Richard L. Albert
Encyclopedia
Richard Albert was president of the award-winning motion picture advertising agency Design Projects, Inc. from 1978 to 1992. Clients included major studios such as Universal Pictures, MGM, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., and Columbia Pictures, as well as major independent and international distributors such as Cannon Films, Trimark Pictures, CBS Theatrical Films, Goldcrest, and Lorimar. Albert's firm was responsible for the movie poster designs for many films, including MacArthur
, Sorcerer
, Hard to Hold
, The Final Countdown
, Mutant
, and Nightmares. Albert consulted regularly with Menahem Golan
at Cannon Films on how to market and pre-sell Cannon's films, and successfully launced the foreign campaigns for Death Wish 2, New Year's Evil
, Lady Chatterly's Lover, Enter the Ninja
, and many others. Later, when Golan started 21st Century Films, he collaborated with Albert, who produced though his Sawmill Entertainment Corp. the Lambada dance movie The Forbidden Dance
for Golan's foreign distribution, and Columbia Pictures' U.S. theatrical release. Albert hunt ed down the management for the band Kaoma
when they were touring in the United States, and licensed their hit song "Lambada
" for the film. He also tried to book the band to appear in the movie, however the band's schedule did not fit with the fast production schedule, so he hired Kid Creole and the Coconuts
to perform in the final scenes.
Albert worked closely with Film Ventures International
between 1978 through the 1980s creating advertising campaigns for the theatrical release of their expoitation films, including Kill or Be Killed
, They Call Me Bruce, The House on Sorority Row
, Breaker, Breaker, Great White
, Mortuary
, and Pieces
. He was one of the last people to see Edward L. Montoro
, Film Ventures founder, before he mysteriously disappeared.
Albert formed Sawmill Entertainment in 1988 which was responsible for developing, producing and licensing most of his motion pictures.
Besides producing The Forbidden Dance for Columbia Pictures
and Menahem Golan
, Albert collaborated with Mark Amin
of Trimark Pictures, producing the horror exploitation film Demonwarp
. Just as with The Forbidden Dance
, Demonwarp was carefully budgeted so that the distribution commitments that were made before the film went into production exceeded the actual cost of making the picture.
Albert practices entertainment law in North Hollywood since 1999, representing distribution companies and production companies all over the world.
MacArthur
MacArthur or Macarthur may refer to:-Geography:* Division of Macarthur, Sydney* General MacArthur, Eastern Samar, Philippines* John D...
, Sorcerer
Sorcerer
-Gaming:* Sorcerer , a 2002 tabletop role playing game made by Ron Edwards* Sorcerer , a 1984 interactive fiction computer game made by Infocom...
, Hard to Hold
Hard to Hold (film)
Hard to Hold is a 1984 film. It was meant as a starring vehicle for Rick Springfield, who had a solid television acting resume and a blossoming rock/pop career, but had yet to breakout in feature films. It stars Springfield, Janet Eilber and Patti Hansen...
, The Final Countdown
The Final Countdown
The Final Countdown is a 1980 science fiction film about a modern aircraft carrier that travels through time to just before the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor...
, Mutant
Mutant
In biology and especially genetics, a mutant is an individual, organism, or new genetic character, arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is a base-pair sequence change within the DNA of a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in the creation of a new character or trait not...
, and Nightmares. Albert consulted regularly with Menahem Golan
Menahem Golan
Menahem Golan is an Israeli director and producer. He has produced movies for such stars as Sean Connery, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Charles Bronson, and was known for a period as a producer of comic book-style movies like Masters of the Universe, Superman IV:...
at Cannon Films on how to market and pre-sell Cannon's films, and successfully launced the foreign campaigns for Death Wish 2, New Year's Evil
New Year's Evil (film)
New Year's Evil is a 1980 American slasher film starring Roz Kelly and Kip Niven, directed by Emmett Alston. The original music score is composed by W. Michael Lewis and Laurin Rinder...
, Lady Chatterly's Lover, Enter the Ninja
Enter the Ninja
Enter the Ninja is a 1981 martial arts film directed by Menahem Golan and starring Franco Nero, Susan George and Shô Kosugi. Production was started in the Philippines with Emmett Alston directing, but when Charles Bronson refused to allow Menahem Golan to direct Death Wish II, Golan, a co-principal...
