George Cooney(III)
Mr. Cooney is an innovator with a career that includes milestones such as leading talented creative teams that directed and produced Clio award winning Coke, Volkswagen, Alka Seltzer campaigns and facility operation for day-time dramas. He is well-respected for his foresight and ability to anticipate new trends in order to adapt to the fluid and evolving entertainment industry. After more than 50 years as an industry leader, his focus is now TV and Film facility development and ownership.
Mr. Cooney acquired EUE/Screen Gems and its assets, a division of Columbia Pictures, in 1983. Prior to acquiring the company, he served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Columbia's Screen Gems division. He joined Columbia Pictures in 1965 and served in a number of administrative positions before being named the Executive Vice President of the Screen Gems division in 1972.
Sensing a new horizon in technology, Mr. Cooney ushered Columbia Pictures into what was then the newly emerging world of video tape. In addition, while serving as an executive at Columbia Pictures, he was named Chairman of Bell & Howell/Columbia Pictures Video Services, a pioneer in the home video industry.
An early innovator in the industry, Mr. Cooney continually has the vision to morph EUE/Screen Gems to meet the requirements of an ever-changing business model. When the commercial television segment declined following advertising agency consolidation and acquisition by corporations, Mr. Cooney developed the daytime programming "soap opera" business with Procter and Gamble as a major client. It was a partnership that lasted more than 25 years.
And when that segment of the industry began to disappear in the 90s, Mr. Cooney seized the opportunity to become a production facility owner supplying infrastructure and crew for a client base that included Warner Brothers, Paramount, Sony, Disney and more that needed to expand beyond studio facilities in California, which at the time was running out of production space. His vision to expand outside of Los Angeles led to the purchase of the Dino De Laurentiis studio lot in Wilmington, NC. What followed was the building of multiple large, state-of-the-art sound stages, including a massive water tank, in Wilmington, NC, one of the largest in the country.
That success was followed by another bold vision to expand the footprint of EUE/Screen Gems to Atlanta, GA. Mr. Cooney acquired a sprawling studio complex of 50 acres complete with beautiful Spanish mission style buildings and expanded the lot by building four new large sound stages to attract bigger projects. EUE/Screen Gems was among the first major sound stage facilities to set up shop in Atlanta.
Mr. Cooney is active in the community. For 35 years, He's served as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New York Medical College, Chairman at St. Theresa's and a Trustee and Treasurer of the Dr. I Fund Foundation. He also served on the boards of Save Amateur Spots of the City of New York; the Cancer Research Center in Valhalla, NY; and St. Patrick's Cathedral. He is a member of the Finance Council of the Archdiocese of New York. Mr. Cooney is also a member of the executive committee of the board of Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center for 25 years and has served as its Chairman for 15 years.
Over the years, Mr. Cooney has held numerous seats on governmental and private industrial planning organizations and committees. In 1968, he served as a member of the Film Advisory Committee to Vice President Hubert Humphrey and was on the Film Advisory and Promotion Committees of New York City for Mayors John V. Lindsay, Abraham Beame, and Edward Koch. As member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, he served for several years on the Executive Film Committee. He was also Chairman of the Motion Picture Labor Negotiations Committee from 1969 to 1978 and a Trustee of Harriman College and Will Rodgers Foundation.
Mr. Cooney was appointed by Governor Hugh Carey to the New York State Television & Motion Picture Board, and he was also appointed by New York State Sen. Ralph Marino to the Advisory Committee for the Development of Sports & Entertainment Facilities.
A graduate of Fordham University, Mr. Cooney is a recipient of an Honorary Degree from the New York Medical College and the Helen Hayes Humanitarian Award from St. Clare's Hospital. And served on the board of trustees.
Mr. Cooney received the William Cullen Bryant Award from New York Medical College for his visionary leadership qualities. Mr. Cooney continues to oversee multiple businesses and projects under the EUE/Screen Gems umbrella and enjoys mentoring his eight grown grandchildren.
Mr. Cooney acquired EUE/Screen Gems and its assets, a division of Columbia Pictures, in 1983. Prior to acquiring the company, he served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Columbia's Screen Gems division. He joined Columbia Pictures in 1965 and served in a number of administrative positions before being named the Executive Vice President of the Screen Gems division in 1972.
Sensing a new horizon in technology, Mr. Cooney ushered Columbia Pictures into what was then the newly emerging world of video tape. In addition, while serving as an executive at Columbia Pictures, he was named Chairman of Bell & Howell/Columbia Pictures Video Services, a pioneer in the home video industry.
An early innovator in the industry, Mr. Cooney continually has the vision to morph EUE/Screen Gems to meet the requirements of an ever-changing business model. When the commercial television segment declined following advertising agency consolidation and acquisition by corporations, Mr. Cooney developed the daytime programming "soap opera" business with Procter and Gamble as a major client. It was a partnership that lasted more than 25 years.
And when that segment of the industry began to disappear in the 90s, Mr. Cooney seized the opportunity to become a production facility owner supplying infrastructure and crew for a client base that included Warner Brothers, Paramount, Sony, Disney and more that needed to expand beyond studio facilities in California, which at the time was running out of production space. His vision to expand outside of Los Angeles led to the purchase of the Dino De Laurentiis studio lot in Wilmington, NC. What followed was the building of multiple large, state-of-the-art sound stages, including a massive water tank, in Wilmington, NC, one of the largest in the country.
That success was followed by another bold vision to expand the footprint of EUE/Screen Gems to Atlanta, GA. Mr. Cooney acquired a sprawling studio complex of 50 acres complete with beautiful Spanish mission style buildings and expanded the lot by building four new large sound stages to attract bigger projects. EUE/Screen Gems was among the first major sound stage facilities to set up shop in Atlanta.
Mr. Cooney is active in the community. For 35 years, He's served as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New York Medical College, Chairman at St. Theresa's and a Trustee and Treasurer of the Dr. I Fund Foundation. He also served on the boards of Save Amateur Spots of the City of New York; the Cancer Research Center in Valhalla, NY; and St. Patrick's Cathedral. He is a member of the Finance Council of the Archdiocese of New York. Mr. Cooney is also a member of the executive committee of the board of Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center for 25 years and has served as its Chairman for 15 years.
Over the years, Mr. Cooney has held numerous seats on governmental and private industrial planning organizations and committees. In 1968, he served as a member of the Film Advisory Committee to Vice President Hubert Humphrey and was on the Film Advisory and Promotion Committees of New York City for Mayors John V. Lindsay, Abraham Beame, and Edward Koch. As member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, he served for several years on the Executive Film Committee. He was also Chairman of the Motion Picture Labor Negotiations Committee from 1969 to 1978 and a Trustee of Harriman College and Will Rodgers Foundation.
Mr. Cooney was appointed by Governor Hugh Carey to the New York State Television & Motion Picture Board, and he was also appointed by New York State Sen. Ralph Marino to the Advisory Committee for the Development of Sports & Entertainment Facilities.
A graduate of Fordham University, Mr. Cooney is a recipient of an Honorary Degree from the New York Medical College and the Helen Hayes Humanitarian Award from St. Clare's Hospital. And served on the board of trustees.
Mr. Cooney received the William Cullen Bryant Award from New York Medical College for his visionary leadership qualities. Mr. Cooney continues to oversee multiple businesses and projects under the EUE/Screen Gems umbrella and enjoys mentoring his eight grown grandchildren.