The Stella Artois poured freely (because it was free) at the Contemporary Art Museum in downtown St. Louis last night. It was the closing-night party for the 21st Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival where the slate of audience-choice and juried-competition winners were announced to an attentive crowd.
Audience Choice Awards
Best Narrative Feature: .The Sapphires,. directed by Wayne Blair
Best International Narrative Feature: .Quartet,. directed by Dustin Hoffman Leon Award for Best Documentary Feature: .The Entertainers,. directed by Michael Zimmer Juried Competition Awards New Filmmakers Forum Emerging Filmmaker Award (The Bobbie) Winner ($500 cash prize): .Faith, Love and Whiskey,. directed by Kristina Nikolova Special Jury Citation: .Sun Don.t Shine,. directed by Amy Seimetz St. Louis Film Critics. Joe Pollack Awards
Best Narrative Feature: .Barbara,. directed by Christian Petzold Special Jury Citation for Acting in Narrative Feature: Rachel Mwanza, lead actress of .War Witch. Best Documentary Feature: .Uprising,...
Audience Choice Awards
Best Narrative Feature: .The Sapphires,. directed by Wayne Blair
Best International Narrative Feature: .Quartet,. directed by Dustin Hoffman Leon Award for Best Documentary Feature: .The Entertainers,. directed by Michael Zimmer Juried Competition Awards New Filmmakers Forum Emerging Filmmaker Award (The Bobbie) Winner ($500 cash prize): .Faith, Love and Whiskey,. directed by Kristina Nikolova Special Jury Citation: .Sun Don.t Shine,. directed by Amy Seimetz St. Louis Film Critics. Joe Pollack Awards
Best Narrative Feature: .Barbara,. directed by Christian Petzold Special Jury Citation for Acting in Narrative Feature: Rachel Mwanza, lead actress of .War Witch. Best Documentary Feature: .Uprising,...
- 11/19/2012
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
There is an art to naming movies.
Don't believe it? Consider some of the titles that might have been.
Richard Gere and Julia Roberts starring as a prostitute and a business man who fall for one another in "$3,000?" Diane Keaton and Woody Allen as the two main characters in a quirky romantic comedy called "Anhedonia?"
Anhe-what?
That's exactly what the studio executives were worried about (it's a psychiatric disorder), and that's how officials arrived at "Annie Hall," the Wall Street Journal reports. And as for what became "Pretty Woman," even though $3,000 refers to the amount Edward pays for Vivian's services, it was decidedly too "sci-fi-futuristic" for the people in charge.
Any number of things can determine a film's final title.
The Journal notes that sometimes a standing title gets ousted late in the game because of advertising concerns. For example, "About Last Night," staring Demi Moore and Rob Lowe, was...
Don't believe it? Consider some of the titles that might have been.
Richard Gere and Julia Roberts starring as a prostitute and a business man who fall for one another in "$3,000?" Diane Keaton and Woody Allen as the two main characters in a quirky romantic comedy called "Anhedonia?"
Anhe-what?
That's exactly what the studio executives were worried about (it's a psychiatric disorder), and that's how officials arrived at "Annie Hall," the Wall Street Journal reports. And as for what became "Pretty Woman," even though $3,000 refers to the amount Edward pays for Vivian's services, it was decidedly too "sci-fi-futuristic" for the people in charge.
Any number of things can determine a film's final title.
The Journal notes that sometimes a standing title gets ousted late in the game because of advertising concerns. For example, "About Last Night," staring Demi Moore and Rob Lowe, was...
- 10/19/2012
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
NoW accepted liability over allegations from Sienna Miller which included that her private emails had been opened
James Murdoch was mistaken when he told MPs that he did not believe News International had, to date, admitted liability for any kind of computer or email hacking, the Guardian can reveal.
The executive chairman of News International told the committee he "didn't think" the company had engaged in computer – as well as voicemail – hacking.
But evidence exists to prove that not only has the News of the World previously been forced to admit liability for hacking computers and illegally accessing emails, but that it continued to engage in criminal behaviour long after promising that all illegal activity on the newspaper had ceased.
