Phase 4 Films
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film Animation |
| Predecessor |
|
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Berry Meyerowitz |
| Defunct | 2015 |
| Fate | Folded into Entertainment One |
| Successor | Lionsgate Canada |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario , Canada |
Area served | North America |
Key people | Berry Meyerowitz (President & CEO) |
| Services | |
| Parent | Entertainment One (2014–2015) |
| Subsidiaries | KaBoom! Entertainment Inc. |
Phase 4 Films was a Canadian film distribution company headquartered in Toronto. It had two branches in the U.S.: Los Angeles, California and Fort Mill, South Carolina. Its subsidiary, Kaboom! Entertainment markets children's entertainment with companies such as Corus Entertainment.
History
[edit]Phase 4 Films traces its history to Telegenic, a family-oriented film distributor that was founded in 1996. Berry Meyerowitz purchased Telegenic in 2000 and renamed it as "Kaboom! Entertainment". In 2006, Peace Arch Entertainment Group, which later merged with ContentFilm, purchased Kaboom!. Berry Meyerowitz founded Phase 4 Films in April 2009 when he bought back their North American distribution business.[1]
In 2011, Phase 4 announced a new Canadian television venture along with Take 5 Development.[2] In 2012, they partnered with Kevin Smith's SModcast Pictures to distribute those films in the U.S. and Canada.[3] Phase 4 acquired ESI Distribution in 2014 and signed distribution deals with The Criterion Collection and Shout! Factory.[4] On June 2, 2014, Phase 4 Films itself was acquired by Entertainment One.[5]
Trademark infringement lawsuit
[edit]In 2013, Phase 4 acquired the rights to the Canadian animated feature The Legend of Sarila for distribution in the U.S. Instead of releasing it as the creators intended, Phase 4 adjusted the title to Frozen Land, then focused its marketing around text and disc art like that of Disney's Frozen, in addition to trailers and promotions casting it as resembling Frozen, though the film's story actually drew its inspiration early 20th century Inuit culture and had no resemblance to Frozen whatsover. In late December 2013, Disney filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Phase 4 in California federal court, seeking an injunction against the continued distribution of Frozen Land in the U.S.[6][7] Disney alleged that less than three weeks prior to the release of its animated feature film Frozen, Phase 4 Films theatrically released The Legend of Sarila, which garnered "minimal box office revenues and received no significant attention."
To trade off the success of Disney's animated film and "[t]o enhance the commercial success of Sarila, the defendant redesigned the artwork, packaging, logo, and other promotional materials for its newly (and intentionally misleadingly) retitled film to mimic those used by [Disney] for Frozen and related merchandise."[8] While film titles cannot be trademarked by law, Disney cited a number of alleged similarities between the new Phase 4's Frozen Land logo and Disney's original one.[9][10]
By late January 2014, the two companies had settled the case; the settlement stated that the distribution and promotion of The Legend of Sarila and related merchandise must use its original title and Phase 4 must not use trademarks, logos or other designs confusingly similar to Disney's animated release.[10][11][12] Phase 4 was also required to pay Disney $100,000 until January 27, 2014, and make "all practicable efforts" to remove copies of Frozen Land from stores and online distributors until March 3, 2014.[10][11]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Movie | US | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | American Milkshake | DVD | |
| Darkroom | |||
| Miss Meadows | |||
| Not Human | __ | DVD | |
| Walter | DVD | ||
| 2014 | Alien Uprising | DVD/Blu-ray | |
| Butcher Boys | DVD | ||
| Some Girl(s) | |||
| Legacy of Rage | __ | DVD | |
