Propaganda Films

{{Infobox company

| name = Propaganda Films

| type = Subsidiary

| fate = Closed

| logo = Propaganda Films logo.jpeg

| founded = {{start date and age|1986}}

| defunct = {{End date and age|2001|11|9}}

| owner =

| parent = {{Plainlist|

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (1991–1998)
Universal Studios (1998–1999)

}}

| founders = {{Plainlist|

}}

| successors = {{Plainlist|

}}

| divisions =

| industry =

| products = {{Plainlist|

Films
Television series
Music videos
Commercials

}}

| hq_location_city = Los Angeles

}}

Propaganda Films (stylized as PЯOPAGAИDA FILMS) was a production company founded in Los Angeles in 1986 by American producer Steve Golin, Icelandic producer Sigurjón Sighvatsson, English director Nigel Dick, and American directors David Fincher, Dominic Sena, and Greg Gold.{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Mike |date=November 8, 2015 |title=Greg Gold, Director of '(I've Had) The Time of My Life' Music Video, Dies at 64 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/greg-gold-dead-dirty-dancing-838239 |access-date=June 6, 2020 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en}}{{Cite book|last=Mottram|first=James|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/148677482|title=The Sundance Kids : how the mavericks took back Hollywood|date=2006|publisher=Faber & Faber, Inc|isbn=978-0-86547-967-8|location=NY|pages=151|oclc=148677482}} Noted for its television commercials and music videos, it grew to be responsible for almost a third of all music videos produced in the U.S. within four years of its creation.{{Cite news|last=Rohter|first=Larry|date=October 15, 1990|title=For 2 Producers, Their Way Is the Right Way|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/15/movies/for-2-producers-their-way-is-the-right-way.html|access-date=June 6, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}

Founding and early work (1986–1990)

As the name suggests, the production company was founded with the intent to focus on the medium of films; those that Golin and Sighvatsson couldn't get enough financing and creative control for elsewhere. However, in order to create financial stability, the company focused on a base of music video production. The company also branched off into producing television commercials, which along with music videos were considered inherently lesser quality than films. Gold later commented:

We were the first company that wanted to apply the principals of the commercial industry to music videos... [and] we wanted to take the aesthetics of music videos and apply them to commercials.{{Cite web |last=Linnett |first=Richard |date=October 18, 1999 |title=Creative Focus: Future Shock |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/creative-focus-future-shock-46726/ |access-date=2020-06-06 |website=AdWeek |language=en-US}}

In addition to revenue from music videos and commercials, Propaganda entered into a deal in 1988 with PolyGram which meant that the Dutch media company would pay for Propaganda's film costs in exchange for part of the film revenues. It was during this era that Propaganda made connections with the likes of David Lynch, who they hired to direct Wild at Heart. They also produced Lynch's television show Twin Peaks.

PolyGram and decline (1991–2001)

The initial deal with PolyGram, which involved selling them 49% of Propaganda, was intended to bring about financial strength and expanded opportunities. However, Golin and the others realized they needed even more resources to continue making films.

Propaganda Films was fully acquired by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment in 1991.{{Cite news |last=Fabrikant |first=Geraldine |date=1992-08-11 |title=Polygram to Buy 51% Stake in Interscope's Film Division |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/11/business/polygram-to-buy-51-stake-in-interscope-s-film-division.html |access-date=2023-07-09 |issn=0362-4331}} This brought a decrease in creative control, and the budget allocations for films were tightly scrutinized by PolyGram. Nigel Dick later said:

We wanted to do good work and spend a little of the budget, the markup, on a better director of photography or shooting five more rolls of film. When the PolyGram bean counters came in, we didn't get that. 'Where's the markup gone?' That's what we got.

The nineties saw Propaganda produce films of varying success, including Canadian Bacon, The Game, and Being John Malkovich.

