Touchstone pictures

ABOUT THE CAST

HEATH LEDGER (CASANOVA) acting career took off in his hometown of Perth, Western Australia. Honing his skills on stage in Australia starting at the age of twelve, Heath workshopped plays with The Globe Shakespeare Company and the Midnight Youth Acting Company. He quickly landed roles on such Australian television series as “Clowning Around,” “Bush Patrol,” “Corrigan,” “Ship to Shore” and “Home and Away.” He also co-starred in a number of independent films:  “Black Rock,” “Paws” and “Two Hands” opposite Bryan Brown which screened at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival.
In 1997, Heath starred in his first American television series, “Roar,” for Universal and FOX television. The mid-season replacement, which also co-starred Keri Russell (Felicity'), didn't take Heath too far from home, filming in Queensland, Australia.  It was directly after this series that he landed his first American talent agent and made his move to the United States.
Since then, Heath has starred in a number of diverse roles including “Four Feathers” for director Shekar Kapur, Twentieth Century Fox's “The Order” and Columbia's “A Knight's Tale.” He was also seen opposite Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry in the critically acclaimed “Monsters Ball” for Lions Gate. He starred opposite Mel Gibson in “The Patriot,” was in the Touchstone release “10 Things I Hate About You,” played the title role in “Ned Kelly” for Working Title Films and most recently appeared in Columbia's “The Lords Of Dogtown'” for Director Catherine Hardwicke.
In 2005, Ledger stars in  “Brokeback Mountain” for director Ang Lee adapted from the Annie Proulx short story. The film debuts at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals.  Heath Ledger also stars opposite Matt Damon in Terry Gilliam's “Brothers Grimm” for Miramax Films and in the upcoming independent film “Candy” for Australian director Neil Armfield.

SIENNA MILLER (FRANCESCA BRUNI) has in her early 20s already built up a broad range of impressive roles in film, theatre and television. After training at The Lee Strasberg Institute, New York, she catapulted into the public eye when she appeared in the BBC comedy “Bedtime” and more recently when she won outstanding reviews playing Fiona in the US television series “Keen Eddie.” On the big screen, Sienna has been seen in Mathew Vaughn’s “Layer Cake” opposite Daniel Craig and in “Alfie,” the remake of the 60’s classic, in which she starred alongside Jude Law and Susan Sarandon.

JEREMY IRONS (BISHOP PUCCI) began his career in England in theatre at the Bristol Old Vic and then debuted in London in “Godspell “as John the Baptist.  His work in the West End and at Stratford Upon Avon culminated with his performance of “Richard II” for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He made his Broadway debut in Tom Stoppard’s “The Real Thing” opposite Glenn Close, for which he won both the Drama League Award and Tony Award for Best Actor. 

 

Irons has played many roles for television, most notably “Love for Lydia” and Christopher Hampton’s “Tales from Hollywood.”  His performance in “Brideshead Revisited” brought him worldwide acclaim and nominations for an Emmy Award, the British Academy and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.  In 1996, he directed and co-starred with his wife, actress Sinead Cusack in “Mirad, A Boy from Bosnia,” a Channel 4 Television film about refugees, written by Ad De Bont.

