Company: Codeblack Entertainment
Title: President and CEO
How he’s leading: Clanagan started his production and distribution company a year ago with Codeblack exec VP Quincy Newell, having recognized that the faith-based and urban markets are severely underserved. Codeblack produces and acquires titles, supporting each of them with targeted marketing campaigns utilizing cable, radio and the Web. Codeblack also has national street teams that reach out to venues ranging from black college campuses to barber and beauty shops.
“In the community, we’re very visible,” Clanagan says. “We don’t just spend money and throw out a wide net. We’re very targeted.”
In 2006 Codeblack released 20 homevid titles, three of which were released theatrically. The biggest sellers have been “Shadowboxer,” which sold 600,000 units after just three weeks in release; “Preaching to the Choir,” which sold 180,000 units; and “Steve Harvey: Don’t Trip … He Ain’t Through With Me Yet!,” which sold 220,000.
Codeblack has also signed a production pact with 20th Century Fox’s faith-based label, FoxFaith.
Going forward, Clanagan says he’s “looking to expand our footprint in the home entertainment space.”
To that end, Codeblack recently launched UrbanFilmClub.com, an online retailer that sells urban-themed DVDs; next year, the site will move into downloading pics. Clanagan also plans to launch the VOD channel Codeblack TV.
POV: “Even though the DVD market has flattened, per se, the urban market is still underserved,” Clanagan says. “There is an oversaturation of inferior product. But when you release something like ‘Shadowboxer,’ the cream rises to the top.”
Homevid Leader Report:
