Maude Apatow’s ‘Poetic License’ Seeks New Home Amid Changes at Brass with President Megan Colligan Departing
Row K Executives Negotiating Departures Amid Financial Struggles
Row K’s executive leadership team, including President Megan Colligan, Chief Revenue Officer Mo Rhim, and Chief Marketing Officer Ben Carlson, is reportedly in negotiations to exit the company. This development follows concerns over Row K’s financial instability, with parent company Media Capital Technologies (MCT) seeking to shift its focus towards more commercially viable projects.
Sources indicate that MCT is actively looking to fill vacancies in its upper management while retaining Steve Garrett, the Head of Distribution at Row K. The company’s recent challenges have been exacerbated by its inability to uphold legal commitments regarding its acquisition of "Poetic License," a comedy directed by Maude Apatow that has received critical acclaim, achieving a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Initial excitement over "Poetic License," which sparked a bidding war among distributors, may lead to a swift rehoming of the film. Colligan has been a key advocate for the project, enhancing hopes for its future success despite Row K’s current predicament.
The company’s difficulties are underscored by the dismal performance of its other Toronto International Film Festival acquisition, Gus Van Sant’s "Dead Man’s Wire," which garnered $2.2 million at the domestic box office against a $5 million purchase price. The film, also highly rated at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, struggled due to promotional challenges; the lead actor, Bill Skarsgård, was unavailable for marketing efforts as he was filming "Lords of War."
Addressing Row K’s financial woes, principals Christopher Woodrow and Raj Singh stated, “Row K’s release of ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ has provided an important opportunity to evaluate and refine our strategy as a new entrant building in a highly competitive marketplace.” They emphasized the need for a more disciplined approach moving forward, focusing on commercially viable titles while strengthening internal operations.
The arthouse film sector has faced significant challenges, particularly highlighted by the lackluster box office performance of several recent prestige titles. Unlike established studio labels, indie distributors like Row K must navigate the added difficulties of securing theater trailer placements, further complicating their marketing strategies.
Looking ahead, Row K is set to release a reboot of "Cliffhanger" on August 28, starring Lily James and Pierce Brosnan. This project, reported to be Row K’s most significant acquisition yet, follows with the release of "Charlie Harper," featuring Emilia Jones and Nick Robinson, slated for September 25.
The financial challenges facing Row K were first reported by Variety, which indicated that Colligan and her colleagues have enlisted attorney Bryan Freedman to navigate this crisis.
Media Capital Technologies, co-founded by Woodrow and Singh before the TIFF event, is backed by MassMutual, although specifics about this financial relationship remain unclear. MCT also co-funded Lionsgate’s slate for 2024-2025.
In a follow-up statement, Woodrow and Singh assured, “Row K is well-capitalized, continues to support its existing projects, and is focused on long-term, sustainable growth with a clear emphasis on commerciality.” They did not comment beyond this statement.
Megan Colligan has a notable history in the film industry, having served as Paramount Pictures’ marketing head and led successful campaigns for blockbuster franchises. Mo Rhim has extensive experience as founder and CEO of the Advisory Collective and in key roles at Imax and Paramount. Ben Carlson previously worked as the EVP and general manager of media, sports, and entertainment at MarketCast, and founded the analytics firm Fizziology.