On the wide screen he has starred in such films as Jerzy Skolimowski’s “Moonlighting,” Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal,” Volker Schlondorff’s “Swann in Love” and “The Mission” with Robert De Niro. Irons played opposite Meryl Streep in “The French Lieutenant’s Woman,” for which he received the Variety Club Award for Best Actor and a BAFTA nomination, and opposite his son Sam in Roald Dahl’s “Danny, Champion of the World.”  His performance in David Cronenberg’s “Dead Ringers” brought him a Best Actor Award from the New York Film Critics Circle and a Canadian Genie. Irons starred again with Glenn Close in the film based on the re-trial of Claus von Bulow, “Reversal of Fortune.” For this performance, Irons received the 1990 Academy Award® and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
Irons went on to work in such films as Steven Soderbergh’s “Kafka,” David Cronenberg’s “M. Butterfly” and Bille August’s “The House Of The Spirits” with Streep and Close again. In 1994, Irons created the voice of Scar for Disney’s “The Lion King.” He followed that with the action film “Die Hard With A Vengeance” co-starring Bruce Willis, and Bernardo Bertolucci’s “Stealing Beauty,” co-starring Liv Tyler.
Irons’ more recent films include Wayne Wang’s “Chinese Box” and “Man In The Iron Mask,” in which he co-starred with Gerard Depardieu, Leonardo DiCaprio, and John Malkovich. He played Humbert Humbert in Adrian Lyne’s controversial film “Lolita.” Irons was in production with four films in 2001, including “And Now … Ladies and Gentleman,” directed by Claude Lelouch, “The Time Machine” based on the H.G. Wells novel, “Callas Forever” directed by Franco Zeffirelli, and “Last Call,” a Showtime Original Picture directed by Henry Bromell, co-starring Neve Campbell. In 2003, Jeremy Irons debuted in the New York City Opera production of Stephen Sondheim’s A “Little Night Music” in the role of Frederik, directed by Scott Ellis. He also starred in Istan Szabo’s “Being Julia.”
In late 2004 Irons played Antonio, in Michael Radford’s production of Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice,” co-starring Al Pacino. In spring 2005 Ridley Scott’s “Kingdom of Heaven” was released, with Irons co-starring opposite Orlando Bloom. Films Irons recently completed that are soon to be released include “Mathilde,” a film by Nina Mimica. In summer 2005 Irons was in production with “Elizabeth I,” a TV mini-series produced for HBO, co-starring Helen Mirren. He is also playing King Arthur this August in the Hollywood Bowl’s summer performance of “Camelot,” part of the Hollywood Bowl’s weekend spectacular series. In fall 2005 Irons begins shooting the Twentieth Century Fox production of “Eragon” directed by Stefen Fangmeier.
OLIVER PLATT (PAPRIZZIO), an Emmy Award nominee, stars as Russell opposite Hank Azaria in the original drama series “Huff” for Showtime. Platt has enjoyed a successful career in film, television, and on stage. His film credits include “Funny Bones,” “Bullworth,” “Married To The Mob,” “Working Girl,” “Flatliners,” “Postcards From The Edge,” “Indecent Proposal,” “The Three Musketeers,” “A Time To Kill,” “Doctor Dolittle,” “Simon Birch,” “Lake Placid” and “Don’t Say A Word.” He recently received critical acclaim for his starring role in United Artists” “Pieces Of April” and will soon be seen in Harold Ramis” “Ice Harvest.”
Platt made his producing debut on the indie film “Big Night,” which was co-directed by actors Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott. Platt would later re-team with Tucci in “The Imposters.” On television, Platt received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role as White House Counsel Oliver Babish on the popular political drama “The West Wing.”
Oliver Platt graduated from Tufts University with a degree in drama and immediately began working in regional theatre, as well as off-Broadway, in such productions as “The Tempest” and John Guare’s “Moon Over Miami.” He also starred in the Lincoln Centre production of “UBU” and Jules Feiffer’s “Elliot Loves,” directed by Mike Nichols. Platt most recently received rave reviews for his performance as Sir Toby Belch in Brian Kulick’s production of “Twelfth Night.” The son of a career diplomat, Platt was born in Washington, D.C., and spent part of his childhood in Asia and the Middle East. Oliver Platt resides in New York with his wife and three children.

LENA OLIN (ANDREA BRUNI), an Academy Award® nominee, has become a favorite of audiences and critics alike with her remarkable beauty and talent. On the small screen, she was most recently seen on the critically acclaimed and highly rated ABC series, “Alias,” opposite Jennifer Garner and Victor Garber.

Olin was last seen in director Ron Shelton's “Hollywood Homicide” opposite Harrison Ford. In addition, Lena joined an ensemble cast that includes Don Cheadle and Kevin Spacey in “The United States Of Leland.”

