User:YSec/sandbox3

Holton Studios, LLC (formerly Holton Productions, LLC) is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate founded by Nathan Holton. Da riscrivere

The company collaborates with major studios, including Warner Bros. Pictures, Universal Pictures, and Sony Pictures, as well as streaming services, such as Netflix and Disney+. The founding members are Nathan Holton, Jon Watts, Bruno Heller, and Dylan Sprayberry.

Holton Productions was born as part of HBO's "top priority projects" with high-budget productions like Wayne, Teen Wolf, and Prototype but has always been independent. Most of the television projects are aired and produced by HBO but the company occasionally works with Netflix and other distributors. Movies are distributed by different studios as the company doesn't work self-publish its projects. The most frequent collaborators are director Christopher Nolan, the HBO network, and Warner Bros. Pictures distribution. As of February 2023, the company has 75 employees including producers, and screenwriters.

Founding and first years (2019-2022)
Da espandere

On October 12 2020, frequent collaborator Jonathan Nolan and his wife Lisa Joy joined the company as full members and a week later, actor and producer Jake Gyllenhaal also joined the company. After a life-threatening stroke, Bruno Heller left the company in December 2020 to recover.

Rebranding and expansion (2023-present)
Da espandere

On September 26, 2022, Nathan Holton surprisingly announced the acquisition of Legendary Entertainment and all of its subsidiaries and divisions from Wanda Group and Apollo Global Management for a discounted $795.5 million. Holton later stated: "We are glad to have Legendary join our family and we're looking forward to the new possibilities this collaboration opens for both parts". He also stated that this won't be the last acquisition and, to promote this new direction, it was announced that starting from January 2023, the company would change its name to Holton Studios. The acquisition was finalized on February 27, 2023 making it the first subsidiary of the renamed Holton Studios. Jon Watts is the Chief Executive Officer and Joshua Grode (Chief Executive Officer from 2017) now acts as Chief Operating Officer..

On April 12, 2023 Warner Bros. Discovery unveiled Max in a press event with the streaming service set to launch first in the U.S. on May 23. Holton Studios and WBD will co-own the service after an agreement was reached between Nathan Holton and WBD's CEO David Zaslav.

Holton explained that the HBO branding had been dropped from the service's name so that it could be associated with its original programming as a content brand on Max, rather than having to be associated with the entirety of its library (which includes children's and family programming that was at odds with HBO having traditionally been associated with adult-oriented programming). The company has committed a significant amount of money to market the new service's launch, the largest in the WBD's history.

Following the acquisition of Digital Domain in June 2023, a new subsidiary named Holton Media Group was founded. Managed by Nathan Holton, Holton Media Group will manage the digital services, such as marketing, VFX and streaming distribution of the parent company and it's other subsidiaries. Holton Media Group's divisions are: Studio Five, which was moved from Holton Studios, Max and Digital Domain. Following another collaboration between Holton Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery, starting from 2024, the music label WaterTower Music will also be co-owned at 50%.

Founding of Holton Interactive Group (2023-present)
Da scrivere

Honorary members
These members are not officially part of the company but are frequent collaborators or close friends.

Holton Studios

 * Holton Pictures (operating as Holton Studios) is a main production label for movies. The division is led by Nathan Holton, who operates as Head of Production. Jon Watts and Jonathan Nolan are Joint VPs of Production.
 * Holton Television, Animation & Digital Development (operating as Holton Studios) is a main production label for television projects; it also handles the digital distribution and relationships with networks. The division is led by Craig Mazin.
 * Inspiring Muse Films is a direct division of Holton Studios and a secondary production label. It focuses on the creation of low-budget short films. The division is led by Dylan Sprayberry, who operates as Joint VP of Production with Aramis Knight and Seth Lee. Susan Downey and Robert Downey Jr. are Joint Heads of Production.
 * Syncopy Inc. is a direct division of Holton Studios and a secondary production label used for movies directed or produced by Christopher Nolan. The division is led by Cristopher Nolan and Emma Thomas.

Inspiring Muse Films
Founded in June 2023 by Nathan Holton and Dylan Sprayberry as a spiritual successor and rebranding of Team Downey, Inspiring Muse Films is an production company that focuses on producing independent short films. The studio aims to provide a platform for young directors, screenwriters, and actors to showcase their creativity.

