthetics of music videos and apply them to commercials.[4]

In addition to revenue from music videos and commercials, Propaganda entered into a deal in 1988 with PolyGram which meant that the Dutch media company would pay for Propaganda's film costs in exchange for part of the film revenues.[3] It was during this era that Propaganda made connections with the likes of David Lynch, who they hired to direct Wild at Heart. They also produced Lynch's television show Twin Peaks.[3]

PolyGram and decline (1991–2002)

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The initial deal with PolyGram, which involved selling them 49% of Propaganda,[4] was intended to bring about financial strength and expanded opportunities. However, Golin and the others realized they needed even more resources to continue making films.

Propaganda Films was fully acquired by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment in 1991.[5] This brought a decrease in creative control, and the budget allocations for films were tightly scrutinized by PolyGram. Nigel Dick later said:

We wanted to do good work and spend a little of the budget, the markup, on a better director of photography or shooting five more rolls of film. When the PolyGram bean counters came in, we didn't get that. 'Where's the markup gone?' That's what we got.[4]

The nineties saw Propaganda produce films of varying success, including Canadian Bacon, The Game, and Being John Malkovich.

They also continued producing popular commercials (such as the "Aaron Burr" Got Milk? commercial)[6] and music videos for the likes of Madonna and Michael Jackson.[7]

In 1998 PolyGram was sold to Seagram, which folded part of PolyGram into Universal and sold the commercial, music video, and management divisions of Propaganda to SCP Equity Partners.[4] Its original version of the film division was sold to Barry Diller's USA Films, which soon subsequently folded.[8]

The management division was subsequently sold to a group led by Sundance Group executive Gary Beer around the same time.[9] The management division reopened a new version of its film division under the leadership of former Phoenix Pictures executive Rick Hess and Trevor Macy in late 1999.[10] By 2000 Sighvatsson had left for Lakeshore Entertainment and Golin had founded Anonymous Content, who had a pact with USA Films, which was one of the companies the original film division of Propaganda had folded.[11][12]

Around the same time, producer Paul Schiff joined the film division of the company.[13] In 2000, the company had struck a deal with Mandolin Entertainment.[14] Also that year, the company secured a deal with Constantin Film to make its joint production venture under the name ProCon Films, who was quickly folded in October 2001.[15][16] The company went defunct in 2002 amidst a decline in the advertising business.[17] Several members joined RAW Entertainment[18] and Catch 23 Entertainment[19] after the company folded, while member Rick Hees joined the Creative Artists Agency.[20]

Notable directors who worked with Propaganda Films

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  • Max and Dania

Partial filmography

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References

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  1. ^ Mottram, James (2006). The Sundance Kids : how the mavericks took back Hollywood. NY: Faber & Faber, Inc. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-86547-967-8. OCLC 148677482.
  2. ^ Barnes, Mike (November 8, 2015). "Greg Gold, Director of '(I've Had) The Time of My Life' Music Video, Dies at 64". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Rohter, Larry (October 15, 1990). "For 2 Producers, Their Way Is the Right Way". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d Linnett, Richard (October 18, 1999). "Creative Focus: Future Shock". AdWeek. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  5. ^ Fabrikant, Geraldine (August 11, 1992). "Polygram to Buy 51% Stake in Interscope's Film Division". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  6. ^ "Got Milk: Aaron Burr (1993)". IMDb. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  7. ^ "With Propaganda Films (Sorted by Year Ascending)". IMDb. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  8. ^ Carver, Martin Peers,Benedict (April 8, 1999). "Barry bags a bundle". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Carver, Benedict (April 9, 1999). "Beer takes over Propaganda talent". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  10. ^ Graser, Marc (October 21, 1999). "Propaganda picks Hess as new prexy". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  11. ^ Mottram, James (2006). The Sundance Kids : how the mavericks took back Hollywood. NY: Faber & Faber, Inc. p. 156. ISBN 978-0-86547-967-8. OCLC 148677482.
  12. ^ Lyons, Charles (November 30, 1999). "USA goes to Golin for pix". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  13. ^ Hayes, Dade (May 12, 2000). "Propaganda names Schiff". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  14. ^ Harris, Dana (November 7, 2000). "Propaganda, Mandolin pact". Variety. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  15. ^ Variety Staff (May 8, 2000). "Constantin, Propaganda pact for pics". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  16. ^ Meza, Ed (October 5, 2001). "ProCon venture expires". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  17. ^ Dunkley, Cathy; Harris, Dana (November 9, 2001). "Propaganda closes". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  18. ^ Harris, Dana (January 24, 2002). "Ex-Propaganda exec gets cooking at RAW". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  19. ^ Harris, Dana (December 4, 2001). "Catch 23 hooks up Dollard". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  20. ^ Brodesser, Claude (January 7, 2002). "CAA bolsters indie action". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  21. ^ "Alberto Bravo Garcia". IMDB. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
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