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People and Pop Culture

LeBron's SpringHill Entertainment, Warner Bros. Form Production Partnership

Cavaliers F LEBRON JAMES is "forming a production partnership with Time Warner Inc.’s Warner Bros. Entertainment that spans movies, television and digital content," according to Joe Flint of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. The agreement will "provide him with a home to build on his entertainment aspirations and the backing of a media giant with global reach." Warner Bros. "will have an alliance with SpringHill Entertainment, the production company" James co-founded with business partner MAVERICK CARTER in '13. SpringHill, which already produces TV shows, had been "shopping for a studio partnership for several months and talks with Warner Bros. heated up in the spring." Carter said that Warner Bros. and SpringHill will "co-produce and co-own everything they do together." Sources said that Warner Bros. "will hold the copyright of any SpringHill content made as part of the agreement while SpringHill will share in the profits." Carter said that if SpringHill "has a project Warner Bros. isn’t interested in making," they can "shop it to other outlets." The deal "could include projects starring" James, but that "isn’t the priority." Athletes have "long been making the transition from sports to entertainment," but few athletes "have managed to become a force behind the camera" in the way James is attempting. The comedy "SURVIVOR'S REMORSE" is "among SpringHill's current roster of shows." SpringHill also is a "producer on 'BECOMING,' a show for Walt Disney Co.’s Disney XD network, and it is making a game show for NBC" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/23). ESPN.com's Darren Rovell noted many fans "might hope the partnership means James would reprise MICHAEL JORDAN's 'SPACE JAM,' which was made by Warner Bros." in '96. Warner Bros. Worldwide Corporate Communications Senior VP Paul McGuire "declined to comment." Warner Bros. last month "filed for three new Space Jam trademarks" (ESPN.com, 7/22).

STAYING BEHIND THE CAMERA: CBS’ Carter Evans reports James' performance in the film "TRAINWRECK" has "widely been seen as a success,” but analysts believe the deal with Warner Bros. "suggests James may be positioning to work behind the scenes.” Flint said, “For the athletes who come in and try to be actors first and talent first, the risk is if it doesn’t go well, you don’t get the shot that LeBron James is getting with Warner Bros.” Evans notes James’ annual income is close to $65M per year “but the Warner Bros. venture could become the brightest jewel in the king’s crown.” Flint: “It’s tougher to try to do what he’s doing in terms of building a company, making shows versus going on in front of a camera. But the payoff is also potentially much bigger” (“CBS This Morning,” 7/23). In Cleveland, Joe Vardon notes the deal for James is a "huge step toward his goal of building out his business and entrepreneurial footprint beyond basketball" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/23).

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