Fireworks Entertainment

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Fireworks Entertainment
IndustryTelevision and film production and distribution
Founded1991 as SkyVision Entertainment, 1996 as Fireworks Pictures, 2005 as Fireworks Entertainment
DefunctMarch 14, 2011
FateName changed to Content Television
HeadquartersOriginally Canada then United Kingdom from 2005
Key people
Jay Firestone
ParentContent Media Corporation PLC

Fireworks Entertainment (originally Skyvision Entertainment) was an independent studio originally founded in 1991 by Brian K. Ross and later bought out by Jay Firestone in 1996 to produce, distribute and finance television shows and feature films.[1]

Skyvision Entertainment was originally operating as a division of John Labatt Entertainment Group.[2]

In 1993, Orion Pictures inked an agreement with Skyvision Entertainment to handle series rights to the RoboCop franchise.[3] Also that year, it entered into an agreement with Rigel Entertainment for international distribution rights to RoboCop: The Series.[4]

In 1996, Skyvision Entertainment was purchased by Jay Firestone, former employee of Alliance Communications, and rebranded it to Fireworks Entertainment.[5] The first show under the new name was F/X: The Series, which they acquired from Orion Pictures in 1994.[6]

Fireworks was acquired by Canwest Global[1] in May 1998, and was later sold to ContentFilm (production company of The Cooler),[7] a British company, in April 2005. Over the years, Fireworks has amassed a significant catalogue of television shows and movies (under the Fireworks Pictures label)

In 1998, Peter Hoffman's Seven Arts Pictures formed an alliance with Fireworks to start out the Seven Arts International branding.[8] In 2000, CanWest Films merged with Seven Arts International, another Canwest subsidiary to start the Fireworks Pictures branding to produce theatrical motion pictures.[9] On October 2, 2001, Pliny Porter was hired as head of production and development for the Fireworks Pictures subsidiary, in order to make an effort to continue producing their own feature films.[10]

From March 14, 2011, Fireworks International became Content Television under the umbrella Content Media Corporation PLC.[11]

Court cases[]

The original company was sued by Sony regarding Queen of Swords[12] and by 20th Century Fox regarding Mutant X.[13]

Television shows (as Fireworks Entertainment)[]

TV shows filmed in widescreen 16:9 from 2000 but generally broadcast in 4:3 pan and scan. The widescreen versions are available on DVD.

Films (as Fireworks Pictures)[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b The Believer - Jay Firestone Archived September 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Chidley, Joe (October 31, 1994). "The $50-Million Man". Maclean's. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  3. ^ Ayscough, Suzan (1993-04-29). "Orion signs 'RoboCop' series deal". Variety. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  4. ^ "Rigel pacts for 'Robocop' series rights". Variety. 1993-08-31. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  5. ^ Taylor, Julia. "Further Reading" (PDF).
  6. ^ Lowry, Brian (1994-04-04). "Rysher Ent. lands 'F/X,' will produce 2 web pilots". Variety. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  7. ^ "News : Selected Press Clippings". ContentFilm. 2006-01-24. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
  8. ^ Carver, Benedict (1998-09-25). "Hoffman, Firestone form distribbery". Variety. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  9. ^ Harris, Dana (2000-07-25). "Seven Arts, CanWest explode as Fireworks". Variety. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  10. ^ Dunkley, Cathy (2001-10-02). "Exec a match for Fireworks". Variety. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  11. ^ "Content Media PLC retrieved 5 Nov 2011". Contentmediacorp.com. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
  12. ^ Mark Litwak (2001-11-01). "Retrieved November 15, 2009". Marklitwak.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
  13. ^ "Retrieved February 21, 2010". Openjurist.org. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
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