Patrick Rizzotti, along with partner Brett Forbes, founded Fortress Entertainment in 2004. The Los Angeles based company is quickly becoming one of the most talked about financing companies in the fil ...Show More
Patrick Rizzotti, along with partner Brett Forbes, founded Fortress Entertainment in 2004. The Los Angeles based company is quickly becoming one of the most talked about financing companies in the film industry partly because of its unique business philosophy of providing development financing to producers independent of the studio system. By providing this type of financing, the company has the ability to develop material and attach enough elements to help get the film into production.Their first major example of this is the film P.D.R. (Lionsgate Films), starring Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard, Golden Globe winner Bernie Mac and Tom Arnold, which is currently in production. It is the true inspirational sports drama that depicts Philadelphia swim coach Jim Ellis (Howard), an icon in the amateur sports world, who fought to establish an inner city swim team and has since trained winner after winner, including national and international champions and Olympic hopefuls.Rizzotti grew up in an Irish-Italian family in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, and knew at a very early what he wanted to do when he grew up. By the age of 7, the filmmaker-to-be signed his name "Pat, future Academy Award winner".A sports fan, Rizzotti has always had a passion for baseball. He played at Moorpark College and is currently in his eighth year as catcher in a league that travels around the country playing in tournaments - and mostly winning, which is how he perceives everything he does. He says of Fortress' objective, "Our goal is to cross-collateralize the winners and feel confident that the winners will far outweigh those that don't get made or have impressive box office sales."His professional philosophy is a metaphor for sports. He says, "I have learned that game plans are essential but without a running back taking the ball up the middle it's pointless. Brett and I create our game plan and we both work together to make it happen. That's why we work so well together."Fortress is becoming one of the largest providers of development money in the U.S. outside of the studios and television networks. The company's leaning is toward true stories and book franchises. "The only motivation we have is to tell good stories. We have a lot of true stories that need to be told. Amazing stories."The company is currently financing the development and/or production of over 30 properties in addition to P.D.R., including The Road Back, a drama starring Academy-award winner Chris Cooper (Adaptation, Capote, Syriana) and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, based on the popular U.K. book series by Sue Townsend, to be directed by Nigel Cole (Calendar Girls) and produced with Alison Owen (Elizabeth, Proof). Hide
