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Elie Samaha is a nightclub owner, real estate entrepreneur, and film producer in Los Angeles, with production credits beginning with The Immortals in 1995. Samaha has produced over 83 works, primarily films along with some video games. The only award he has won was a Worst Picture Razzie, which he shared with John Travolta and Jonathan D. Krane, for Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000.
From 1998 to 2004, Samaha produced films under the Franchise Pictures studio title, which included films such as Battlefield Earth.
Samaha specialized in rescuing stars' pet projects. Franchise sought out stars whose projects were stalled at the major studios, bringing them aboard at reduced salaries. Samaha's approach made waves in Hollywood, earning him a reputation of being able to produce star vehicles more cheaply than the larger studios. His unorthodox deals raised eyebrows and the entertainment industry magazine Variety commented that they were "often so complex and variable as to leave outsiders scratching their heads". As Samaha put it, "I said, 'If John [Travolta] wants to make this movie, what does he want to get paid?' ... Because I do not pay anybody what they make. That is not my business plan."
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