Biography
Mr. Walton started his career in the entertainment industry working in physical production, managing production and location accounting as well as production management for films and television shows at Dreamworks SKG, Columbia Tri-Star Television, MGM/UA, Spelling Entertainment Group, Saban Entertainment, and NBC Productions. In 1996, he contributed to the Atlanta Olympic Broadcast by coordinating multinational sound and video teams that delivered coverage of the 100th Olympiad to a global audience.
In 1998, Mr. Walton transitioned from overseeing individual film productions to helping establish a production company that eventually produced over 50 films and several reality TV programs. Emmett/Furla Films was founded to package and finance movies with budgets ranging from under $1 million to over $60 million. By 2000, the company went public on the NASDAQ OTC BB, with Walton playing a key role in developing the business model that attracted nationwide investors. As Executive Vice President, he managed development, production, business affairs, and strategic planning. He continues to consult for Emmett/Furla Films on all facets of film finance, development, production, and distribution.
Notable films from Mr. Walton’s tenure at Emmett/Furla Films include "16 Blocks" starring Bruce Willis and directed by Richard Donner ("Lethal Weapon"); "The Wicker Man" featuring Nicolas Cage and written/directed by Neil LaBute ("In the Company of Men"); "Righteous Kill" starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino; the 2008 "Rambo," directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone; and the upcoming "Conan," directed by Marcus Nispell ("The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," 2003).
Recently, Mr. Walton executive produced "Once Fallen," starring Academy Award nominees Taraji P. Henson ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), Amy Madigan ("Twice in a Lifetime"), and four-time nominee Ed Harris.
Mr. Walton earned a B.A. in International Relations from Rollins College in 1993. Rollins is consistently ranked among the top regional universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges." During his time at Rollins, he founded a television station aimed at students and the local community, marking the beginning of his lifelong pursuit of a career in entertainment.