Olin made her American film debut in 1988's “The Unbearable Lightness Of Being,” opposite Daniel Day Lewis, directed by Phillip Kaufman. She went on to star opposite Ron Silver and Anjelica Huston in “Enemies: A Love Story,” for which she received the New York Film Critics Award for Best Actress as well as an Academy Award® nomination. Olin also starred opposite Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche in Lasse Hallström 's “Chocolat.” Additional film credits include Roman Polanski's “The Ninth Gate” with Johnny Depp; “Polish Wedding” opposite Claire Danes and Gabriel Byrne;
Romeo Is Bleeding” opposite Gary Oldman; Sidney Lumet's “Night and the Moment” opposite Willem Dafoe; “Havana” opposite Robert Redford; “Mr. Jones” opposite Richard Gere; and Ingmar Bergman's “Fanny And Alexander.” In 1998, Lena Olin was honored to serve as a judge at the Cannes Film Festival.
Olin was born in Sweden, where she has been with the Royal Dramatic Theatre since the age of 20. It was there that she met the legendary Ingmar Bergman who went on to direct her in several theatre projects, including “King Lear,” “After the Rehearsal” and “Miss Julie.” Additional stage credits include ‘”The Alchemist,” “Paradisbarnen,” “Juno And The Paycock,” “Gross Und Klein,” “Servitore Di Due Padrone,” “Restoration,” “Nattvarden,” “Summer,” “A Dream Play” and “The Master and Margarita.”

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

LASSE HALLSTRÖM’s (DIRECTOR) most recent film is “An Unfinished Life.” In 2002 Hallström earned a Golden Berlin Bear nomination for “The Shipping News,” which starred Kevin Spacey and Julianne Moore, and was based on E. Annie Proulx’s Pulitzer-Prize winning novel. Hallström’s acclaimed adaptation of Joanna Harris’ “Chocolat,” starring Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp and Judi Dench, earned five Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture. Hallström received a second Oscar nomination for Best Director for his work on “The Cider House Rules,” starring Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron and Michael Caine
The Swedish director first came to the attention of American audiences in 1985 with the release of “My Life As A Dog,” for which Hallström received Academy Award® nominations for both Best Director and Best Screenplay.  The picture won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film in addition to being cited as Best Foreign Film by The New York Film Critics, among other accolades. Next up for Hallström was “Once Around,” a romantic comedy starring Holly Hunter as a repressed Boston woman who is swept off her feet by an obnoxious salesman/millionaire played by Richard Dreyfuss.  In 1993, Hallström directed “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” the offbeat tale of a young man who holds the troubled Grape family together.  The film brought recognition to a young Leonardo DiCaprio, who earned an Oscar nomination for his role as the autistic younger brother of Johnny Depp. “Something to Talk About” followed, starring Julia Roberts, Dennis Quaid, Gena Rowlands, Robert Duvall and Kyra Sedgewick in a story of two generations of a tumultuous Southern family.

Hallström began his career in his native Sweden, working in television on shorts such as “Shall We Go To My Place Or To Your Place Or Each Go Home Alone?”  In addition, he directed music videos, most notably for the famed Swedish band ABBA.  In 1997, he directed and edited “ABBA:  The Movie.”  He subsequently wrote and directed several films in his homeland, including the dramatic comedies “A Lover and His Lass, Father To Be, Happy We” and “The Children Of Bullerby Village,” based on the books by Astrid Lindgren.

KIMBERLY SIMI (SCREENPLAY BY/ STORY BY) grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. She received a B.A. from UC Berkeley, a J.D. from USC Law Center, and a M.F.A. from UCLA. Ms. Simi worked as an attorney until selling her spec script “Casanova”. She has been working as a professional writer ever since and is currently developing projects in both television and film. Ms. Simi speaks French and Italian.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, TV executive Chris Ottinger, and a giant German shepherd named Rosie. They spend as much of their time as possible surfing in San Diego and in Napa Valley at Anselmo Vigne, Ms. Simi’s family vineyard.

