Artisan Entertainment
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film studio, Home video distribution |
| Predecessor | U.S.A. Home Video, International Video Entertainment (IVE), LIVE Entertainment |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Founder | Noel C. Bloom |
| Defunct | 2003 |
| Fate | Integrated into Lions Gate Entertainment |
| Headquarters | Santa Monica, California , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, United Kingdom |
| Products | Films, Home video releases |
Artisan Entertainment—previously known as U.S.A. Home Video, International Video Entertainment (IVE), and LIVE Entertainment—was a prominent American film studio and home video distributor. It was regarded as one of the leading mini-major studios until its 2003 integration with Lions Gate Entertainment. At the time of acquisition, Artisan possessed an extensive film catalog obtained through acquisitions, original productions, and distribution contracts. The company’s main office and private screening facilities were located in Santa Monica, California, with an additional branch in Tribeca, New York.
Before ceasing operations, Artisan managed home video rights for libraries including Republic Pictures, ITC Entertainment, Gladden Entertainment, Miramax Films, Hemdale Film Corporation, TSG Pictures, and Carolco Pictures.
Among Artisan’s notable releases were Requiem for a Dream, Pi, Killing Zoe, The Blair Witch Project, Grizzly Falls, Startup.com, Novocaine, and National Lampoon's Van Wilder.
History
Artisan’s origins trace back to the home video sector.
1980s
The company was established in 1980 by Noel C. Bloom under the name Family Home Entertainment, Inc., operating as a division of adult film distributor Caballero Control Corporation. Early on, it struck distribution agreements with entities such as Wizard Video, which sold approximately 10,000 copies weekly of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 1982. That same year, it also distributed titles from Monterey Home Video and collaborated with MGM/UA Home Video to distribute their library. In 1983, the company secured rights to distribute Filmation’s videocassette catalog.
In 1983, FHE introduced the subsidiary U.S.A. Home Video, which released both family-friendly and adult-oriented films—including titles like Supergirl, Silent Night, Deadly Night, and various B-grade movies—under labels such as Adventure Video and U.S.A. Sports Video for athletic programming.
By 1984, Noel Bloom consolidated FHE and U.S.A. under his NCB Entertainment Group to form International Video Entertainment, Inc. (IVE). Alongside this consolidation, IVE acquired Monterey and Thriller Video. IVE managed non-family releases while FHE remained focused on children’s content. In the same year, Bloom founded Concept Productions to create live programming content. Toward the late 1980s, the company expanded into television film distribution.
In 1987, Carolco Pictures—having held a minority interest since 1986—acquired IVE. That year also saw IVE enter a distribution agreement with MCA Distributing Corporation; its inaugural Carolco video release was the unrated version of Angel Heart. José Menendez, previously with RCA, was appointed head of IVE and forged alliances with Sylvester Stallone’s White Eagle Enterprises and producer Edward Pressman. Tragically, Menendez and his wife were killed in 1989 by their sons.
After conflicts with Carolco, Noel C. Bloom departed IVE in 1987 to establish Celebrity Home Entertainment, taking some former IVE employees along. Later that year, IVE purchased home video distributor Vista Home Video from The Vista Organization for $38 million.
In 1988, IVE and FHE merged with wholesale media distributor Lieberman Enterprises to create LIVE Entertainment. LIVE broadened its scope beyond home video by acquiring retail music and video outlets such as Strawberries and Waxie Maxie along the East Coast; Lieberman also acquired Navarre Corporation. During this period, LIVE partnered with Radio Vision International to launch the music-oriented label Radio Vision Video.
1990–1997
In 1990, IVE underwent a rebranding to become LIVE Home Video. Carolco collaborated with LIVE to establish its own home video division and introduced Avid Home Entertainment, a label dedicated to re-releasing older titles from LIVE and ITC Entertainment as budget videocassettes priced around $15. Operating out of Denver, Avid maintained a separate sales team to distinguish itself from its parent company. That same year, LIVE expanded its reach by acquiring the German video distributor VCL.
Venturing into film production, LIVE invested more than $1 million in the 1992 release of Reservoir Dogs, marking Quentin Tarantino's debut as a director, and also produced Paul Schrader's Light Sleeper.
On January 11, 1991, LIVE announced a $24 million purchase of Vestron, Inc., known for the blockbuster Dirty Dancing. Vestron's titles continued to be released through 1992.
