A Night For ‘One Day’

“For the romantics at heart.” That’s how Anne Hathaway, star of “One Day,” described the strong worldwide audience appeal of the new Random House Films co-production. The highly anticipated motion picture had its world premiere in New York City on Aug 8 before a glittery audience of fashion designers, top models, film and Broadway performers – and Random House executives. The publisher’s film division is the financial and creative partner for the motion picture, which is based on the enormous bestselling novel by David Nicholls, published by Vintage in North America and Goldmann in Germany.

The second Random House Films effort, “One Day” is the first the division has been involved with from start to completion. Established in 2005 as a unique filmmaking partnership with the well-regarded motion picture company Focus Features, part of NBC Universal, Random House Films co-finances, co-develops, and co-produces motion pictures for worldwide release by Focus. All the partnership’s projects are based on newly published and backlist books published by Random House imprints in North America and internationally.

“Our primary goal with Random House Films,” says Peter Gethers, President of the division, is to increase the audience for our authors’ books and to provide filmmakers with access to our outstanding and diverse storytelling content.” Mr. Gethers personally played an indispensable dual role with “One Day”. In his capacity as Editor at Large for Random House, Inc., he purchased the Nicholls novel for U.S. publication as an April 2010 Vintage Books trade paperback original, and then acquired the motion picture rights with Focus, signing Mr. Nicholls to write the screenplay adaptation from his book. Random House Films collaborated with Focus on the script development: the choice of director, Lone Scherfig, whose previous film was the acclaimed “An Education;” talent casting; post-production; and marketing.

Set in Europe, “One Day” is the story of twenty years of deepening relationship between a couple who reunite on the same day each year. The book has been a longstanding New York Times bestseller (currently #3) in the U.S. – more than 775,000 copies in print, plus 100,000 e-books – and #1 in Germany, where the film will be released this fall.

As a “One Day” co-production partner, Random House enjoyed a true “Hollywood moment” at the world premiere, one seldom experienced by book publishers: ahead of Anne Hathaway and co-star Jim Sturgess, Chairman and CEO Markus Dohle and Peter Gethers were invited to walk the world-renowned Red-Carpet red, being interviewed and photographed by dozens of press from around the world.

Two nights later, Mr. Dohle hosted another glamorous “One Day” Manhattan event, a special showing for 150 publishing-industry guests. They enjoyed pre-screening cocktails and appetizers, with a spectacular panoramic view of Central Park from the 10th Floor of the Time Warner Center. Authors, agents, booksellers, and press then viewed a film that left many in the audience emotionally affected by its performances by Anne Hathaway and co-star Jim Sturgess, and its memorable, powerful conclusion.

“One Day” opens Friday, August 19 in more than 1,500 theaters across North America.