Mary Aloe
Mary Aloe | |
---|---|
Born |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | July 19, 1969
Residence | Los Angeles, California |
Education | University of Southern California |
Occupation | Film Producer |
Years active | 1995 – present |
Home town | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Website | http://www.aloeentertainment.com |
Mary Aloe is an American film and television producer, focusing on faith-based, action and drama and the owner of Aloe Entertainment based in Beverly Hills, CA. Her best known movies include Mary Mother of Christ, Battle in Seattle, When a Man Falls in the Forest, While She Was Out, Numb, Tortured, and The Princess and the Marine.
Education and early career
Aloe was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as the youngest of three girls. She moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California, where she participated with other students on a music magazine titled "Rock", distributed in 35 countries. Her interest in journalism led her to work as an entertainment reporter for Us Weekly and Entertainment Weekly Radio.
Aloe moved to New York and transitioned into producing talk shows, such as CBS's Geraldo. She later moved back to the west coast where she produced a newsmagazine show at Paramount television called Hard Copy. She went on to produce reality TV shows and specials such as The Susan Powter Show (Multimedia Inc), Caught in the Act (NBC/Dick Clark Productions) and Case Closed (USA Network).
Aloe's first executive producer credit was for the Columbia TriStar television movie The Princess and the Marine. She followed with producing feature-length films such as When a Man Falls in the Forest, Numb, Battle in Seattle, Tortured, and While She Was Out.
Bio
Aloe Entertainment is one of Los Angeles' most prolific independent production companies. The Los Angeles-based feature film/television company was created in 1999 by Mary Aloe. Mary Aloe and Aloe Entertainment produces and finances individual pictures and slates of movies. Aloe Entertainment specializes in developing/producing independent features, television series, and network and cable event movies. Mary Aloe and Aloe Entertainment specialize in obtaining 100% financing for features by raising private equity; working with hedge funds, gap financing, top tier foreign sales companies and securing domestic distribution. Producer Mary Aloe and Aloe Entertainment, along with her development team, have produced a record nine features in six years. As well, Mary Aloe's vast knowledge of P & A financing was acknowledged by Regent Entertainment, who brought her in to run a 50 million dollar P & A fund backed by Merrill Lynch.
However her background and first love is reality television. Besides the three shows in development: Throwback, Mama’s Boy and Game of Clones. Mary produced Room 401 jointly with partners Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, premiering on MTV. Mary Aloe is also developing a bevy of reality series Geraldo, the Susan Powter Show, Caught in the Act, Hard Copy, A Current Affair over nine series for network and syndication.
Aloe and her partner, Dan Grodnik are Executive Producers on Screen Media's US Theatrical Release of "Mothers And Daughters". "Mothers And Daughters" stars Golden Globe Winner Sharon Stone, Oscar Winner Susan Sarandon, Golden Globe Nominee Christina Ricci, Courteney Cox, Oscar Winner Mira Sorvino, Ashanti, and more.
Aloe and Grodnik are also in production on two movies, including "MARA", in Savannah, Georgia starring Olga Kurylenko ("Quantum of Solace", "November Man", "Water Diviner"). MARA is based upon a real medical condition called “Sleep Paralysis.” Multiple cultures around the world over many millennia have real life stories about a sleep demon aka demonic attacks also known as “Hag Syndrome." Mara is a well-researched film based upon real life phenomena and is happening to an estimated 40% of humans around the world. It is when a person is in this state of "Sleep Paralysis” that they feel a presence of a supernatural malevolent being which immobilizes the person as if it is sitting on his/her chest. The word “night-mare” or “nightmare” was used to describe this phenomenon before the word acquired its’ modern, more general meaning. Has it happened to you? If not, it just might…when you least expect her.
And they have several films in post-production, including, in Australia, "Tiger", a true story boxing bio pic, being sold internationally by The Exchange. "Tiger", directed by Alister Grierson, stars Mickey Rourke ("Iron Man II", "The Wrestler") and Janel Parrish ("Pretty Little Liars"), as well as newcomer Prem Singh as Pardeep Nagra.