In a pre-trial hearing in the high court in April, the actor Sienna Miller made a number of allegations against the now defunct NoW, including the claim that her email...
James Murdoch was mistaken when he told MPs that he did not believe News International had, to date, admitted liability for any kind of computer or email hacking, the Guardian can reveal.
The executive chairman of News International told the committee he "didn't think" the company had engaged in computer – as well as voicemail – hacking.
But evidence exists to prove that not only has the News of the World previously been forced to admit liability for hacking computers and illegally accessing emails, but that it continued to engage in criminal behaviour long after promising that all illegal activity on the newspaper had ceased.
In a pre-trial hearing in the high court in April, the actor Sienna Miller made a number of allegations against the now defunct NoW, including the claim that her email...
- 11/11/2011
- by Amelia Hill, Nick Davies
- The Guardian - Film News
(via IndieWire) 2011 Austin Film Festival Audience Award winners: Out of Competition Feature: “The Artist” Writer/Director: Michel Hazanavicius Narrative Feature Competition: “Restive” Writer/Director: Jeremiah Jones Documentary Feature Competition: (Tie...
- 11/5/2011
- by Ryan Adams
- AwardsDaily.com
Michel Hazanavicius's acclaimed "The Artist" walked away with the Out of Competition Feature Audience Award at the Austin Film Festival. Among the other Audience Award winners at the event which wrapped on October 27th: Jeremiah Jones' "Restive" (Narrative Feature Competition); " Adam Cornelius' "Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters" which tied with Dennis Rice's "Stories From An Undeclared War" in the Documentary Feature Competition; and Brandon Dickerson's "Sironia" (Texas Independents). ...
- 11/4/2011
- Indiewire
By Sean O’Connell
hollywoodnews.com: We don’t yet have a clear-cut frontrunner in the Oscar race. There is support in certain circles for such films as “Moneyball,” “The Descendants” and “The Help.” We’re still waiting to see “War Horse,” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and Stephen Daldry’s “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” A lot can change between now and then.
One thing that hasn’t wavered, however, is the audience support for Michel Hazanavicius’s “The Artist,” which started charming patrons back at Cannes. The film’s latest conquest was The 2011 Austin Film Festival, which took home the Audience Award for the Out-of-Competition category at this year’s fest.
Totally understandable. It is an absolute crowd pleaser, and I expect it to play extremely well with Academy members this season. Well enough to win the Best Picture prize? Only time will tell.
Here are the...
hollywoodnews.com: We don’t yet have a clear-cut frontrunner in the Oscar race. There is support in certain circles for such films as “Moneyball,” “The Descendants” and “The Help.” We’re still waiting to see “War Horse,” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and Stephen Daldry’s “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” A lot can change between now and then.
One thing that hasn’t wavered, however, is the audience support for Michel Hazanavicius’s “The Artist,” which started charming patrons back at Cannes. The film’s latest conquest was The 2011 Austin Film Festival, which took home the Audience Award for the Out-of-Competition category at this year’s fest.
Totally understandable. It is an absolute crowd pleaser, and I expect it to play extremely well with Academy members this season. Well enough to win the Best Picture prize? Only time will tell.
Here are the...
- 11/4/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: A handful of stellar titles with Oscar aspirations have been programmed into this year’s Austin Film Festival schedule, which begins on Oct. 20 with an as-yet-unnamed Opening Night selection.
In between, Aff audiences will get their first looks at Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants,” Steve McQueen’s “Shame,” Lynne Ramsay’s “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” Rodrigo Garcia’s “Albert Nobbs” and Sean Durkin’s “Martha Marcy May Marlene” – all films with awards hopes that will screen as part of the festival’s Marquee category.
“We’re proud to be taking our program in some exciting new directions while maintaining our focus on strong writing and engaging stories,” said new Film Programmers Stephen Jannise and Stephen Belyeu.
In addition, the fest has set up special screenings of “Toy Story” (presented by John Lasseter), an “Edward Scissorhands” screening, and a tribute to Polly Platt...
