Artisan Exec Quits in Power Struggle

Artisan Entertainment Inc., the studio that released last year’s sleeper horror hit “The Blair Witch Project,” said co-Chief Executive Mark Curcio has quit.

Curcio was forced out amid a power struggle with co-CEO Amir Malin and co-President Bill Block, both of whom felt Curcio failed to take advantage of the company’s Internet marketing success with “Blair Witch.” Earier this year, Artisan’s marketing guru, John Hegeman, who had been frustrated with Curcio, left the company to join former Walt Disney studios Chairman Joe Roth in his new venture, Revolution Studios.

Malin becomes sole CEO. Curcio, 40, remains a member of the board of directors. Block continues as president and will oversee Artisan’s Internet activities.

Curcio’s departure comes as Artisan is struggling to put together an initial public offering. In April, Artisan filed to sell 6.9 million shares in a $124-million IPO, but the offering has been threatened by both Artisan’s internal troubles and a shaky IPO market.

*

Bloomberg News was used in compiling this report.