Boxoffice-March.2000

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REEL DEALS EHHMKia Initials with IEG 'I'lilliWil'H'H Radios Bigel/Mailer Paramount Classics has entered into distribution deal a with Total Film Group, a public entertainment company that finances and produces feature most recently "Diamonds" films, starring Kirk Douglas and Dan Aykroyd. Two pictures have already been named in the agreement: Bruce Beresford's "Bride of the Wind" and tyro Christine Lahti's "My First Mister." Paramount Classics has acquired all North American rights to both films. "We are thrilled to be working on these two projects with such incredible talent and look forward to a long and prolific relationship with everyone at Total Film Croup," say Paramount Classics co-presidents Ruth Vitale and David Dinerstein. "Our new relationship with Paramount Classics will make for an exciting and exceptional slate of films," says Total Film Croup chairman and CEO Gerald Green. "Paramount Classics perfectly complements the quality has signed a multi-picture writing and style of films our company deal with Miramax Films. plans to produce." The scribe's "She's All That" starring Freddie Prinze and MGM has inked a two-year, Jr. Rachael Leigh Cook grossed $63 million when it was released last first-look production deal with )aret Entertainment, 27-year-old year, and Dimension Films Seth Jaret's production and man- recently optioned Fleming's I Hate agement company that executive produced "10 Things About You" for Disney last year. The move emulates production pacts the studio already has with Danjaq Ltd., headed by Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli; Tribeca Prods., led by David Ladd, Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal; and Irish Dream Time, helmed by Daivd Wilson and Pierce Brsonan. "Seth stands at the forefront of a new group of talented young producers emerging from management," says MGM president Michael Nathanson. "He has great creative contacts, and his instincts and taste fit perfectly into our strategy of putting together a diverse slate of films." "MGM is an unmined gem," says Jaret. "My aim is to create content that leverages its huge asset base. ...I look forward to producing cutting-edge films with emerging talent that defy the rules and are out of the box creatively." DreamWorks has extended its relationship with Bandeira Entertainment, adding two years to its first-look, non-exclusive deal with the production company headed by Beau Flynn. Bandeira produced last year's "The Love Letter," directed by Peter Chan and has eight more projects in the pipeline at the studio, including "Date School," starring Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz. Bandeira is working with several other studios around town as well The company recently wrapped Darren Arnofsky's "Requiem for a Dream" at Artisan and is prepping "Tigerland" for Joel Schumacher to direct at Foxbased New Regency. USA Films has pacted with former Fox executive Michael London in a two-year, first-look producing deal that will commence with "Passengers," a sci-fi drama that will likely be David Fincher's next project. "Passengers," about aliens who inhabit human bodies for short periods of time to fulfill their wildest fantasies, follows two indie films that London had already set up at USA. "Side Ways," a comedy to be written and directed by "Election's" Alexander Payne, and "40 Days and 40 Nights," which Michael Lehmann will helm for Working Title, should both go into production sometime this year. Screenwriter R. Lee Fleming Jr. "Getting Over Allison." "We're thrilled that Lee has joined the Miramax family," says Miramax co-head Harvey Weinstein. "He's a truly gifted screenwriter." "I'm psyched to be working again with the incredibly creative and talented team at Miramax," says Fleming. "'She's All That' was such a positive experience, and Miramax feels like home." Zorro," makes her first foray into producing, bowing her production shingle Zeta Films and inking a two-year, exclusive deal with Initial Entertainment Group (IEG), the independent finance, production and distribution company behind Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York." IEG will finance and co-produce two to six feature films annually with budgets from $5 million to $50 million and will distribute worldwide. Zeta-Jones, who has appointed her brothers Lyndon and David to positions in her company, will develop and produce vehicle projects for herself, but CEO Graham King. "In coming to know Catherine, I've learned that she is not only a very talented actress, but she also possesses the acumen and capabilities to be a successful producer." "I look forward to embarking on this creative business venture with Graham King and all at Initial Entertainment Group," Zeta-Jones says. "IEG has assembled a great work force, and I respect them, both on a business level and a creative level." Screenwriter )ohn Hoffman has inked a two-picture deal with Warner Bros., the first of which will be a remake of the 1973 comedy caper "The Last of Sheila," about woman who a attempts to discover who killed her Hollywood heavyweight husband in a hit-and-run accident years ago. Hoffman will receive a mid-six figure salary plus a second blind script commitment worth about the same. RKO's independent film arm Radio Pictures has pacted with Bigel/Mailer Films ("Black and White") to produce three feature films from RKO's library, including "Isle of the Dead," based on the 1945 Boris Karloff film, which will be helmed by Burt Reynolds. "Coming from the independent film scene in New York City, we are very excited to be working with RKO and incredibly talented directors to bring a modern approach to these classcis," Bigel/Mailer principals Daniel Bigel and Michael Mailer say. "Daniel and Michael are the kind of producing team that RKO wants to work with, experienced and committed to making quality independent motion pictures," says RKO Pictures CEO and chairman Ted Hartley. Radio Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, whose credits include Pictures head Ron Gell adds, "This is an example of our divi- "Entrapment" and "The Mask of sion's continuing commitment to filmmaker-driven projects and partnering with talented directors and capable producers." )erry Bruckheimer, who recently inked with Scott Free Prods, (see Reel Deals, January 2000), has signed an exclusive first-look deal with Washington Post journalist David Ignatius, who will pen four treatments a year for the producer. Their first project together will be "Tandem Couple," about a husband and wife who continue to work together even as their marriage falls apart. she will not necessarily appear in all Zeta Films productions. She's Ignatius writes a weekly op-ed column for the Washington Post. He sold his novel "A Firing particularly interested in developing relationships with interna- Offense" to CruiseAVagner tional talent. Prods, at Paramount. He's also "I'm extremely excited to be written "Agents of Innocence, "J working with someone of "The Bank of Fear" and, most Catherine's caliber," says IEG recently, "Sinking." 8 BOXOFFICE
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Page 34 and 35: SPECIAL REPORT: Barometer Star Poll
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Page 48 and 49: INTERNATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS EUROVIEWS
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