JEFFREY HATCHER (SCREENPLAY BY) is one of the most prolific and frequently produced playwrights in America. He most recently adapted his acclaimed stage play “Compleat Stage Beauty” for the screen in a version directed by Richard Eyre and starring Billy Crudup and Claire Danes.
After a brief career on the stage as an actor, Hatcher turned his hand to writing. His many award-winning plays have been performed on Broadway, off-Broadway and in regional theatres across the U.S. and abroad. His plays include “Three Viewings,” “Scotland Road,” “Korczak’s Children,” “A Picasso,” “Mercy of a Storm,” “Work Song” (with Eric Simonson) and “Lucky Duck” (with Bill Russell and Henry Kreiger. Hatcher also recently wrote the book for the Broadway musical “Never Gonna Dance,” based on the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film “Swingtime”; and co-authored with Mitch Albom the stage version of the bestseller “Tuesdays With Morrie.” He is currently working on other screenplays for Columbia Pictures, Warner Brothers and Focus Features, as well as a pilot for HBO.
MICHAEL CRISTOFER (STORY BY) is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter, actor and stage, television and film director. He received the Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award for the Broadway production of his play, “The Shadow Box,” and a Golden Globe Award and Emmy nomination for the play's television adaptation which was directed by Paul Newman and starred Joanne Woodward. His 1998 screen directorial debut, HBO's “Gia,” starring Angelina Jolie, earned six Emmy nominations. It also won Jolie a Golden Globe and Cristofer a Directors Guild of America Award.
Cristofer has also acted extensively on stage including the Roundabout Theater's production of “Hamlet” starring Stephen Lang. He won an Obie for his performance in “Chinchilla” at the Phoenix Theater and a Theater World Award for his role as Trofimov in the Lincoln Center production of “The Cherry Orchard.”
Cristofer's screenwriting career includes “Falling in Love,” directed by Ulu Grosbard and starring Meryl Streep and Robert DeNiro; the adaptation of John Updike's best-selling novel, “The Witches of Eastwick” for director George Miller, starring Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon and Cher; and the adaptation of Tom Wolfe's best-seller “The Bonfire of the Vanities.” He also wrote “Mr. Jones” starring Richard Gere, the romantic comedy “Breaking Up” and “Original Sin” (based on the Cornell Woolrich novel) starring Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas.
For eight years Cristofer worked as artistic advisor and finally co-artistic director of River Arts Repertory, a company which produced the American premiere of Edward Albee's “Three Tall Women” and new plays by writers such as Richard Nelson, Mac Wellman, Len Jenkin, Eric Overmeyer and others. At River Arts, Cristofer wrote stage adaptations of the films “Love Me or Leave Me” and the legendary “Casablanca” and directed Joanne Woodward in his own adaptation of Ibsen's “Ghosts.”

MARK GORDON (PRODUCER) has produced, financed and distributed over 50 motion pictures and television programs with theatrical box office revenues exceeding three billion dollars.

Gordon currently is in production on “The Hoax” starring Richard Gere and directed by Lasse Hallstrom; “Painted Veil” starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts and directed by John Curran; “Grey’s Anatomy”, the hit television series on ABC; and “Criminal Minds” starring Mandy Patinkin that will air on CBS in the fall.

His most recent credits include “The Day After Tomorrow” starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Dennis Quaid and directed by Roland Emmerich; “Hostage” starring Bruce Willis and directed by Florent Siri; “Winter Passing” starring Will Ferrell and Ed Harris; “Matador” starring Pierce Brosnan; “Prime” starring Meryl Streep and Uma Thurman and written and directed by Ben Younger; and “Warm Springs” for HBO, starring Kenneth Branagh as FDR, which received 16 Emmy nominations including Outstanding Made For Television Movie.

As producer, Gordon’s past films include “The Patriot” directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Mel Gibson; “Saving Private Ryan” directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks; “Broken Arrow” directed by John Woo and starring John Travolta; and “Speed” directed by Jan de Bont and starring Keanu Reeves in the role that catapulted him to international stardom.

As executive producer, financier and international distributor, Gordon’s credits include “Tomb Raider” directed by Simon West and starring Angelina Jolie; “Wonder Boys” directed by Curtis Hanson and starring Michael Douglas; “Man on the Moon” directed by Milos Forman and starring Jim Carrey; “A Simple Plan” directed by Sam Raimi; “Primary Colors” directed by Mike Nichols and starring John Travolta; and “The Jackal” starring Bruce Willis and Richard Gere.

