Johnny Lin
{{short description|American film producer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Johnny Lin
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| nationality = American
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| occupation = Film producer
| organization = Filmula Entertainment, Filmula International
| years_active = 2009-present
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Johnny Lin is an American film producer. He is the principal of Filmula Entertainment and president of licensor Filmula International.{{cite news |first=Jeremy |last=Kay |url=https://www.questia.com/magazine/1P3-2794502081/johnny-lin-partners-with-ted-field-stan-lee-on-the |title=Johnny Lin partners with Ted Field, Stan Lee on The Guardian Project |newspaper=Screen International |date=October 21, 2012 |access-date=December 1, 2016 |archive-date=December 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202040026/https://www.questia.com/magazine/1P3-2794502081/johnny-lin-partners-with-ted-field-stan-lee-on-the |url-status=dead }}
Life and career
Lin began his career working for his father Jimmy Lin, a producer on Jet Li's breakout film The Legend and owner of Royal Country Golf Club,{{Cite web|last=Grobar|first=Matt|date=2022-01-19|title=‘Thelma’: Kathy Bates, John Malkovich & Lewis Pullman To Star In Indie From Director Ken Kwapis|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/thelma-kathy-bates-john-malkovich-lewis-pullman-to-star-in-ken-kwapis-indie-1234914770/|access-date=2022-01-21|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} who came to the U.S. in 1979 and started his own video distribution business. He was a member of his father's prolific distribution team, which distributed over 800 films in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. During this time, Lin and his father distributed successful films such as The Lord of the Rings, Rush Hour, The Wedding Singer, Wag the Dog, Spawn, and Runaway Bride. After growing up in New Zealand, Lin moved to the U.S.{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3481966/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm |title=Johnny Lin: Biography |website=IMDb }}
Lin has been a producer and executive producer on numerous feature films including the crime thriller American Made with Tom Cruise,{{Cite news |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/754737-tom-cruise-starrer-mena-is-now-american-made |title=Tom Cruise Starrer Mena is Now American Made|date=August 8, 2016}} the black comedy Bernie with Jack Black and Matthew McConaughey,{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/bernie-film-review-202924 |title=Bernie: Film Review |last=McCarthy |first=Todd |date=July 17, 2011}} the drama Another Happy Day,{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/happy-day-us-rights-sold-188304 |title='Another Happy Day' U.S. Rights Sold to Phase 4 Films|last=Fernandez |first=Jay A. |date=May 11, 2011 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}} and the 2010 Hesher.{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sundance-tally-10-titles-sold-20123 |title=Sundance tally: 10 titles sold during festival |last=Fernandez |first=Jay A. |date=January 31, 2010 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |last2=Goldstein |first2=Gregg}}{{cite news |first=Austin |last=Siegemund-Broka |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6502395/ted-fields-record-company-hit-with-second-lawsuit-over-investment |title=Ted Field's Record Company Hit With Second Lawsuit Over Investment|newspaper=Billboard |date=March 17, 2015 }} He also wrote, directed and produced the 2016 independent film Queen of Hearts.{{cite news |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/filmulas-johnny-lin-secures-taiwan-185779 |title=Filmula's Johnny Lin secures Taiwan rights to Miramax titles |newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter |date=May 5, 2011 }} He heads Filmula, has provided over $800 million in film funding,{{Cite web |title=Filmmaker Johnny Lin - Podcast |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/listen/get-a-real-job/ |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=Entrepreneur |language=en}} and has acquired the rights to many films including Hunger Games, Magic Mike and The King's Speech,{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/filmula-looking-invest-more-movies-23441 |title=Filmula looking to invest in more movies |last=Block |first=Alex Ben |date=May 10, 2010 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/johnny-lin-takes-us-titles-for-taiwan/5013981.article |title=Johnny Lin takes US titles for Taiwan |last=Kay |first=Jeremy |date=May 17, 2010 |work=ScreenDaily}} and exclusive rights to distribution of Miramax films and TV shows in Taiwan. He has been CEO of Studio Solutions since 2005. Studio Solutions Group has acquired 1,200 films including the Miramax library. In 2010 Filmula partnered with FilmNation signing a co-production deal.