Acquisition president Block exits Lions Gate
Jason Constantine takes over vacant role
By Ned Randolph -- Video Business, 11/12/2007
NOV. 12 | Longtime Lions Gate Films executive Peter Block has left the studio, a decision somewhat expected by insiders as Block has been working without a contract for several months, according to sources.
As president of acquisitions and co-productions, Block oversaw theatrical acquisitions, which will now be headed by his No. 2 man, Jason Constantine. The company's DVD and home entertainment acquisitions will be left to Marc Danon, a Lions Gate representative confirmed Monday.
Block will likely continue to work on several projects with the company.
Block joined Lions Gate seven years ago when the studio acquired Trimark Pictures, which specialized in horror franchises.
He played a pivotal role in establishing the Saw franchise and key pickups such as Rob Zombie's House of a Thousand Corpses, Open Water and the 2005 Oscar winner for Best Picture, Crash.
From 2000 to 2004, Block headed home video acquisitions, until Lions Gate acquired Artisan in December 2003. That deal brought aboard Steve Beeks, who was president of Artisan. Beeks became president and oversaw the home entertainment slate of Lions Gate and was promoted this summer to chief operating officer.
Block had been working without a contract for several months, but sources say the tenuousness of his position increased with the arrival of Joe Drake in September, who was CEO and founder of Mandate Pictures, which Lions Gate bought.
Drake, the former president of Lions Gate international film division, left Lions Gate seven years ago but returned in Lions Gate's acquisition of Mandate Pictures, which Drake founded. He is now Lions Gate's co-chief operating officer and president of the Motion Picture Group.
With Mandate Pictures, Lions Gate hopes to add about six films a year, which will be distributed through third-party major studios. Lions Gate will distribute another 18 to 20 films a year through its own distribution lines.
