Lion Network (Australia)

Background
This was a joint alliance between Entropy Films and Nine Network board members Mandy McDonald and Ruth Dodd, with financial support from alcoholic beverage company Lion and Hoyts Cinemas, created solely to co-finance the controversial 2005 film Field Trip. The deal was that Entropy owner Rod Livermore had initially intended to shoot the film in Saint John, New Brunswick, but due to the film's selected director, Ann Bidels, refusal to travel by air due to a case of aerophobia, the producers were forced to move the shoot to South Australia, where Bidels had a standing film permit. Livermore and the Dunns ran into problems funding the film due to a lack of prior connections to Australian financial agencies. Bidels would contact the Film Finance Corporation and her region's local film financier South Australian Film Corporation to make up the difference. In this time, Livermore would meet McDonald and Dodd at a film festival to work out potential further budgetary concerns. McDonald suggested that the producers work on exclusivity and promotional agreements, but due to the nature of the film, more contemporary companies were reluctant to support the production of it. Livermore, Dodd and McDonald would land a bargain agreement with Lion; Lion would co-finance the film, on the condition their products be advertised and they handle promotional affairs. Hoyts would join the venture on the condition the film be released exclusively at their cinemas, albeit during watershed hours due to the nature of the film; it is important to note that when the film was released in the US it carried an NC-17 rating. Hoyts would also hold domestic distribution rights, though Beyond Films would be granted distribution outside of Australia due to Hoyts having no interest in international markets. LionsGate would receive American distribution rights; Hoyts had done business with the company in the past for Australian distribution. Lion held a 50% stake in the venture, and for the aforementioned promotional agreements as well, the company would be named as such. Hoyts held a 35% share in the venture, while Livermore, Dodd and McDonald had 5% shares.

1st (and only) Logo (2005)
Logo: We fade in to a cliffside against a dusk sky. A lion approaches the edge of the cliff and steps onto its hindlegs as it morphs into a 2D gold rendering, actually the logo for Lion as the background around it fades to black. No company indicator is present.

FX/SFX: A mix between 2D Animation and 3D effects.

Music/Sounds: A somber orchestrated fanfare, culminating in a drumroll and a synth guitar note.

Availability: It was only seen on the controversial Field Trip.

Editor's Note:


 * The calm nature and beautiful appearance of the logo contrasts heavily to the gruesome nature of the film it precedes.
 * Beyond an on-screen logo, Lion Network is not credited anywhere by name. It is represented through production and participation credits for Entropy Films and Lion respectively; Hoyts handled distribution thus had no reason to be credited in either two categories. This also applies for trailers and print adverts, where Lion and Entropy's logos are shown with no reference to Lion Network.
 * It is perhaps interesting to note that this wasn't the first instance of Lion helping co-finance a movie. They had previously backed the infamous film Wired under the Lion Screen Entertainment Ltd. banner.