NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) —
MSG Entertainment has named Tim Schmidt, a veteran of the film and theater industry, executive vice president, business development, MSG Entertainment. He will be responsible for strategically expanding the company’s live entertainment portfolio, taking advantage of the unique strength and brand equity inherent in MSGE’s legendary venues and properties.
Schmidt will formulate the company's strategy for acquiring and developing new properties, fostering relationships with producers of live entertainment and expanding the company’s presence in the live theater industry, as well as production planning for productions to be housed within our venues and beyond.
"There are very few entertainment entities as storied and celebrated as Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden," said Schmidt. "I grew up attending events at these venues, which contain so many memories for so many people with the excitement that only live entertainment can create. I feel that my background in film and theater, lends itself to understanding MSGE’s core business, but also gives a fresh perspective on current opportunities that we will take advantage of, as well as new opportunities that we will create in the marketplace."
Schmidt’s career in law and entertainment has spanned nearly 20 years in economic and entertainment counsel and negotiations. Most recently, he served as senior vice president at The Weinstein Company/Miramax Films beginning in 2001, where he acted as senior advisor in areas including theater, film and other general entertainment interests. He gave oversight in the development of company-controlled properties for the stage, including identification of properties, negotiation of rights agreements, as well as recommendations of creative team and supervision of script development. Productions included Roger Waters’ "The Wall," Finding Neverland," "Chocolat" and other properties based on Miramax Films releases. In regards to film, he negotiated complex film rights deals, for musical and franchise properties and advised the company on potential theater-related film projects and negotiated talent deals, as well as music publishing deals.
Schmidt has broad experience in the book publishing, fashion, art, real estate and restaurant industries. He also identified properties for investment, reviewed financial models for productions, as well as negotiation of terms with producers and their representatives. Theatrical properties included "The Producers," "The Color Purple," "All Shook Up" (based on the music of Elvis Presley), "Wonderful Town," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and others in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
