David Ellison‘s Paramount Pictures has found its new head of domestic theatrical distribution: Shaun Barber.
He succeeds longtime domestic distribution boss Chris Aronson, who didn’t survive the Skydance-Paramount merger.
Barber officially arrives on the Paramount lot Dec. 1, and will work closely with international distribution chief Mark Viane. They’ll both report directly to Josh Goldstine, the studio’s newly installed president of global marketing and distribution. In turn, Goldstine reports to Paramount Pictures co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, who were hand-picked by Ellison to run the rearranged studio.
The announcement of his hire comes just day after massive layoffs across the entire Paramount conglomerate, which Ellison said were necessary to facilitate changing priorities.
Barber, a nearly 29-year industry veteran, will join Paramount from Lionsgate, where he served as co-president of worldwide theatrical distribution alongside Kevin Grayson (in separate news, THR has confirmed that Mike Viane — Mark Viane’s brother — will be joining Lionsgate as executive vp of worldwide theatrical distribution and operations, reporting to Grayson).
In his new gig at Paramont, Bauber will be in charge of North American distribution strategy and operations for all Paramoun releases.
During his 18 years at Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment, Barber was instrumental in handling such blockbuster franchises as John Wick, The Hunger Games and Twilight, as well as critically acclaimed films including Knives Out, La La Land and The Hurt Locker (the latter won the Oscar for best picture). Under his leadership, films released through Lionsgate and Summit amassed over $9.3 billion in box office revenue.
Barber began his career at 20th Century Fox in New York before moving to Los Angeles in 1998 to join Warner Bros., where he spent nearly a decade in theatrical distribution.
“Shaun is a deeply respected leader who has spent his career building meaningful partnerships across exhibition and the industry at large. He brings extensive expertise in domestic distribution strategy and will help us strengthen our theatrical business and deliver exceptional experiences for moviegoers,” Goldstine said in a statement.
Added Barber, “I’m honored to join Paramount Pictures at this defining moment in its storied history. I look forward to collaborating with the exceptional team guiding the studio’s next phase of growth. Together with our exhibition partners, we’re committed to championing and elevating the power of the theatrical experience for audiences everywhere.”
While the word “distributuion” couldn’t be more boring, many of these execs are anything but, especially those working at a major studio side. Historically, they are the ones responsible for dealing with box office reporters on a movie’s opening weekend and pushing a particular narrative, whether in good times or bad. And, depending on the structure, they are the ones interfacing directly with studio bosses, filmmakers, agents and talent when grosses start flowing in.
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