Gordon has produced more than a dozen films for television including “And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself” for HBO starring Antonio Banderas and directed by Bruce Beresford which has garnered 9 Emmy Award nominations. He directed “Nothing But Sun”, a journey through the Holocaust as seen through the eyes of children, for which he received an Emmy nomination. “The War Between the Classes” won Gordon an Emmy for Best Children’s Program.

Among his numerous industry awards are a Golden Globe for Best Picture and a Best Picture Oscar® nomination for “Saving Private Ryan.” The film also received the New York, Chicago and Los Angeles Film Critics Awards for Best Picture. Gordon has been honored with the Daryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award from the Producers Guild of America and he received the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award for Best Children’s Film for “Paulie: A Parrot’s Tale.”

Gordon serves on the boards of the Producers Guild of America, the Virginia Film Festival and is the Chairman of Teach for America, Los Angeles.

His first producing effort was the off-Broadway production of “The Buddy System” at Circle in the Square. Gordon is a graduate of New York University Film School.


BETSY BEERS (PRODUCER) is an executive at the Mark Gordon Company where she develops and produces both feature film and television projects. She currently is serving as Executive Producer on the hit ABC television series "Grey's Anatomy."

Previously Beers was president of director Mike Newell's Dogstar Films where she produced "200 Cigarettes" starring Ben Affleck and Dave Chapelle and "Best Laid Plans" starring Reese Witherspoon and written by Ted Griffin. She also developed "High Fidelity" starring John Cusack and directed by Stephen Frears as well as "Pushing Tin" starring John Cusack, Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett.

Beers also served as executive producer with Gale Ann Hurd on the movies "Safe Passage" and "Witch Hunt" while she worked at Valhalla Motion Pictures.


LESLIE HOLLERAN (PRODUCER) has been Lasse Hallström’s producing partner since 1993.  In addition to Casanova, the duo most recently collaborated on “An Unfinished Life,” written by Mark and Virginia Spragg and starring Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, and Jennifer Lopez. The pair has worked together on acclaimed screen versions of E. Annie Proulx’ Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “The Shipping News,” and Joanne Harris’ “Chocolat,” for which Leslie earned an Academy Award® nomination.  She previously served as co-producer on Hallström’s “The Cider House Rules,” adapted from John Irving’s novel.  The film garnered seven Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. They have also started production on “The Hoax” by Bill Wheeler, based on the book by Clifford Irving about his attempt to publish a fake autobiography of Howard Hughes. The film stars Richard Gere and Alfred Molina.

In the course of their partnership, Holleran and Hallström have developed various projects including “Sebastian’s Love,” an adaptation they co-wrote based on the Danish novel by Vita Andersen.  Currently in active development are “Daughter of the Queen of Sheba,” from the memoirs of NPR correspondent Jacki Lyden; “Bombshell,” based on the true story of a young man’s moral dilemma at Los Alamos; and “Porgy and Bess,” an adaptation of Gershwin’s famous American opera. In addition, Leslie Holleran is developing “Nike,” based on the book by Nicholas Flokos, and “Magdalena,” based on the novel “Kissing the Virgin’s Mouth” by Donna M. Gershten, screenplay by Virginia Korus Spragg.

SU ARMSTRONG (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) oversaw numerous productions that included: ‘Crimson Tide’, ‘Dangerous Minds’, ‘The Santa Clause’, ‘Unstrung Heroes’, ‘Funny Bones’, ‘Jack, Spyhard’ and ‘The Rock’ during her tenure as Vice President of Production at Hollywood/Walt Disney Pictures. Armstrong was also an executive producer on the film ‘Good Will Hunting’, which won more than a dozen awards including Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Screenplay, a Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay and the PGA’s Golden Laurel Award for Motion Picture Producer of the Year.

Further credits as producer include: ‘The Last of The Blonde Bombshells’ for Working Title Television, the Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe-winning ‘RKO 281’ for HBO, ‘Shot Through The Heart’ for HBO and ‘The Punisher’ (as Co-Producer). She also served as Executive in Charge of Production for ‘Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome’ directed by George Miller. Numerous credits as Production Manager include ‘Gallipoli’ for Director Peter Weir and as Line Producer on ‘Until the End of the World’ for Director Wim Wenders. She has also worked as Executive Producer on ‘Queen Of The Damned’, ‘Ella Enchanted’ and ‘An Unfinished Life’.