Dylan Sprayberry holds multiple roles including studio director and Joint VP of Production while Susan Downey and Robert Downey Jr. serve as Heads of Production. Actors Aramis Knight and Seth Lee are also Joint VPs of Production.

All projects are released exclusively on the Max streaming service due to the involvement of Holton Studios in its management.

Legendary Entertainment
Legendary Entertainment (also known simply as Legendary) is an American film and television production and mass media company based in Burbank, California, founded by Thomas Tull along with co-founders Scott Mednick and William Fay in 2000. The company has collaborated with major studios, including Warner Bros. Pictures, Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and Sony Pictures, as well as streaming services, such as Netflix and Hulu. Since 2016, Legendary has been a subsidiary of the Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group since 2016 and Apollo since 2022. On February 27, 2023, the company was wholly purchased by Holton Studios. Jon Watts is the Chief Executive Officer and Joshua Grode (Chief Executive Officer from 2017) now acts as Chief Operating Officer. With this acquisition, the divisions Legendary Digital Networks (including Geek & Sundry, Nerdist Industries, and Amy Poehler's Smart Girls) and Legendary East (a joint venture film production company based in Hong Kong) were closed or sold. Five33 was rebranded as Studio Five and implemented as a division of Holton Studios and then moved to Holton Media Group. In July 2023, the Legendary Comics division was closed. The newly founded Legendary Pictures division sees actor and producer Jake Gyllenhaal, as studio director.


 * Legendary Pictures is a main production label for movies. The division is led by Jake Gyllenhaal.
 * Legendary Television is a main production label for television projects. The division is led by Ryan Condal.
 * Legendary Animation is a main production label for animated projects. The division is led by Enrico Casarosa.

Holton Media Group
Founded by Nathan Holton in June 2023, Holton Media Group is a mass media and entertainment multi-industry company owned by Holton Studios, with Holton acting as CEO, Victoria Alonso as COO, and Kevin Reilly as CCO. The company has several subsidiaries, including Studio Five, a marketing agency; Oni Press Publishing, a comic book publishing company; WBD Entertainment, that includes Max, an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and WaterTower Music, an American record label serving as the in-house music label; Digital Domain, a visual effects company; and IGN Entertainment Inc., an American video game and entertainment mass media company. These subsidiaries provide a wide range of services in the media and entertainment industry.


 * Studio Five is a marketing agency. Oversees the marketing for all Holton Studios' subsidiaries and divisions. It also provides services to third-party companies. This division is led by Chris Spadaccini.
 * Oni Press Publishing is an American comic book publisher. The company publishes both original works and licensed ones based on projects produced by Holton Studios. Bob Schreck is the editor-in-chief.
 * WBD Entertainment is holding group that manages properties co-owned with Warner Bros. Discovery.
 * Max is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service which is run by parent subsidiary Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming & Interactive Entertainment. The division is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery (50%) and Holton Studios (50%).
 * WaterTower Music is an American record label serving as the in-house music label and run by entertainment company Warner Bros. The division is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery (50%) and Holton Studios (50%).
 * Digital Domain is a visual effects company. It also provides services to third-party companies.
 * Digital Domain US is the American administrative and operational unit. The division is led by Victoria Alonso.
 * Digital Domain Worldwide manages all Digital Domain's studios worldwide. The division only handles administration and is led by Daniel Seah.
 * Digital Domain Montréal
 * Digital Domain Hong Kong
 * Digital Domain Beijing
 * Digital Domain Shangai
 * Digital Domain Shenzen
 * Digital Domain Hyberabad
 * Image Engine by Digital Domain is the operational unit set in Vancouver. The division is led by Shawn Walsh
 * THX Audio Systems is a suite of high fidelity audiovisual reproduction standards for movie theaters, screening rooms, home theaters, computer speakers, video game consoles, car audio systems, and video games. The THX trailer that precedes movies is based on the Deep Note, with a distinctive glissando up from a rumbling low pitch.

Holton Interactive Group
Founded by Nathan Holton in July 2023, Holton Interactive Group is a subsidiary of Holton Studios that oversees the video game development, publishing, and distribution. Holton acts as CEO while former Naughty Dog director and designer, Bruce Straley, acts as Co-Chief Operating Officer alongside former Rockstar Games co-founder, Dan Houser, and former Rockstar North producer, Leslie Benzies acts as Chief Gaming Officer.