SCHAMUS TAKES REINS AT FOCUS CO-PRESIDENT BUMPED TO TOP SPOT AT ART HOUSE STUDIO.Byline: GREG HERNANDEZ Staff Writer The co-producer of ``Brokeback Mountain'' was named on Wednesday chief executive officer of Focus Features, the specialty film division of Universal Pictures. James Schamus, previously co-president of Focus, will now have responsibility for all aspects of the art house unit as well as Focus Features International and Universal's Rogue Rogue, river, c.200 mi (320 km) long, rising in SW Oreg., in the Cascade Range N of Crater Lake. It flows southwest and west through a fertile valley (noted for its orchard fruits) and then across the Coast Range to the Pacific Ocean at Gold Beach. Pictures label. Andrew Karpen, formerly chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. , will assume the title of president of Focus, which last year released ``Brokeback,'' ``The Constant Gardener,'' ``Pride & Prejudice'' and ``Broken Flowers.'' Previous noteworthy releases also include ``The Pianist,'' ``Lost in Translation,'' ``Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless spot·less adj. 1. Perfectly clean. See Synonyms at clean. 2. Free from blemish; impeccable. spot  less·ly adv. Mind,'' and ``The Motorcycle
Diaries.''
Prior to Focus, Schamus was co-president of the independent film production company Good Machine, which he co-founded in 1991. He received Academy Award nominations in the Best Adapted Screenplay screenplay Written text that provides the basis for a film production. Screenplays usually include not only the dialogue spoken by the characters but also a shot-by-shot outline of the film's action. and Best Original Song categories for his work on Ang Lee's ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Traditional Chinese: 臥虎藏龍; Simplified Chinese: 卧虎藏龙; Pinyin: .'' Schamus had co-founded Focus with David Linde four years ago and the two were co-presidents until Linde was promoted in March to co-chairman of Universal Pictures. ``As James' friend and business partner since 1997, I know first-hand how his business acumen acumen Astuteness, perception, perspicacity and formidable creative talents combine to make him an outstanding studio head,'' Linde stated. Linde had also been president of Rogue and the vacancy left by his promotion will be filled by Karpen and Andrew Rona, who will serve as co-presidents. Rona had been Rogue's president of production since last August. ``These promotions only confirm what we've long known; that under James' leadership, Focus and Rogue will continue the extraordinary success and growth that he and David put in motion -- and that the key to that success is the empowerment of the tremendous executive team already in place,'' Universal Pictures Chairman Marc Shmuger said in a statement from the Cannes Film Festival Cannes Film Festival Film festival held annually in Cannes, France. First held in 1946 for the recognition of artistic achievement, the festival came to provide a rendezvous for those interested in the art and influence of the movies. in France. greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3758 |
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