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| ABOUT SKYDANCE |
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| Skydance Productions entered into a strategic partnership with Paramount Pictures which allows it to co-finance and produce several films per year with the studio. The first film co-produced under the partnership was the Coen Brother's True Grit, which was nominated for 10 Academy Award® and has earned over $250 million worldwide. Upcoming Skydance productions include the Paramount features Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol, starring Tom Cruise, set for release on December 16, 2011; G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation, starring Bruce Willis, Channing Tatum and Dwayne Johnson, set for release on June 29th, 2012; My Mother's Curse, starring Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen, slated for release on November 2, 2012; One Shot, based on the best-selling novels by Lee Child, directed by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise; World War Z, directed by Marc Forster and starring Brad Pitt, Matthew Fox, and David Morse; the Untitled Star Trek Sequel, starring Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine; and the Untitled Jack Ryan project starring Chris Pine, to be directed by Jack Bender (Lost) and produced by Lorenzo Di Bonaventura and Mace Neufeld. Additionally, Skydance is producing Without Remorse with Kurzman/Orci and written by Shawn Ryan. |
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| EXECUTIVE TEAM |
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| DAVID ELLISON |
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
David Ellison formed Skydance Productions to create and produce elevated event-level commercial entertainment. The company focuses on tent-pole action, adventure, science fiction and fantasy films along with modestly budgeted comedy and genre films. Skydance strives to be filmmaker friendly in a town where it is increasingly difficult to get films made. In 2010, Skydance entered into a four-year production, distribution and finance deal with Paramount Pictures. The first film to be released under the deal was True Grit, Joel and Ethan Coens' take on the Charles Portis novel, produced by the Coens, Scott Rudin and Steven Spielberg, and starring Matt Damon, Josh Brolin and Jeff Bridges. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Skydance is producing the Paramount feature Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol, produced by J.J. Abrams and directed by Brad Bird. The film is set to be released on December 16, 2011, with Tom Cruise reprising his iconic role. Skydance is also producing G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation, starring Bruce Willis, Channing Tatum and Dwayne Johnson, set for release on June 29th. Other films to be produced by Skydance include the comedy My Mother's Curse, starring Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogen, which is currently filming, and the untitled Jack Ryan project, directed by Jack Bender, starring Chris Pine and produced by Lorenzo Di Bonaventura and Mace Neufeld. The company will also be co-producing Without Remorse, written by Shawn Ryan. Skydance recently moved their offices to the Paramount Pictures lot in June, 2011.
Additional films in the works include the Marc Forster thriller World War Z, starring Brad Pitt, which is currently filming, the Christopher McQuarrie film One Shot, with Tom Cruise, and the Untitled Star Trek Sequel, starring Zoe Saldana, Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine. Currently in development is The Hitman's Bodyguard, written by Tom O' Connor.
Ever the film enthusiast, Ellison grew up in Northern California and attended the University of Southern California's prestigious School of Cinematic Arts. While in school, Ellison produced and starred in the World War I drama Flyboys, which combined his love of film and aviation. He is an accomplished pilot with over 2000 flying hours, a commercial multi-engine instrument rating and a helicopter rating. In 2003, at 20 years old, Ellison was the youngest airshow pilot performer at the Experimental Aircraft Association's Airventure Show in Oshkosh, WI, where he was one of six pilots performing as the 'Stars of Tomorrow'. Ellison is actively involved with Conservation International, where he is a member of the Board of Directors and sits on several committees.
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| PAUL SCHWAKE |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER |
Paul is the Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer for Skydance. Paul joined the company in 2009 and was instrumental in securing the co-finance, co-production agreement with Paramount Pictures. Paul secured Skydance's $200 million syndicated credit facility led by JP Morgan and six other banks.
Prior to joining Skydance, Paul partnered with producer Bill Todman, Jr. and real estate banking billionaire Edward Milstein and formed Level 1 Entertainment, where he served as COO. At Level 1, Paul produced the comedies Grandma's Boy and Strange Wilderness with Adam Sandler. He also produced Rendition with Oscar winners Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Streep, and director Gavin Hood. Additionally, Paul led Level 1's television production activities.
Prior to joining Level 1, Paul helped form Spyglass Entertainment Group with producers Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum where he served as CFO for seven years. During his tenure, Spyglass released over 20 films including The Sixth Sense, Bruce Almighty and Seabiscuit.
Previously, Paul served as VP of Finance at Morgan Creek for seven years. During Paul's tenure, Morgan Creek produced and released over 30 films including Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Ace Ventura, Last of the Mohicans, True Romance.
Paul also served as an auditor at Price Waterhouse for five years auditing clients in the entertainment industry and worked at Walt Disney Studios in the accounting department for four years.
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| DANA GOLDBERG |
| PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTION |
Dana Goldberg joined Skydance Productions in 2010 as president of production. She was formerly president of production at Village Roadshow Pictures, where she was involved with the company's entire slate of films including the Ocean's Eleven franchise, the Matrix trilogy, Training Day, Get Smart and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She also served as executive producer on many of the company's films, including I Am Legend, The Brave One and the Academy Award©-winning animated feature Happy Feet. Prior to joining Village Roadshow in 1998, Goldberg spent three years with Barry Levinson and Paula Weinstein at Baltimore/Spring Creek Pictures, where she was vice president of production. She began her career in entertainment as an assistant at Hollywood Pictures. Goldberg has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 2007.
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