Clem Franek

Clem is a serial entrepreneur who served as 'President of West Coast Productions' for Conundrum Entertainment (Farrelly Brothers) from 1999 to 2010.during which time the production company released 8 films nationwide. During Clem's almost 15 years association with the Farrelly Brothers their films grossed over a half of a billion dollars in box office receipts. Although not a film buff,Clem became intellectually captivated by the motion picture industry and the Herculean challenge of getting a movie from concept to theaters. "Clearly the greatest entrepreneurial endeavor I've encountered is motivating a group of suits and ties ( studio execs, financiers) to cough up 40 million bucks in the hope that a bunch of artists (writers, directors, actors, set designers etc...) and more than a hundred crew members and teamsters can bring to life in just 60 days a singular and obscure comedic vision in the faint hope that the finished product will be embraced by the ever fickle pop culture as did 'Something About Mary' and 'Dumb and Dumber'. It is an insane roll of the dice but mind-blowing when it works".Born in Rhode Island to newly immigrated German parents who forbid the watching of TV or going to the movies for fear that it came at the expense of reading. Creating this forbidden fruit only served to give the entertainment industry a mystical allure that drew Clem.The unique twist is that the first lesson one learns as a producer is that any free time must be spent reading scripts, giving one almost no time to watch movies or TV.Becoming a Hollywood producer was not Clem's first long shot. Clem's childhood battle with Legg Perthes, a rare bone disease that left him on crutches for 5 years and with an underdeveloped leg almost 2 inches shorter than the other,only served to fuel Clem's seemingly ill-begotten dream of becoming a world class tennis professional. in fact, Clem did win 4 State Junior titles and eventually a scholarship to Indiana University. Despite a less than stellar Intercollegiate career Clem had slightly better success on the forgiving red clay circuits abroad although Clem sums up his career as follows:" Had my ass kicked in 23 countries. Never had more fun. Never learned more."Melding lessons learned through his travels with the grueling regiments of his mentor, Hall of Fame coach Harry Hopman, Clem proved to be a world class coach as he trained and traveled with the first two women from Rhode Island to become touring pros.(Jane Forman All-American Clemson / Top fifty in the world) (Robin Boss All-American Harvard/ Quarter-finalist US Women's Grass Courts) Clem has been a coach of record in each of the Grand Slams. Following tennis Clem employed the tools studied during his 3 year stint at the prestigious Entrepreneurial Program at the Indiana University School of Business into a penchant for creating businesses featuring high profile products with a national marketing cache. He donned the cover of a few national business magazines including Entrepreneurship Magazine after hitting back to back winners with the Sunspot, the world's only 6 foot round beach towel (Now as the sun moves your towel doesn't have to) and the Wave Watch (The world's only watch powered by the ocean as well as a version for Anheuser Busch which was the only watch powered by beer) Both products rang up first year sales of more than a million dollars.with retail introduction at Bloomingdale's.. To be closer to the beaches and the entertainment industry Clem shifted corporate headquarters to LA where he met a young actor by the name of Woody Harrelson who had just joined the cast of Cheers. They became roommates and Woody was named Vice President of Marketing which proved a bonanza as the round towel soon appeared on countless TV shows including The Today Show, MTV, The Tonight Show, Oprah etc... It so happens that one of Clem's great knacks is for recognizing people with great talent and potential before they make it big. Besides Woody other Round Towel Company execs included Clem's college roommate, Glen Grunwald, Vice President of Finance, who went on to become General Manager for the New York Knicks. Bob Farrelly, Vice President Of Sales,and Clem's roommate in Rhode Island went on to write and direct such comedy classics as 'Something About Mary" and 'Dumb and Dumber'. Clem even got to know a young hockey player through Micheal J. Fox who Clem shared a house with for 9 months by the name of Cam Neeley who is currently the President of the Boston Bruins. . The first producing job Clem landed was in television when he co-executive produced a daytime talk show with iconic TV producer Grant Tinker, who had been President of NBC. The show came to fruition thanks to a classic " 30 second elevator pitch" when Clem found himself seated next to him on a bi-coastal flight. After apologizing for the intrusion Clem asked if he were familiar with pioneering black