ADAM MERIMS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) formed Go Mode Entertainment in 1999 to pursue both independent and studio feature film production. Adam recently finished executive producing “The Matador,” starring Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear and Hope Davis. He also was Executive Produced for “House Of D.”
Adam J. Merims produced the critically acclaimed “Shattered Glass” and Ed Solomon’s “Levity” which was the 2003 Sundance Festival Opening Film and was released by Sony Classics. Merims also produced “Love Stinks”; was co-producer on Sony Pictures” “Universal Soldier: The Return”; co-produced with Dan Halsted and Craig Baumgarten “Cold Around The Heart” and co-produced the HBO Premiere project “Freeway.”
From August 1993 till November 1994, Adam J. Merims was Producer and Head of West Coast Operations for Nickelodeon Movies. At Nickelodeon, Adam was responsible for managing the start-up of a Nickelodeon features office in Los Angeles and with identifying and developing projects suitable for motion picture production in the family entertainment arena in conjunction with both Twentieth Century Fox Pictures and Paramount Pictures. Before Nickelodeon, Adam J. Merims worked as Vice President, Production at Lobell-Bergman Productions from April 1990 through July 1993. He was also Associate Producer on “Honeymoon In Vegas,” “Undercover Blues” and “Little Big League.”

GARY LEVINSOHN (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER) As founder and co-partner of Mutual Film Company, Gary Levinsohn has been attached to some of the industry’s highest profile and most profitable films, establishing himself as one of the most successful financier/producers in the motion picture industry. Additionally, Mutual Film Company, which Levinsohn established in 1996 for the production, co-financing and international distribution of feature films, has earned a reputation as a highly innovative film financing entity, known both for delivering eclectic, high quality films and its relationships with overseas distributors, broadcasters and theater owners. Some of the titles Levinsohn has been involved with under the Mutual Film banner include; “Saving Private Ryan,” directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks, which received 11 Academy Award® nominations and grossed over $400 million worldwide; the “Tomb Raider” franchise starring Angelina Jolie; “The Patriot,” starring Mel Gibson, which received three Academy Award® nominations; the critically acclaimed “Wonder Boys,” starring Michael Douglas and directed by Academy Award®-winning director Curtis Hanson, which garnered three Academy Award® nominations; “A Simple Plan,” directed by Sam Raimi and starring Billy Bob Thornton; “The Jackal,” starring Bruce Willis and Richard Gere; and “12 Monkeys,” starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt, directed by Terry Gilliam.

Utilizing his extensive film financing experience, relationships in sales and distribution and producing skills, Levinsohn has co-produced and/or co-financed 19 major film productions since 1992, the collective budgets of which is approximately $1 billion. By assembling ‘international end-users’ – his term to describe overseas distributors, broadcasters and theater owners – to equity-finance pictures, Levinsohn has arranged well in excess of $500 million in co-financing on these properties and helped to alter the face of international co-production. The combined worldwide revenue on films which Levinsohn has produced or financed is currently over $2 billion.

Levinsohn began his business career as an investment executive with the international brokerage house Paine, Webber. He subsequently joined Dino De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG) as Vice President, International Sales, where his primary responsibility was the worldwide television sales and distribution of DEG films and mini-series’. After DEG was dissolved in 1989, Levinsohn formed Classico Entertainment and was retained as a consultant/sales agent with Dino De Laurentiis Communications (DDLC), where he was responsible for the distribution of DDLC’s product in all media. Additionally, he was instrumental in the evaluation, negotiation and ultimate sale of the DEG/Embassy library to Paravision International, as well as the evaluation, administration and sale of the Weintraub Entertainment Group/Thorn/EMI libraries. Levinsohn’s financial expertise garnered numerous substantial clients for Classico, including Bank of America, Credit Lyonnais, Banque Paribas, ICM and RAI (USA). Prior to forming Classico Entertainment, Levinsohn was head of Emerald Television, a company which represented the worldwide television rights to over three hundred titles produced or acquired by Trans World Entertainment (TWE).