Universal Makes Genre Bid With SyFY Films

[claws]

Syfy Ventures and Universal Pictures have teamed to create Syfy Films, a film company that will generate theatrical films that will be branded by the Syfy label and will be distributed by Universal. The hope is to leverage Syfy's genre experience in science fiction, fantasy, supernatural, and horror. The plan is to begin generating two movies per year by 2012.

The venture will be announced today by Dave Howe, president of Syfy and Chiller, Mark Stern, the exec veep of original programming and co-head of content for Universal Cable Productions, and Universal Pictures chairman Adam Fogelson and co-chairman Donna Langley.

"We know there is an incredible consumer appetite for genre content as proven by the top grossing box office films," Howe and Stern said in a statement. "Partnering our brand with the theatrical talent of Universal Pictures, a premier motion picture company, will allow us to exploit our combined expertise and resources to create commercially successful quality films that have the potential to become great franchises for the whole company."

Stern and Langley will jointly oversee the new venture, and they are looking to hire a production executive who'll be based on the Universal lot. The exec will find project and leverage Syfy's creative relationships developed through the NBC Universal network that launched in 1992 as the Sci Fi Channel. and has broadened into a website and Syfy Ventures.

"Syfy has been incredibly successful in finding ways to produce compelling entertainment for a specific audience," Fogelson and Langley said in a statement. "Joining together to find moderately budgeted projects that we can develop using their expertise and their brand is a great opportunity for both of our companies."

Source: deadline.com

Does this mean we get Super Mega Piranha on the big screen in 2012? 

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

Hmm...not sure I like this.   SyFy has consistektly thrown out these cheapo CGI fests like SS Doom Trooper and some other things I care not mention. 

Universal was THE name for monsters at one time, and their unique legacy in the history of the horror film cannot be denied.  Partnering with SyFy could work for or against them, depending on how the quality of their movies changes.

It's clear that they are going to have to put better quality in their movies, and treat CGI as a beneficial tool, and not something to throw out cheapie movies that only hint at the power of the technology they're employing.  Just a thought.

[Jack]

Well, if nothing else it should at least be interesting to see what SyFy could do if they had more money. 

[InformationGeek]

Well, if nothing else it should at least be interesting to see what SyFy could do if they had more money. 

I agree.  I hope this means I'll be able to see more killer animal movies in theaters now.  Prehaps Sharkopus 2?

[Doggett]

Well, if nothing else it should at least be interesting to see what SyFy could do if they had more money. 

I agree.  I hope this means I'll be able to see more killer animal movies in theaters now.  Prehaps Sharkopus 2?

I thought you were kidding about Sharktopus.
You weren't.


I don't know to laugh or cry. 

[theedinburghbteam]

Christmas has came early for Eric Roberts. That and every forgotten 80's pop starlette is going to be clambering to syfy.

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

Well, if nothing else it should at least be interesting to see what SyFy could do if they had more money. 

I agree.  I hope this means I'll be able to see more killer animal movies in theaters now.  Prehaps Sharkopus 2?

I thought you were kidding about Sharktopus.
You weren't.


I don't know to laugh or cry. 

Just like Virginia and her belief in Santa Claus, we can  now say with certainty that "yes, Doggett, there IS a Sharktopus. 

And you are not alone in the masses who don't know whether to laugh or cry, so I'll do both with you 

[Raffine]

Oh boy!

I can't wait for UNIVERSAL STUDIO'S OFFICIAL COPYRIGHTED IMAGE OF BELA LUGOSI AS DRACULA WITH PERMISSION FROM THE ESTATE OF BELA LUGOSI VS OCTOSHARK .

[RCMerchant]

Oh boy!

I can't wait for UNIVERSAL STUDIO'S OFFICIAL COPYRIGHTED IMAGE OF BELA LUGOSI AS DRACULA WITH PERMISSION FROM THE ESTATE OF BELA LUGOSI VS OCTOSHARK .

There is no God.

[BoyScoutKevin]

I have some good news, and I have some bad news.

The good news is that SyFy is aligning itself with Universal, which can--at times--turn out a credible product.

The bad news is that Universal is aligning itself with SyFy, who seems unable to turn out a credible product.

The question then becomes who prevails in terms of picture quality. Universal or SyFy?

I suppose it doesn't matter at the box office, as--unfortunately--many of today's horror fans will--seemingly--watch anything. Credible or not.

As for myself, it is a non-issue. The only actor working today, I would pay to see in a horror film is Christopher Lee. If he is in the film, then I'll probably go see it. If he is not in the film, then I'll probably not go to see it.

[Couchtr26]

Universal or SyFy?

SyFy wins.  Cheap and simple wins over throwing a massive budget at something.  It seems more that Universal will just be funding to bring to theaters and less to do with actual input.  I think Syfy will attempt to better itself.  However, on that note, holding faith that things will improve beyond what is already out is dim. 

[Doggett]

Well, if nothing else it should at least be interesting to see what SyFy could do if they had more money. 

I agree.  I hope this means I'll be able to see more killer animal movies in theaters now.  Prehaps Sharkopus 2?

I thought you were kidding about Sharktopus.
You weren't.


I don't know to laugh or cry. 

Just like Virginia and her belief in Santa Claus, we can  now say with certainty that "yes, Doggett, there IS a Sharktopus. 

And you are not alone in the masses who don't know whether to laugh or cry, so I'll do both with you 

I'm watching Sharktopus tonight.



Suspension of disbelief has took its passport, jumped out the window and is heading to Australia.

[trekgeezer]

This is actually not surprising.  They changed the spelling of their name because they wanted a trade markable name so they could use it to get expand into other media.


They currently get those Saturday night films from the likes of Roger Corman, The Asylum, UFO, and others in the direct to DVD market.

[InformationGeek]

This is actually not surprising.  They changed the spelling of their name because they wanted a trade markable name so they could use it to get expand into other media.

Yeah... Skiffy (That's how you say it) isn't the best name to use when they are expanding into other mediums.  It sounds like a channel that feature kid shows.

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

Universal or SyFy?

SyFy wins.  Cheap and simple wins over throwing a massive budget at something.  It seems more that Universal will just be funding to bring to theaters and less to do with actual input.  I think Syfy will attempt to better itself.  However, on that note, holding faith that things will improve beyond what is already out is dim. 

Cheap and simple also seems to be the mindset that the industry assumes most of the viewers adhere to, and in a way it's also insulting to think so.  Not everyone's going to just sit down and watch whatever Syfy throws at them. 

Well said on the dim outlook for improving beyond what's already out there. If Hollywood and it's endless list of remakes and so-on is an indication of anything, then a dim outlook is a good place to start.