The IndieProd Company is a production company that was formed by Daniel Melnick in 1976 as IndieProductions after he left Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
History In 1976, Daniel Melnick announced that he had left Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to start his own production company, IndieProductions (which was later shortened to The IndieProd Company). That year, he had signed a deal with Columbia Pictures to produce films on his own.
In 1978, Melnick was hired by Columbia Pictures in wake of the resigning of David Begelman, and The IndieProd Company was temporarily merged into Columbia Pictures.Martin, Douglas. "Daniel Melnick, Hollywood Producer, Dies at 77", The New York Times, October 16, 2009.Nelson, Valerie J. "Daniel Melnick dies at 77; film and TV producer helped launch 'Get Smart,' 'Network,' 'Kramer vs. Kramer'", Los Angeles Times, October 15, 2009. Accessed October 18, 2009. He never meant to be a studio head and left in 1978 to turn back into an independent producer, and Melnick was abruptly replaced as head by Frank Price, and quickly resurrected The IndieProd Company.
In 1980, Melnick moved to 20th Century-Fox where he quickly finished production on All That Jazz, and the same year he worked with Warner Bros. to produce Altered States. IndieProd had left the Fox lot in 1982 in order to make Footloose for Paramount Pictures. He moved back to Columbia Pictures after the completion of the movie, and after the deal ended, the company was acquired by Carolco Pictures in 1987. Under Carolco's leadership, the company produced hits like Air America and Universal Soldier. Around the same time, the company entered television production with a string of television movies, and later made its only television series, A Fine Romance, for Phoenix Entertainment Group.
In 1989, he formed a joint alliance with Ray Stark of Rastar Productions, to form Rastar/IndieProd. The joint venture went defunct in 1991. In 1992, Carolco had sold off The IndieProd Company in light of financial troubles, and The IndieProd Company announced a deal with Japan Satellite Broadcasting and TriStar Pictures to produce and distribute movies. In 1995, the production company attempted to merge with The Konigsberg Company, with funding from Electronic Arts, but failed. Also that year, it attempted a weekly TV series based on Universal Soldier, but never materialized. It also had a deal with Vietnam Television for Vietnamese television rights to the company's movies.
The company quietly went defunct in 2009 with the death of Daniel Melnick.
Filmography
Film
1970s TitleRelease dateDistributorNotesBudgetBox officeAll That JazzDecember 20, 197920th Century-Fox (North America theatrical and home video)Columbia Pictures (International theatrical and television)uncredited$12 million$37.8 million
1980s TitleRelease dateDistributorNotesBudgetBox officeFirst FamilyDecember 25, 1980Warner Bros.co-production with F.F. AssociatesN/A$15.2 millionAltered Statesuncredited$15 million$19.9 millionMaking LoveFebruary 12, 198220th Century-Fox$14 million$11.8 millionUnfaithfully YoursFebruary 10, 1984uncredited$12 million$19.9 millionFootlooseFebruary 17, 1984Paramount Pictures$7.5 million$80 millionQuicksilverFebruary 14, 1986Columbia Picturesco-production with Delphi V Productions$10 million$7.2 millionRoxanneJune 19, 1987$12 million$40.1 millionPunchlineOctober 7, 1988$15 million$21 million
1990s TitleRelease dateDistributorNotesBudgetBox officeMountains on the MoonFebruary 23, 1990TriStar Picturesco-production with Carolco Pictures$18 million$4 millionAir AmericaAugust 10, 1990$30-35 million$57.7 millionL.A. StoryFebruary 8, 1991N/A$28.9 millionUniversal SoldierJuly 10, 1992co-production with Carolco Pictures and Centropolis Film Productions$23 million$120 millionMary Shelley's FrankensteinNovember 3, 1994co-production with American Zoetrope and Japan Satellite Broadcasting$45 million$112 millionThe Quick and the DeadFebruary 10, 1995co-production with Japan Satellite Broadcasting$35 million$47 millionUniversal Soldier: The ReturnAugust 20, 1999co-production with Baumgarten Prophet Entertainment and Long Road Productions$22-45 million$10.7 millionBlue StreakSeptember 17, 1999Columbia Picturesco-production with Original Film and Jaffe Productions$36 million$117.7 million
Television
Television series TitleYearNetworkNotesA Fine Romance1989ABCco-production with Phoenix Entertainment Group, New World Television, London Weekend Television and TF1
Television movies/pilots TitleRelease dateNetworkNotesTonight's the NightFebruary 2, 1987ABCco-production with Phoenix Entertainment GroupGod Bless the ChildMarch 21, 1988co-production with Phoenix Entertainment Group and Alliance Entertainment CorporationGet Smart, Again!February 26, 1989co-production with Phoenix Entertainment GroupChain LetterAugust 5, 1989ChallengerFebruary 25, 1990co-production with King Phoenix EntertainmentA Killing in a Small TownMay 22, 1990CBSco-production with King Phoenix Entertainment and Hearst EntertainmentThe Ghost WriterAugust 15, 1990Foxco-production with Alan Spencer Productions, Phoenix Entertainment Group and New World TelevisionBabiesSeptember 17, 1990NBCco-production with Hearst EntertainmentTagteamJanuary 26, 1991ABCco-production with Touchstone Television
References