Although Carolco’s financial backing bolstered LIVE’s earnings, escalating debt at Carolco by 1991 halted plans for a merger between the two firms. To alleviate financial pressure, LIVE divested Lieberman assets to Handleman. In May 1992, following the expiration of its distribution agreement with Uni Distribution, LIVE entered into a new partnership with Warner-Elektra-Atlantic. However, by June, LIVE defaulted on debt obligations; Carolco reduced its ownership from 53% to 49.9%, selling minority shares to investors led by Pioneer Electronic Corporation.
LIVE filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 1993 due to liquidity challenges. Pioneer acquired a 30% voting stake while Carolco’s share diminished further to 35%. A renewed attempt at merging Carolco and LIVE took place in August 1994 but was abandoned by October.
Under CEO Roger Burlage’s leadership, unprofitable retail divisions were divested and emphasis shifted toward film production, leveraging Burlage’s background at Trimark Pictures. When Carolco ceased operations in 1996, StudioCanal gained full ownership of its film library; LIVE retained video distribution rights through a new arrangement with StudioCanal and resumed managing its video sales previously handled by WEA, which continued distributing products.
1997–2003
In July 1997, Bain Capital acquired LIVE and took it private. While Burlage briefly remained chairman, Bill Block—formerly of ICM Partners—and Amir Malin—ex-partner at October Films—became co-presidents, with Mark Curcio, an ex-Bain consultant, overseeing financial operations. Their approach capitalized on LIVE's extensive video catalog and consistent profitability to fund independent film production amid industry consolidation; the existing production division was shuttered. In April 1998, the company rebranded as Artisan Entertainment to distance itself from its lackluster reputation and connections to the Menendez brothers case. The headquarters relocated from Van Nuys, CA to oceanfront offices in Santa Monica, California, while the New York office moved to Tribeca.
On December 18, 1997, Artisan secured a domestic home video distribution agreement with Hallmark Entertainment, handling Hallmark Home Entertainment releases—including Crayola-branded titles and Hallmark Hall of Fame films—under the Family Home Entertainment brand; Hallmark retained marketing responsibilities. By 1998 this partnership expanded to encompass Cabin Fever Entertainment titles following Hallmark’s acquisition of that company.
In August 1998, Artisan replaced its distribution deal with WEA by signing with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Artisan Home Entertainment broadened its theatrical releases and home video offerings by incorporating titles from TSG Pictures. The following month, Artisan entered a five-to-ten-year home video distribution agreement with Spelling Entertainment Group for films produced by its Republic Pictures division. This was followed in October 1999 by a four-year contract with Discovery Communications to distribute content from Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and TLC under Family Home Entertainment labels.
On February 10, 2000, Artisan obtained a minority ownership stake in The Baby Einstein Company in exchange for a three-year North American home video distribution deal; this agreement concluded early in 2001 after acquisition of Baby Einstein by The Walt Disney Company.
In May 2000, Artisan partnered with Marvel Studios in a joint venture granting Artisan financing and distribution rights related to fifteen Marvel characters—including Captain America, Thor, and Black Panther. Marvel retained control over licensing and merchandising. This collaboration covered films, television series, direct-to-video projects, and online content.
On September 13, 2000, Artisan launched Artisan Digital Media alongside iArtisan. Later that year, Artisan renewed its distribution agreement with Canadian company Alliance Atlantis, securing Canadian rights for Artisan’s products and theatrical distribution in the UK through AAC's subsidiary Momentum Pictures.
In 2001, Artisan expanded by acquiring Canadian film and television company Landscape Entertainment.
In May 2003, Artisan and Microsoft jointly introduced the first high-definition DVD release: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Extreme Edition), promoting Windows Media Video 9 format; this edition was compatible only with Windows XP computers. Previously in 2002, Artisan had issued the title on D-VHS format.
During summer 2003, Marvel Enterprises made an acquisition proposal for Artisan supported by Miramax Films (then owned by Disney). On December 15, 2003, Lions Gate Entertainment completed a $220 million merger with Artisan. Subsequent video releases have since been issued under the Lionsgate Home Entertainment brand.
