Chip Flaherty
{{short description|American film producer}}{{Infobox person
| name = Chip Flaherty
| birth_place = Arlington, Massachusetts
| education = College of the Holy Cross (BA)
Suffolk University (JD)
| occupation = Film producer, publisher
| notable_works = The Chronicles of Narnia, Charlotte's Web, Journey to the Center of the Earth
}}
Francis X. "Chip" Flaherty, Jr. is an American film producer, publisher and executive at SkyPath Media, a multimedia company producing The Lesson, a lifestyle brand of video programming.
Early life and education
Flaherty grew up in Arlington, Massachusetts.{{Cite web |last=Reichert |first=Nick |date=2015-10-21 |title=Chip Flaherty talks the big impact of family films |url=https://www.yourobserver.com/news/2015/oct/21/chip-flaherty-talks-big-impact-family-films/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Your Observer |language=en}} He graduated Suffolk University Law School and the College of the Holy Cross.
Career
Before working at Walden Media, Flaherty was a Massachusetts assistant district attorney and then an assistant attorney general.{{Cite news |last=Kennedy |first=John W. |date=2013-03-14 |title=How four top brands (Walden Media, Hallmark Channel, Walmart and P&G) came together to create a new family TV franchise - kicking off Friday with "Return to Nim's Island" - Faith, Media & Culture |url=http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/faithmediaandculture/2013/03/how-four-top-brands-walden-media-hallmark-channel-walmart-and-pg-came-together-to-create-a-new-family-tv-franchise-kicking-off-friday-with-return-to-nims-island.html |access-date=2017-07-28 |work=Faith, Media & Culture |language=en-US}}
In 2000, Flaherty co-founded Walden Media, a film investor, distributor, and publishing company known for producing films based on children's literature, biographies or historical events. Walden Media’s films include The Chronicles of Narnia, Charlotte’s Web and the Journey to the Center of the Earth. Walden Media has produced more than 30 films that have grossed more than $3.5 billion in worldwide box office,{{Cite news |last=Rodman |first=Sarah |date=2013-09-19 |title=Burlington-based team tries to restore a family habit |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/style/2013/09/19/walden-media/yGgixZmOHm2rDcteTSahAM/story.html |access-date=2017-07-28 |work=The Boston Globe}}
While at Walden Media, Flaherty also oversaw the company's entrance to the book publishing industry, serving as publisher.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2010/biz/markets-festivals/boyce-to-adapt-cosmic-for-walden-1118019610/|title=Boyce to adapt 'Cosmic' for Walden|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=2010-05-19|work=Variety|access-date=2017-07-28|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=30014|title=Space Center Houston and Walden Media Launch Exclusive "Totally Cosmic Adventure at NASA" Sweepstakes|website=www.spaceref.com|date=14 January 2010 |language=en|access-date=2017-07-28}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024}} In 2004, he began a co-publishing venture with Penguin Young Readers Group and in 2008 he founded the imprint Walden Pond Press as a joint venture with HarperCollins.{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-walden13-2008may13-story.html|title=Maker of Children's Films Gets into the Book Business|last=Getlin|first=Josh|date=2008-05-13|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=2018-02-20}}
In the course of marketing films and books, Flaherty has developed promotional initiatives, such as the "Break the World Reading Record with Charlotte's Web" event, launched in conjunction with the theatrical release of Charlotte’s Web. On Wednesday, December 13, 2006, 547,826 readers in 2,451 locations, 50 states and 28 countries read an excerpt from Charlotte's Web, breaking the previous world reading record set in the United Kingdom in 2004.{{Cite news|title="I've Never Broken a World Record"|last=Toomey|first=Shamus|date=December 14, 2006|work=Chicago Sun-Times}} Flaherty also implemented the “Ticket to a Better World” partnership with Read Across America during the theatrical release of The Giver, where 50 cents of every ticket purchased for the film was given to the Read Across America literacy program.{{Cite web|url=http://buddyhollywood.com/the-giver-gives-back/|title=The Giver Gives Back {{!}} BuddyHollywood.com|website=buddyhollywood.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728080629/http://buddyhollywood.com/the-giver-gives-back/|archive-date=2017-07-28|url-status=dead}}
Flaherty’s executive producer credits include Fatima, starring Harvey Keitel and Sonia Braga; Mother’s Day (2016), starring Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston; The Great Gilly Hopkins (2015), starring Octavia Spencer and Kathy Bates; and the animated film The Little Prince (2015), starring Jeff Bridges, Mackenzie Foy, and Rachel McAdams.
In 2017 Flaherty was hired as president of Londonderry Films and exec VP of Londonderry LLC.{{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=2017-07-18 |title=Walden Media Co-Founder Chip Flaherty Joins Londonderry Films |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/walden-media-founder-chip-flaherty-londonderry-films-1202498432/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
References
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Suffolk University Law School alumni