Hollywoodnews.com: A handful of stellar titles with Oscar aspirations have been programmed into this year’s Austin Film Festival schedule, which begins on Oct. 20 with an as-yet-unnamed Opening Night selection.
In between, Aff audiences will get their first looks at Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants,” Steve McQueen’s “Shame,” Lynne Ramsay’s “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” Rodrigo Garcia’s “Albert Nobbs” and Sean Durkin’s “Martha Marcy May Marlene” – all films with awards hopes that will screen as part of the festival’s Marquee category.
“We’re proud to be taking our program in some exciting new directions while maintaining our focus on strong writing and engaging stories,” said new Film Programmers Stephen Jannise and Stephen Belyeu.
In addition, the fest has set up special screenings of “Toy Story” (presented by John Lasseter), an “Edward Scissorhands” screening, and a tribute to Polly Platt...
- 9/20/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
When Emilio Estevez launched The Way at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival, reaction was encouraging for the film he directed and which stars his father, Martin Sheen, as a grieving dad who walks The Camino de Santiago to honor his dead son. The movie's good, but it is also the kind of well-intentioned picture that often slips through the cracks. Estevez has found a way to escape the straight-to-dvd fate that befalls many such films. He and Elixir Films' David Alexanian have partnered with John Sloss and Bart Walker's Producers Distribution Agency and Trevor Drinkwater's Arc Entertainment to open the film exclusively in AMC Theaters in 15 markets on Oct. 7 for its first week, before broadening to 15 markets the following week and then expanding to 500 screens across the country. The release will be overseen by a team of distribution vets that includes Dennis Rice, Richard Abramowitz and Cynthia Swartz. Appropriate...
- 7/28/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
✒Eyebrows were raised at News International's Wapping HQ when a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce, with personalised numberplate, pulled up to the main gates. Staff were even more surprised when the Express Newspapers owner, Richard Desmond, stepped out for a lunchtime meeting with News Corp's Europe and Asia chief executive, James Murdoch. His visit comes shortly after News International's chief executive, Rebekah Brooks, was spotted at Desmond's Thameside offices. Paywalls all round?
✒When some long-standing friends turn their back on you, it's important that you make the most of the ones you've still got. In a week when Lord Mandelson ratcheted up his war of words with Rupert Murdoch, he was spotted in Soho House having dinner with Trinity Mirror's chief executive, Sly Bailey; the Daily Mirror's editor, Richard Wallace; the Sunday Mirror's editor, Tina Weaver, and Lloyd Embley, the editor of the People. Two days later, the Mirror splashed with "Choccy Horror...
✒When some long-standing friends turn their back on you, it's important that you make the most of the ones you've still got. In a week when Lord Mandelson ratcheted up his war of words with Rupert Murdoch, he was spotted in Soho House having dinner with Trinity Mirror's chief executive, Sly Bailey; the Daily Mirror's editor, Richard Wallace; the Sunday Mirror's editor, Tina Weaver, and Lloyd Embley, the editor of the People. Two days later, the Mirror splashed with "Choccy Horror...
- 12/7/2009
- by Monkey
- The Guardian - Film News
The 2009 American Film Market today announced its schedule of seminars and conferences to be held between Nov. 4 and 11. Celebrating its 30th year, the Afm will showcase panels on film financing opportunities, local and international distribution trends, marketing strategies and digital technologies. The sessions will include film executives, producers, writers, directors, distributors, financiers and attorneys. This year’s seminars and conferences will include the annual “Afm Finance Conference” on Friday, Nov. 6; “Pitch Me!” on Saturday, Nov. 7; “No Direction Home – Changing Indie Distribution Strategies” on Sunday, Nov. 8; “Writing for the Genre World” on Monday, Nov. 9; “Case Study: How to Package and Finance Your Independent Project Overseas” on Monday, Nov. 9; and “The New Hollywood Movie Studio, New Media and Social Networking” on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Programming the seminars and conferences will be the American Society of Cinematographers, British Academy of Film & Television Arts/Los Angeles, Directors Guild of America, Film Independent, Hong Kong Trade Development Council,...
