Mark Rosenberg
Encyclopedia
Mark Rosenberg was an American
film producer
whose works included The Killing Fields
and Presumed Innocent
, who was the President of Worldwide Theatrical Production at Warner Bros.
in the 1980s.
Rosenberg was born in Passaic, New Jersey
, where he attended Passaic High School
, graduating in 1966. He attended Bard College
and the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, where he was an active leader in the Students for a Democratic Society
and its protests against United States involvement in the Vietnam War
.
He moved to Los Angeles
to take a position in film marketing with Seineger & Associates. He was hired as a literary agent with International Creative Management
and later with Adams, Ray & Rosenberg.
He became vice president for production at Warner Bros.
in 1978. Rosenberg was named by Warner Bros. as the president of movie production in July 1983, making him one of the youngest executives to head the film production division of a major motion picture studio, at the age of 35. Rosenberg replaced Robert Shapiro
, whose departure was attributed in industry sources cited by The New York Times
as due to poor financial results for the studio's film in the previous 18 months. He left Warner Bros. in September 1985.
He joined Sydney Pollack
in 1985 at Mirage Productions, where their first production was the 1988 release of Bright Lights, Big City
, based on the novel by Jay McInerney
. Other films produced at Mirage include Major League
and Presumed Innocent
.
Spring Creek Productions was formed in 1989 with his wife, producer Paula Weinstein. He met his wife while they were organizing protests at the 1972 Republican National Convention
at the event's original planned site in San Diego. The company had a production agreement with Warner Bros., where they produced The Fabulous Baker Boys
, and Flesh and Bone, the film he was producing at the time of his death.
Rosenberg, a resident of Los Angeles, died at age 44 on November 6, 1992 of heart failure on a movie set in Stanton, Texas
during the production of the film Flesh and Bone.
His brother Alan Rosenberg
, is an actor who has been the president of the Screen Actors Guild
.
Rosenberg was described as "one of Hollywood's baby moguls" by The New York Times
, which noted that "the roll call of achievements in his obituary was of a length befitting an elder statesman of Hollywood".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
whose works included The Killing Fields
The Killing Fields (film)
The Killing Fields is a 1984 British drama film about the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, which is based on the experiences of two journalists: Cambodian Dith Pran and American Sydney Schanberg. The film, which won three Academy Awards, was directed by Roland Joffé and stars Sam Waterston as...
and Presumed Innocent
Presumed Innocent
Presumed Innocent, published in 1987, is Scott Turow's first novel, which tells the story of a prosecutor charged with the murder of his colleague, an attractive and intelligent prosecutor, Carolyn Polhemus. It is told in the first person by the accused, Rǒzat "Rusty" Sabich...
, who was the President of Worldwide Theatrical Production at Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
in the 1980s.
Rosenberg was born in Passaic, New Jersey
Passaic, New Jersey
Passaic is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 69,781, maintaining its status as the 15th largest municipality in New Jersey with an increase of 1,920 residents from the 2000 Census population of 67,861...
, where he attended Passaic High School
Passaic High School
Passaic High School is a four-year community public high school, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from Passaic, in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Passaic City School District...
, graduating in 1966. He attended Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
and the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, where he was an active leader in the Students for a Democratic Society
Students for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)
Students for a Democratic Society was a student activist movement in the United States that was one of the main iconic representations of the country's New Left. The organization developed and expanded rapidly in the mid-1960s before dissolving at its last convention in 1969...
and its protests against United States involvement in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
He moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to take a position in film marketing with Seineger & Associates. He was hired as a literary agent with International Creative Management
International Creative Management
International Creative Management is a talent and literary agency with offices in Los Angeles, New York, and London. ICM is a full-service agency representing creative and technical talent in the fields of motion pictures, television, fiction and nonfiction publishing, music, live performance,...
and later with Adams, Ray & Rosenberg.
He became vice president for production at Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
in 1978. Rosenberg was named by Warner Bros. as the president of movie production in July 1983, making him one of the youngest executives to head the film production division of a major motion picture studio, at the age of 35. Rosenberg replaced Robert Shapiro
Robert Shapiro (film producer)
Robert Shapiro is an American film producer who was the president of theatrical film production at Warner Bros.Shapiro started working in the proverbial mailroom of the William Morris Agency. Advancing through the firm's ranks, he served as head of the television talent department and vice...
, whose departure was attributed in industry sources cited by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
as due to poor financial results for the studio's film in the previous 18 months. He left Warner Bros. in September 1985.
He joined Sydney Pollack
Sydney Pollack
Sydney Irwin Pollack was an American film director, producer and actor. Pollack studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, where he later taught acting...
in 1985 at Mirage Productions, where their first production was the 1988 release of Bright Lights, Big City
Bright Lights, Big City (film)
Bright Lights, Big City is a 1988 drama film starring Michael J. Fox, Kiefer Sutherland and Phoebe Cates, based on the novel of the same name by Jay McInerney. It was the last film directed by James Bridges before his death in 1993.-Plot:...
, based on the novel by Jay McInerney
Jay McInerney
John Barrett McInerney Jr. is an American writer. His novels include Bright Lights, Big City; Ransom; Story of My Life; Brightness Falls; and The Last of the Savages...
. Other films produced at Mirage include Major League
Major League (film)
Major League is a 1989 American satire comedy film written and directed by David S. Ward, starring Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes, James Gammon, and Corbin Bernsen. Made for US$11 million, Major League grossed nearly US$50 million in domestic release...
and Presumed Innocent
Presumed Innocent
Presumed Innocent, published in 1987, is Scott Turow's first novel, which tells the story of a prosecutor charged with the murder of his colleague, an attractive and intelligent prosecutor, Carolyn Polhemus. It is told in the first person by the accused, Rǒzat "Rusty" Sabich...
.
Spring Creek Productions was formed in 1989 with his wife, producer Paula Weinstein. He met his wife while they were organizing protests at the 1972 Republican National Convention
1972 Republican National Convention
The 1972 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held from August 21 to August 23, 1972 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida. It nominated the incumbents Richard M. Nixon of California for President and Spiro T. Agnew of Maryland for Vice...
at the event's original planned site in San Diego. The company had a production agreement with Warner Bros., where they produced The Fabulous Baker Boys
The Fabulous Baker Boys
The Fabulous Baker Boys is a 1989 American romantic drama musical film written and directed by Steve Kloves, and starring real life brothers Jeff Bridges and Beau Bridges as two brothers struggling to make a living as lounge jazz pianists in Seattle...
, and Flesh and Bone, the film he was producing at the time of his death.
Rosenberg, a resident of Los Angeles, died at age 44 on November 6, 1992 of heart failure on a movie set in Stanton, Texas
Stanton, Texas
Stanton is a city in and the county seat of Martin County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,556 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Stanton is located at ....
during the production of the film Flesh and Bone.
His brother Alan Rosenberg
Alan Rosenberg
Alan Rosenberg is an American actor of both stage and screen. From 2005 to 2009, he was president of the Screen Actors Guild, the principal motion picture industry on-screen performers' union.-Early life:...
, is an actor who has been the president of the Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
.
Rosenberg was described as "one of Hollywood's baby moguls" by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, which noted that "the roll call of achievements in his obituary was of a length befitting an elder statesman of Hollywood".