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Michael Barker (film distributor)

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Michael Barker is an American film executive who has been co-president of Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) since 1992. Barker, Tom Bernard and Marcie Bloom, after working together at Orion Classics, founded SPC in 1992 as co-presidents. Barker and Bernard have now been co-presidents of SPC for over 30 years, producing, acquiring and/or distributing over 400 films there.

Michael Barker
Barker in 2016
Born1954 (1954)
Nuremberg, Germany[1]
NationalityAmerican
OccupationFilm distributor
EmployerSony Pictures Classics

Education and early career

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Born on an American Army base in Nuremberg Germany, Barker arrived in Dallas, Texas at age fourteen.[2] He graduated from Kimball High School there in 1972.[3] He was a Speech Communications major at UT Austin, where he channeled an early enthusiasm for film into running the film program at the Texas Student Events Center in the mid-1970s. This put him in contact with New York film studios and distributors.[4] He moved to New York City and studied with Stella Adler. His first job was with Films Inc., initially handling the 16mm-film market for libraries and prisons.[5]

United Artists Classics (1980–1983)

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At United Artists, Barker's first role was as head of non-theatrical distribution for the college market. During the 1970s, United Artists had undergone numerous realignments as its parent company, Transamerica Corporation, and the investors in UA's business partner MGM frequently changed strategies. In early 1978, five long-time executives had left United Artists, and announced, with Warner Communications, a new joint venture (soon to be named Orion Pictures) vested with broad autonomy and control over financing, production and distribution.[6][7] This opened up positions in a realigned classics unit, with Barker first serving as assistant regional sales manager, then taking a national role in 1982.[8] Throughout the early 1980s, Barker teamed with Tom Bernard and Donna Gigliotti as UA's theatrical film unit.[9] The first film released by them at United Artists Classics was Le Dernier Métro by François Truffaut.[4][10]: 26–32 

Orion Classics (1983–1992)

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In April 1983, Orion Pictures formed a new unit headed by Bernard, Gigliotti and Barker.[11] This division was very active over the next decade,[12]: 66–67  building on strengths in distributing European films (Pauline à la plage by Éric Rohmer, Another Country by Marek Kanievska and Carmen by Carlos Saura) and expanding into distributing American films such as Strangers Kiss by Matthew Chapman.[12]: 67–69  In 1989, with Orion Pictures in the midst of a long period of financial turmoil, Donna Gigliotti left and Marcie Bloom assumed a v.p. role.[13] Barker, working with John Pierson, brought Richard Linklater's second feature-length film, Slacker (July 1990 Austin premiere), to Orion Pictures for a July 5, 1991 release.[14] This film increased awareness of both Linklater and Austin, leading to a DVD release in 2004 within the Criterion Collection.[15][16] Near the end of 1990, Orion Classics announced a deal for the Merchant Ivory Productions film Howards End, but Orion Pictures entered bankruptcy in December 1991. Early in 1992 it was reported that although Barker, Bernard and Bloom would continue to handle many ongoing Orion Classics film releases,[17] Howards End was to be released through the newly-formed Sony Pictures Classics, under co-presidents Barker, Bernard and Bloom.[12]: 75–76 

Sony Pictures Classics (1992-present)

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At the beginning of 1992, Sony Pictures Classics was formed.[18][19][20]: 109, 111  Barker, Bernard and Bloom served as co-presidents until 1996 when Bloom had a health setback.[21] Their first release, Howards End, won the 1992 BAFTA Award for Best Film and was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, using a nearly year-long "slow, slow rollout"[22] while sending co-stars Helena Bonham Carter, Sam West and Emma Thompson, on multi-city publicity tours.[23]

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the film which generated the highest revenue for SPC,[citation needed] fueled by Oscar attention, major publicity and wide release before and after the Oscars. Barker described SPC's early publicity efforts, partially through cable TV,[24][25]

Following these two films which were nominated for Best Picture Oscars, Barker and Bernard have released seven other Best-Picture-nominated films at Sony Pictures Classics: Capote, An Education, Midnight in Paris, Amour, Whiplash, Call Me by Your Name and The Father.[26] In addition, Sony Pictures Classics has distributed five films which won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature and 13 films which won Oscars as Best Foreign Language Film.[9]

Over the decades Barker and Bernard have exhibited very similar skill sets, interests and business philosophies; in fact, Barker compares their synergy to the "two halves of the brain that work together".[27] However, they indicated to Ramin Setoodeh that there is at least some division of labor: "Barker is a whiz at organizational details, while Bernard handles crisis management."[5]

Honors and engagement

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Barker, Bernard and Bloom were honored for their roles in championing independent films and filmmakers in 2000 by the Gotham Industry Lifetime Achievement Award[28][29] and in 2002 by the Directors Guild of America.[30]

In June 2014, Barker and Bernard received the LA Film Festival's Spirit of Independence Award.[27] Also in 2014, Barker was named as a Knight (Chevalier) of France's Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur, as was Bernard, for dedication to presenting French cinema to American audiences.[31] In 2017, Women in Film honored Barker and Bernard with their Beacon Award.[32]

At the 2016 SXSW event, Barker was honored with membership in the Texas Film Hall of Fame for his support of Texas filmmakers and the Austin community.[33] Barker serves on the Board of Trustees of the Museum of the Moving Image and became co-chairman of the board in 2015.[34] Barker participates in film panels, including a discussion of women in film at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival[35] and frequent appearances at the Roger Ebert Film Festival.