Programming the seminars and conferences will be the American Society of Cinematographers, British Academy of Film & Television Arts/Los Angeles, Directors Guild of America, Film Independent, Hong Kong Trade Development Council,...
- 10/16/2009
- by sean
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Relativity Media's Ryan Kavanaugh, Comerica Bank's Morgan Rector and Media Rights Capital's Modi Wiczyk will discuss the current state of the indie film business at the opening panel of the American Film Market's finance conference on Nov. 6.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld's P. John Burke will moderate the session to be held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica.
The conference will also include a session on foreign investment as a source of film financing, to be moderated by Kpmg's Benson R. Berro, and a look at Hong Kong as a co-production partner programmed by the Hong Kong Development Council.
Afm's lineup of panels, programmed by the Independent Film & Television Alliance, consists of:
Nov. 7
-- "Pitch Me!," moderated by Peggy Rajski; panelists, Caroline Baron and Ron Yerxa.
-- "Produce & Sell Your Film with Dov S-s Simens," presented by Dov S-s Simens.
Nov. 8
-- "No Direction Home - Changing Indie Distribution Strategies,...
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld's P. John Burke will moderate the session to be held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica.
The conference will also include a session on foreign investment as a source of film financing, to be moderated by Kpmg's Benson R. Berro, and a look at Hong Kong as a co-production partner programmed by the Hong Kong Development Council.
Afm's lineup of panels, programmed by the Independent Film & Television Alliance, consists of:
Nov. 7
-- "Pitch Me!," moderated by Peggy Rajski; panelists, Caroline Baron and Ron Yerxa.
-- "Produce & Sell Your Film with Dov S-s Simens," presented by Dov S-s Simens.
Nov. 8
-- "No Direction Home - Changing Indie Distribution Strategies,...
- 10/14/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Q&A: Cyrus Nowrasteh
With tumult roiling the streets of Tehran, the filmmakers behind Iranian martyrdom drama "The Stoning of Soraya M." find themselves in a rare spot: with a new release seemingly ripped straight from the headlines.
But as distributor Roadside Attractions readies a platform rollout this weekend, it must attempt to capitalize on that interest without appearing to overlap it.
"This is a story that everyone thinks they can see on the news, but they really can't," Roadside president Howard Cohen said. "Our job is to make sure people know that."
The pic centers on a journalist (James Caviezel) and his discovery of a story about a woman stoned to death in 1986 Iran because of presumed infidelity. The milieu of Cyrus Nowrasteh's film is highly specific, but producer Stephen McEveety notes a strong parallel with current events.
"Anyone watching TV can see this is about a certain...
With tumult roiling the streets of Tehran, the filmmakers behind Iranian martyrdom drama "The Stoning of Soraya M." find themselves in a rare spot: with a new release seemingly ripped straight from the headlines.
But as distributor Roadside Attractions readies a platform rollout this weekend, it must attempt to capitalize on that interest without appearing to overlap it.
"This is a story that everyone thinks they can see on the news, but they really can't," Roadside president Howard Cohen said. "Our job is to make sure people know that."
The pic centers on a journalist (James Caviezel) and his discovery of a story about a woman stoned to death in 1986 Iran because of presumed infidelity. The milieu of Cyrus Nowrasteh's film is highly specific, but producer Stephen McEveety notes a strong parallel with current events.
"Anyone watching TV can see this is about a certain...
- 6/22/2009
- by By Steven Zeitchik
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Nikki Finke’s Deadline Hollywood Daily » Indie Filmmaking: 35 Tips From Experts
With comments by Sydney
Some of them are obvious or secret or genius or lame. But they came out of the mouths of the experts at last weekend's 'Produced By' Conference during panels devoted to the financing, production, and distribution of independent films and documentaries. Here are the 35 tips compiled by a Dhd stringer with comments by Sydney.
1. Change the title of your indie film to begin with an “A” or a number to get higher placement on iTunes. Cheap shot, but Ok try it. Better to have relevant keywords so people find something which interests them.
