Erik Feig
{{short description|American film executive and producer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Erik Feig
| image = Erik Feig at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.jpg
| caption =
| title = Founder and CEO of Picturestart
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| nationality = American
| alma_mater = Vanderbilt University
Columbia University (BA)
| occupation = Film executive
| years_active = 1997–present
| boards =
| spouse = {{Marriage|Susanna Felleman|2002}}
| children = 2
| parents =
| signature =
}}
Erik Feig is an American film executive and producer.
Feig, a graduate of Columbia University, began his career in film as an independent producer. He worked for Summit Entertainment during the 2000s, before becoming president of production for Lionsgate. He left the company in 2018. In May 2019, Feig launched Picturestart, an independent production company.{{cite news |last1=Fleming |first1=Mike Jr. |title=Ex-Lionsgate Chief Erik Feig Launches Funded Production Shingle Picturestart; Warner Bros, Endeavor Content, BRON Key Backers |url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/erik-feig-picturestart-lionsgate-funded-production-warner-bros-1202606058/ |publisher=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 2, 2019 |access-date=June 7, 2019 |archive-date=May 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504000307/https://deadline.com/2019/05/erik-feig-picturestart-lionsgate-funded-production-warner-bros-1202606058/ |url-status=live }}
Early life and education
Feig was born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in Westport, Connecticut.[https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/19/style/weddings-susanna-felleman-erik-feig.html "Weddings; Susanna Felleman, Erik Feig,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027232042/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/19/style/weddings-susanna-felleman-erik-feig.html |date=2017-10-27 }} The New York Times, May 19, 2002.[https://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/latest/take-five/take-five-erik-feig-92 "Take Five with Erik Feig '92,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226095448/https://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/latest/take-five/take-five-erik-feig-92 |date=2017-12-26 }} Columbia College Today, 2017. He attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, for one year. After taking a year off to travel, he transferred to Columbia University in New York City, graduating with a BA in English in 1992.{{Cite web |last=Block |first=Alex Ben |date=2012-02-09 |title=Erik Feig to Head Movie Production at Combined Summit-Lionsgate |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/erik-feig-summit-lionsgate-rob-friedman-patrick-wachsberger-288642/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809025344/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/erik-feig-summit-lionsgate-rob-friedman-patrick-wachsberger-288642/ |url-status=live }} At Columbia, Feig lived in East Campus and studied under James S. Shapiro, Annette Insdorf, and David Denby.{{Cite web |date=2017-09-15 |title=Take Five with Erik Feig '92 |url=https://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/latest/take-five/take-five-erik-feig-92 |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=Columbia College Today |language=en |archive-date=2022-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618003153/https://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/latest/take-five/take-five-erik-feig-92 |url-status=live }}
Career
=Independent producing (1997-2000)=
Feig began his career as an independent producer, working with Sony Pictures producing films including I Know What You Did Last Summer, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer and Slackers, all for Sony Pictures.{{Cite web |last=Finke |first=Nikki |date=2012-02-09 |title=EXCLUSIVE: Summit's Erik Feig To Be Named President Of Production Of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group |url=https://deadline.com/2012/02/exclusive-summits-erik-feig-to-be-named-president-of-production-of-lionsgate-motion-picture-group-228844/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023074947/https://deadline.com/2012/02/exclusive-summits-erik-feig-to-be-named-president-of-production-of-lionsgate-motion-picture-group-228844/ |url-status=live }}[https://variety.com/exec/erik-feig/ "Erik Feig,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216120922/http://variety.com/exec/erik-feig/ |date=2018-02-16 }} Variety. Accessed October 27, 2017. He had a producing deal with Artisan Entertainment, before being recruited to run the film department at Summit Entertainment.
=Summit Entertainment (2001-11)=
In 1998 Summit Entertainment, a sales agent at the time, launched its own production department with Splendor and Kill the Man, and by 2001, Feig joined Summit as president of production and acquisitions. He became a partner in 2007.{{Cite news |last=Barnes |first=Brooks |date=2008-11-19 |title=For Studio, Vampire Movie Is a Cinderella Story |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/business/media/20summit.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2023-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530004728/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/business/media/20summit.html |url-status=live }}
Feig brought the Twilight book series to Summit after Paramount Pictures passed on it. Although at the time the book had sold only 4,000 copies, Feig noted its strong following online, and its potential to be a franchise for the new studio.{{Cite web |last=Likhtman |first=Asya |date=2015-03-18 |title=Erik Feig tells us his Hollywood life story |url=https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2015/03/18/erik-feig-tells-us-his-hollywood-life-story/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=The Oxford Student |language=en-GB |archive-date=2021-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804083035/https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2015/03/18/erik-feig-tells-us-his-hollywood-life-story/ |url-status=live }} He pursued the project and was able to make a deal with author Stephenie Meyer.{{Cite web |last=Sperling |first=Nicole |date=16 July 2008 |title='Twilight' hits Hollywood |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/07/16/twilight-hits-hollywood/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=EW.com |language=en |archive-date=2014-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024085659/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20211840,00.html |url-status=live }} Feig secured the rights to all four books in February 2006.