{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2010/film/news/filmula-filmnation-sign-co-production-deal-1118027031/ |title=Filmula, FilmNation sign co-production deal |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=November 6, 2010 |work=Variety}} In 2012, Studio Solutions became embroiled in a dispute with CatchPlay over 925 film rights and whether Studio Solutions and CatchPlay had an agency relationship;{{cite news |first=Brent |last=Lang |url=https://www.thewrap.com/legal-fight-rages-taiwanese-rights-looper-dredd-3d-hang-balance-exclusive-57846/ |title=Legal Fight Rages as Taiwanese Rights to 'Looper,' 'Dredd 3D' Hang in Balance |newspaper=TheWrap |date=September 25, 2012 }} in 2014, a dispute with Media Development Corp was awarded in Studio Solutions' favor.{{cite news |first=Ted |last=Johnson |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/hunger-games-taiwan-1201288054/ |title=Judge Signs Off on $3.4 Million Damage Award Over 'Hunger Games,' Other Rights in Taiwan |newspaper=Variety |date=August 22, 2014 }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.thewrap.com/legal-fight-taiwanese-rights-looper-magic-mike-ends-settlement/ |title=‘Looper,’ ‘Magic Mike’ Legal Fight Ends in Settlement: CatchPlay and Studio Solutions have reached undisclosed financial settlement over Taiwanese rights to more than 900 films |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=October 23, 2013 |work=The Wrap}}
In 2012 Lin entered into a joint development venture with Ted Field and Stan Lee, The Guardian Project, to produce multi-media content in association with the National Hockey League, and also invested in the failed reboot of Trauma Records; he twice successfully sued Field's company for breach-of-contract and recovery of the investment. On December 1, 2016 a federal judge ordered Ted Field and his Radar Pictures to assign profits from 11 films, including Sony’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, to Lin’s Filmula Entertainment until the judgment is satisfied.{{Cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/jumanji-producer-pay-fees-to-creditors-ted-field-radar-pictures-1201880116/ |title=‘Jumanji’ EP Ordered To Pay Fees From Film To Creditor To Settle $2M Debt |last=Patten |first=Dominic |date=January 6, 2017 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}
In 2017, Lin and Brian Oliver acquired the rights to the sci-fi project Rise; based on the popular short directed by David Karlak.{{cite web|last1=Ford|first1=Rebecca|title=Sci-Fi Short Film 'Rise' Getting Feature Adaptation (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/sci-fi-short-film-rise-getting-feature-adaptation-983089|work=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en}}{{cite web|last1=Busch|first1=Anita|title=Filmula’s Johnny Lin & Brian Oliver Acquire Rights To ‘Rise’ From Warner Bros|url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/rise-movie-filmula-johnny-lin-brian-oliver-acquire-rights-1202036177/|website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=9 March 2017|date=4 March 2017}}
Also in 2017, it was announced that Lin and Oliver are set to produce the upcoming remake of The Wild Geese, a 1978 cult mission movie written by William Monahan.{{cite web|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike|title=‘The Wild Geese’ To Fly Again With William Monahan Writing For New Republic Pictures, Filmula|url=https://deadline.com/2017/08/the-wild-geese-remake-william-monahan-new-republic-pictures-filmula-1202153821/|website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=31 August 2017|date=22 August 2017}} Additionally, Lin has acquired the rights to adapt Maureen Callahan's '90s-set fashion book Champagne Supernovas into a television series.{{cite web|last1=Pantano|first1=Italo|title=Kate Moss and Marc Jacobs' story in a new TV series|url=http://www.vogue.it/en/fashion/news/2017/08/29/kate-moss-and-marc-jacobs-will-play-in-a-new-tv-series/|website=Vogue.it|language=it-IT|date=29 August 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Muller|first1=Marissa G.|title=A TV Series About Kate Moss, Marc Jacobs, and Alexander McQueen is in the Works|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/kate-moss-marc-jacobs-alexander-mcqueen-tv-series-champagne-supernovas|website=W Magazine|accessdate=31 August 2017|language=en}}{{cite web|last1=Ford|first1=Rebecca|title='90s-Set Fashion Book Focused on Kate Moss, Marc Jacobs in the Works as TV Series (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/90s-set-fashion-book-focused-kate-moss-marc-jacobs-works-as-tv-series-1033384|work=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=31 August 2017|language=en}} In November 2017, it was announced that Lin will be teaming up with 3 Arts Entertainment to develop undercover agent Edward Follis' memoir The Dark Art: My Undercover Life in Narco-Terrorism.{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title=Filmula & 3 Arts Developing Edward Follis’ ‘The Dark Art’ Memoir For TV |url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/filmula-3-arts-developing-edward-follis-the-dark-art-memoir-tv-1202207719/ |website=Deadline |date=14 November 2017}}
