Yeah, I know–nothing like a conclusive headline to get everybody’s interest, but the fact of the matter is that we have nary clue one as to Viggo Mortensen’s true plans vis-a-vis his acting career.
Not long ago, he suggested that unless a really good acting role came up, he was going to stick with his music and visual art for the next couple years or so. But then at the Toronto Film Festival, he subsequently went on record to say that he had no plans to retire. I suppose it’s possible that he could retire–he almost certainly made enough cash on the Lord of the Rings series to never, ever need to walk into work again.
Especially since we should be seeing him coming back to handle the Strider role in the upcoming Hobbit movie? Sadly, we don’t know. I can’t imagine him not being involved, but the way Hollywood is these days? Anything’s possible, from the ground up.
Well, that’s it, folks…stick a fork in the entire concept of Hollywood because it is oh-ficially done like dinner.
Warner Brothers is now on record as planning to launch a movie about Legos.
Yeah, Legos. You know, those little plastic blocks that pretty much everybody played with when they were kids? And this isn’t about what people do with them or anything like that, either. This is about something entirely different. In fact, the studio is citing Toy Story as its model.
Okay, so maybe this isn’t as lunatic an idea as I first thought. Let’s be honest here–in basements and bedrooms and playrooms all across the country, Lego has generated literally millions of stories. I personally liked to arm my Legos and construct vast space fleets of mismatched vessels to go forth and destroy alien civilizations. Fighter craft out of speedboats, bombers out of airliners, all that sort of thing.
And if I, a mere stripling, could come up with dozens of tales for my Legos to enact, imagine what actual writers could do. Or failing that, imagine what Hollywood writers could do.
Thanks to the tireless vigiliance of my able cohort Kenna McHugh, we all know that G.I. Joe had a really awesome weekend this week, right? Good reviews abound–they even coaxed one out of me–and a huge cash weekend.
Huge by any reasonable standard, anyway–the Joes battle with Cobra took in a whopping fifty six million dollars. But what if I told you that they’d need–get this–another TWO AND A HALF weekends exactly like this just to break even?
This may well be the perfect expression of what’s wrong with Hollywood today. That incredible movie we just saw? That took in a huge amount of cash and great reviews? The very epitome of summer blockbuster? Its shooting budget was a whopping one hundred and seventy five million dollars at last report.
It’s made fifty six million so far.
To break even, the Joes have to pull off another two and a half opening-sized weekends. Can they even do it before people lose interest completely? And with so many more movies coming up–we’ve got District 9 in a matter of days, folks…and for crying out loud, Saw VI is only just over two months out. Halloween’s almost here! How are the JOES going to pull off another hundred million bucks, just to break even?
Only time will tell, folks, but I have to wonder if between the economy overall and the performance of GI Joe if we’ve seen the last of the blockbuster for a while.
Fresh news out of the “Schaudenfreude Much?” folder for you today, as it seems that an unlikely force is being really badly hit by the economic downturn–Hollywood lawyers.
Citing a decrease in overall film production (for the period between January 2 and July 21 this year, 284 films were released. That time last year, it was 336.) and in declining dollar value for actor contracts, the Hollywood lawyers that negotiate these contracts and enforce them are having to do lots more work for lots less cash. Lawyers typically take about five percent of the value of any contract negotiated, and when the contract goes from ten million dollars to two million dollars, that’s a pretty healthy loss for the lawyers.
It’s at this point that most regular folks laugh blackly and say: join the club. And considering that they’re still making huge money by any realistic standard, it’s reasonable to do so. And of course, most everyone’s doing more with less these days. But when you consider that those lawyers are also losing eighty percent of their original revenue in some cases, it’s enough to actually leave you feeling sorry for lawyers.
Never mind, of course, that twenty percent of THEIR pay is still several orders of magnitude above what most people make in a year….
Harvey Schwartz stood in tears among his prop shop which offers a huge inventory of items to be used in film and television productions. It has become the latest victim of a rapidly changing Hollywood. Mr. Schwartz, the owner of 20th Century Props, is planning to go out of business next month and auction the incredible inventory. This once-thriving business is failing due to increased out-of-state movie production and the death of scripted programming on network television. “I ran out of money three months ago, and I don’t know what else to do,” he said. “It’s terrifying. I’ve devoted my entire life to something that is over.”
Set decorators are just as upset. “The closing of 20th Century is a disaster for us,” said Melinda Ritz, who won three Emmy Awards for her work on “Will & Grace.” She goes on to add, “The fabric of Hollywood is fraying so fast that it’s scary.” The Great American Group will liquidate the company’s inventory during the last week of July. The holdings are insured for around $8 million, but the value of many of the props is difficult to nail down because of the premium that many memorabilia collectors will likely pay for the better-known items.
Nickelodeon has grown into one big network and to give audiences a preview of better things to come, a number of celebrities have been invited to grace Nickelodeon’s 2009 Upfront Presentation to the Advertising Community in New York City. Included in the presentation was: a forthcoming new live-action feature film; key new business partnerships; and the network’s plans to serve its audiences by connecting all of its platforms under the Nickelodeon umbrella.
