Relativity Partners with MediaWeaver Entertainment on Exclusive Production Arrangement

By: Aug. 02, 2012
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Relativity Media has solidified an exclusive production arrangement with MediaWeaver Entertainment, it was announced today by Relativity's President, Tucker Tooley. In the deal, founder Matt Weaver will focus on theatrical and live shows while also potentially bringing in new film, television and digital projects to Relativity's respective divisions including Relativity's television division RelativityREAL, and digital studio RogueLife.

Weaver has a long history of incubating creative ideas within the Hollywood stage and literary community. He is well-known for conceptualizing and lead producing the hit Broadway musical "Rock of Ages," also produced by Relativity's CEO Ryan Kavanaugh and Co-COO Happy Walters. Now in its fourth year, the musical was nominated for five Tony Awards including Best Musical in 2009 and is now one of the longest running shows in Broadway history. Weaver then went on to produce New Line Cinema's recent film adaptation Rock of Ages starring Tom Cruise. Additionally, Weaver also produced multiple critically-acclaimed documentaries including Jiro Dreams of Sushi and Surfwise. Other produced films include Hesher starring Natalie Portman and Joseph Gordon Levitt, Sympathy for Delicious directed by and starring Mark Ruffalo, Pretty Persuasion starring Evan Rachel Wood, Barry Munday starring Patrick Wilson and written and directed by "Rock of Ages" scribe Chris D'Arienzo, The Heartbreak Kid starring Ben Stiller and Miramax's My Baby's Daddy starring Eddie Griffin. He is currently co-producing New Line Cinema's comedy We're the Millers, starring Jennifer Anniston, Emma Roberts and Ed Helms, alongside Relativity's Tooley and Walters and is in active development on Summit Entertainment's Time After Time directed by Brad Bueker.

Weaver started in the entertainment business at the age of 17 as a gofer for Jeffrey Katzenberg and went directly on to work at Walt Disney Studios for seven years. Throughout his career he has sold more than twenty pitches, many of which were based on his original ideas, to major studios including Fox, Disney, Universal, Paramount and New Line Cinemas.
"I am beyond thrilled to be working with my good friends Happy, Tucker and Ryan at Relativity," said Weaver. "They have created an innovative work environment and we have been collaborating and pooling creative ideas since the moment I arrived at the office. I am really looking forward to our future in this partnership."
"Matt, Happy and I have a longstanding working relationship and have produced many movies together. Matt's creative input and intuition will be an important asset to our team and Relativity's future growth," said Tooley.

Weaver recently sold the new original web series "Dancing with Myself" to premier digital media company Yahoo! Inc and is set to debut in 2013. The series, also produced by Relativity's Kavanaugh and in association with RelativityREAL, is a musical "jukebox" comedy set in small town Ohio in the mid-80's, and fueled by a soundtrack of the greatest pop/rock songs of that era.

Weaver's team includes Director of Development Danny Barton.

Weaver was represented by Mitch Smelkinson from Stone, Meyer Genow, Smelkinson and Binder in his deal.



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