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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Film Purchase a Big Step for Small Latino Company

Cozumel Films has nearly doubled its library of titles with its purchase of 40 films from the famed Matouck library in Mexico. The terms of the deal were undisclosed, but Cozumel’s President and CEO Yolanda Machado believes that though the films did not come cheaply, they will undoubtedly pay huge dividends for her fledgling company. “It was a huge acquisition, but I did so because I believed in these titles so strongly,” Machado said. “We had to take out loans to purchase them. Matouck was the Samuel Goldwyn of Mexico and he has some very famous films. It will allow us to go up against the big boys like Universal.” The purchase is a major step for the small Sherman Oaks-based company that only has four full-time employees. Machado began the business three years ago, aiming to promote positive self-images for Latina women in the United States, through the classic Mexican films that portray strong Latina protagonists. In order to help her with the business, Machado enlisted her son Brian Manuel Lebarton to help with the films’ music and with web design. Additionally, she brought in her cousin Lisa Martinez to assist with subtitles and film translation. However, despite all of their hard work, the company didn’t begin to take off until late last year, when Cozumel signed an agreement to be distributed at the 754 “Latin” Wal-Marts nationwide. Since then the company has generated $350,000 in sales at Wal-Mart alone, which has allowed it to expand its film library. “Once Wal-Mart started putting in orders in it made me the popular kid. It allowed us to stay in business,” Machado said. “I never could’ve dreamed that a four person company could have films in the largest retailer in the country. It’s allowed me to take it to another level.” Wal-Mart representatives have been pleased with the performance of the products from Cozumel. “Cozumel Films has been a great partner for Wal-Mart. The company has helped us meet the needs of a local audience by bringing a unique, specialty product to our stores,”Wal-Mart Senior Manager of Corporate Affairs Amy Hill said. “What’s more, we are happy to have helped Cozumel Films grow and succeed.” As for the future, the company plans to slowly release more of the nearly 100 films in its library. According to Machado, the process is painstaking and time-consuming with the company having to digitally re-master, colorize, re-package, and manufacture each film. In addition to selling the films at Wal-Marts, Best Buys, Blockbuster Videos and Hollywood Videos, Machado says that her next goal is to start showing the films at Latino-themed film festivals nationwide.

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