Lions Gate Wants to Be More Than an Independent Film House

VANCOUVER -- Alternative culture is all the rage these days. From hemp brew to vegetarian restaurants, today's consumers gravitate toward products of the natural, ethical and eclectic sort. It's not so much a case of fringe culture selling out, but rather mainstream tastes becoming more fickle and, in some cases, even sophisticated.

The trend is even apparent in Hollywood circles, as art-house movies -- once relegated to film festivals and home video -- now garner attention from critics and ticket-buyers alike. One needs to look no further than the Blair Witch Project phenomenon for proof.

Capitalizing on this flight to independent fare is Lions Gate Entertainment (LGF Quote), a Vancouver-based film and television company founded in 1997. ...