actress Diahann Carroll. Grant stated that he had had the pleasure of making her acquaintance on several occasions and was taken by not only her beauty but her intelligence. Clem then told him that he was dating her daughter, Suzanne Kaye, who shared similar attributes and was in fact the studio host of a fledgling new cable station called 'The E Network'. Clem shared with him that anytime the 3 of them dined together the conversations were fantastic, mostly because Diahann and Suzanne couldn't agree on anything and it struck him that they would be ideal co-hosts for an inter-generational daytime talk show. Grant reached over and shook Clem's hand and said he loved the concept and to call him next week to get the ball rolling. No more said. The deal was done. Grant was true to his word and within a few months production on 'Just Between Us' had begun, financed by Gannet Publishing who had been dipping their toes in the perilous waters of TV production and syndication.The first 3 shows were 'in the can' and Clem was living the dream until one fateful morning. He recounts;" I was single, about 30. I had my own show but even more importantly I had my own personalized studio parking spot which is mega status in Tinseltown. Moreover it was right next to David Hasselhof's on account that the Baywatch offices were adjacent to ours. More than a little full of my self I would pull into my spot ever so slowly and obnoxiously showing off to the bevy of buxom.actresses waiting outside for their casting call. Well that particular morning I was on my way to work and pulled over and skipped into my favorite coffee shop for a cup of Joe and to pick up the industry rags, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. It was then my word imploded. Both papers screamed the same headline. GANNET CEO SHUTS DOWN TV DIVISION. ALL SHOWS CANCELLED! Donkey punch! That can't be! He can't do that! Guess what? He can. Just like that. No more stud. No more cool guy. The final indignity came 2 days later when they painted over my name on the parking spot replacing it with the name of the next new hot producer." Welcome to Hollywood! As happens so often in life what seems like the worst day sometimes turns out to be the greatest gift. The abrupt cancellation opened up the opportunity to accept the invitation from Pete and Bob Farrelly to join their brain trust as they prepared to film their first movie 'Dumb and Dumber'. The rest is history with their partnership lasting close to 15 years. While with Conundrum Clem was lucky enough to pegged with the role of ;'shepard producer'.on numerous projects. In industry terms a 'shepard producer' guides the film through every stage of production.from choosing the writers, the director, the cast, doing location scouting, first on set and last to leave, as well as overseeing editing, sound, music and all post production etc.... "Being with a film from inception to completion takes close to a year and gives one remarkable insight into the diverse skills of so many gifted people who have such specific expertise without whose inputs the film could never be great. Usually without accolades. Having a chance to witness these artists and craftspeople is both exhilarating and humbling." Clem's great Hollywood adventure took a dramatic turn one afternoon in Hawaii. Clem recounts; "'I had just put 'The Ringer' to bed and spent a couple days playing poker with Woody and Willie Nelson in Maui. Owen Wilson ask me to skip over to Oahu for a couple days to spruce up his character in 'Drillbit Taylor with him. (If you've seen the movie you know we didn't do a great job).We were out by the resort pool working not very hard amide's a throng of bikinis trying to get a peak of Owen. The concierge came by with a phone call from the State Police of Arkansas. The estranged mother of my 2 young kids had had a situation and I had 48 hours to get to Fayetteville and take custody of my 4 and 5 year old. Amazingly despite my kicking and screaming Owen's assistants were able to get me on the plane. Little did I understand that this was the greatest day of my life. To this day the only achievement Clem is truly proud of is the full-time raising of his kids Aria and Gunnar as a single dad. He often refers to himself as a single mom because he raised them alone without ever using a nanny or babysitter.." By far the toughest most pressure.filled endeavor in the world is properly raising children alone. It makes the pressure of making a major motion picture seem like a walk in the park. My heroes no longer have anything to do with Hollywood but rather are everyday moms, especially single moms,who give up so much in the most noble of pursuits, the rearing of wonderful and responsible children.Trying to be like them changed my life for ever and for the better.. I'll never look at the world and especially Hollywood in the same way. For that I am forever thankful!" Show less «