| A Country Christmas | DVD | ||
| A Merry Friggin' Christmas | all media | ||
| Saturday Morning Massacre | __ | DVD | |
| Switchmas | DVD | ||
| Brazilian Western | __ | DVD/Blu-ray | |
| Fort Bliss | DVD | ||
| Black Rock | |||
| Palo Alto | all media | ||
| Come Morning | video-on-demand | ||
| Jamesy Boy | all media | ||
| Agent F.O.X. | |||
| The Culture High | |||
| Bucksville | |||
| 2013 | Otto the Rhino | DVD | |
| The Jungle Book: Return 2 The Jungle | |||
| The Jungle Book | |||
| Compulsion | all media | ||
| I Declare War | __ | all media | |
| The Crash Reel | all media | ||
| The Dirties | DVD | iTunes and Website | |
| The Black Dahlia Haunting | video-on-demand | all media | |
| Assault on Wall Street | Direct-to-DVD | ||
| Eden | Theatrical | __ | |
| An Easter Bunny Puppy | DVD | ||
| A Talking Cat!?! | |||
| Caroline and Jackie | all media | ||
| 2012 | A Christmas Puppy | DVD | __ |
| Extracted[13] | all media | all media | |
| Backwards | __ | ||
| My Awkward Sexual Adventure | |||
| Heathens and Thieves | all media | ||
| Alter Egos | __ | ||
| Sushi Girl | theatrical | all media | |
| Parasitic | __ | DVD | |
| Smitty | DVD/TV | ||
| See Girl Run | __ | TV | |
| Electrick Children | theatrical | theatrical | |
| That's What She Said | __ | ||
| Barrio Tales | all media | __ | |
| Tetherball | |||
| A Good Funeral | |||
| Bindlestiffs[14] | __ | theatrical | |
| House Hunting | DVD | __ | |
| A Little Bit of Faith | all media | ||
| Ivan the Incredible | DVD | ||
| 2011 | The Voyages of Young Doctor Dolittle | ||
| In the Name of the King: Two Worlds | __ | DVD/Blu-ray | |
| Chick Magnet | all media | all media | |
| Blubberella | __ | ||
| Horrid Henry: The Movie | |||
| Flesh Wounds | all media | ||
| Hopelessly in June | __ | ||
| Mayor Cupcake | all media | ||
| Lucky | theatrical | __ | |
| Rid of Me | __ | theatrical | |
| The Legend of Hell's Gate: An American Conspiracy | all media | __ | |
| Knockout | theatrical | ||
| Absentia | DVD | ||
| Another Happy Day | theatrical | ||
| Red State | __ | all media | |
| Budz House | DVD | DVD | |
| Doggie B | theatrical | __ | |
| Kiss the Bride | all media | ||
| Open Gate | all media | __ | |
| Contract Killers | __ | DVD | |
| Kill Katie Malone | all media | __ | |
| Sweet Karma | __ | DVD | |
| Dear Lemon Lima | theatrical | __ | |
| Stories USA | DVD | DVD | |
| Lost Colony: The Legend of Roanoke | __ | ||
| The Wild Soccer Bunch 2 | |||
| Grizzly Park | |||
| Freddy Frogface | DVD | ||
| 2010 | Looking for Jackie | __ | |
| God Send Me a Man | all media | ||
| Veronika Decides to Die | video | ||
| The Tomb | DVD | ||
| Crush | all media | ||
| Deadland | DVD | ||
| Kikkerdril | |||
| Ultimate Heist | |||
| Finding Bliss | theatrical | ||
| The Killing Room | __ | DVD | |
| Bloodrayne: The Third Reich | all media | ||
| Caged Animal | DVD | __ | |
| Terror Trap | all media | all media | |
| Hanna's Gold | __ | ||
| Love & Distrust | all media | ||
| Supreme Champion | |||
| Nic & Tristan Go Mega Dega | |||
| Road Kill | DVD | __ | |
| The Dead Undead | all media | ||
| Enemies Among Us | all media | ||
| My Babysitter’s a Vampire: The Movie | __ | DVD (Uncut Release) | |
| Harm's Way | DVD | __ | |
| Vidal Sassoon: The Movie | all media | ||
| The Final Storm | DVD | ||
| What Would Jesus Do? | all media | ||
| Good Intentions | video | __ | |
| Freestyle | theatrical | ||
| Order of Chaos | DVD | ||
| Let God Be the Judge | all media | ||
| Machete Joe | all media | ||
| The Freebie | theatrical | __ | |
| Drones | all media | all media | |
| American Maniacs | video | __ | |
| Gnomes and Trolls: The Forest Trial | all media | ||
| Journey to Promethea | |||
| Nexus | |||
| Perfect Life | video | __ | |
| Scar | all media | ||
| Wushu Warrior | |||
| Cornered! | __ | DVD | |
| Attack on Darfur | theatrical/DVD | __ | |
| Don't You Forget About Me | DVD | ||
| Dead Man Running | all media | all media | |
| Brotherhood | DVD | ||
| Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel | |||