2. “Experiment and try new ways of getting your indie film out there.” Absolutely. If you don't know how to begin, find an expert to help you in self distribution, exclusivities vis a vis internet platforms.
3. Clark Hallren, Managing Director of the Entertainment...
With comments by Sydney
Some of them are obvious or secret or genius or lame. But they came out of the mouths of the experts at last weekend's 'Produced By' Conference during panels devoted to the financing, production, and distribution of independent films and documentaries. Here are the 35 tips compiled by a Dhd stringer with comments by Sydney.
1. Change the title of your indie film to begin with an “A” or a number to get higher placement on iTunes. Cheap shot, but Ok try it. Better to have relevant keywords so people find something which interests them.
2. “Experiment and try new ways of getting your indie film out there.” Absolutely. If you don't know how to begin, find an expert to help you in self distribution, exclusivities vis a vis internet platforms.
3. Clark Hallren, Managing Director of the Entertainment...
- 6/14/2009
- by Sydney@SydneysBuzz.com (Sydney)
- Sydney's Buzz
In a move that ends her longtime business partnership with Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner is stepping down from her post as co-owner and CEO at United Artists.
Although she and Cruise were brought aboard to revive UA in November 2006, she encountered difficulties in jump-starting MGM's specialty label. Once she negotiates her exit, Wagner plans to return to producing full time.
Moving forward, though, she won't be partnered with Cruise, whose career is looking as if it needs a makeover of its own.
Wagner's move comes just two weeks after her husband, Rick Nicita, who had been Cruise's longtime agent, exited CAA to join production company Morgan Creek.
With Wagner's departure so closely following Nicita's, many in Hollywood read the power couple's moves as a reflection of Cruise's unhappiness with key lieutenants in charge of his career.
While CAA's Kevin Huvane is now the lead agent at CAA overseeing Cruise's career, the actor has been actively considering projects that have no connection to UA. It's unclear whether Wagner will be replaced at the storied shingle or whether Cruise's role in the company will change. MGM reps pointed out that key personnel -- Coo Elliott Kleinberg, production head Don Granger and newly hired marketing maven Mike Vollman -- will remain in place and steer the ship in the interim.
A joint MGM-UA statement late Wednesday said that Wagner will continue to be a part owner of UA and hold a significant stake in the company's future success.
"Nothing will change in regard to Cruise's involvement with UA, and he continues to have a substantial ownership interest in the company. Furthermore, Cruise and Wagner will continue to work on film projects together."
Wagner and Cruise managed to produce and release just one project together at UA, last year's "Lions for Lambs," which featured Cruise as a Republican operative. It grossed a measly $15 million domestically.
Their second UA project "Valkyrie," in which Cruise plays the anti-Nazi Claus von Stauffenberg, has been bouncing around the release calendar. Originally set to open in the fall, the film was postponed until February. But in the latest twist, it has just been rescheduled for a wide release Dec. 26.
MGM-UA distribution president Clark Woods said the return to a 2008 release date was strictly for commercial reasons.
"We've now completed the movie, and it's fantastic," Woods said. "Until now, we didn't have a movie that was done. But now we have a movie starring Tom Cruise that deserves the best possible playtime."
Cruise, disguised as a vulgar studio exec, also shows up on screens this week in a small role in the new DreamWorks comedy "Tropic Thunder."
Still, the once-reigning superstar does appear to be casting about for a new screen image. He has stepped away from the spy thriller "Edwin A. Salt," which is undergoing a sex change to accommodate Angelina Jolie in the lead role.
Instead, Cruise is considering a comedy called "Food Fight" for Working Title and has entered into negotiations for the thriller "The Tourist," a remake of a French film, which would be produced by Spyglass Entertainment and Canal Plus. Bharat Nalluri is to direct screenwriter Julian Fellowes' adaptation of the 2005 feature, which follows an American tourist used as a pawn in a spy game by a female Interpol agent.
With Wagner leaving and Cruise considering other options, the future of UA as a strong, independent label within the MGM fold is in question for the umpteenth time.
