Company Town

Film: In a second major production arrangement involving outside financing, Paramount Pictures signed a deal with Lakeshore Entertainment Corp., a new production firm controlled by former Beacon Communications partner and Chicago real estate developer Tom Rosenberg. Under the deal, Lakeshore, based on the Paramount lot, is expected to provide all financing in making at least 15 films Paramount will distribute over five years. Lakeshore is affiliated with Rosenberg’s Capital Associates real estate company. Beacon, which financed and produced such films as “Sugar Hill” and “The Road to Wellville,” was recently sold to Comsat Corp. The Lakeshore deal is part of an overall strategy shift led by Viacom Entertainment Chairman Jonathan Dolgen to let producers bring in outside financing. Dolgen forged a similar arrangement with producers Michael Douglas and Steve Reuther. Dolgen said other producers are interested in striking similar deals with Paramount, but he added that any prospective arrangements must involve producers with financial wherewithal.