Cami Winikoff Explained

Cami Winikoff
Nationality:American
Occupation:Producer
Years Active:1984–present
Employer:Sobini Films
Spouse:Scott Greco
Children:Monika Wesley
Steven Greco

Cami Sarah Winikoff is an American film and television producer and the current president and co-founder of Sobini Films. She was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2019.[1]

Career

Independent

Winikoff began an independent producer. Her first feature Scarecrows was released in 1988.

Trimark Pictures

Winikoff joined Trimark Pictures in August 1990.[2] She was appointed director of production in 1991, promoted to vice president of production in 1995, and again to senior vice president in January 1997. Winikoff began to serve as executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Trimark in September 1997, where she oversaw all business, legal affairs, production, post-production, servicing and administration for the company.[3] She also sat on the board of directors of CinemaNow.com, dedicated to the streaming and production of niche-oriented independent films.

Winikoff was promoted to chief operating officer at Trimark in 2000 and oversaw all operational facets of the company including its production arm and green-light process. This included the administration of theatrical, television, and home entertainment productions. She helped build the company and was a key player in negotiations with its merger with Lionsgate in late 2000.

At Trimark, she headed the production of over 75 films.[4] Her production credits include Eve's Bayou, winner of Independent Spirit Awards), directed by Kasi Lemmons, starring Samuel L. Jackson; Frida, winner of two Academy Awards, starring Salma Hayek; Love and a .45 starring Renée Zellweger and Gil Bellows; Kicking and Screaming by Noah Baumbach; by Mira Nair; and the Leprechaun film series.

Lionsgate

After the merger with Lionsgate, Winikoff served as its executive vice president, where she helped build the company's executive team and business plan.

Sobini Films

Winikoff was tapped as the president of Sobini Films in 2002.[5] In her time at Sobini, she has developed a diverse range of feature films and franchises. Her credits include JT Leroy starring Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern; I'd Kill for You with her daughter Monika Wesley; Mary Shelley starring Elle Fanning; Miles Ahead starring Don Cheadle; Good Kill starring Ethan Hawke; Stonehearst Asylum starring Kate Beckinsale; for HBO, recipient of the National Parenting Publications Gold Award; and Streets of Legend. She also produced the documentary Jujitsu-ing Reality, shortlisted for the 2013 Best Documentary Short Subject Academy Award.[6]

She produced The Prince & Me starring Julia Stiles for Paramount Studios and its sequels.[7] As the producer of Peaceful Warrior starring Nick Nolte,[8] she was inspired by the film, and not satisfied by its minimal exposure, worked with Adam Fogelson of Universal Pictures to test a new marketing plan, giving away tickets at Best Buy to gain a wider audience.[9] [10] [11]

She is currently developing Z, a reboot of the Zorro franchise.[12]

Activism

Winikoff has been active in promoting dark skies in Malibu, California, as president of the Malibu Community Alliance (MCA). She negotiated with local agencies for five years to develop a new dark skies ordinance, which took effect October 15, 2018.[13] Previously, she and the MCA settled with the Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District over an appeal to the California Coastal Commission regarding Malibu High School's upgraded lighting in 2016.[14] The Coastal Commission approved the settlement.[15]

Winikoff has also served on the board of Malibu Unites, a local advocacy group that pressured the school district's handling of toxins.[16]

Filmography

YearTitleRole[17]
1988ScarecrowsProducer
1993LeprechaunProduction Supervisor
1993Philadelphia Experiment IIProduction Supervisor
1993Return of the Living Dead 3Production Supervisor
1993Production Supervisor
1994A Million to JuanExecutive in Charge of Production
1994Dangerous TouchProduction Supervisor
1994Frank and JesseProduction Supervisor
1994Hong Kong '97Production Supervisor
1994Leprechaun 2Production Supervisor
1994Love and a .45Production Supervisor
1994The Stoned AgeProduction Director
1995A Kid in King Arthur's CourtProduction Supervisor
1995EvolverProduction Supervisor
1995HeatseekerProduction Supervisor
1995Kicking and ScreamingProduction Supervisor
1995Leprechaun 3Production Supervisor
1995The MaddeningExecutive in Charge of Production
1995Night of the Running ManProduction Executive
1995Return to Two Moon JunctionProduction Supervisor
1995Separate LivesProduction Supervisor
1996CrossworldsProduction Supervisor
1996The DentistExecutive in Charge of Production
1996Never EverExecutive in Charge of Production
1996Pinocchio's RevengeProduction Supervisor
1996Public EnemiesProduction Executive
1996Sometimes They Come Back... AgainExecutive in Charge of Production
1996Two Guys Talkin' About GirlsProduction Supervisor
1997Eve's BayouCo-Producer
1997SprungProduction Supervisor
1997Star KidCo-Producer
1997TrucksExecutive in Charge of Production
1998Ground ControlChief Administration Officer
1999Held UpExecutive in Charge of Production
1999The Simple Life of Noah DearbornExecutive in Charge of Production
2001Route 666Executive Producer
2003Streets of LegendCo-Producer
2004The Prince & MeExecutive Producer
2006Peaceful WarriorProducer, Actress
2008The Prince & Me 3: A Royal HoneymoonExecutive Producer
2009Producer
2010Burning BrightProducer
2011Jujitsu-ing RealityProducer
2013Sexy Evil GeniusExecutive Producer
2014Good KillExecutive Producer
2014Stonehearst AsylumExecutive Producer
2015Miles AheadCo-Executive Producer
2016Field of Screams: Cami Winikoff on ScarecrowsSelf
2017Mary ShelleyExecutive Producer
2018I'd Kill for YouProducer
2018JT LeRoyExecutive Producer
2020EmperorProducer

