Rachel Pfeffer Signs New Film Production Deal With Disney

Business Wire, Oct 2, 1998

BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Oct. 2, 1998--Under the terms of a new first-look production arrangement, Rachel Pfeffer will develop and produce motion pictures for Walt Disney Pictures, Hollywood Pictures and Touchstone Pictures, it was announced Friday by David Vogel, president of Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group, and Joe Roth, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.

Pfeffer's previous associations with Touchstone Pictures include executive producing the acclaimed Robert Redford film, "The Horse Whisperer" and producing the upcoming December release,"A Civil Action," starring John Travolta and Robert Duvall and directed by Steven Zaillian. In conjunction with this new arrangement, Pfeffer has established her own production entity, PfefferFilm, which will be based at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. She is currently in the process of hiring an executive staff.

Commenting on the announcement, Vogel said, "Rachel is a very impressive and talented producer who has been associated with some of the top filmmakers in the business. She has terrific taste when it comes to selecting her projects and we are excited to be making films with her on a regular basis here at the studio."

Roth added, "I have known Rachel for many years and have a tremendous respect for her talent and abilities as a producer. She is a class act all the way and we are thrilled to be making movies with her."

Pfeffer noted, "Disney is a wonderful place to make movies and I am pleased to be working with my old friend Joe Roth as well as David Vogel and his exceptional team. My experiences working with the studio on 'The Horse Whisperer' and 'A Civil Action' have been some of the best of my career and I am looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with the Disney creative team."

Most recently, Pfeffer produced Touchstone Pictures' upcoming drama, "A Civil Action," written and directed by Steven Zaillian and based on Jonathan Harr's best-selling novel. The film, which stars John Travolta and Robert Duvall, is set to be released this December. Prior to that, she served as executive producer for Touchstone Pictures' acclaimed drama, "The Horse Whisperer," directed by and starring Robert Redford.

Pfeffer began her association with Redford in 1993 and served as president of his Wildwood Enterprises for four years. In that role, she also executive produced the acclaimed filmmaker's first foray into television with the HBO movie, "Grand Avenue." Prior to joining Wildwood, Pfeffer was with Castle Rock Entertainment for five years as vice president of production, and served as executive producer on "A Few Good Men," a project which she brought to the company. She also produced for Castle Rock the Nicole Kidman/Harold Becker thriller, "Malice." Among her other professional achievements, she ran companies for directors Ron Howard and Norman Jewison.