Matt Newman Obituary – Death: Film editor has Passed Away, cause of death
Amazon Studios has made a change in leadership, as former film co-head, Matt Newman, has taken on a new role within Prime Video’s global sports team, where he will oversee sports documentaries, films and scripts. Meanwhile, Julie Rapaport will continue to lead as Amazon’s head of movies.
Both the sports and film divisions remain significant areas for Amazon, with Thursday Night Football kicking off the fall season. Newman will now report to Marie Donoghue, vice president of global sports video, while Rapaport will continue to report to Amazon Studios head, Jen Salke. Previously, Newman and Rapaport were co-heads of the studio’s films following Ted Hope’s departure in May 2020.
As a result of Newman’s new role, the film division will now report directly to Rapaport, after several years of a co-head structure. Under Newman and Rapaport’s leadership, the studio has acquired many feature films from competing studios during the pandemic, with Borat Subsequent Moviefilm receiving two Oscar nominations for adapted screenplay and supporting actress Maria Bakalova.
Amazon is celebrating three Oscar nominations this year, including Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor for “Being Ricardo.” Regina Hall’s horror film “The Master” is set to open in select theaters and services this week, following its debut at Sundance and South by Southwest.
Newman and Rapaport have directed films together over the past few years, and with growth comes change and opportunity. Newman’s new role will focus on developing original sports documentary, film, and scripted projects within Prime Video’s global sports group, as the company seeks to build on its success with projects such as Rooney UK and the all-or-nothing franchise.
With Newman’s move, the film division will now have a more streamlined approach, under the world-class leadership of Julie Rapaport. The studio will continue to build on its momentum, with upcoming titles such as “Master,” “My Policeman,” “All the Old Knives,” and “Catherine, Called Birdy,” showcasing their commitment to fostering talent.