=Lionsgate (2012-2019)=
Summit was sold to Lionsgate for $412.5 million in 2012,{{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=2012-01-13 |title=Lionsgate buys Summit for $412.5 million |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/lionsgate-buys-summit-for-412-5-million-1118048622/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-05-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508084357/https://variety.com/2012/film/news/lionsgate-buys-summit-for-412-5-million-1118048622/ |url-status=live }} and Feig was named president of production for Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. In February 2014, he was promoted to co-president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, overseeing film production and development for the Lionsgate and Summit labels.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Daniel |date=2014-02-25 |title=Erik Feig named co-president of Lionsgate's film group |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-xpm-2014-feb-25-la-et-ct-erik-feig-lionsgate-20140225-story.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=2021-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123010259/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-xpm-2014-feb-25-la-et-ct-erik-feig-lionsgate-20140225-story.html |url-status=live }}
Feig first learned of La La Land at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014, when he met with Damien Chazelle, who pitched him his script for a Hollywood musical. At the time, the script was in development at Focus Features. Feig secured a $30 million budget for Lionsgate to produce the film, gambling on the unusual undertaking of an original Hollywood musical. Chazelle's first feature Whiplash had not yet been released when the deal was made.Anthony D'Alessandro, [https://deadline.com/2017/02/emma-stone-la-la-land-damien-chazelle-justin-hurwitz-oscars-interview-1201866006/ "Encore: How 'La La Land' Director Damien Chazelle, His Team & Lionsgate Faced The Music & Resurrected The Original Hollywood Musical,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229092317/https://deadline.com/2017/02/emma-stone-la-la-land-damien-chazelle-justin-hurwitz-oscars-interview-1201866006/ |date=2019-12-29 }} Deadline.com, February 17, 2017.Ryan Faughnder, [https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-la-la-land-lionsgate-20170120-story.html "With 'La La Land,' which hauled in 14 Oscar nominations, Lionsgate's gamble is paying off big,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214093547/https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-la-la-land-lionsgate-20170120-story.html |date=2020-02-14 }} Los Angeles Times, January 24, 2017.Peter Bart, [https://deadline.com/2016/12/lionsgate-la-la-land-starz-hacksaw-ridge-patriots-day-1201874179/ "'La La Land,' Starz Deal Leaves Lionsgate Singing About Future,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909170155/https://deadline.com/2016/12/lionsgate-la-la-land-starz-hacksaw-ridge-patriots-day-1201874179/ |date=2019-09-09 }} Deadline.com, December 21, 2016.
In February 2018, it was reported that Feig would be leaving Lionsgate, and that he has raised money to launch a new company focused on youth-oriented projects. Lionsgate is expected to be one of the investors in the new company.{{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=2018-02-20 |title=Lionsgate Film Execs Erik Feig, Patrick Wachsberger Plan Exit |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/lionsgate-shakeup-erik-feig-patrick-wachsberger-exit-1202705345/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-05-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512111348/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/lionsgate-shakeup-erik-feig-patrick-wachsberger-exit-1202705345/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Masters |first=Kim |date=2018-02-20 |title=Lionsgate Shake-Up: Top Film Execs Plan Exit (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/lionsgate-shake-up-top-film-execs-plan-exit-1086431/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-09-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930080019/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/lionsgate-shake-up-top-film-execs-plan-exit-1086431/ |url-status=live }}
=Picturestart=
In May 2019, Feig announced the launch of Picturestart, a "new media" company. Scholastic granted the company access to its IP.{{cite news |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |title=Veteran Producer and Exec Erik Feig Launches Media Company Picturestart |url=https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/erik-feig-picturestart-1203202933/ |access-date=May 3, 2019 |work=Variety |date=May 2, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502191136/https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/erik-feig-picturestart-1203202933/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |title=Former Lionsgate Film Exec Erik Feig Launches New Production Banner |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lionsgate-film-exec-erik-feig-launches-new-production-banner-1206812 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=May 2, 2019 |access-date=June 7, 2019 |archive-date=June 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607152359/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lionsgate-film-exec-erik-feig-launches-new-production-banner-1206812 |url-status=live }} Picturestart intends to produce four to six films and four to six TV series per year.{{cite news |last1=Faughnder |first1=Ryan |title=Former Lionsgate executive Erik Feig gets Warner Bros. backing for new company |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-erik-feig-warner-picturestart-amy-pascal-20190502-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 2, 2019 |access-date=June 7, 2019 |archive-date=June 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607115057/https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-erik-feig-warner-picturestart-amy-pascal-20190502-story.html |url-status=live }}
Personal life
Feig lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife Susanna Felleman and their two children. They were married in New York in 2002.
Filmography
Producer
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
- I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
- I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)
- Slackers (2002)
- Wrong Turn (2003)
- Lies & Alibis (2006)
- I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006)
- Step Up (2006)
- P2 (2007)
- Step Up 2: The Streets (2008)
- Step Up 3D (2010)
- Step Up Revolution (2012)
- Step Up: All In (2014)
- Unpregnant (2020)
- Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022)
- Luckiest Girl Alive (2022)
- Am I OK? (2022)
- Theater Camp (2023)
- Sharper (2023)
- Strays (2023)
- Borderlands (2024)
- Bad Genius (2024)
- Sweethearts (2024)
- Together (2025)
- 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank (TBA)
- Animorphs (TBA)
{{colend}}
Executive producer
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
- Dot the i (2003)
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
- Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007)
- In the Valley of Elah (2007)
- Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead (2009)
- Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings (2011)
- Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines (2012)
- Wrong Turn 6: Last Resort (2014)
- Uncle Drew (2018)
- The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)
- Chaos Walking (2021)
- Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (Television series) (2023)
{{colend}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0270549}}
- [https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=54409209&privcapId=30864 Erik Feig] on Bloomberg.com
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Feig, Erik}}
Category:People from Westport, Connecticut
Category:Vanderbilt University alumni
Category:Columbia College (New York) alumni
Category:American film studio executives
Category:Film producers from California