Walden Media, LLC or Walden Media Group is an American film investor, distributor, and publishing company best known as the producers of The Chronicles of Narnia series. Its films are based on notable classic or award-winning children's literature, compelling biographies or historical events, as well as documentaries and some original screenplays.
The corporate headquarters of Walden Media are located in Los Angeles, California, and the Education, Outreach, Interactive and Publishing office is in Boston, Massachusetts.
Company history
Walden Media was founded in 2001 by Micheal Flaherty and Cary Granat. Granat was president of Miramax's Dimension Films division, and Flaherty came from the world of education. Flaherty was called an "entrepreneur in education" by The Boston Globe for his work with innovative programs meant to help underprivileged students gain access to quality education. The two were housemates at Tufts University before following different paths and then reuniting to form Walden Media as a movie, television, publishing and Internet enterprise whose goal is to teach and entertain kids. The company is owned by the Christian conservative Philip Anschutz, who has said he expects their movies "to be entertaining, but also to be life affirming and to carry a moral message."
The company's notable releases include Holes in 2003, Because of Winn-Dixie for Twentieth Century Fox in 2005, How to Eat Fried Worms and Charlotte's Web in 2006, and Bridge to Terabithia, in 2007. All of these films are adaptations of popular children's books.
On August 8, 2006, Walden Media announced a joint venture with 20th Century Fox called FoxWalden. The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising was the first films released under the venture. Previously announced films at other studios will remain in place.
On August 1, 2013, the Anschutz Film Group, which includes Walden Media and Bristol Bay Productions, announced that it will focus on co-financing films made by third parties.
Education program
Walden Media is unique among film production and distribution companies in that it works with teachers, museums, and national organizations to develop supplemental educational programs and materials associated with its films and the original events and/or novels that inspire the films.
Walden Media offers in-class teaching tools like educational guides and teacher kits and sponsors seminars and forums for teachers to discuss their craft and to trade ideas on using media in the classroom. Directors, writers, and stars of the productions participate in these events.
In 2006, Walden Media sponsored the "Break the World Reading Record with Charlotte's Web". At noon on Wednesday, December 13, 547,826 readers in 2,451 locations, 50 states and 28 countries read an excerpt from Charlotte's Web, breaking the world record of 155,528 students from 737 schools in the United Kingdom who read William Wordsworth's poem, "Daffodils" in 2004.
Etymology and logo
The company is named after Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Its logo is a rock skipping across a pond.
Filmography
Upcoming
- Everest (2015) (co-production with Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Cross Creek Pictures, and Working Title Films)
- The BFG (2016) (co-production with Walt Disney Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Reliance Entertainment, and Amblin Entertainment)
Published books
- The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John
- Mike Lupica's Comeback Kid Book Series: Two-Minute Drill by Mike Lupica
- Mike Lupica's Comeback Kid Book Series: Hot Hand by Mike Lupica
- Paddywhack Lane by Bob Fuller
- Jim Thorpe: Original All American by Joseph Bruchac
- Simon Bloom, the Gravity Keeper by Michael Reisman
- Savvy by Ingrid Law
- Dolphin Song by Lauren St. John
- Mike Lupica's Comeback Kid Book Series: Safe at Home by Mike Lupica
References
External links
- Official website
- FoxWalden website
- Walden Media at the Internet Movie Database