| Forget Me Not | all media | ||
| The Nutcrackers | __ | ||
| Rampage | DVD | DVD | |
| Outrage: Born in Terror | theatrical | __ | |
| I Do & I Don't | DVD | ||
| Bob and Margaret | |||
| Among Dead Men | all media | all media | |
| Adventures of Power | __ | ||
| 2009 | The No Sit List | ||
| Luke and Lucy: The Texas Rangers | all media | ||
| Poker Run | __ | ||
| Booky's Crush | all media | ||
| Adopted | |||
| All American Orgy | |||
| Red Hook | |||
| Fifty Dead Men Walking | __ | ||
| Rigged | DVD | ||
| Baby Blues | |||
| Fling | DVD | ||
| JCVD | __ | ||
| Paraiso Travel | theatrical | ||
| Rock the Paint | __ | ||
| Familiar Strangers | DVD | __ | |
| 2008 | Disco Worms | ||
| A Christmas Proposal | all media | ||
| Christmas Town | |||
| At Jesus' Side | |||
| The Coverup | |||
| Goat Story | |||
| The Missing Lynx | theatrical | __ | |
| XIII: The Conspiracy | __ | ||
| The Poker House | all media | ||
| House of Fallen | |||
| Garrison | |||
| Guns | |||
| Sticks and Stones | |||
| 2007 | Booky & the Secret Santa | all media | __ |
| Where Is Winky's Horse? | all media | ||
| Hack! | DVD | __ | |
| Ten Inch Hero | all media | ||
| The Big Slice | DVD | __ | |
| 2006 | A Crime | ||
| Guilty Hearts | all media | ||
| 2005 | Buckaroo: The Movie | ||
| Wheelmen | |||
| 2003 | The Wild Soccer Bunch | ||
| 2001 | The Last Brickmaker in America | ||
References
[edit]- ^ Goldstein, Gary (July 16, 2011). "Distrib exec's latest Phase borders on rebirth". Variety. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ Kilday, Gregg (September 5, 2011). "Take 5 Productions and Phase 4 Films Launch New TV Venture, Take 5 Development". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ McNary, Dave (January 23, 2012). "Phase 4, Kevin Smith partner". Variety. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ Kay, Jeremy (January 27, 2014). "Phase 4 acquires ESI". Screen Daily. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "eOne acquires Phase 4 Films". Deadline Hollywood. June 2, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
- ^ Koch, Dave (December 28, 2013). "Disney Acts To Freeze Out Competition". Big Cartoon News. Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
- ^ Amidi, Amid (29 December 2013). "Disney Files Trademark Lawsuit Over "Frozen Land"". Cartoon Brew. Cartoon Brew, LLC. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ Gardner, Eriq (24 December 2013). "Disney Files Trademark Lawsuit Over 'Frozen Land' Film". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ Koch, Dave (28 December 2013). "Disney Acts To Freeze Out Competition". Big Cartoon News. Big Cartoon DataBase. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ a b c Burgin, Jack (18 January 2014). "Walt Disney Settles Trademark Lawsuit over "Frozen"". WDW Info. Werner Technologies, LLC. Archived from the original on 25 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ a b Gardner, Eriq (22 January 2014). "Disney Lawsuit Ices 'Frozen Land' Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (27 January 2014). "Phase 4 Films settles Frozen Land lawsuit with Disney". Playback. Brunico Communications Ltd. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ Kit, Borys (May 5, 2012). "Sci-Fi Thriller 'Extracted' to be Distributed by Phase 4 Films". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ Sneider, Jeff (March 9, 2012). "Phase 4 Films snags rights to 'Bindlestiffs'". Variety. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
External links
[edit]
| Authority control databases: People |
|---|
- Mass media companies established in 1996
- 2014 mergers and acquisitions
- Lionsgate Canada
- Former Lionsgate subsidiaries
- Film distributors of Canada
- Film distributors of the United States
- Defunct film and television production companies of the United States
- Defunct film and television production companies of Canada
- Companies based in Toronto
- Defunct companies of Ontario
- Mass media companies disestablished in 2015