Frank Agrama

Frank Agrama is the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Harmony Gold USA, Inc. He is best known for producing the film "Robotech". He is also known and credited by his birth name, Farouk Agrama.

Frank Agrama, Chairman and CEO of Harmony Gold, has a true-to-life story more exciting than most Hollywood scripts. As a child actor in Egypt who had his very own television show, he was earning more than his father, the Surgeon General of Egypt. But when it came time to attend University, Agrama put his artistic ambitions on hold and followed in his father's masterful footsteps by studying medicine and surgery at the University of Cairo. At 23 years of age he became a Medical Doctor upon receiving his degree in medicine and surgery.

Although he had a medical degree in hand, Agrama was not yet satisfied. Aware of the pressures that accompany the medical profession, he decided to leave Egypt for the more promising world of Los Angeles. Soon he enrolled in the University of California Los Angeles, and before his 30th birthday he added a Bachelor of Theater Arts degree to his list of academic credits having graduated with honors.

In 1964 Agrama moved back to the Middle East to start up Lebanon's movie industry. Bringing in his own technical experts from Italy and Egypt, he and his eclectic group of pioneers succeeded in producing the nation's first 15 films within just five years. His momentum was interrupted, however, by the outbreak of the six-day war in 1967.

With his wife, Olfet, and their two young children, Agrama relocated to Italy where he founded Film Association of Rome, a theatrical production and distribution company that handled over 20 films per year. After nine prolific years in Italy, Agrama and his wife decided to return to the United States and join their children who were engaged in their studies at California universities.

While his children were adapting to university life, Agrama made a few adjustments himself. In light of the advancing opportunities in international television, he changed his focus from film to television. Once back in California, Agrama launched the groundwork for what would probably be his greatest professional achievement -- Harmony Gold.

Since its inception in 1983, Harmony Gold has been active in the production, acquisition and distribution of international television programming. During its first year of operation Harmony Gold launched “Shaka Zulu,” which was the most successful first-run syndicated miniseries in the history of television.One of Harmony Gold's other flagship titles is “Robotech”, the Japanese anime franchise that includes a groundbreaking TV series originated in 1985, two feature films, novels, comic books and toys. Harmony Gold recently announced that Warner Bros. has acquired the worldwide live action rights to “Robotech”, and that Warner Bros., in association with Harmony Gold Productions and Tobey Macquire Productions, will be producing a full-length live action feature film. More details to follow shortly.

With remarkable successes one after another, Agrama continues to welcome new trends with incessant vigor. He operates the Harmony Gold Preview House in Hollywood, which has become a premier screening facility for feature-length films. Additionally, Agrama maintains a sincere commitment to the community in which he lives and works.

Production Credits

Director

*"Dawn of the Mummy" (1981)
*"Queen Kong" (1976)

Producer

*"American Strays" (1996) Executive Producer
*"Around the World in 80 Days (1989) Producer
*"Heidi" (1993) Producer
*"" (1988) Executive producer
*"" (1987) Executive producer
*"The Lost World" (1992) Producer
*"The Return to the Lost World" (1994) Producer
*"Road Ends" (1997) Producer
*"Robotech The Movie" (1986) Executive Producer
*"" (1987) Producer
*"Robotech: Battlecry" (2002) (Video Game) Executive producer
*"Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady" (1992) Producer
*"The World of the Talisman" (1987) (a.k.a Planet Busters, Birth)

Writer

*"" (2006) Screenplay
*"Dawn of the Mummy" (1981) Writer

References

External links

* [http://www.harmonygold.com HarmonyGold.com] Official Site
*imdb name|id=0013261
* [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=23829 Frank Agrama] at the Anime News Network
* [http://www.amazon.com/gp/imdb/actor/nm0013261 Frank Agrama] at Amazon.com