Notes and References

  1. News: Motion Picture Academy Adds 842 New Members, Half Of Whom Are Women . Deadline . Pete . Hammond . July 1, 2019 . May 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200305141607/https://deadline.com/2019/07/motion-picture-academy-adds-842-new-members-half-are-women-1202640500/ . March 5, 2020 . live .
  2. News: Winikoff upped at Trimark Pics . Variety . Dana . Harris . April 28, 2000 . May 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200326191605/https://variety.com/2000/scene/people-news/winikoff-upped-at-trimark-pics-1117781037/ . March 26, 2020 . live .
  3. News: Cami Winikoff named COO at Trimark Pictures . Screen Daily . Mike . Goodridge . May 3, 2000 . May 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200326190043/https://www.screendaily.com/cami-winikoff-named-coo-at-trimark-pictures/402259.article . March 26, 2020 . live .
  4. Web site: Cami Winikoff . Sobini Films . 2020-05-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200326221929/http://www.sobinifilms.com/about-1/cami-winikoff/ . 2020-03-26 . live .
  5. News: Winikoff tapped prexy of Amin’s Sobini Films . Variety . Cathy . Dunkley . February 14, 2002 . May 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200326192243/https://variety.com/2002/film/news/winikoff-tapped-prexy-of-amin-s-sobini-films-1117860816/ . March 26, 2020 . live .
  6. Web site: Academy Reveals Oscar Shortlist of Doc Shorts . The Wrap . October 10, 2013 . Michael . Balderston . May 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200329130151/https://www.thewrap.com/oscars-reveal-shortlist-8-doc-shorts/ . March 29, 2020 . live .
  7. News: Sobini Films launches TV division . Variety . Jon . Weisman . August 12, 2010 . May 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200326215008/https://variety.com/2010/tv/news/sobini-films-launches-tv-division-1118022874/ . March 26, 2020 . live .
  8. News: Movies aid search for 'greater meaning' . Hollywood Reporter . Gail . Schiller . April 4, 2007 . May 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200326200703/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/movies-aid-search-greater-meaning-133396 . March 26, 2020 . live .
  9. News: Millman’s "Warrior" gets new life . Vallejo Times-Herald . March 16, 2007 . May 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200422153241/https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2007/03/16/millmans-warrior-gets-new-life/ . April 22, 2020 . live .
  10. News: A 'Peaceful' marketing bid . The Hollywood Reporter . Nicole . Sperling . March 14, 2007 . May 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200326200720/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/a-peaceful-marketing-bid-131999 . March 26, 2020 . live .
  11. Web site: Plus, why is Universal giving away free tickets to Peaceful Warrior? . Slate . Kim . Masters . March 26, 2007 . May 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200326203845/https://slate.com/culture/2007/03/plus-why-is-universal-giving-away-free-tickets-to-peaceful-warrior.html . March 26, 2020 . live .
  12. News: Gael García Bernal To Become Jonás Cuarón’s Swashbuckler In Zorro Reboot – Cannes . Anita . Busch . Deadline Hollywood . May 9, 2016 . May 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200404081114/https://deadline.com/2016/05/gael-garcia-bernal-zorro-movie-jonas-cuaron-z-sobini-films-lantica-1201752043/ . April 4, 2020 . live .
  13. News: Lighting Ordinance Adopted but Delayed to Oct. 15 . KBUU . April 24, 2018.
  14. News: Measure BB To Begin At Malibu High School . Canyon News . February 24, 2016 . May 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200326210528/https://www.canyon-news.com/measure-bb-to-begin-at-malibu-high-school/47894 . March 26, 2020 . live .
  15. News: MHS Lighting Agreement Earns Coastal Commission Approval . Emily . Sawicki . Malibu Times . April 21, 2016 . May 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200326212000/http://www.malibutimes.com/news/article_6a97fc36-074a-11e6-ab64-e7170339a162.html . March 26, 2020 . live .
  16. Web site: Malibu Unites Keeps Gaining Momentum . Malibu Times . Nancy . Sagona . Daniel . Halem . May 7, 2014 . May 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200326211235/http://www.malibutimes.com/news/article_fd596d88-d610-11e3-a237-0019bb2963f4.html . March 26, 2020 . live .
  17. Web site: Cami Winikoff . IMDb . 2020-05-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170217231627/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0935121/ . 2017-02-17 . live .