The Montecito Picture Company
 | |
| Formerly | Ivan Reitman Productions (1976-1990) Northern Lights Entertainment (1990-1998)[1] |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Industry | Motion pictures |
| Founded | 1976 (as Ivan Reitman Productions; in-name only) 1990 (as Northern Lights Entertainment) 1998 (registered as The Montecito Picture Comapny) |
| Founders | Ivan Reitman |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Amie Karp (president) Jason Reitman (COO) |
The Montecito Picture Company, LLC (formerly Ivan Reitman Productions and Northern Lights Entertainment) is an American film production company founded in 1976 by film director Ivan Reitman and joined in 1998 by studio executive Tom Pollock.[2] It is located in the Sony Pictures lot in Culver City, California, United States, in a building labeled as "Ghost Corps," where the vehicle from Ghostbusters is parked outside.[3] Montecito is a city in California in Santa Barbara County.
History
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Ivan Reitman Productions/Northern Lights Entertainment (1976-1998)
[edit]In 1976, Ivan Reitman was left as production manager for the Canadian film studio Cinépix to pursue independent production, making American films under the in-name only banner Ivan Reitman Productions. The first project was National Lampoon's Animal House for Universal Pictures,[4] so Reitman fulfilled his obligations to Cinépix by directing the Canadian film Meatballs after the success of Animal House, and became a smash success.[5][6]
The company hit its stride after the success of Animal House, by obtaining the rights to the publication Heavy Metal. The eventual film was released in 1981 by Columbia Pictures.[7] Reitman begin producing and directing films under the banner with Stripes and Ghostbusters for Columbia Pictures, two of the biggest hits the company conceived for the studio.[8][9]
in 1983, the company produced its 3D film Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone with the Canadian studio Cinépix, for Columbia Pictures, and became the company's most expensive flop at that time, being overcrowded by the success of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.[10][11]
Afterwards, he was granted attention to Universal Pictures, by directing three biggest films Legal Eagles, Twins and Kindergarten Cop.[12]
After the success of Twins, the company signed a production deal with Universal Pictures,[13] and it was renamed to Northern Lights Entertainment, which unlike Ivan Reitman Productions, was named, which was named for the aurora Northern Lights in the Arctic region.[1]
The company's first films produced under the production name were Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot and Beethoven.[14][15] The success gave Northern Lights the decision to produce a sequel Beethoven's 2nd, and it became a hit.[16] In 1993, the company purchased the rights to the Inspector Gadget cartoon to adapt into film for Universal Pictures, but it was never realized after Disney bought out DIC Entertainment.[17]
In 1994, the company developed its first primetime television pilot First Gentlemen, but it eventually never went to series.[18] The company teamed up with Universal Cartoon Studios to do a cartoon version of the Beethoven films, called Beethoven: The Animated Series.[19] In 1997, the company ended its production deal with Universal Pictures in hopes of seeking a new deal.[20]
The Montecito Picture Company (1998-present)
[edit]In 1998, it was renamed to and registered as The Montecitco Picture Company, and hired Universal executive Tom Pollock, who was studio chief when the company was Northern Lights Entertainment, to run the company along with Ivan Reitman.[21]
Under the new Montecitco banner, the company was originally started off with a deal at PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, and the deal called on for the financing and producing of several motion pictures and it was intended for 3 to 5 pictures.[21]
Ultimately, the deal collapsed after Universal Pictures (which Pollock previously ran from 1986 to 1996) took control of PolyGram's assets[2] and Montecito signed a first look deal with DreamWorks Pictures instead in 1999.[22] The deal ended up being renewed in 2000.[23] On March 9, 2000, it extended its pact with writer/director Todd Phillips, after the success of the hit movie Road Trip.[24]
In 2006, the company signed a financing deal with Merrill Lynch to form a new financing company to supply Montecito, Cold Spring Pictures.[25]
After several years at DreamWorks, on February 18, 2009, the company signed a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures.[26] The deal ended on March 16, 2013,[27] and in 2015, the company moved into offices on the Sony lot. Tom Pollock, who worked with the company since 1998, died in August 2020,[28] and Ivan Reitman died in February 2022.[29]
Filmography
[edit] | This section needs more citations. (July 2021) |
Television series
[edit] |
| Year | Title | Creator(s) / Developer(s) | Co-produced by | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| as Ivan Reitman Productions | ||||
| 1979 | Delta House | Douglas Kenney/Harold Ramis/Chris Miller | Matty Simmons Productions/Universal Television | ABC |
| as Northern Lights Entertainment | ||||
| 1994 | Beethoven | Joe Ansolabehere | Universal Cartoon Studios | CBS |
| 1997 | Mummies Alive! | Louis Gassin | DIC Entertainment, L.P./Claster Television Incorporated | First-run syndication |
| as The Montecito Picture Company | ||||
| 2001–2002 | Alienators: Evolution Continues[32] | Louis Gassin | DIC Entertainment, L.P./DreamWorks Television/Columbia TriStar Television/Dentsu, Inc. | Fox Kids |
References
[edit]- 1 2 Britton, Bonnie. "Director of 'Junior' has delivered plenty of hits." The Indianapolis Star (November 25, 1994).
