Lionsgate Adds Second Production Wing to Expanded Motion Picture Group

Lionsgate Adds Second Production Wing to Expanded Motion Picture Group

Alli Shearmur Joins Company As President Of Motion Picture Production

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LIONSGATE(R) (NYSE:LGF) , the leading next generation filmed entertainment studio, today announced that Alli Shearmur will join the company as President of Motion Picture Production. A highly respected production executive and producer, Shearmur served as Co-President of Production at Paramount Studios from 2005 through early 2007 and is currently producing director Doug Liman's latest feature. The announcement was made by Joe Drake, Co-Chief Operating Officer of Lionsgate and President of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.

Shearmur's appointment completes the expansion of Lionsgate's Motion Picture Production wing. The expansion is based on a new structure designed to achieve greater focus on every Lionsgate motion picture and facilitate a broader, more comprehensive reach into the creative community. Under the structure, Shearmur and Lionsgate President of Motion Picture Production Mike Paseornek will head separate entrepreneurial production divisions, each responsible for 6-8 targeted films to fill out Lionsgate's original production slate of 12-16 titles a year. In developing new projects, Shearmur will draw upon her base of marquee filmmaker and talent relationships; and bring to bear her affinity for top-flight material and keen understanding of what audiences want to see, as evidenced in her diverse studio track record that includes the AMERICAN PIE comedies, the Matt Damon/BOURNE franchise and David Fincher's ZODIAC. Paseornek will continue to spearhead the production of the kinds of movies that have been instrumental in defining the Lionsgate brand, such as MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3-D; MY BEST FRIEND'S GIRL, an edgy romantic comedy starring Kate Hudson; and comic-book action fare like THE SPIRIT. Paseornek will also continue growing core talent showcases such as the Tyler Perry and CRANK franchises. Reporting to Shearmur are Jim Miller, Vice President of Motion Picture Production, and Wolfgang Hammer, the newly appointed Vice President of Motion Picture Production. Reporting to Paseornek are John Sacchi, Senior Vice President of Motion Picture Production, and Lisa Ellzey, the newly installed Executive Vice President of Motion Picture Production. Shearmur and Paseornek will both report to Joe Drake.

Said Drake, "As Lionsgate continues to expand, our goal on the motion picture production side is to foster an environment characterized by creativity and focus. We've developed a partnership strategy that maximizes efficiency while providing the ideal setup for two exceptional executives -- Alli Shearmur and Mike Paseornek -- to do what they do best. Alli has superb instincts in developing properties, and she brings a substantial base of talent relationships into the Lionsgate fold. She is a terrific complement to Mike, and together they are going to build upon the formidable infrastructure and brand identity that Mike has already established."

Said Shearmur, "Lionsgate represents the opportunity of a lifetime for me. There is a palpable sense of momentum about this studio, which I think is a testament to its consistently savvy and agile approach to making movies. I look forward to joining this amazing team and developing a film slate with the very highest creative and commercial potential."

Shearmur arrives at Lionsgate as Paseornek and other members of the company's senior management team continue to accelerate its business as a next-generation filmed entertainment company. Having achieved great success with original franchises including the SAW series and the Tyler Perry franchises, Lionsgate is now active in multiple delivery platforms, including television programming, video-on-demand and digital delivery services. Lionsgate entertainment can now be seen not only in movie theatres and on DVD, but also on newer platforms such as FEARNet, the video-on-demand and Internet horror channel. In 2009, Lionsgate will launch a new premium television service with partners Viacom, Paramount Pictures and MGM.

Shearmur is currently producing director Doug Liman's upcoming film, written by Dan Mazeau and starring Jake Gyllenhaal. During her tenure as Co-President of Production of Paramount Pictures, she oversaw the day-to-day development and production of the studio's film slate and literary acquisitions. She spearheaded such productions as THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, STOP LOSS, ZODIAC, DREAMGIRLS, CHARLOTTE'S WEB, NACHO LIBRE and FAILURE TO LAUNCH. Prior to joining Paramount in 2004, Shearmur served as Executive Vice President of Production for Universal Pictures, where she oversaw the development and production of such hits as THE BOURNE SUPREMACY, THE BOURNE IDENTITY, the AMERICAN PIE trilogy, ALONG CAME POLLY, and ERIN BROCKOVICH. From 1994 through 1997, Shearmur was Vice President of Production for Walt Disney Pictures, where she developed and supervised such fit films as GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE. Prior to Disney, Shearmur served as Vice President for Stewart Pictures, where she acquired and helped develop the highly acclaimed children's classic, MADELINE. She had previously served in a variety of positions at Columbia Pictures Entertainment/Sony Pictures, including director of comedy development at Columbia Pictures Television. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Shearmur received a JD degree from USC Law Center and is a member of the California bar.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate is a leading next generation filmed entertainment studio with a major presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company is leveraging its content leadership and marketing expertise through a series of partnerships that include the operation of the highly successful FEARNet branded VOD and Internet horror channel with Sony and Comcast, the recent announcement of the fall 2009 launch of a new premium entertainment channel with partners Viacom, Paramount Pictures and MGM, investment in the leading young men's digital distribution platform Break.com, ownership of the premier independent television syndication company Debmar-Mercury LLC and an alliance with independent filmed entertainment production and distribution company Roadside Attractions. Lionsgate also has forged partnerships with leading content creators, owners and distributors in key territories around the world, including Televisa in the U.S. and Latin America, StudioCanal in the UK, Hoyts and Sony in Australia and Eros International in India.

The Company has generated more than $450 million at the North American theatrical box office in the past year and has released a string of hits, including THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM, TYLER PERRY'S MEET THE BROWNS, THE BANK JOB, RAMBO, THE EYE, SAW IV, TYLER PERRY'S WHY DID I GET MARRIED?, GOOD LUCK CHUCK, 3:10 TO YUMA and WAR, most of which have opened at #1 or #2 at the box office. The Company has also forged leadership positions in television and home entertainment with the production of such critically-acclaimed television series as "Weeds" and "Mad Men," the distribution of "Tyler Perry's House of Payne," "Family Feud," "South Park," "Trivial Pursuit" and "The Dead Zone," among others, and approximately 9% market share and the industry's leading box office-to-DVD conversion rate in home entertainment. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with entrepreneurial innovation and original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.

                          http://www.lionsgate.com/     For further information, contact:     Sarah Greenberg    310-255-3856    sgreenberg@lionsgate.com     For corporate inquiries, please contact:     Peter D. Wilkes    310-255-3726    pwilkes@lionsgate.com  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: cfish@lionsgate.com

Source: Lionsgate

CONTACT: Sarah Greenberg, +1-310-255-3856, sgreenberg@lionsgate.com, or
corporate inquiries, Peter D. Wilkes, +1-310-255-3726, pwilkes@lionsgate.com,
both of Lionsgate

Web site: http://www.lionsgate.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment