Mike Fleming

Paramount Pictures has made a first-look producing deal with Stefan Sonnenfeld, the founder and president of visual effects company Company 3. Sonnenfeld has provided post production work on such Paramount films as the first two Transformers films, Star Trek and Cloverfield. Sonnenfeld’s company has also worked on such films as Alice in Wonderland, Pirates of the Caribbean, 300 and Watchmen.

Considering how stingy studios are with producing deals these days, this is a surprise considering that Sonnenfeld hasn’t yet produced a picture. He will form a new production label and to Paramount Film Group president Adam Goodman, part of his value will be turning the studio onto talent with film potential that Sonnenfeld works with in the commercial, advertising and video worlds. Sonnenfeld’s advertising work includes campaigns with Nike, and Company 3 is currently working on the third Transformers film and the fourth installment of Pirates of the Caribbean.

“With post-production playing a large role in the filmmaking process these days, leveraging my knowledge, skills, resources and relationships opens up many different possibilities in this new partnership,” Sonnenfeld said.