They also continued producing popular commercials (such as the "Aaron Burr" Got Milk? commercial){{Cite web|title=Got Milk: Aaron Burr (1993)|website=IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt11163684/companycredits|access-date=June 6, 2020}} and music videos for the likes of Madonna and Michael Jackson.{{Cite web|title=With Propaganda Films (Sorted by Year Ascending)|url=http://www.imdb.com/search/title/?companies=co0058765&start=151|access-date=June 6, 2020|website=IMDb}}

In 1998 PolyGram was sold to Seagram, which folded part of PolyGram into Universal and sold the commercial, music video, and management divisions of Propaganda to SCP Equity Partners. Its original version of the film division was sold to Barry Diller's USA Films, which soon subsequently folded.{{Cite web |last=Carver |first=Martin Peers,Benedict |date=1999-04-08 |title=Barry bags a bundle |url=https://variety.com/1999/biz/news/barry-bags-a-bundle-1117493078/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

The management division was subsequently sold to a group led by Sundance Group executive Gary Beer around the same time.{{Cite web |last=Carver |first=Benedict |date=1999-04-09 |title=Beer takes over Propaganda talent |url=https://variety.com/1999/biz/news/beer-takes-over-propaganda-talent-1117493101/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} The management division reopened a new version of its film division under the leadership of former Phoenix Pictures executive Rick Hess and Trevor Macy in late 1999.{{Cite web |last=Graser |first=Marc |date=1999-10-21 |title=Propaganda picks Hess as new prexy |url=https://variety.com/1999/biz/news/propaganda-picks-hess-as-new-prexy-1117756858/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} By 2000 Sighvatsson had left for Lakeshore Entertainment and Golin had founded Anonymous Content, who had a pact with USA Films, which was one of the companies the original film division of Propaganda had folded.{{Cite book|last=Mottram|first=James|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/148677482|title=The Sundance Kids : how the mavericks took back Hollywood|date=2006|publisher=Faber & Faber, Inc|isbn=978-0-86547-967-8|location=NY|pages=156|oclc=148677482}}{{Cite web |last=Lyons |first=Charles |date=1999-11-30 |title=USA goes to Golin for pix |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/usa-goes-to-golin-for-pix-1117758453/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Around the same time, producer Paul Schiff joined the film division of the company.{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=2000-05-12 |title=Propaganda names Schiff |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/propaganda-names-schiff-1117781590/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} In 2000, the company had struck a deal with Mandolin Entertainment.{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=Dana|date=2000-11-07|title=Propaganda, Mandolin pact|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/propaganda-mandolin-pact-1117788835/|access-date=2021-09-30|website=Variety|language=en-US}} Also that year, the company secured a deal with Constantin Film to make its joint production venture under the name ProCon Films, who was quickly folded in October 2001.{{Cite web |author=Variety Staff |date=2000-05-08 |title=Constantin, Propaganda pact for pics |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/constantin-propaganda-pact-for-pics-1117781308/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Meza |first=Ed |date=2001-10-05 |title=ProCon venture expires |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/procon-venture-expires-1117853682/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} The company went defunct in November 9, 2001 amidst a decline in the advertising business.{{Cite web |first1=Cathy |last1=Dunkley |first2=Dana |last2=Harris |date=2001-11-09 |title=Propaganda closes |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/propaganda-closes-1117855556/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} Several members joined RAW Entertainment{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Dana |date=2002-01-24 |title=Ex-Propaganda exec gets cooking at RAW |url=https://variety.com/2002/scene/news/ex-propaganda-exec-gets-cooking-at-raw-1117859085/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} and Catch 23 Entertainment{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Dana |date=2001-12-04 |title=Catch 23 hooks up Dollard |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/catch-23-hooks-up-dollard-1117856710/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} after the company folded, while member Rick Hees joined the Creative Artists Agency.{{Cite web |last=Brodesser |first=Claude |date=2002-01-07 |title=CAA bolsters indie action |url=https://variety.com/2002/biz/news/caa-bolsters-indie-action-1117857980/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}