In May 2018, Lin's Filmula entered a co-financing deal with Brian Oliver’s New Republic Pictures, which struck a first-look co-financing and distribution deal with Paramount Pictures.{{cite web |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |title=‘Black Swan’ Producer Brian Oliver Signs First-Look Deal With Paramount |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/black-swan-brian-oliver-paramount-1202803023/ |website=Variety |date=8 May 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Kay|first1=Jeremy|title=Brian Oliver's New Republic Pictures strikes first-look deal with Paramount (exclusive)|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/brian-olivers-new-republic-pictures-strikes-first-look-deal-with-paramount-exclusive/5128923.article|website=Screen|accessdate=21 May 2018|language=en}}{{cite web|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=Film News Roundup: Poppy Drayton’s ‘Little Mermaid’ Movie Set for August Release|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/poppy-drayton-little-mermaid-movie-august-release-1202805260/|website=Variety|accessdate=21 May 2018|date=10 May 2018}} Also in May, it was announced that Lin and Filmula will produce and finance the upcoming action picture "Escape from the North Pole."{{cite web|last1=Kaye|first1=Don|title=Development round-up: Cobra Kai renewed, Zemeckis series green-lit, evil elf movie picked up|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/development-round-up-cobra-kai-renewed-zemeckis-series-green-lit-evil-elf-movie-picked-up|website=Syfy|language=en|date=10 May 2018|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126220635/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/development-round-up-cobra-kai-renewed-zemeckis-series-green-lit-evil-elf-movie-picked-up|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last1=Ramos|first1=Dino-Ray|title=Filmula Acquires Rights To Black List Script ‘Escape From The North Pole’|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/filmula-black-list-script-escabe-from-the-north-pole-johnny-lin-paul-laudiero-ben-baker-1202386819/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=9 May 2018}} In September 2018, it was reported that Lin's Filmula acquired the rights to adapt James L. Swanson's upcoming book Lion in Winter, based on the true story of America's most prolific Chicago Outfit syndicate mob boss, into a feature film.{{cite web |last1=Hipes |first1=Patrick |title=Chuck Hogan & Filmula Team On Chicago Outfit Hitman Movie, Seal Book Deal |url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/chuck-hogan-chicago-outfit-hitman-movie-james-l-swanson-book-filmula-1202470034/ |website=Deadline |date=24 September 2018}}
In November 2018, it was announced that Beijing-based distributor E Stars will co-finance and co-produce a range of U.S. film projects with Lin's Filmula.{{cite web |title=China's E Stars Inks Production, Distribution Deal With Filmula (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/chinas-e-stars-inks-production-distribution-deal-filmula-1157460 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Pedersen |first1=Erik |title=Filmula & E Stars To Finance Movies For China Distribution – AFM |url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/filmula-e-stars-to-finance-movies-for-china-distribution-afm-1202495208/ |website=Deadline |date=3 November 2018}} Also that month, it was reported that Filmula had tapped screenwriter Andrew Farotte to pen the script for an upcoming original film about World War II in the Pacific.{{cite web |last1=N'Duka |first1=Amanda |title=Andrew Farotte Set To Pen WWII Epic From Filmula |url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/andrew-farotte-pen-wwii-epic-filmula-1202496348/ |website=Deadline |date=6 November 2018}}
He received his Executive MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management in 2022.
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Title | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Hesher | 2010 | Producer |
| Another Happy Day | rowspan="2"| 2011 | Producer |
| Bernie | Executive Producer | |
| Queen of Hearts (short) | 2016 | Director, producer and writer |
| American Made | 2017 | Executive Producer |
References
{{reflist|30em}}