, and many others. Later, when Golan started 21st Century Films, he collaborated with Albert, who produced though his Sawmill Entertainment Corp. the Lambada dance movie The Forbidden Dance
The Forbidden Dance
The Forbidden Dance is a 1990 drama film starring former Miss USA Laura Harring...
for Golan's foreign distribution, and Columbia Pictures' U.S. theatrical release. Albert hunt ed down the management for the band Kaoma
Kaoma
Kaoma was a pop group made up in France of former members of the band Touré Kunda: Chyco Dru , Jacky Arconte , Jean-Claude Bonaventure , Michel Abihssira , Fania , and Loalwa Braz , Chico and Roberta...
when they were touring in the United States, and licensed their hit song "Lambada
Lambada (Kaoma song)
"Lambada", also released as "Chorando Se Foi " and "Llorando se fue ", is a 1989 song recorded by the French pop group Kaoma with the Brazilian vocalist Loalwa Braz. It was released as the first single from Kaoma's debut album Worldbeat...
" for the film. He also tried to book the band to appear in the movie, however the band's schedule did not fit with the fast production schedule, so he hired Kid Creole and the Coconuts
Kid Creole and the Coconuts
Kid Creole and the Coconuts is an American musical group created and led by August Darnell. Its music incorporates a variety of styles and influences, in particular "American and Latin American, South American, Caribbean, Trinidadian, Calloway" and conceptually inspired by the big band era...
to perform in the final scenes.
Albert worked closely with Film Ventures International
Film Ventures International
Film Ventures International is an independent movie production and distribution company originally situated in Atlanta, Georgia during the 1970s. FVI garnered a notorious reputation within the industry for producing films which were highly derivative of many blockbusters of the era...
between 1978 through the 1980s creating advertising campaigns for the theatrical release of their expoitation films, including Kill or Be Killed
Kill or Be Killed (film)
Kill or Be Killed is a martial arts movie that was made in South Africa in 1977, but released in 1980 to capitalize on the popularity of American martial arts films....
, They Call Me Bruce, The House on Sorority Row
The House on Sorority Row
The House on Sorority Row is a 1983 low budget American slasher film directed by Mark Rosman. The film has become a cult classic among fans of the genre.-Plot:...
, Breaker, Breaker, Great White
Great White (film)
Great White is a 1980 Italian horror film directed by Enzo G. Castellari and starring James Franciscus and Vic Morrow. The film is extremely similar to Steven Spielberg's Jaws.-Plot:...
, Mortuary
Mortuary (film)
Mortuary is a 2005 horror-thriller film directed by Tobe Hooper. It stars Dan Byrd, Alexandra Adi, and Denise Crosby.-Plot:After the loss of their father, the Doyle family, Leslie, Jonathan, and Jamie, move to the Fowler Mortuary in hope of starting a new life. The three find the mortuary to be in...
, and Pieces
Pieces (film)
Pieces is a 1983 cult classic slasher horror film and "drive-in favorite".-Plot:...
. He was one of the last people to see Edward L. Montoro
Edward L. Montoro
Edward L. Montoro was an American film producer and distributor known for releasing exploitation films and B-movies during the 1970s and 1980s through his company Film Ventures International...
, Film Ventures founder, before he mysteriously disappeared.
Albert formed Sawmill Entertainment in 1988 which was responsible for developing, producing and licensing most of his motion pictures.
Besides producing The Forbidden Dance for Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
and Menahem Golan
Menahem Golan
Menahem Golan is an Israeli director and producer. He has produced movies for such stars as Sean Connery, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Charles Bronson, and was known for a period as a producer of comic book-style movies like Masters of the Universe, Superman IV:...
, Albert collaborated with Mark Amin
Mark Amin
Mark Amin is an Iranian-American motion picture producer and distributor. He formed Vidmark Entertainment in the early 1980s which handled mainly video releases, and was a pioneer in home video entertainment. In 1985, Amin changed the name of Vidmark to Trimark Holdings Inc...
of Trimark Pictures, producing the horror exploitation film Demonwarp
Demonwarp
Demonwarp is a 1987 science fiction/horror film directed by Emmett Alston and starring George Kennedy.-Plot:The film begins with Kennedy's character talking to his daughter inside their cabin. Suddenly a Bigfoot-like animal brakes in and takes away the girl. Some teenage campers arrive and they too...
. Just as with The Forbidden Dance
The Forbidden Dance
The Forbidden Dance is a 1990 drama film starring former Miss USA Laura Harring...
, Demonwarp was carefully budgeted so that the distribution commitments that were made before the film went into production exceeded the actual cost of making the picture.
Albert practices entertainment law in North Hollywood since 1999, representing distribution companies and production companies all over the world.
External links
- Richard L. Albert at the State Bar of CaliforniaState Bar of CaliforniaThe State Bar of California is California's official bar association. It is responsible for managing the admission of lawyers to the practice of law, investigating complaints of professional misconduct, and prescribing appropriate discipline...
http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=204359