2015 -2016 is going to be another banner year for Mary Aloe and her staff at Aloe Entertainment. "55 Steps" is in production in Cologne Germany, with Sony as it's worldwide distributor. This is the true story of Eleanor Reise, starring two-time Oscar nominee Helena Bodham Carter ("Wings of A Dove", "The Kings Speech") as Eleanor, two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank ("Million Dollar Baby", "Boys Don't Cry") as pro-bono attorney as Collete, and Golden Globe winner, Jeffrey Tambor as Mort.
An American comedy, "Wild Oats" starring Shirley Maclaine, Jessica Lange and Demi Moore came out in theaters with the Weinstein company last Fall.
Simultaneously, Mary Aloe and Aloe Entertainment's other film in pre-production, "Room 107", starts filming in New York this spring. For the first time since 1942, in "Pride of the Yankees", Major League Baseball and Hank Steinbrenner are partners and their official branding is to be used in a motion picture. At the core of the film, it is a magical father and son story. The film is based on the bestselling book of the same name. Iconic producer, Barry Josephson ("Enchanted") is producing and Mary Aloe is executive producing. Among its all star cast is Josh Lucas, Luis Guzman and it also includes some of the New York Yankees' current all stars in cameo roles.
Between 2004 and 2010, Mary Aloe and Aloe Entertainment produced a record nine films. Partner Mike Dolan and she produced the comedy, "Hollywood and Wine", starring David Spade, Chazz Palminteri, Vivica Fox, Kris Kattan and a host of Saturday Night Live alumni. The film took a satirical look into the inner workings of and actress making it in Hollywood. The production was produced in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with Mike Dolan's Smithfield Street Productions.
As well, Mary Aloe filmed "The Ascent", a mountain climbing thriller starring Josie Davis, David Chokachi, Martin Kove and Joe Estevez. The film was shot in Austin, Texas with Regent Releasing.
Mary Aloe arranged financing and producer many critically acclaimed features were selected for some of the world's most prestigious film festivals. When a Man Falls in the Forest, starring Sharon Stone and Timothy Hutton, was selected for main competition at the Berlin International Film Festival and in the main competition for America's South By Southwest Film Festival; Numb, starring Matthew Perry and Mary Steenburgen, was selected to have its world premiere in the Discovery section at the Tribeca Film Festival; and Battle In Seattle, a political action drama written and directed by Stuart Townsend and starring Charlize Theron, Woody Harrelson, Ray Liotta, Channing Tatum, Andre Benjamin Joshua Jackson, Martin Henderson, Connie Nielsen and Rodriguez. Battle had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in main competition and had the biggest sale at the festival and is being multi-plat formed theatrically across America this fall 2008. Aloe's other films include While She Was Out, a female action thriller starring Kim Basinger and Lucas Haas; executive produced by Guillermo Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) and jointly produced by Don Murphy (Transformers); and Tortured, starring Laurence Fishburne and James Cromwell, which was released through Magic Box and Sony Pictures. Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever with LGE had its theatrical release in the spring of 2009. Aloe's first feature film endeavor was in 2004 and entitled Downtown: A Street Tale, starred Genevieve Bujold and Domenica Scorsese and was released with American World Pictures.
Mary Aloe's foray into the business began in television with producing over eight successful national reality and television talks shows. In 2001, Mary Aloe transitioned into long form television with Columbia TriStar and NBC with The Princess and the Marine, a MOW for NBC Television, the project, chronicling the true story of a Middle Eastern Princess who fell in love with an American Marine, generated so much excitement, it incited the second biggest bidding war in television history. It then became the highest rated Movie of the Week that year for NBC. Aloe executive produced this made-for-TV movie with Columbia Tri-Star.
Mary Aloe has also affiliated herself with the top organizations in the entertainment industry. She is a member of the following guilds: WEN (Women's Entertainment Network), American Federation of Women in Television and Radio, CAUCUS, Women in Film and First Weekenders Club.
Personal life
Aloe participates in charities that support children, women, and animals. She is an active supporting member of The Pasadena Humane Society, and Pit Bull Rescue.