- 1 2 Carver, Benedict (March 9, 1999). "Reitman, Pollock settle U dispute". Variety. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ↑ "Sony and Ghost Corps Open the Gates to a Lucky Few". www.ghostbustershq.net. Retrieved 2026-07-29.
- ↑ "Frampton to Star in 'Sgt. Pepper'". The Los Angeles Times. November 6, 1976. p. 41.
- ↑ Malina, Martin (July 28, 1979). "Meatballs put Reitman in the gravy". The Montreal Star. p. D1 – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
- ↑ Dunning & Brownstein 2014, p. 109–110.
- ↑ "Fox to distribute more movies". The Los Angeles Times. April 16, 1980. p. 99.
- ↑ Maslin, Janet (1981-06-26). "'STRIPES' AND THE BIGGEST WISE GUY IN THE ARMY". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ Maslin, Janet (1984-06-08). "FILM: 'GHOSTBUSTERS,' WITH MURRAY AND AYKROYD". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ Maslin, Janet (1983-05-21). "'SPACEHUNTER,' ADVENTURES IN 3-D". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ Dunning & Brownstein 2014, p. 123.
- ↑ "Ivan Reitman, 'Kindergarten Cop's' Top Sergeant : Movies: The director of 'Ghostbusters' and 'Twins' faces his biggest challenge yet: a room full of tykes. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger was cowed". Los Angeles Times. 1990-12-21. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ "Hollywood's Hottest Comedy Director Takes a Break : Movies: After 'Twins' and 'Ghostbusters II,' producer-director Ivan Reitman decides there's more to film than laughs". Los Angeles Times. 1989-12-05. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ "MOVIE REVIEW : 'Stop!': Stallone KOs His Macho Image". Los Angeles Times. 1992-02-21. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ "MOVIE REVIEW : 'Beethoven': Lightweight Tail-Wagger". Los Angeles Times. 1992-04-03. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ Marx, Andy (1993-02-10). "Daniel takes 'Beethoven' overture". Variety. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ Marx, Andy (1993-04-30). "U plans live-action 'Gadget'". Variety. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ Brodie, John (1994-02-17). "Reitman has TV 'First'". Variety. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ Staff, Variety (1994-04-18). "Short Takes". Variety. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ M. Busch, Anita; Weiner, Rex (1997-01-13). "Douglas/Reuther, Reitman may move". Variety. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- 1 2 Madigan, Nick (February 17, 1998). "PFE adds to stable". Variety. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
- ↑ Hindes, Andrew (June 16, 1999). "Montecito gets new home at Dreamworks". Variety. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
- ↑ Duke, Paul F. (2000-05-16). "Montecito, D'Works reup". Variety. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ Duke, Paul F. (March 10, 2000). "Montecito signs Phillips to 2-year deal". Variety. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ↑ Staff, Variety (2006-08-15). "Bucks for yuks". Variety. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ Siegel, Tatiana (February 18, 2009). "Paramount, Montecito extend pact". Variety. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ↑ McNary, Dave (March 16, 2013). "Studios Re-Rack Production Pacts". Variety. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 4, 2020). "Former Universal Chief & Superlawyer Tom Pollock Has Passed Away: Made George Lucas 'Star Wars' Deal – Update". Deadline. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ↑ Genzlinger, Neil; Chung, Christine (February 14, 2022). "Ivan Reitman, Director of 'Ghostbusters,' Is Dead at 75". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ↑ "Executive Suite: Tom Pollock and Ivan Reitman". The Hollywood Reporter. October 3, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- 1 2 "Film releases". Variety Insight. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
- ↑ "Alienators: Evolution Continues" Year of the Genus (TV Episode 2002) - Company credits - IMDb, retrieved July 24, 2023
External links
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