Steven Rothenberg
Encyclopedia
Steven Rothenberg was an American
film
studio executive. Rothenberg headed the theatrical distribution
operations at Lions Gate Entertainment
at the film studio's President of domestic releasing
. He oversaw the release of more than 350 movies during his career, which spanned 28 years at several film studios.
Rothenberg was born and raised in New York City
. He received his bachelor's degree
with honors from Stanford University
.
Rothenberg began his career in the film industry
when he was hired by filmmaker and fellow Stanford alumnus
Roger Corman
. Rothenberg worked with Corman in film distribution
. Rothenberg later worked in distribution at Savoy Entertainment and The Samuel Goldwyn Company
as well.
Rothenberg was president of domestic
film distribution
at Artisan Entertainment
prior to joining Lionsgate. In particular, Rothenberg created and oversaw the distribution strategy
for The Blair Witch Project
, which went on to become the highest grossing indie film in history at the time. He also helmed the domestic distribution of Requiem for a Dream, Buena Vista Social Club
and many other films while at Artisan.
Rothenberg headed the theatrical distribution operations of Lionsgate, or its predecessor companies, for more than 10 years. It was Rothenberg who coordinated and oversaw the domestic film releases of Tyler Perry
and Saw film franchises, as well as Fahrenheit 9/11
, 3:10 to Yuma
and Crash
, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture
. The combined boxoffice gross of the films in which Rothenberg facilitated the releases totaled more than $2 billion dollars for Lions Gate.
He was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
Steven Rothenberg died of stomach cancer
in Burbank, California
, on July 17, 2009, at the age of 50. He was survived by his wife, Frances, and their children, Alexandra, Ted and Emma, all of Glendale, California
, where Rothenberg also resided. Rothenberg was also survived by his mother, Ina Rothenberg, and sister, Stacy Moscoe.
Rothenberg's memorial service and burial was held at the Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery
in the Hollywood Hills
of Los Angeles.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
studio executive. Rothenberg headed the theatrical distribution
Film distributor
A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for releasing films to the public either theatrically or for home viewing...
operations at Lions Gate Entertainment
Lions Gate Entertainment
Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation is a North American entertainment company. The company was formed in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1997, and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California...
at the film studio's President of domestic releasing
Film release
A film release is the stage at which a completed film is legally authorized by its owner for public distribution.The process includes locating a distributor to handle the film...
. He oversaw the release of more than 350 movies during his career, which spanned 28 years at several film studios.
Rothenberg was born and raised in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
with honors from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
Rothenberg began his career in the film industry
Film industry
The film industry consists of the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking: i.e. film production companies, film studios, cinematography, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, post production, film festivals, distribution; and actors, film directors and other film crew...
when he was hired by filmmaker and fellow Stanford alumnus
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
. Rothenberg worked with Corman in film distribution
Film distribution
The distribution of a film is the process through which a movie is made available to watch for an audience by a film distributor...
. Rothenberg later worked in distribution at Savoy Entertainment and The Samuel Goldwyn Company
The Samuel Goldwyn Company
The Samuel Goldwyn Company was an independent film company founded by Samuel Goldwyn, Jr., the son of the famous Hollywood mogul, Samuel Goldwyn, in 1979.-Background:...
as well.
Rothenberg was president of domestic
Domestic market
A domestic market is a financial market. Its trades are aimed toward a single market. A domestic market is also referred to as domestic trading...
film distribution
Film distribution
The distribution of a film is the process through which a movie is made available to watch for an audience by a film distributor...
at Artisan Entertainment
Artisan Entertainment
Artisan Entertainment Inc. was a privately held independent American movie studio until it was purchased by a Canadian studio, Lionsgate, in 2003. At the time of its acquisition, Artisan had a library of thousands of films developed through acquisition, original production, and production and...
prior to joining Lionsgate. In particular, Rothenberg created and oversaw the distribution strategy
Film distribution
The distribution of a film is the process through which a movie is made available to watch for an audience by a film distributor...
for The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur footage. The film was produced by the Haxan Films production company. The film relates the story of three student filmmakers The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur...
, which went on to become the highest grossing indie film in history at the time. He also helmed the domestic distribution of Requiem for a Dream, Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club (film)
Buena Vista Social Club is a documentary film by Wim Wenders about the music of Cuba. It is named for a danzón that became the title piece of the album Buena Vista Social Club.-Synopsis:...
and many other films while at Artisan.
Rothenberg headed the theatrical distribution operations of Lionsgate, or its predecessor companies, for more than 10 years. It was Rothenberg who coordinated and oversaw the domestic film releases of Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry is an American actor, director, playwright, entrepreneur, screenwriter, producer, author, and songwriter. Perry wrote and produced many stage plays during the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2005, he released his first film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman...
and Saw film franchises, as well as Fahrenheit 9/11
Fahrenheit 9/11
Fahrenheit 9/11 is a 2004 documentary film by American filmmaker and political commentator Michael Moore. The film takes a critical look at the presidency of George W. Bush, the War on Terror, and its coverage in the news media...
, 3:10 to Yuma
3:10 to Yuma (2007 film)
3:10 to Yuma is the 2007 remake of the 1957 film of the same name, making it the second adaptation of Elmore Leonard's short story Three-Ten to Yuma. It is directed by James Mangold and produced by Cathy Konrad, and stars Academy Award winners Russell Crowe and Christian Bale in the lead roles. ...
and Crash
Crash (2004 film)
Crash is a 2004 American drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Paul Haggis. The film is about racial and social tensions in Los Angeles, California. A self-described "passion piece" for Haggis, Crash was inspired by a real life incident in which his Porsche was carjacked outside a video...
, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture
Academy Award for Best Picture
The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to artists working in the motion picture industry. The Best Picture category is the only category in which every member of the Academy is eligible not only...
. The combined boxoffice gross of the films in which Rothenberg facilitated the releases totaled more than $2 billion dollars for Lions Gate.
He was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
Steven Rothenberg died of stomach cancer
Stomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
in Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, on July 17, 2009, at the age of 50. He was survived by his wife, Frances, and their children, Alexandra, Ted and Emma, all of Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
, where Rothenberg also resided. Rothenberg was also survived by his mother, Ina Rothenberg, and sister, Stacy Moscoe.
Rothenberg's memorial service and burial was held at the Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery
Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery
Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries refers to two Jewish cemeteries in the Los Angeles, California metropolitan area. The original cemetery is located at 5950 Forest Lawn Drive in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles. The cemetery was originally established in 1953 by the neighboring Forest...
in the Hollywood Hills
Hollywood Hills
The Hollywood Hills is an affluent and exclusive neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, in the southeastern Santa Monica Mountains. It is bound by Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west, Vermont Avenue to the east, Mulholland Drive to the north, and Sunset Boulevard to the south.-Hollywood Hills...
of Los Angeles.