Filmography (producer)
Films
Upcoming:
- "55 Steps" (2016)
- "Mara" (2016)
- "Mothers and Daughters" (2016)
- "American Brawler" (2016)
- Timothy Hill Ranch (2016)
- Tiger (2016)
- Mary (with Lionsgate)
- Room 107 (2016)
- Bennie
- Stanley Ann Dunham: A Most Generous Spirit (documentary)
- What You Wish For
- Pistoleros
- Book of Life
Released:
- 10,000 Saints (2015)
- Wild Oats (2015) (with The Weinstein Company and The Exchange)
- The Ascent (2010)
- Hollywood & Wine (2010)
- Battle in Seattle (2007)
- Numb (2007)
- When a Man Falls in the Forest (2007)
- While She Was Out (2008)
- Tortured (2008)
- Downtown: A Street Tale (2004)
- Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009)
TV movie and TV Shows
Television
- Room 401 (2008) TV series (exec. producer, partnered with Ashton Kutcher) MTV
- The Princess and the Marine (2001) TV Movie (exec. producer)Columbia Pictures/NBC
- A Current Affair TV series (producer)
- Geraldo (1991–1992) TV series (producer) CBS
- Hard Copy (1992–1993) TV series (producer) Paramount Television
- Caught in the Act (1993 film)|Caught in the Act (1993) TV (producer) Dick Clark Productions/NBC
- The Susan Powter Show (1994–1995) TV (executive producer) Multimedia Entertainment (syndicated)
- All Together Now (1995) TV pilot (producer) Columbia Tri-Star Television
- Case Closed (1993) TV series (producer) USA Network
External links
- Mary Aloe at the Internet Movie Database
- Official website
- Mary Aloe Blog
- Mary Aloe Entertainment Site
- Mary Aloe Producer Site
- Aloe Entertainment Producer Site
- Mary Aloe Finance Site
- Variety Insight
- New York Times Movies and TV
- Mary Aloe Production Site
- Deadline Hollywood January 30, 2015 article "‘Ten Thousand Saints’ Sells To Screen Media – Sundance"
- Yahoo.Finance.com February 5, 2015 article "Mass Hysteria Entertainment to Produce Punjab Tiger"
- Yahoo.Finance.com March 15, 2015 article "Mass Hysteria Entertainment Acquires Timothy Hill Ranch"
- EW.com January 18, 2013 article "Hollywood Finds God (Again)"
- Wall Street Journal September 21, 2012 cover of the Entertainment Section for Mary Mother of Christ
- Wall Street Journal September 21, 2012 Television piece for Mary Mother of Christ
- Indiewire.com article on Ben Kingsley for Mary Mother of Christ
- Cinemablend.com article on Ben Kingsley for Mary Mother of Christ
- Beliefnet.com article for Mary Mother of Christ
- EEWmagazine.com article on Joel Osteen for Mary Mother of Christ
- Trovacimena article on Hollywood Bible Cinema and Mary Mother of Christ
- Empireonline article on Ben Kingsley for Mary Mother of Christ
- The Wrap article on Ben Kingsley for Mary Mother of Christ
- Dark Horizons.com article on Alister Grierson for Mary Mother of Christ
- Mumbrella.com article on Alister Grierson for Mary Mother of Christ
- Deadline.com article on Mary Mother of Christ in Lionsgate Deal
- Variety article announcing six picture deal for Mary Aloe
- Variety article announcing alliance with Mary Aloe for $50 million P&A fund management
- Studio announcement for producer Mary Aloe's Battle in Seattle
- Luke Ford interviews Mary Aloe on Battle in Seattle
- Pittsburgh Business Times article on Aloe's production plans for Pittsburgh
- Regent announcement for $50 million P&A with Mary Aloe
- Article on Mary Aloe and distribution alliance with Regent
- Multiple Pittsburgh Business Times articles on Aloe's productions and company Proud Mary Entertainment
- Seattle Times article on Mary Aloe and Battle in Seattle
- The Guardian UK article on The Princess and the Marine and producer Mary Aloe
- Oregon AFL-CIO article on Mary Aloe and Battle in Seattle