Erik Feig#Picturestart
{{short description|American film producer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Erik Feig
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| occupation = Producer
| years_active = 1997–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Susanna Felleman
|2002}}
| children = 2
}}
Erik Feig is an American film producer. He is the CEO of the independent production company Picturestart, which he founded in 2019, and previously oversaw the film production and sales departments of Summit Entertainment, Lionsgate, and Sony Pictures. Films produced by Feig have grossed over $13 billion at the box office.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}
Early life
Erik Feig was born in Los Angeles 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 for one year before taking a year off to travel and transferring to Columbia University, where he graduated 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 }} During his time at Columbia, he lived in East Campus and studied under Annette Insdorf, David Denby, and James S. Shapiro.{{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
Feig began his career as a producer of independent films in 1997,[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. working with Sony Pictures on films such as I Know What You Did Last Summer, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, and Slackers.{{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 }} He had a producing deal with Artisan Entertainment before being recruited to run the film department at Summit Entertainment, which was solely a film sales company at the time. In 1998, Summit launched its own production department with Splendor and Kill the Man. By 2001, Feig had 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 the book had sold only 4,000 copies at the time, Feig noted its strong online following and potential to be a successful 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 }} securing the rights to all four books in February 2006. 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, Feig became 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 }} He first learned of La La Land at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, where he met with director 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 an original Hollywood musical. Chazelle's first film, 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 leave Lionsgate after raising enough money to launch a new company focused on youth-oriented projects, with Lionsgate expected to invest 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 }} In May 2019, Feig announced the launch of his own production company Picturestart.{{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 }} 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 }} As of 2019, Picturestart was intending 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 married Susanna Felleman in New York City in 2002, and they live in Los Angeles with their two children.
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}}
{{authority control}}
{{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