DISNEY TO DISTRIBUTE FUTURE BIRNBAUM FILMS.Byline: Dave McNary Daily News Staff Writer Walt Disney Noun 1. Walt Disney - United States film maker who pioneered animated cartoons and created such characters as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck; founded Disneyland (1901-1966) Disney, Walter Elias Disney Co. announced Thursday that it has signed a distribution deal with high-profile producer Roger Birnbaum for up to five movies a year through 2003. The entertainment giant said the deal with Birnbaum's newly formed Spyglass Entertainment calls for Spyglass to finance the projects with Disney handling distribution in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , United Kingdom, Australia and Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. . The deal reflects Disney's strategy of spending less on live-action movies, which have provided lower profits than most other operations, while continuing to send a full pipeline of product to multiplexes. ``As we reduce our investment in our release slate we look forward to distributing first-tier, independently financed films,'' Disney studio chief Joe Roth said Thursday. ``This deal is pretty consistent with what Disney has said it wanted to do,'' said Stewart Halpern, an analyst with ING Barings Furman Selz. ``It's a way to make a low-risk profit and maintain an appropriate volume for its distribution infrastructure.'' The pact calls for Birnbaum's Caravan caravan, group of travelers or merchants banded together and organized for mutual assistance and defense while traveling through unsettled or hostile country. Pictures to stop operations following release of New Line's ``Rush Hour'' and two upcoming Disney movies - ``Simon Birch'' and Eddie Murphy's ``Holy Man.'' Spyglass' major coming projects include ``From Alice to the Ocean'' with Julia Roberts as a producer and star; ``The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,'' based on Douglas Adams' best-selling best·sell·er also best seller n. A product, such as a book, that is among those sold in the largest numbers. best novel; ``Cosmo Cop'' with Murphy; and remakes of ``The Errand er·rand n. 1. a. A short trip taken to perform a specified task, usually for another. b. The purpose or object of such a trip: Your errand was to mail the letter. 2. Boy'' and ``Old Dark House.'' |
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