During her brief tenure, Wagner helped pull together projects with heavy hitters Paul Haggis, Steven Zaillian, Christopher McQuarrie, Ron Moore and Guillermo del Toro. She also was instrumental in raising UA's $500 million revolving film fund spearheaded by Merrill Lynch.
But given the underperformance of "Lambs," the recent resignation of marketing head Dennis Rice, the dearth of greenlights and the PR quagmire enveloping "Valkyrie," the studio has had a difficult time engendering confidence.
Political rumblings within the MGM-UA relationship suggest a struggle over financial resources and focus as part of the reason for Wagner's exit. As newly installed chairman of MGM's Worldwide Motion Picture Group, Mary Parent quickly has ramped up executive hirings and snapped up script material; UA's momentum has simultaneously stalled. With MGM's need for production cash to make movies and also pay down hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, some suggest it had begun eyeing the UA fund.
Rice reportedly left his position at UA for similar reasons -- resources were hamstrung by MGM needs. Whatever autonomy Wagner, Cruise and company thought they had might have turned out to be a mirage.
MGM still is searching for its own next tranche of financing but strenuously denies it's planning to bite into the UA coffers.
In her new guise, Wagner will produce independently as well as with UA on several projects still in development, including del Toro's "Champions." She and Cruise will retain an ownership interest in the studio -- which began as a minority stake of a reported 30% -- once she leaves following the completion of the Bryan Singer-directed "Valkyrie."
"I've truly relished working with my longtime partner Tom Cruise to revitalize United Artists, and I am proud of all that we've accomplished in the past two years, reinvigorating the brand and developing such a strong slate of films," Wagner said. "But I always tell my sons, 'Follow your passion' -- and I've got to follow that advice myself. As much as I've enjoyed my time as an executive, I have longed to return to my true love, which is making movies, so that's what I've decided to do. I still believe in our vision for UA, and I am confident that Harry Sloan and our colleagues at MGM will see that vision through to reality."
Wagner worked at CAA for 15 years before launching Cruise/Wagner Prods. with Cruise in 1993. They went on to produce $3 billion worth of global boxoffice revenue from a slate that included the three "Mission: Impossible" movies, "Shattered Glass," "Narc," "Vanilla Sky," "The Last Samurai" and "War of the Worlds." Wagner recently produced "The Eye" and "Death Race," which releases Aug. 22.
Gregg Goldstein in New York and Carl Diorio in Los Angeles contributed to this report...
Although she and Cruise were brought aboard to revive UA in November 2006, she encountered difficulties in jump-starting MGM's specialty label. Once she negotiates her exit, Wagner plans to return to producing full time.
Moving forward, though, she won't be partnered with Cruise, whose career is looking as if it needs a makeover of its own.
Wagner's move comes just two weeks after her husband, Rick Nicita, who had been Cruise's longtime agent, exited CAA to join production company Morgan Creek.
With Wagner's departure so closely following Nicita's, many in Hollywood read the power couple's moves as a reflection of Cruise's unhappiness with key lieutenants in charge of his career.
While CAA's Kevin Huvane is now the lead agent at CAA overseeing Cruise's career, the actor has been actively considering projects that have no connection to UA. It's unclear whether Wagner will be replaced at the storied shingle or whether Cruise's role in the company will change. MGM reps pointed out that key personnel -- Coo Elliott Kleinberg, production head Don Granger and newly hired marketing maven Mike Vollman -- will remain in place and steer the ship in the interim.
A joint MGM-UA statement late Wednesday said that Wagner will continue to be a part owner of UA and hold a significant stake in the company's future success.
"Nothing will change in regard to Cruise's involvement with UA, and he continues to have a substantial ownership interest in the company. Furthermore, Cruise and Wagner will continue to work on film projects together."
Wagner and Cruise managed to produce and release just one project together at UA, last year's "Lions for Lambs," which featured Cruise as a Republican operative. It grossed a measly $15 million domestically.
Their second UA project "Valkyrie," in which Cruise plays the anti-Nazi Claus von Stauffenberg, has been bouncing around the release calendar. Originally set to open in the fall, the film was postponed until February. But in the latest twist, it has just been rescheduled for a wide release Dec. 26.
