Acclaimed maverick indie film producer Ray Price dies at age 75 after a battle with cancer on July 16, 2023, leaving a lasting impact on independent cinema.
Is true indie film maverick Ray Price dead?
Yes, true indie film maverick Ray Price died on July 16 of heart failure after a long battle with cancer. The news was confirmed by his longtime partner Meg Madison. Price was a highly respected figure in the world of independent film, and his career had a significant impact on the industry.
Price’s film journey began in 1972 when he managed the Rialto, a theater in Berkeley. He went on to co-found Renaissance Theaters with Allen Michaan, creating an independent Bay Area art house chain that became one of the largest in the region, peaking at 33 theaters. Under Price’s leadership, Renaissance Theaters developed a reputation for innovative marketing strategies, often redesigning promotional materials to help struggling films find success.
One of Price’s significant contributions was challenging the norms of art cinema at the time. While most top distributors focused on established European and Asian auteurs, Renaissance Theaters programmed new American directors like Martin Scorsese and John Cassavetes, and also breathed new life into films from the studio vaults.
In 1988, Price moved to Los Angeles, where he played a key role in founding several distribution companies, including IRS Pictures and First Look Pictures. He also contributed to the theatrical arm of TriMark Entertainment, where he handled distribution and marketing for numerous independent films.
Price was known for being an early adopter of new technologies. He made history as the first producer to stream a new feature film online when he hosted an online stream of the cult hit “Party Girl” in 1995. In 1999, Price joined American Zoetrope, Francis Ford Coppola’s indie film production company, where he oversaw worldwide sales and marketing for films such as Sofia Coppola’s “The Virgin Suicides” and the “Jeepers Creepers” series.
Throughout his career, Price has championed talented filmmakers at key moments in their careers, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. He has supported directors such as Tran Anh Hung, Gurinder Chadha, Carl Franklin, Allison Anders and John Sayles, helping them promote their work and expand their reach. In 2001, Price partnered with Bert Manzari to help revitalize Landmark’s theaters, and published Landmark’s indie film magazine to raise awareness of the films on Landmark’s schedule.
At the time of his death, Price was actively involved in the promotion of Rodrigo Reyes’ documentary “Sansón and I,” which focused on the story of a 19-year-old undocumented immigrant facing a serious sentence. The film was supported by the Ford Foundation, and it is planned to be shown in theaters and broadcast on PBS.
Ray Price’s legacy in the independent film industry will be remembered for his visionary approach, rebellious spirit and unwavering support for diverse voices in cinema. He leaves behind a lasting impact on the world of indie filmmaking, and his contribution will be fondly remembered by filmmakers and audiences alike.
What happened to Maverick Ray Price?
Maverick Ray Price, a prominent figure in indie filmmaking, died on July 16 of heart failure after a long battle with cancer. The news of his death was confirmed by his longtime partner Meg Madison. Price was a highly respected producer and distributor known for his groundbreaking contributions to the independent film industry.
His film career began in 1972 when he took over the management of the Rialto, a theater in Berkeley. He later co-founded Renaissance Theaters with Allen Michaan, establishing an independent art house chain in the Bay Area. Under Price’s leadership, Renaissance Theaters gained a reputation for its innovative marketing strategies, often redesigning promotional materials to increase the visibility of struggling films.
One of Price’s notable achievements was challenging the prevailing norms in art cinema. While most top distributors have focused on established European and Asian directors, Renaissance Theaters has taken the bold step of programming works by up-and-coming American directors such as Martin Scorsese and John Cassavetes. In addition, the company revitalized films from the studio vaults, giving them a second chance in the market.
In 1988, Price moved to Los Angeles, where he played a key role in founding several distribution companies, including IRS Pictures and First Look Pictures. He also contributed to the theatrical arm of TriMark Entertainment, where he handled distribution and marketing for various independent films.
Who was Maverick Ray Price?
Maverick Ray Price was a highly respected and influential figure in the indie film world. He was a producer and distributor who played a key role in shaping the independent film industry over several decades. Price began his film career in 1972 when he managed the Rialto, a theater in Berkeley.
He later co-founded Renaissance Theaters with Allen Michaan, establishing an independent art house chain in the Bay Area. Under Price’s leadership, Renaissance Theaters gained recognition for its innovative marketing approaches, often reworking promotional materials to give struggling films a better chance at success.
One of Price’s significant contributions was his willingness to challenge conventional norms in art cinema. While many top distributors focused on established European and Asian auteurs, Renaissance Theaters stood out by programming works by up-and-coming American directors such as Martin Scorsese and John Cassavetes. In addition, the company has breathed new life into films from the studio vaults, re-releasing them to find new audiences.
In 1988, Price moved to Los Angeles, where he played a key role in founding several distribution companies, including IRS Pictures and First Look Pictures. He also contributed to the theatrical arm of TriMark Entertainment, where he handled distribution and marketing for various independent films.
Price was known for embracing new technologies ahead of his time. He made history in 1995 as the first producer to stream a new feature film online, organizing an online stream of the cult hit “Party Girl”. Subsequently, in 1999, Price joined Francis Ford Coppola’s American Zoetrope, overseeing worldwide sales and marketing for landmark films such as Sofia Coppola’s “The Virgin Suicides” and the “Jeepers Creepers” series.
Throughout his career, Price has been a tireless advocate for talented filmmakers, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. He has supported directors such as Tran Anh Hung, Gurinder Chadha, Carl Franklin, Allison Anders and John Sayles, helping to elevate their work and expand their reach.
In 2001, Price partnered with Bert Manzari to help revive Landmark Theatres, and he published Landmark’s indie film magazine to promote the films on their schedule and raise awareness of their releases. At the time of his death, Price was actively involved in the promotion of Rodrigo Reyes’ documentary “Sansón and I,” which focused on the story of a 19-year-old undocumented immigrant facing a serious sentence.
The film received support from the Ford Foundation, and is scheduled to be shown in theaters and broadcast on PBS. Maverick Ray Price’s contributions to the independent film industry were significant, leaving a lasting impact on filmmakers, distributors and audiences. His dedication to showcasing diverse voices and innovative storytelling made him a true pioneer in indie filmmaking, and his legacy will be fondly remembered by the film community for years to come.
How did Maverick Ray Price die?
Maverick Ray Price, a respected indie film producer and distributor, died on July 16 of heart failure after a long battle with cancer. He was 75 years old at the time of his death. The news of his death was confirmed by his longtime partner Meg Madison.
Throughout his career, Ray Price has made significant contributions to the independent film industry. He began his film career in 1972, managing the Rialto, a theater in Berkeley. He later founded Renaissance Theaters with Allen Michaan, which became an independent art house chain in the Bay Area, growing to 33 theaters at its peak.
Under Price’s leadership, Renaissance Theaters gained recognition for its innovative marketing strategies, often retooling promotional materials to support films that struggled to succeed in other markets. At the time of his death, Price was actively involved in the promotion of Rodrigo Reyes’ documentary “Sansón and I,” which focused on the story of a 19-year-old undocumented immigrant facing a serious sentence.
Ray Price’s death on July 16, 2023 marked the end of an era in the independent film industry. His influential career, rebellious spirit and unwavering support of diverse voices in cinema will be remembered and celebrated by filmmakers and audiences alike.
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Source: HIS Education