References

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  1. ^ Quigley, Eileen S.; et al., eds. (2009). "Biographies – Barker, Michael". International Motion Picture Almanac (80th ed.). Quigley Publishing. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-900610-84-4. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  2. ^ Fernandez, Jay A. (February 1, 2011). "Sony Pictures Classics' Tom Bernard and Michael Barker". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  3. ^ Speir, Marc (2012). "Michael Barker to present College of Communication commencement". Moody College of Communication. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Ealy, Charles (July 15, 2015). "The guru of art films, Michael Barker, and his Texas ties". houstonchronicle.com. Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Setoodeh, Ramin (September 23, 2014). "How Sony Pictures Classics Survived the Indie Film Biz". Variety. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  6. ^ Klain, Stephen (February 8, 1978). "Re-United Artists set up new business – Seven yr. deal as separate unit". Vol. 290, no. 1. Variety. pp. 3 and 32. ProQuest 1401326503. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Barnes, Mike (October 1, 2019). "Eric Pleskow, Former President of United Artists and Orion Pictures, Dies at 95". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  8. ^ "New York Sound Track". Vol. 308, no. 5. Variety. September 1, 1982. p. 26. ProQuest 1438337770. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Feinberg, Scott (April 4, 2016). "'Awards Chatter' Podcast — Michael Barker and Tom Bernard (Sony Pictures Classics)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  10. ^ Tzioumakis, Yannis (2013). "Chapter 1 – United Artists Classics (1980 to 1986)". Hollywood's Indies: Classics Divisions, Specialty Labels and American Independent Cinema. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 23–43. ISBN 9780748640126. JSTOR 10.3366/j.ctv2f4vqd2. OCLC 1079223928. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  11. ^ Klain, Stephen (April 6, 1983). "Orion Adds A 'Classic' Accent; Bernard, Gigliotti Set New Unit". Vol. 310, no. 10. Variety. pp. 3 and 31. ProQuest 1438385526. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c Tzioumakis, Yannis (2013). "Chapter 3 – Orion Classics (1983 to 1997)". Hollywood's Indies. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 65–84. ISBN 9780748640126. JSTOR 10.3366/j.ctv2f4vqd2. OCLC 1079223928. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  13. ^ "Film: Executive Shuffle". Vol. 337, no. 4. Variety. October 25, 1989. p. 27. ProQuest 1438503895. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  14. ^ Pierson, John (1997). "Slacking Off". Spike, Mike, Slackers & Dykes: A Guided Tour across a Decade of American Independent Cinema. UT Press. pp. 185–197. doi:10.7560/757684. ISBN 9780292761001. JSTOR 10.7560/757684. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  15. ^ Savlov, Marc (September 10, 2004). "Slacker". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  16. ^ "Slacker". The Criterion Collection. September 14, 2004. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  17. ^ Brown, Colin (February 7, 1992). "Orion frees Classics' top team". No. 843. Screen International. p. 6. ProQuest 1040553655. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  18. ^ Brown, Colin (February 14, 1992). "Sony Classics opens new import window". No. 844. Screen International. p. 3. ProQuest 963115298. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  19. ^ Hazelton, John; Brown, Colin (March 27, 1992). "Orion Classics keeps Lantern as parent seeks guiding light". No. 850. Screen International. p. 5. ProQuest 963127026. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  20. ^ Tzioumakis, Yannis (2013). "Chapter 5 – Sony Pictures Classics (1992 to date)". Hollywood's Indies. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 109–130. ISBN 9780748640126. JSTOR 10.3366/j.ctv2f4vqd2. OCLC 1079223928. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  21. ^ Quigley, Eileen S.; et al., eds. (2009). "Biographies – Bloom, Marcie". International Motion Picture Almanac (80th ed.). Quigley Publishing. p. 85. ISBN 978-0-900610-84-4. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  22. ^ Grimes, William (July 30, 1992). "Little Movies Trying To Be Bigger Movies". The New York Times. p. C-13. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  23. ^ "A Tale of 'Howards End': Shuttling the Stars Around". The New York Times. July 30, 1992. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  24. ^ Roberts, Jerry (May 14, 2001). "Marketing campaign kickboxed its way to the top". Vol. 382, no. 13. Variety. pp. 40 and 44.
  25. ^ Huaiting, WU (August 2002). Globalizing Chinese Martial Arts Cinema – A Case Study of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (PDF). core.ac.uk (Thesis). The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  26. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (September 24, 2022). "Sony Classics Chiefs On The Key To Longevity & The Power Of Theatrical". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  27. ^ a b Appelo, Tim (June 17, 2014). "LAFF: Sony Pictures Classics' Tom Bernard, Michael Barker Get Spirit of Independence Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  28. ^ Grove, Christopher (September 15, 2000). "Classics toppers share spotlight". Variety. pp. A4, A6. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  29. ^ Dawn, Randee (September 19, 2000). "Sony Pictures Classics' co-presidents share this year's Gotham Industry Lifetime Achievement Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  30. ^ "2002 Honorees – Michael Barker, Tom Bernard and Marcie Bloom". Directors Guild of America. June 9, 2002. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  31. ^ Feinberg, Scott (September 22, 2014). "Sony Classics' Michael Barker, Tom Bernard Inducted Into French Legion of Honor". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  32. ^ Dore, Shalini (May 10, 2017). "Tom Bernard and Michael Barker of Sony Pictures Classics Join Women in Film Honorees". Variety. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  33. ^ Barker, Andrew (March 2, 2016). "Pure Texas Diplomacy". Vol. 331, no. 5. Variety. pp. 76–77. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  34. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (November 9, 2014). "Michael Barker Elected Co-Chairman of Museum of the Moving Image". The New York Times. p. C3. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  35. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (May 18, 2019). "'When Money Moves In, Women Are Pushed Out,' Says USC's Stacy Smith in Cannes". Variety. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
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