Walden Media

Infobox Company
name = Walden Media
company_
type = Film Production
Publishing Company
foundation = 2001
location_city = Los Angeles, California (corporate headquarters)
Boston, Massachusetts (Education, Outreach, Interactive and Publishing office)
location_country = USA flagicon|USA
location =
locations =
key_people = Michael Flaherty
Cary Granat
Philip Anschutz
industry = Motion pictures

Walden Media is a film production and publishing company best known as the producers of "The Chronicles of Narnia" film series. Its films are based on notable classic or award-winning children's literature, compelling biographies or historical events, documentaries and some original screenplays.

The corporate headquarters of Walden Media are located in Los Angeles, California, and the Education, Outreach, Interactive and Publishing office is in Boston, Massachusetts.

Company history

Walden Media was created in 2001 by Michael Flaherty and Cary Granat. Granat was president of Miramax's Dimension Films division, and Flaherty came from the world of education. Flaherty was called an “entrepreneur in education” by the "Boston Globe" for his work with innovative programs meant to help underprivileged students gain access to quality education. [ [http://www.walden.com/walden/walden/who_we_are.php "Who we are"] . Walden Media [http://www.walden.com/ corporate site] ] . The two were housemates at Tufts University before following different paths and then reuniting to form Walden Media [Jensen, Jeff. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1186021,00.html "The Family Business"] . "Entertainment Weekly", 28 April 2006: 58-61.] as a movie, television, publishing and Internet enterprise whose goal is to teach and entertain kids. The company is owned by the Christian conservative Philip Anschutz, who has said he expects their movies "to be entertaining, but also to be life affirming and to carry a moral message." [ Berkowitz, Bill. [http://www.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=97 "The movie, the media, and the conservative politics of Philip Anschutz."] Media Transparency, 2 December 2005.] The company's notable releases include "Holes" in 2003, "Because of Winn-Dixie" for Twentieth Century Fox in 2004, "" in 2005, "How to Eat Fried Worms" and "Charlotte's Web" in 2006, and "Bridge to Terabithia", released by Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media in 2007. All of these films are adaptations of popular children's books.

Currently in development are movies based on Lewis's "", Jeanne DuPrau's The City of Ember, Susan Cooper's "The Dark Is Rising" series, and the April 2008 release "Nim's Island" starring Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin.

On August 8, 2006, Walden Media announced a joint venture with 20th Century Fox. "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" and "The Dark Is Rising" will be the first films released under the venture. Previously announced films at other studios will remain in place. [ [http://www.walden.com/walden/press/2006/080806_03.php "Fox Filmed Entertainment and Walden Media Enter into Joint Venture to Market and Release Films for the Family Audience"] . Walden Media press release.]

Education program

Walden Media is unique among film production companies in that it works with teachers, museums, and national organizations to develop supplemental educational programs and materials associated with its films and the original events and/or novels that inspire the films. [ [http://www.walden.com/walden/walden/our_company.php "Our Company"] . Walden Media [http://www.walden.com corporate site] ]

Walden Media offers in-class teaching tools like educational guides and teacher kits [Deahl, Rachel. [http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6299375.html?text=%22walden+media+works+to+make+moviegoers+readers%22 "Walden Media Works to Make Moviegoers Readers"] . "Publisher’s Weekly", 16 January 2006.] and sponsors seminars and forums for teachers to discuss their craft and to trade ideas on using media in the classroom. Directors, writers, and stars of the productions participate in these events.

In 2006, Walden Media sponsored the "Break the World Reading Record with Charlotte’s Web". At noon on Wednesday, December 13th, 547,826 readers in 2,451 locations, 50 states and 28 countries read an excerpt from Charlotte’s Web, breaking the world record of 155,528 students from 737 schools in the United Kingdom who read William Wordsworth’s poem, "Daffodils" in 2004. [Toomey, Shamus. [http://www.suntimes.com/search/index.html "I’ve Never Broken a World Record"] . "Chicago Sun-Times", 14 December 2006.]

Criticism

After the release of "The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe", rumors flew that Walden Media was a means for fulfilling Anschutz's Christian agenda:

"We've never had a conversation about religion with him. Period," says David Weil, chief executive officer for the Anschutz Film Group. "We all come from different religious backgrounds here. We all believe in a family values approach to positive messages — but religious orientation doesn't factor into it.'" [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1186021_3,00.html]

In July and August of 2007, Walden Media came under fire from fans of the Dark is Rising book series for liberties the company is purported to have taken with the plot in its forthcoming movie of the same title [ [http://community.livejournal.com/authorblog/7119.html "The Dark Is Rising links"] . "Authorblog", 7 August 2007.] . As one critic noted:

"During filming in Bucharest, Romania there was a joke on The Dark is Rising set that only three things have been changed from the original 1973 novel: the nationality of lead character Will Stanton, changed from English to American; his age changed from 11 to 13; and everything else that happens in the story. A solo quest by an 11-year-old is no longer solo; family values have been deemed out of date — the happy, loving Stanton family rewritten dysfunctional; a series of five books bereft of a single love interest has been re-imagined with the lead character chasing the fairer sex, pleading in the trailer “I can't save the world! I don't even know how to talk to a girl!” Angered, disgusted fans are reporting little interest in their hero’s new, most ordinary of plights." [Gillispe, John. [http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/07/26/172619.php "The Dark is Sinking: Book-to-Film Adaptation of Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising Angers Fans"] . "Blogcritics Magazine", 26 July 2007.]

There is considerable speculation that the changes are due in part to the evangelical Christian beliefs of director David Cunningham, and of the 'Christian mission' sometimes attributed to Walden Media itself. The implications of this speculation, however, seem to be inconsistent with Christian values.

Etymology and logo

The company is named after Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Its logo is a rock skipping across a pond.

Filmography

*2002: "" with Giant Screen Films
*2003: "Ghosts of the Abyss" with Walt Disney Pictures
*2003: "Holes" with Walt Disney Pictures
*2003: "I Am David" with Lions Gate Films
*2004: "Around the World in 80 Days" with Walt Disney Pictures
*2005: "Because of Winn-Dixie" with 20th Century Fox
*2005: "Aliens of the Deep" with Walt Disney Pictures
*2005: "" with Walt Disney Pictures
*2006: "Hoot" with New Line Cinema
*2006: "How to Eat Fried Worms" with New Line Cinema
*2006: "Charlotte's Web" with Paramount Pictures Nickelodeon Movies and The Kerner Entertainment Company
*2007: "Bridge to Terabithia" with Walt Disney Pictures
*2007: "The Waterhorse" with Columbia Pictures, Revolution Studios, Beacon Pictures, and Ecosse Films
*2007: "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" with 20th Century Fox and Mandate Pictures
*2007: "" with 20th Century Fox
*2008: "Nim's Island" with 20th Century Fox
*2008: "" with Walt Disney Pictures
*2008: "Journey 3-D" with New Line Cinema
*2008: "The City of Ember"
*2008: "Rock On"
*2009: " The Lotus Caves
*2010: "
*2009: "The Giver"
*2009: "Manhunt"

Published Books

*"The White Giraffe" by Lauren St. John
*"" by Mike Lupica
*"" by Mike Lupica
*"Paddywhack Lane" by Bob Fuller
*"" by Joseph Bruchac

Upcoming Books

*"Simon Bloom, the Gravity Keeper" by Michael Reisman - February 14, 2008
*"Savvy" by Ingrid Law - May, 2008
*"Dolphin Song" by Lauren St. John - May, 2008
*"" by Mike Lupica - September, 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.walden.com/ Official website]
*