Cary Brokaw and Avenue Pictures Pact with HBO Films; Partnered With Director Mike Nichols

Business Wire, May 10, 2001

Business/Entertainment Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2001

Producer Cary Brokaw and his company, Avenue Pictures, the film and television division of Avenue Entertainment Group Inc. (OTCBB:PIXG.OB), have entered into a two year first look agreement with HBO Films to develop and produce long form television for the cable network.

Brokaw and Avenue are partnered with Mike Nichols, with whom they produced the film adaptation of Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize winning play "Wit" directed by Nichols and starring Emma Thompson, which recently premiered on HBO.

Brokaw and Nichols are currently developing several projects with HBO.

The pact also allows Brokaw and Avenue to produce independent of Nichols for the network. The first of these projects will be the film adaptation of Jane Anderson's play "Looking for Normal," which Brokaw will executive produce and Anderson will write and direct for HBO. Brokaw previously produced "Path to Paradise: The Unbelievable True Story of the World Trade Center Bombing" for HBO.

"I am both thrilled and honored to be in business with Mike Nichols and HBO. These are the kind of relationships producers dream of and I expect great things to result," said Brokaw.

Avenue Entertainment Group is a diversified entertainment company that produces feature films, movies for television and cable, television series and one-hour biography programs. Avenue Pictures, a division of Avenue Entertainment Group, and Brokaw have produced the Academy Award(R)-winning "Restoration," as well as Robert Altman's "Short Cuts" and "The Player," the latter being nominated for five Academy Awards(R), including Best Picture.

Brokaw and Avenue have also produced such features as "Finding Graceland," "Drugstore Cowboy" and "The Object of Beauty." The company currently has over 20 feature films and over 12 movies for television and mini series in active development. The company's upcoming feature films include "Mindhunters," to be financed by Intermedia, and "The Last Good Feeling," directed by James Merendino.

Upcoming cable and television movies include "The 12 Apostles" (USA Networks) and "Special Occasions" (CBS).