In 2009, Nickelodeon is entering its 30th year and is poised to record its unprecedented 15th straight year as the top-rated network in basic cable.
During the 60 minute presentation, acclaimed film producer and executive producer of Paramount Pictures’ and Nickelodeon Movies’ upcoming film, The Last Airbender, Kathleen Kennedy introduced a never-before-seen pre-viz of the upcoming film and Academy Award-winner, Dev Patel, who has been cast in the role of the Fire Nation Lord Prince Zuko.
Tornante Company’s Michael Eisner provided a first-look at the upcoming new Nick at Nite comedy series, Glenn Martin, DDS. Walmart Senior Vice President/General Manager of Apparel, Dottie Mattison, gave details of Walmart and Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants 10th Anniversary celebration.
Nickelodeon’s latest star, Keke Palmer, presented her new hit series, True Jackson, VP. And Nick Cannon was introduced as the Honorary Chairman of Nickelodeon’s tween/teen-targeted channel, The N (which will be renamed TEENick in the fall), and highlighted his first project titled The Halo Awards. Capping the event was a musical performance from recording artists Colbie Caillat and Wyclef Jean, who performed “Here Comes the Sun,” “Bubbly” and Sweetest Girl.”
Beethoven’s a star now! Watch this film clip from Beethoven’s Big Break, where Beethoven gets an entire entourage for himself, complete with Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer!
My eight year old daughter thought this movie was very funny. She loved Beethoven and thought the whole story was very good. I noticed that she was captivated the whole time she watched it; never left the movie.
I personally like Jonathan Silverman and it’s good to see him in a light, hearted comedy.
Post your name to enter the giveaway and Screenhead will pick the winner Wednesday, December 31st.
This year already saw the tole on the film and TV industry when the Writers Guild of America went on strike, forcing the delay of many a TV show, weakening the slate of film releases this year and next, and causing enough scheduling problems to sink a few worth projects. And it looks possible that after months of negotiations, another strike could happen next year, with this time the actors of the US outratged.
It’s again the same issue of concern: residuals. Actors Unions feel outraged that actors are getting little or nothing for the broadcast of their work on new media, such as online screenings, ipod downloads, etc, while the distributors and studios rake in the money. It’s a fair point, especially when actors on the bottom rung of Hollywood need everything they can get. Discussions with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers broke down last week, and now all members of the Guild have been contacted to let them know a vote on “strike authorisation” (authorising the governing body to call a strike if necessary) will be taking place.
The AMPTP has criticised the SAG’s actions for being foolhardy, and potentially causing actors more financial damage than they would potentially gain from new media broadcasts. They also criticised the SAG for wanting a deal far beyond what other professions in the industry have, to which the SAG claim their needs are different. That’s a difficult claim to quantify, but the SAG do have the right to question residuals from DVD sales based on an agreement made over 20 years ago, before VHS became far more widespread and profitable than expected.
Hopefully both bodies can learn from the lessons of this year’s strike and prevent further losses in this precarious economic climate. For more, read here.
Guillermo del Toro isn’t the only one getting some vampire action today (or tonight, depending on where you live), as Cloverfield director Matt Reeves has signed on to write and direct the Hollywood remake of the acclaimed Swedish horror film Let the Right One in for Overture Films and Hammer Films.
The original was based on a novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, following a bullied boy whose desire for revenge crosses paths with his growing love for a female neighbor who happens to be a vampire.
The film won the best narrative feature award at the Tribeca Film Festival and is scheduled for a limited theatrical run in the US starting October 24. The sanitized and completely ruined American remake is likely to hit the big-screen late next year.
Brigitte Lacombe new book, “Lacombe Anima/Persona,” offers a glimpse of Hollywood. The cool and serious portraiture, featuring images of everyone from Meryl Streep, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Miuccia Prada to a mix of well-known writers, artists, scientists, politicians, and more.
Vanity Fair showcases the book online — encompassing Lacombe’s 30-plus years behind the lens.
The above picture is Don Johnson and Melanie Griffth in 1975.
Yeah, I know–nothing like a conclusive headline to get everybody’s interest, but the fact of the matter is that we have nary clue one as to Viggo Mortensen’s true plans vis-a-vis his acting career.
Well, that’s it, folks…stick a fork in the entire concept of Hollywood because it is oh-ficially done like dinner.
Thanks to the tireless vigiliance of my able cohort Kenna McHugh, we all know that 
Fresh news out of the “Schaudenfreude Much?” folder for you today, as it seems that an unlikely force is being really badly hit by the economic downturn–Hollywood lawyers.
This year already saw the tole on the film and TV industry when the Writers Guild of America went on strike, forcing the delay of many a TV show, weakening the slate of film releases this year and next, and causing enough scheduling problems to sink a few worth projects. And it looks possible that after months of negotiations, another strike could happen next year, with this time the actors of the US outratged.
