Producer Gary Lucchesi has inked to become the new president of Lakeshore Entertainment, as expected (Daily Variety, Sept. 4).
In addition, Robert McMinn has joined the company as vice president of development, and Bic Tran has been promoted to director of acquisitions.
Experience matters
Lucchesi will report to Tom Rosenberg, Lakeshore chairman and co-founder, who made the announcements. “Gary’s experience as a producer and a studio executive will complement Lakeshore’s transition into the business of making high-profile commercial features,” Rosenberg said.
Lucchesi has produced “Primal Fear,” “Virtuosity” and “Three Wishes,” among other pics. He is a former prexy of production at Paramount Pictures, where Lakeshore is based.
Lucchesi replaces Joni Sighvatsson, who ankled the Lakeshore prexy post in July (Daily Variety, July 24).
The financing, producing and international sales company is in pre-production on “Runaway Bride,” starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, which begins lensing Oct. 29 under Gary Marshall’s helm. Par has domestic rights to the pic.
Also on the Lakeshore production slate is Alain Berliner’s “Passion of Mind,” starring Demi Moore and Stellan Skarsgard, and “The Next Best Thing,” starring Madonna and Rupert Everett, for director John Schlesinger.
The company’s forthcoming releases include ensemble drama “200 Cigarettes,” from Par, and thriller “Arlington Road,” starring Jeff Bridges and Tim Robbins, from Polygram Films.
Webber on resume
McMinn comes to Lakeshore from Lucchesi’s Gary Lucchesi Prods., where he was VP. In addition to running his own banner, Lucchesi was also previously president of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Films.
The exec said he would remain involved in Lloyd Webber’s long-gestating efforts to get some of his musicals turned into features, such as “Phantom of the Opera” and “Aspects of Love.”