Under LIVE Entertainment
| Release date | Title | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| October 23, 1992 | Reservoir Dogs | Distributed through Miramax Films |
| July 30, 1993 | Tom and Jerry: The Movie | U.S. co-distribution with Miramax Films and Turner Entertainment; co-produced with Film Roman |
| September 17, 1993 | Frauds | Joint production with J&M Entertainment and Latent Image Productions |
| February 4, 1994 | Gunmen | U.S. co-distributed alongside Dimension Films; co-produced with Davis Entertainment |
| July 8, 1994 | Pentathlon | |
| January 19, 1995 | Mutant Species | Co-produced with Southern Star Studios |
| April 28, 1995 | Top Dog | |
| June 2, 1995 | Out-of-Sync | Co-production with United Image Entertainment |
| September 9, 1995 | Blood and Donuts | Collaborative production with Daban Films and The Feature Film Project |
| April 19, 1996 | The Substitute | Distributed by Orion Pictures |
| May 31, 1996 | The Arrival | |
| August 2, 1996 | Phat Beach | |
| September 17, 1996 | Deadly Outbreak | Co-distributed with Nu Image Films |
| October 11, 1996 | Trees Lounge | Distributed via Orion Pictures |
| February 7, 1997 | Hotel de Love | Joint production with Village Roadshow Pictures and Pratt Films |
| March 7, 1997 | The Grotesque | |
| September 19, 1997 | Wishmaster | |
| October 31, 1997 | Critical Care | Co-produced alongside Village Roadshow Pictures, Mediaworks and ASAQ Film Partnership |
| November 18, 1997 | Joyride | Collaboration with Trillion Entertainment for production |
| December 19, 1997 | Open Your Eyes | Co-produced with Redbus Film Distribution |
Under Artisan Entertainment
| Release date | Title | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 1998 | I Went Down | Produced in collaboration with BBC Films, Irish Film Board, Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Easkel Media, Treasure Entertainment and Shooting Gallery |
| July 10, 1998 | Pi | Production by Protozoa Pictures; distribution only; currently owned by A24 |
| September 16, 1998 | Permanent Midnight | Joint production with JD Productions |
| October 2, 1998 | Strangeland | Produced by Shooting Gallery and others; distribution only |
| October 13, 1998 | Butter | Co-produced alongside HBO Films, CineTel Pictures and others |
| November 4, 1998 | Belly | Collaboration with Big Dog Films for production |
| November 25, 1998 | Ringmaster | Joint production involving Motion Picture Corporation of America and Kushner-Locke Company |
| July 30, 1999 | The Blair Witch Project | Produced by Haxan Films; distributed in the U.S. only |
| August 25, 1999 | The Ninth Gate | U.S. distribution exclusively; co-production with Le Studio Canal+ |
| October 8, 1999 | The Limey | |
| November 5, 1999 | Grizzly Falls | Co-produced alongside Providence Entertainment |
| July 14, 2000 | Chuck & Buck | Distribution limited to the U.S. |
| August 11, 2000 | Cecil B. Demented | Produced by Le Studio Canal+ and Polar Entertainment; U.S. distribution only |
| October 27, 2000 | Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 | Co-production in partnership with Haxan Films |
| October 27, 2000 | Requiem for a Dream | Joint production involving Thousand Words and Protozoa Pictures |
| November13,
2001 |
Ticker | Collaborative production with Nu Image Films and others |
| December14,
2001 |
Vanilla Sky | Produced by Paramount Pictures among others; studio credit only |
| April5,
2002 |
Van Wilder | Produced by Myriad Pictures and Tapestry Films; U.S. distribution only |
| July23,
2002 |
Con Express | Co-production with PM Entertainment; theatrical distributor in the U.S. |
| October4,
2002 |
Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie | Produced by Big Idea Productions; U.S. distribution only |
| October25,
2002 |
Roger Dodger | Production by Holedigger Films; distribution only |
| December16,
2003 |
Devil's Pond |
Co-production involving Davis Entertainment and others |
|
February27, 2004 |
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights |
Acquired by Lions Gate Films; produced alongside Miramax Films and others |
|
April16, 2004 |
The Punisher |
Rights picked up by Lions Gate Films; produced in collaboration with Marvel Entertainment and Valhalla Motion Pictures; international rights managed by Columbia Pictures |
|
April30, 2005 |
Man-Thing |
Acquired by Lionsgate Films; produced by Marvel Entertainment among others; final release under Artisan banner |
Television films
| Release date | Title | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2002 | RFK | Fox | produced in partnership with 20th Century Fox Television |
| March 9, 2003 | Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt | CBS | collaboration with Fox Television Studios and The Kaufman Company |