Catch 23 Entertainment Inc. Names Jeremy Barber as President; Appointment Reinforces Company Strategy Announced in May; Other Key Positions in Finance and Marketing Filled.

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 30, 2000

In a move designed to reinforce its commitment to producing quality films, Catch 23 Entertainment has named Jeremy Barber as president, it was announced today by Chairman Robert B. Sturm.

In his new position, Barber will implement Catch 23's previously announced mandate to produce three to five pictures a year and will continue to develop the company's presence within Hollywood. He will oversee efforts to acquire and develop film projects, and will serve as the company's primary liaison with the creative community and with Universal Studios, where Catch 23 has a first-look deal.

"We are delighted here to have Jeremy join Catch 23," said Sturm. "Jeremy is one of the top executives in the independent-film world. His broad industry expertise and deal-making experience -- coupled with his passion for independent film and discerning eye for new creative voices -- will be immensely valuable at this important time in the growth of our company."

Barber will also start a talent-management company that Catch 23 will help finance, which will have discretionary financing to develop projects by young writers. "We are committed to using our substantial resources to grow the next generation of actors and filmmakers," Barber said.

Prior to joining Catch 23 Entertainment, Barber was executive vice president of Acquisitions & Production for Artisan Entertainment. During his tenure at Artisan, Barber was responsible for running the acquisition department, soliciting scripts and packages from the creative community, and negotiating the company's co-production and co-financing deals.

Among other projects, Barber oversaw the acquisition of "The Blair Witch Project" and Robert Altman's upcoming feature, "Dr. T and the Women." Barber also oversaw the production of director Darren Aronofsky's "Requiem for a Dream," which will be released in October, and was involved with Chris McQuarrie's "Way of the Gun," to be released this weekend.

Barber came to Artisan after selling them Aronofsky's critically acclaimed directorial debut, "Pi," at Sundance. Barber also negotiated and oversaw Artisan's digital video partnership with Intertainer, the first picture under the deal being a documentary based on the music featured in the Coen brothers' upcoming "Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou."

Barber began his entertainment career as an attorney in the Los Angeles office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and later in the Century City offices of Loeb & Loeb LLP, where Barber represented, among others, filmmakers Darren Aronofsky, Lasse Hallstrom and George Romero; actor Christian Bale; production companies Lions Gate Films, RKO, The Shooting Gallery, Bandeira and Thousand Words; and broadband start-up Intertainer.

Before entering the entertainment industry, Barber worked in the political and legislative arenas in Washington, D.C., for high-level politicians and the Democratic National Committee. Barber holds bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees from Cambridge University and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

"Our goal is to turn Catch 23 into one of the top producers of hip and cool independent films. Sturm's commitment to finance edgy and difficult fare permits us to program movies that other film companies cannot easily make. Moreover, our deal with Universal gives us access to terrific domestic distribution," said Barber.

"Jeremy is a great friend to the creative community; he was a tenacious executive at Artisan, known for his intelligence, integrity and taste, and will be a terrific asset for Catch 23," said Nick Wechsler of Industry Entertainment.

Further strengthening its executive ranks, Catch 23 Entertainment has also named James R. Ewing to the post of senior vice president of Finance.

Ewing, who will manage the company's financial, administrative and accounting activities, formerly served as controller/treasurer of Largo Entertainment and held similar positions with New World Entertainment and Prism Entertainment, and was an audit manager at the Big 5 accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche.

The company has also named Eleanore Reznikoff to the post of director of Marketing, and she will assist with Sturm's charitable activity within the entertainment world. Reznikoff, a former New York theater producer, held positions with Largo Entertainment, Triton Pictures and Miramax Films.

Cindy Tang will come with Barber from Artisan Entertainment and will be his assistant and coordinator of acquisitions and development.

"I am excited by the top-notch team we are assembling. I am committed to putting significant resources behind Catch 23's endeavor to build a great production and film financing company," said Sturm. "The team I have assembled, along with the assistance of outside counsel Bruce Vann, I am convinced will turn C23 into the pre-eminent voice for this critical market."

Barber was introduced to Sturm by Marina Zenovich, C23's senior vice president of Acquisitions and Development, who was represented by Barber while an attorney at Loeb & Loeb. John Dellaverson of Loeb & Loeb and Barber negotiated Barber's deal, with Vann representing C23.

Catch 23 Entertainment is a Los Angeles-based film production company, formed in May 2000 by Denver-based financier and philanthropist Robert B. Sturm.

A great supporter of independent film, Sturm has been a sponsor of the National Film Preservation Foundation, the American Film Institute, the Actors Studio, Martin Scorsese's Film Foundation, the Motion Picture and Television Fund, the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival and Sundance Composer's Lab.

Catch 23 will produce three to five pictures annually in the $3 million to $15 million budget range, and has secured a domestic distribution deal with Universal Pictures' specialty film division, Universal Focus. Catch 23's first film financing is in conjunction with Intermedia on executive producer Arnold Rifkin's feature "AfterImage," directed by Bob Manganelli.