From the "People" Archives:

Buyer Profile: Jason Constantine, Lions Gate Films

Jason Constantine of Lions Gate Films

Jason Constantine
VP, Acquisitions (worked in department for five years)

BACKGROUND: Grew up in Santa Ana, Calif., and attended Princeton University undergrand and LMU Film School for graduate work. Started working in feature film production and post-production, and then made several short films before working in acquisitions at Trimark. 33 years old.

MOST IMPORTANT FILM FESTIVALS: Sundance, Toronto, and Cannes. These festivals consistently have the highest percentage of world premieres of films seeking distribution -- and all three are very filmmaker-centered. So, all three are great festivals to discover both films for potential acquisitions, and also for discovering excellent emerging filmmakers.

FAVORITE FILMS OF THE LAST THREE YEARS: In addition to films that we've been acquiring and producing at Lions Gate: "The Station Agent," "Memento," "Insomnia," "Beautiful Mind," "You Can Count on Me," "Good-bye Lenin!," "The Magdalene Sisters," "Minority Report," "I'm Not Scared"

RECENT FILMS INVOLVED WITH ACQUIRING: "Cabin Fever," "Girl with the Pearl Earring," "The Cooler," "Dogville," "Danny Deckchair," "Lantana," "Intacto," "Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses," "Undead," "The Grudge" (Ju-On).

TYPES OF FILMS COMPANY LOOKS FOR: We are looking for distinctive arthouse films and we are looking for crowd-pleasing mainstream films for wide release. Many, many different kinds of films can fall into each of those two categories. That's one of the exciting things about being at Lions Gate. If we see a film that we love and know that weĠre the right distributor for it, then we go after it. A film does not have to fit into a neat, easy-to-fit pre-determined category. We are looking for films that we love and (will be) passionate about releasing. We are looking for smart, original films, and looking for brilliant filmmakers. We're looking for films that people will go out of their way to see in movie theaters and for films that audiences will really be glad they went out of their way to see once they are in the movie theater watching. So many different kinds of films can fit into that category.

HOW TO GET THE ATTENTION OF BUYERS: Make a great film and screen it for us. A great film is one that is both creatively excellent, but also -- very importantly -- marketable.

WRONG WAY TO GET ATTENTION: Don't tell me your film is "the next 'Blair Witch'" or next "Big Fat Greek Wedding." It shouldn't be "the next" anything. It should be fresh and original in its own right. Also, do your homework. Know what films a distributor has released in the last 24 months before you talk to the distributor. That'll only help you in finding the best home for your film.

GENERAL THOUGHTS: Filmmakers should always begin with the end in mind. Before you start making a film, just imagine the poster or the 30-second commercial, the theatrical trailer...Does you film have enough elements? But certainly it involves concept, cast story et al. As for acquisitions... Acquisitions execs are always going to be looking for films that work and films that audiences will go out of their way to see. It is a tough, tough, competitive marketplace. Your film has to have something that will cause it to stand out from the pack.