Indie company Film Department to open

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., June 28 (UPI) -- Film Department, an independent film entity run by two ex-Miramax colleagues, announced it will open for business in West Hollywood, Calif., in July.

The company, which will operate as a partnership, said it raised the $200 million needed to open its doors. Mark Gill will be the chief executive officer and Neil Sacker the president and chief operating officer, Variety reported Thursday.

The company said it has a goal of annually putting out six commercial films with budgets between $10 million and $35 million.

In an interview, Gill and Sacker said high-quality films would be Film Department's distinguishing feature. In the short term, the company will focus on production, international sales and financing, foregoing domestic distribution.

"There have never been more ways to distribute films than there are now, with the creation of companies such as Paramount Vantage, Overture and Summit," Gill said. "At the same time, studios are reducing their financial commitments to production, so the combination is ideal for us."

Among the films Gill and Sacker helped oversee are "Crash," "Amelie," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "Frida," and "City of God."