Vancouver: Producers on the West Coast will once again be able to avoid that $1,000 cup of coffee in order to have a face-to-face conversation with a feature film distributor. Late last month, John Curtis and Rob Straight announced the launch of a new Vancouver-based distribution company, Everest Entertainment, at the annual American Film Market in Santa Monica, Calif.

There has not been a Western-based distribution company since the demise of Festival Films in 1990.

The new company will focus on ‘all types and genres of feature film distribution, both domestic and international,’ says Curtis, former president of North American Releasing and a partner with Lloyd Simandl in North American Pictures.

Straight, an independent producer, resigned as producer of the Vancouver International Film Festival’s Trade Forum to start up the new enterprise.

Everest’s first acquisition is producer Rob MacLean’s (Digger, Red Scorpion), Man Without A Gun. The action-drama starring Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter), with l.a.-based David Wyles directing, is scheduled to begin lensing in Las Vegas or Vancouver this summer.

‘When producers are trying to raise money for productions out of Vancouver, their options are quite limited, so (they) usually end up down in l.a. talking to some distributor for foreign sales,’ says Straight. ‘With this company (Everest), we become the foreign sales agent. And by attending all the markets (we) can access distributors worldwide, which definitely broadens the base of customers for presales and equity investment. It was something people here in the industry wanted and something we both have a lot of experience doing, so we have decided to give it a try.’

The two say they will look at any type of project that has a market value. They won’t be offering large cash advances initially, but they will work with producers to create the financing for a production.

‘Since for now we are essentially a foreign agent for feature films, we will be looking primarily for action and dramatic films,’ says Straight. ‘If it appears we can do anything directly in Canada, we will explore that in the future as well,’ he adds.

Straight says he and Curtis started talking casually about a partnership 18 months ago because they both have considerable experience in distribution – Straight through his years as senior vice-president of Vestron International Group in l.a. in the mid-eighties and Curtis through his previous association with North American Pictures.

‘John had been making marketable product for some time and had developed a good solid base, so it seemed like a good time for both of us to link up,’ he says.

Straight says financing for Everest will come primarily from David MacKenzie, whom Straight met at the viff Trade Forum some years ago. MacKenzie is ceo of Kelowna, b.c.-based Diamet Minerals and, with Craig Broadcasting, has an application for a new Alberta television service currently before the crtc.

‘We’ve heard complaints for a long time from producers who are tired of not having a distributor available in Vancouver,’ says Curtis. ‘So we’re hoping that we get a fair amount of support from the local community because this is definitely an expensive venture and we need good product and good support from the various agencies. It’s a big step for both of us.’

Gretchen Doyle, distribution analyst with Telefilm Canada’s Western Office, calls the emergence of Everest ‘great news.’

‘Having a distribution presence here creates a different relationship with producers than one just based on long-distance phone calls,’ says Doyle.

‘We are always encouraged when we hear of someone trying to set up operations here. With all the recent consolidation leaving all the major distributors based in the east, there’s more need than ever for producers who find the distance difficult, especially for those fledgling producers who don’t even know who to contact in Toronto.’

u