MGM-UA distribution president Clark Woods said the return to a 2008 release date was strictly for commercial reasons.
"We've now completed the movie, and it's fantastic," Woods said. "Until now, we didn't have a movie that was done. But now we have a movie starring Tom Cruise that deserves the best possible playtime."
Cruise, disguised as a vulgar studio exec, also shows up on screens this week in a small role in the new DreamWorks comedy "Tropic Thunder."
Still, the once-reigning superstar does appear to be casting about for a new screen image. He has stepped away from the spy thriller "Edwin A. Salt," which is undergoing a sex change to accommodate Angelina Jolie in the lead role.
Instead, Cruise is considering a comedy called "Food Fight" for Working Title and has entered into negotiations for the thriller "The Tourist," a remake of a French film, which would be produced by Spyglass Entertainment and Canal Plus. Bharat Nalluri is to direct screenwriter Julian Fellowes' adaptation of the 2005 feature, which follows an American tourist used as a pawn in a spy game by a female Interpol agent.
With Wagner leaving and Cruise considering other options, the future of UA as a strong, independent label within the MGM fold is in question for the umpteenth time.
During her brief tenure, Wagner helped pull together projects with heavy hitters Paul Haggis, Steven Zaillian, Christopher McQuarrie, Ron Moore and Guillermo del Toro. She also was instrumental in raising UA's $500 million revolving film fund spearheaded by Merrill Lynch.
But given the underperformance of "Lambs," the recent resignation of marketing head Dennis Rice, the dearth of greenlights and the PR quagmire enveloping "Valkyrie," the studio has had a difficult time engendering confidence.
Political rumblings within the MGM-UA relationship suggest a struggle over financial resources and focus as part of the reason for Wagner's exit. As newly installed chairman of MGM's Worldwide Motion Picture Group, Mary Parent quickly has ramped up executive hirings and snapped up script material; UA's momentum has simultaneously stalled. With MGM's need for production cash to make movies and also pay down hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, some suggest it had begun eyeing the UA fund.
Rice reportedly left his position at UA for similar reasons -- resources were hamstrung by MGM needs. Whatever autonomy Wagner, Cruise and company thought they had might have turned out to be a mirage.
MGM still is searching for its own next tranche of financing but strenuously denies it's planning to bite into the UA coffers.
In her new guise, Wagner will produce independently as well as with UA on several projects still in development, including del Toro's "Champions." She and Cruise will retain an ownership interest in the studio -- which began as a minority stake of a reported 30% -- once she leaves following the completion of the Bryan Singer-directed "Valkyrie."
"I've truly relished working with my longtime partner Tom Cruise to revitalize United Artists, and I am proud of all that we've accomplished in the past two years, reinvigorating the brand and developing such a strong slate of films," Wagner said. "But I always tell my sons, 'Follow your passion' -- and I've got to follow that advice myself. As much as I've enjoyed my time as an executive, I have longed to return to my true love, which is making movies, so that's what I've decided to do. I still believe in our vision for UA, and I am confident that Harry Sloan and our colleagues at MGM will see that vision through to reality."
Wagner worked at CAA for 15 years before launching Cruise/Wagner Prods. with Cruise in 1993. They went on to produce $3 billion worth of global boxoffice revenue from a slate that included the three "Mission: Impossible" movies, "Shattered Glass," "Narc," "Vanilla Sky," "The Last Samurai" and "War of the Worlds." Wagner recently produced "The Eye" and "Death Race," which releases Aug. 22.
Gregg Goldstein in New York and Carl Diorio in Los Angeles contributed to this report...
- 8/14/2008
- by By Jay A. Fernandez and Leslie Simmons
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
MGM chief Mary Parent has hired Michael Vollman for the newly created dual positions of executive vp theatrical marketing for MGM worldwide motion picture group and president of marketing for United Artists.
Vollman, who will report to Parent, will manage all theatrical marketing activities at MGM as well as consult with United Artists CEO Paula Wagner on marketing strategies for upcoming Ua releases.
