ASCENDANT Pictures is an independent film development, production, finance and foreign distribution company. ASCENDANT combines the creative independence and budget sensibility of groundbreaking “indie” film companies with the production and market savvy of major studios. ASCENDANT is striving to identify, develop and produce films in a variety of genres with compelling stories and fascinating worlds that inspire and captivate global audiences while having the potential to grow into franchise entertainment properties. With the expertise and experience of its principals, ASCENDANT has the distinct ability to move films beyond their linear film medium into the interactive entertainment market.

Chris Roberts founded ASCENDANT in March of 2002, following the sale of his game development and digital effects company to Microsoft, along with veteran independent producer Christopher Eberts, and producer and COO Kia Jam. ASCENDANT has quickly become one of Hollywood’s most promising upstart film companies with an experienced team that is uniquely qualified to take a project from discovery to world-wide theatrical release. In addition to Roberts, Eberts and Jam, ASCENDANT’s team includes seasoned film executives John Schimmel and Robert Norton. Combined, ASCENDANT’s principals have over 100 screen credits and have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue across worldwide media markets.

To improve its ability to finance production, ASCENDANT formed a foreign distribution operation. This operation distributes films through output arrangements with major territorial distributors and broadcasters and by making its own sales in the remaining foreign territories. The films distributed by ASCENDANT include its own in-house productions and films from third party producers.

ASCENDANT entered into an eight picture distribution agreement with Morgan Creek, Inc. for domestic distribution through Morgan Creek’s domestic distributor. In January 2004, Morgan Creek’s domestic distribution moved from Warner Bros. to Universal Pictures. ASCENDANT obtained domestic distribution in order to improve film value in foreign territories (presales); attract top talent and film projects, and; generate equity investments in films. ASCENDANT’s domestic distribution deal significantly increases the value of foreign distribution rights because foreign sales agents/distributors, talent and equity investors alike have the security that the film will be released in the U.S. and marketed by a major studio.

ASCENDANT formed the wholly-owned subsidiary Rising Star group to closely cooperate with VIP Medienfonds Film and Entertainment (VIP) in the production and distribution of motion pictures. The Rising Star companies are the primary production service providers and distributors of motion pictures that VIP produces or co-produces. VIP raised over $100M in funds in 2002 for VIP II and raised in excess of $280M in 2003 for VIP III. In 2003, Rising Star and VIP cooperated on 14 motion picture projects with a volume in excess of $250M.

The projects included: THE PUNISHER starring Thomas Jane, John Travolta and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos; The JACKET starring Adrien Brody and Keira Knightley; EMPEROR ZEHNDER starring Richard Gere and directed by Gregory Hoblit (PRIMAL FEAR, HART'S WAR, FALLEN); PAINT directed by Robert Altman and starring James Franco and Salma Hayek; EDISON starring Kevin Spacey, Morgan Freeman, LL Cool J and Justin Timberlake and; ASK THE DUST written and directed by Robert Towne and starring Colin Farrell, Salma Hayek and Donald Sutherland.

In April, ASCENDANT commenced principal photography on its first in-house production, THE BIG WHITE, a comedy starring Robin Williams, Holly Hunter, Giovanni Ribisi, Woody Harrelson, Alison Lohman and Tim Blake Nelson. Principal photography wrapped in June and the film is currently in post-production. Also in April, The PUNISHER was successfully released earning over $33 million at the domestic box office.

In August, ASCENDANT commenced principal photography on LORD OF WAR, a co-production with Entertainment Manufacturing Company, a joint-venture between Andrew Niccol and Philippe Rousselet. The film is directed by Andrew Niccol and stars Nicolas Cage, Ethan Hawke, Jared Leto and Bridget Moynahan.

Rising Star placed VIP funds in the following  projects:  THE UPSIDE OF ANGER directed by Mike Binder and starring Kevin  Costner and Joan Allen; STORMBREAKER with Ewan McGregor, Mickey  Rourke, Alicia Silverstone and directed by Geoffrey Sax;  and  PARFUM helmed by Tom Tykwer and starring Dustin Hoffman and Alan  Rickman.

In early 2005, ASCENDANT commenced principal photography on LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN a co-production with FilmEngine. The film directed by Paul McGuigan, stars Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Lucy Lui and Ben Kingsley. Meanwhile, THE BIG WHITE was completed and picked up by Echo Bridge Entertainment for domestic distribution.  

During post-production LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN was picked for domestic distribution by the newly formed The Weinstein Company. In September, LORD OF WAR  was released to favorable critical review.  

The year was wrapped with the announcement of the premiere of LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN to be at the Sundance Film Festival in early 2006 THE BIG WHITE was released in theatres in mid-December after being shown around the festival circuit including the Fantasy Film Festival in Austin and the AFI Festival in Los Angeles.

Rising Star placed VIP funds in the following projects: HALF-LIGHT with Demi Moore and directed by Craig Rosenberg; THE WHITE COUNTESS starring Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson and Vanessa Redgrave; and Steven Zaillian's ALL THE KING'S MEN with Jude Law and Kate Winslet.

LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and was released in theatres on April 7, 2006.  The world-wide box office to date is approximately $35 million.  Robert Towne’s ASK THE DUST starring Colin Farrel and Salma Hayek opened in limited release in late March.  
 
ASCENDANT is gearing up for two new productions this year - BLACK WATER TRANSIT and OUTLANDER.  BLACK WATER TRANSIT begins principal photography July 21, 2006 and will be directed by the award winning music video director, Sam Bayer.  Doug Richardson (DIE HARD) adapted the Carston Stroud novel.  The film will star Vin Diesel, Kevin Bacon and Sophie Okonedo. ASCENDANT is producing with Cheyenne Enterprises. OUTLANDER will begin in the fall with Howard McCain at the helm and from a script he wrote with Dirk Blackman. ASCENDANT is producing with The Weinstein Co.    

Rising Star projects ALL THE KING'S MEN and HALF-LIGHT will also appear in theatres in 2006. 

WHO'S YOUR CADDY was released in Theatres on July 27, 2007. 

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Since the company began in 2002, ASCENDANT has produced and/or financed 16 major motion pictures.

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