The Hot Blog Archive for August, 2008
Watchman Claim a Bit Worse Than Indicated
I haven’t read anything that indicated that this segment of Fox’s claim doesn’t just say that Warner Bros was party to the situation Larry Gordon was in, but that they actually induced Gordon to assign rights without regard to Fox’s claimed rights. “Willful or concious disregard.”
This, of course, is how Fox navigates the iinevitable indemnification claim.
ADD, 4:29p – Reading through these documents (this set is cleaner than the Hollywood Reporter’s) is fascinating, But for all these pages, it seems to come down to one simple conflict.
WB’s deal to take over Larry Gordon’s rights states that WB had the June 17, 1991 agreement between Fox and Gordon (via his corporate entities).
The June 17, 1991 document simply offers…
So you know, this image doesn’t include the profit agreement which follows. The contract does.
Plenty of people hate Fox for all kinds of reasons, good and bad. But there doesn’t seem to be anyplace to turn for WB on this one. The 1994 agreement once again restates Fox’s position and the agreement not only to a payment, but to a piece of the net profits (2.5%), and quite specifically “No Assignment,” stating that the rights being assigned to Gordon and personal to him and that he can’t assign rights to any party without Fox’s approval.
Oof!
Who Was On Watch, Man? (Landed In LA)
I find the Watchmen situation very interesting.
The first striking thing is that for all the claims that so many make to journalism in this town, once again we have a major story – studios actually suing other studios is a rare occurrence
WBLG In Cinncinati
Two great non-starters…
First, if anyone at EW is really whining about the Harry Potter date move, they should line up with Moriarty in the shut-the-fuck-you-whinny-spoiled-brat line. The only thing more stupid than EW whining is media pretending it matters… or buying into the bull that EW and WB don’t have a “special” relationship… oy!!!
Thing is, like AICN boycotting Star Wars, EW could attack Potter every week from now until the bitter end and it would by cost the franchise a single greenback. Boo Hoo! The “problem” has gotten more media attention for EW than it’s generated on its own in years.
NEXT – It doesn’t matter whether McCain sat in the front row of the Obama section of the public chat the other night. And it doesn’t matter if media thinks McCain or Obama “won.” What matters is that Obama answered the questions directly and with thought and McCain stump speeched his way through an past almost every question.
The question of this election becomes clearer… does America want a thinker in the presidency or a guy who tells stories that are well off point, throwing out plattitudes, some lies, and distraction? They wanted the latter for the last two elections. They may prefer it this time. We’ll see.
Meanwhile, if McCain wins, it will be the most profoundly sad choice of my adult life of elections (this is my 7th cycle). W is nothing in comparison… because Gore and Kerry were true car wrecks as candidates. Obama can only lose to lies. Of course McCain is locked into 40% of the vote. But the rest? To push away from a candidate of ideas and sincerity based on utter crap about being too thoughtful and too smart and too popular?
Then again, on spite of endless Republican spin, McCain has not make significant incursions into Obama’s poll numbers anymore than Hillary Clinton had a way to win the nomination after losing Texas’ delegate count. But the lie can be powerful. And it is time for the left to start calling out the lies instead of cowering like a child who fears another unexpected beating.
Finally, the reality is actually one sided…
BYOB – Sunday
Not much more to say about the Sunday estimates… enjoying the TT excuses… of course, we all know that The Clone Wars underperformed as a result of the geek reverse embargo.
Still in NC, seeking the best BBQ. Had to come east to see Phelps win his seventh and eighth gold in real time.
Onward.
BO Add
Sorry… Clone Wars got lost from the last post.
$20m and change is still possible for a film targetting mostly kids.
Regardless, a $50m total is enough to make this a profitable release for all involved. WB gets paid for distribtion. And Lucasfilm makes a little on the box office, but a nice chunk more on the pay tv sale comng off a WB theatrical release. Plus, the release should actually increase DVD sales.
Apparently, there was some great AICN drama, again, in Moriarty’s review. Can’t wait to read that!
PS – Now I have read it… and I have to say, I have rarely thought less of Drew than after reading that crap. Nothing yet has so clearly and concisely expressed how out of touch with reality and how unaware of how the real world works and how profoundly in denial that Drew can be. Sad, really. Anyway…
Friday Numbers
Once again, iPhoning it in means less detail. But…
Tropic Thunder is making excuses for rolling out slower than a Pineapple Express, the most bizarre one – especially for a movie that chose a release date during the Olympics – being that Michael Phelps is slowing the movie’s roll. Or could it be… uh… that a comedy about arrogant people in Hollywood appeals more to the geeks and the older critics who are enraged by Holllywood excess than anyone else?
The big problem is not the marketing – the thing has been shoved down America’s gullet endlessly for months – or even the number – though the arrogance of this and Pneapple on back-to-back weeks is breathtaking – but the price tag. Pineapple will cover its $30m pricetag and much of it’s marketing in theatrical. At 100m+, Tropic will be sweating international, hoping against hope to do What Stays In Vegas numbers overseas.
Speaking of Fox, another exciting non-centenian, unripe opening for Fox… but even P-Goldy must admit that $10m+ for Mirrors is a positive surprise.
As is a good start for Vicki Cristina Barcelona on just 693 screens.
All of Klady’s estimates are on the front page…
Just Off The Plane… Gerry Off The Mountain
Nothing like landing and getting the text message…
It’s really simple. Gerry Rich got kicked to the curb. He actually didn’t have it coming. But Lesher is in charge of the movie side now and he is going to live or die with his people. This is nothing remotely surprising. Anyone who claims surprise is either being disingenuous or just didn’t know what was going on at the studio.
Once again, as we work through late August “surprises,” we see that the new game in town is to pick your favorite stenographer/reporter/blogger to get the scoop, based on who will tell – and now, defend – your one side of the story.
I’m on the iPhone, so I will be brief, but the new team should be a little out of its depth… and do just fine. In fact, with new kids in charge that Lesher trusts without question – as much as a former agent can do that – there may be some more stability for the surviving staff.
While I am not 100% convinced this is all headed to a great post-DW future, I must say, the guy should have the people he wants working for him. It’s tough enough and who wants to look back and say, “if only…?
ARRRRRR – McCain Pirates Again
Jackson Browne sues McCain over song use
Who’s going to sue next?
Just Followin' Up…
I’m already bored by this story, really, but I do find it amusing to watch the “news” bend in the wind…
Yesterday, as the news of Paula Wagner
Oy.
You know… John Horn gathers critics who seem to be anti-PC as regards Tropic Thunder. Fine.
Our own Len Klady is crowing, “It’s impossible to make a great p.c. comedy – it’s antithetical to what makes us laugh and would neuter most of what’s truly laudable about Tropic Thunder.”
Backlash backlash.
Equally stupid as PC.
The standard of crossing the line is, to me, simple. Make ANY joke… go as dark and ugly as you want… use whatever words or body parts or fluids you want… so long as it serves an idea bigger than a cheap laugh.
And for me, Tropic Thunder fails in that regard more often than not.
Some will agree with me. Others will not. And so it goes.
About That Support For The Women
Just thought I’d note… screening invitations for the film landed today… all after Labor Day, as much of the media is on its way to Toronto.
Confident.