The previous president of marketing and publicity at Ua, Dennis Rice, resigned last week.
Vollman's first challenge will be effecting a change in public perception about the World War II Tom Cruise drama "Valkyrie," which Ua is releasing in February. Other upcoming MGM/Ua releases that Vollman will address, derived from outside studios, include "Brothers," "How to Lose Friends & Alienate People" and "Perfect Getaway."
In taking the MGM job, Vollman leaves behind his post as executive vp integrated marketing and national publicity for Paramount, which he had held since April 2007. Vollman originally shifted to Paramount in 2006 after the studio bought DreamWorks, where he had spent a decade working on field marketing, online marketing and media promotions.
Over the years, Vollman has had a hand in marketing campaigns for "American Beauty," "The Rock," "The Ring," "Shrek" and "Shrek the Third," "The Lion King," "Transformers" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," among others.
Vollman has a prior relationship with Cruise and Wagner from working on the campaigns for "Mission: Impossible III" and "War of the Worlds" at Paramount.
Vollman's move also fueled speculation that Terry Press, his mentor at DreamWorks, could take MGM's top marketing job, which remains open.
Vollman, who will report to Parent, will manage all theatrical marketing activities at MGM as well as consult with United Artists CEO Paula Wagner on marketing strategies for upcoming Ua releases.
The previous president of marketing and publicity at Ua, Dennis Rice, resigned last week.
Vollman's first challenge will be effecting a change in public perception about the World War II Tom Cruise drama "Valkyrie," which Ua is releasing in February. Other upcoming MGM/Ua releases that Vollman will address, derived from outside studios, include "Brothers," "How to Lose Friends & Alienate People" and "Perfect Getaway."
In taking the MGM job, Vollman leaves behind his post as executive vp integrated marketing and national publicity for Paramount, which he had held since April 2007. Vollman originally shifted to Paramount in 2006 after the studio bought DreamWorks, where he had spent a decade working on field marketing, online marketing and media promotions.
Over the years, Vollman has had a hand in marketing campaigns for "American Beauty," "The Rock," "The Ring," "Shrek" and "Shrek the Third," "The Lion King," "Transformers" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," among others.
Vollman has a prior relationship with Cruise and Wagner from working on the campaigns for "Mission: Impossible III" and "War of the Worlds" at Paramount.
Vollman's move also fueled speculation that Terry Press, his mentor at DreamWorks, could take MGM's top marketing job, which remains open.
- 7/16/2008
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
COLOGNE, Germany -- The German Defense Ministry is scrambling to qualify its stance on the Bryan Singer-Tom Cruise historic thriller Valkyrie, saying that despite reports to the contrary, it has no opposition to the film shooting in Germany.
The Defense Ministry on Thursday moved to qualify news reports this week that it would ban Valkyrie from shooting at German military sites because of star Cruise's belief in the Church of Scientology.
The ministry now says that while it hasn't received an official request from Valkyrie producers United Artists to shoot in the country, it would "look agreeably" upon any such application.
"We have always believed Germany was the only place to shoot 'Valkyrie, ' as it was the country where this incredible story took place. We are very happy that any apparent misunderstandings surrounding the production are clearing up," said Dennis Rice, president of worldwide marketing and publicity at UA.
The film, slated for a 2008 release, tells the true story of Col. Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise), the leader of a failed German military plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944.
The Defense Ministry on Thursday moved to qualify news reports this week that it would ban Valkyrie from shooting at German military sites because of star Cruise's belief in the Church of Scientology.
The ministry now says that while it hasn't received an official request from Valkyrie producers United Artists to shoot in the country, it would "look agreeably" upon any such application.
"We have always believed Germany was the only place to shoot 'Valkyrie, ' as it was the country where this incredible story took place. We are very happy that any apparent misunderstandings surrounding the production are clearing up," said Dennis Rice, president of worldwide marketing and publicity at UA.
The film, slated for a 2008 release, tells the true story of Col. Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise), the leader of a failed German military plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944.
- 6/29/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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