Pretzel Entertainment

Background: Pretzel Entertainment is a production and start-up distribution label established in 2015 by Chester Newell and Paula Dennehy from the remnants of their previous venture Broadview Film Corporation, later merging with Snyder/Zarghami/Dennehy in 2017. It had acquired Artemis Entertainment in 2018 and currently houses its staff, and maintains their assets. As a distributor, Pretzel functions similarly to Freestyle Releasing, helping independent filmmakers get their films released in theaters and streamed in exchange for distribution fees, though Pretzel claims that they would accept payment through a cut of the film's sales if the producers are unable to pay upfront. Pretzel primarily focuses on horror films along with avant-garde films, also acquiring distribution rights for overseas productions. Pretzel is based in Burbank, Bristol (out of Artemis' former headquarters), Toronto and Brisbane. The name of the company is a mix between the first letter in Dennehy's first name, the last three letters in Newell's first name and the fourth and fifth letters in Newell's last name.

1st Logo

(2015-2017)

Logo: On a black background we see a pretzel encased in a box. Next to it is the text "PRETZEL DISTRIBUTION"

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: This was used when Pretzel was a small distribution unit for independent films directed by Newell and Dennehy for two films. It appeared on Getting Even (no connection to the 1986 film of the same name) and Potential.

2nd Logo

(2017-)

Logo: On a black background, we see various faces pop up as the pretzel from before gets drawn in. The eyes and mouth are aligned to the openings in the pretzel. The faces disappear as a box forms, with the word "PRETZEL" fading in below.

FX/SFX: The faces appearing.

Music/Sounds: A dramatic fanfare.

Availability: Appears on video-on-demand prints of various independent films, namely horror and art films. Films released through them thus far are The Donut Boy, Knowledge is Power, Video Hell, Pre-Death and Dismissal.