Alchemy (company)

Film distribution company

Alchemy

Formerly| Millennium Entertainment
Company type| Private
Industry| Film, home entertainment, distribution
Predecessor| First Look Studios
Founded| 2010; 15 years ago (2010)
Defunct| June 30, 2016 (2016-06-30)
Fate| Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation
Successor| FilmRise
Headquarters|

Los Angeles, California

Products| Independent theatrical films, DVD, Blu-ray
Website| www.millenniumentertainment.me

Alchemy (formerly Millennium Entertainment) was an American independent global film distributor based in Los Angeles, California. The company acquired and distributed feature films, television series and specialty programming.[1]

## History

[edit]

Millennium Entertainment was 60% owned by production company Nu Image. Exclusive Media Group owned 20% and Prentice Capital owned the remaining stock.[2] Following its formation in 2010, the company marked its first noteworthy theatrical release in 2011 with Trust, starring Academy Award nominees Clive Owen, Catherine Keener, and Viola Davis.[3] Alchemy owns and operates[1] a film library consisting of over 1,000 titles, including Paris, Je’TAime, Transsiberian, and  Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, as well as the recent titles Elephant White, starring Djimon Hounsou and Kevin Bacon; Shadows and Lies, starring James Franco; and Blitz, starring Jason Statham.

Millennium Entertainment logo

Television series released by Alchemy include The Cosby Show, Baywatch, and A Different World. First Look Studios originally released all eight seasons of The Cosby Show, A Different World, and other shows on DVD, but they eventually filed bankruptcy in 2010.[4][5] Millennium Entertainment acquired all of First Look Studios’ assets, and continued to release them in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and other U.S. Territories.[6] In April 2013, it was announced that Millennium Entertainment would be sold, and an investment company, Salem Partners, would assist in the sale.[2] In August 2014 the company's library and distribution assets had been sold to a consortium consisting of its current management and Virgo Investment Group. The new owners renamed the company Alchemy in January 2015, finally cutting ties to its former sister company Millennium Films.[7]

In July 2015 Alchemy acquired the film distribution assets of ANconnect and the digital film and television distributor Anderson Digital, both divisions of Anderson Media Corporation.[8] The transaction will result in the addition of 40 new employees to the existent 70 and expand the company's catalogue to over 1,300 films and 3,000 TV episodes.[9] In December 2015 Bill Lee exited the company as CEO.[10]

### Bankruptcy

[edit]

In February 2016 Alchemy laid off 40 employees, equaling 40% of the company's entire staff.[11][12] due to liquidity issues.[13] The company began selling off previously acquired films including The Lobster,[14] Free Fire,[15] Mia Madre,[16] 31[17] and Evolution.[18] The Lobster and Free Fire were purchased by A24, while Mia Madre was sold to Music Box Films, 31 to Saban Films and Evolution to IFC Midnight.[19][20][21][22][23] The last of their acquisitions, Zeroville, wasn't released until 2019.[24]

Alchemy filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 30, 2016.[25] All employees were released following the bankruptcy.[26][27]

Alchemy's remaining film library is currently owned by FilmRise.

## Releases

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### TV series

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* Bethenny Ever After
* Baywatch
* The Cosby Show
* A Different World[28]
* Flipping Out
* Guy's Big Bite
* Hell's Kitchen
* The Invisible Man
* Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List
* McMillan & Wife
* Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles
* The Millionaire Matchmaker
* Pregnant In Heels
* The Rachel Zoe Project
* Tabatha Takes Over
* Unsolved Mysteries

### Animated

[edit]

* Arthur! and the Square Knights of the Round Table
* Back To The Jurassic
* Dinky Dog
* Drak Pack
* Khumba
* Wing Commander Academy

## Films

[edit]

* Alpha Males Experiment
* Are You Here
* The Babymakers
* Bernie
* Blitz
* Buck Wild
* Control
* Dead Awake
* Dead Sushi
* The Elephant in the Living Room
* Elephant White
* Elsa & Fred
* Faces in the Crowd
* Fake
* High Road
* Hisss
* The Iceman
* Intruders
* Laddaland
* Life of a King
* Linklater
* The Liquidator
* Little Birds
* A Little Bit of Heaven
* Love
* Moonwalkers
* The Nocturnal
* Persecuted
* Playing Dirty
* Puncture
* Rampart
* Red Lights
* Rob the Mob
* The Runner
* Sacrifice
* Shadows and Lies
* Skin Traffik
* So Undercover
* Spiders
* Stolen
* Straight A's
* Strangerland
* Stuck in Love
* Survivor
* The Taking of Deborah Logan
* Trespass
* Trust
* The Ultimate Yogi
* Upside Down
* The Wedding Weekend
* Welcome to Me
* What Maisie Knew
* It's Alive

## Distributed lines

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* UFC Ultimate Fighting Championship
* Video Asia

## References

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1. ^ a b "Millennium Entertainment Company Profile". Millennium Entertainment. Archived from the original on 19 May 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
2. ^ a b Millennium On The Block; Salem Partners To Handle Sale Of Distribution Unit. Deadline Hollywood (April 22, 2013).
3. ^ "Trust". Millennium Films. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
4. ^ Ofgang, Kenneth. "Court Revives Suit Over Profits From Ving Rhames Movie". Metropolitan News-Enterprise. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
5. ^ "FIRST LOOK MEDIA INC (FIRST:OTC US): Stock Quote & Company Profile - Businessweek". Businessweek. Bloomberg. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
6. ^ "First Look Studios Acquired by Millennium Entertainment". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
7. ^ "Millennium Entertainment Picks a Name: Alchemy". 8 January 2015.
8. ^ The Wrap: "Alchemy Acquires ANconnect and Anderson Digital, Creates Alliance With ARC Entertainment" By Tim Kenneally July 13, 2015
9. ^ Hollywood Reporter: "Alchemy Acquires ANconnect, Anderson Digital and Signs Pact With ARC Entertainment" July 13, 2015
10. ^ Galuppo, Mia (December 7, 2015). "Bill Lee Abruptly Exits as Alchemy CEO". TheHollywoodReporter.com. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
11. ^ McNary, Dave (February 17, 2016). "Indie Distributor Alchemy Hit With 40 Layoffs". Variety.com. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
12. ^ Brooks, Brian; D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 16, 2016). "Alchemy Faces Financial Woes, Slashes Staff & Uncovers "Discrepancies Within Parts Of Its Businesses"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
13. ^ IndieWire: "How the DVD Business Is Destroying Alchemy" By Eric Kohn February 17, 2016
14. ^ McNary, Dave; Seetoodeh, Ramin (May 19, 2015). "Cannes: 'The Lobster' Selling to Alchemy (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
15. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr.; Jaffar, Ali (November 12, 2015). "Alchemy Closes Deal For Ben Wheatley's White-Hot 'Free Fire' – AFM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
16. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 19, 2015). "Alchemy Takes U.S. Rights To Nanni Moretti's 'Mia Madre' – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
17. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 1, 2015). "Alchemy Acquires Rights To Rob Zombie-Directed '31'". Deadline. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
18. ^ Hipes, Patrick (August 13, 2015). "'Evolution', Toronto-Bound Horror Pic, Acquired By Alchemy; 'Somali Project' Docks At Vladar Co". Deadline. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
19. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 1, 2016). "A24 Postpones 'The Lobster' Theatrical Release – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
20. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 10, 2016). "A24 Scoops Up Brie Larson Action Thriller 'Free Fire' In Wake Of Alchemy Financial Turmoil". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
21. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 19, 2016). "Music Box Rescues Nanni Moretti's 'Mia Madre' From Alchemy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
22. ^ Hipes, Patrick; D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 24, 2016). "Rob Zombie's '31' Acquired By Saban Films For September Release". Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
23. ^ Erbland, Kate (March 23, 2016). "IFC Midnight Picks Up Former Alchemy Feature 'Evolution'". IndieWire. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
24. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 1, 2019). "James Franco's Delayed 'Zeroville' Saved By myCinema; Distrib's Slate Includes Julian Fellowes' 'The Chaperone' – CinemaCon". Deadline. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
25. ^ "Alchemy Files For Chapter 7-Names Long List of Creditors". Deadline Hollywood. 7 July 2016.
26. ^ "Alchemy". Retrieved August 7, 2016.
27. ^ McNary, Dave (July 7, 2016). "Alchemy Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Protection". Variety. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
28. ^ "Millennium Entertainment TV Shows". DVD Empire.com. Right Ascension, Inc. Retrieved 5 March 2013.

## External links

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* Official Alchemy LLC website
* YouTube.com: Millennium Entertainment channel