Variety

TAKE THAT BACK!

At Filmmaker we’ve been trying to figure out editorial synergies between our daily blog and our quarterly magazine, but the below is not exactly what we had in mind. In the issue of the magazine that comes off the press today, attorneys Steven Beer and Maria Miles haved penned an article explaining the new Federal tax breaks for independent film, hailing it as a landmark windfall for independent film producers and investors. Today via Variety comes this disappointing article by William Triplett titled “Congress likely to take back indie tax break.” “Possibly as soon as next month, Congress will consider […]
by Scott Macaulay on Jan 19, 2005
BOCCO LANDS AT GERSH

We were happy to read via Variety that former Miramax acquisitions exec Arianna Bocco, who recently left the company, has landed at Gershs’ New York office where she will head “an independent feature film packaging unit” with a special emphasis on bringing international filmmakers into the Gersh fold. An admirably straight shooter in the tangled world of acquisitions, Bocco was a tenacious exec for both Miramax and her previous employer, New Line, and worked on such films as City of God.
by Scott Macaulay on Jan 18, 2005
TALES OF BUBBA

Interesing news via Variety (registration required) today. Producer Michael London is partnering with Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner to produce for Paramount “a coming-of-age film about James ‘Bubba’ Smith, a teen who is to motocross racing what Tiger Woods is to golf.” It’s interesting not just because this story seems to be staking out some territory before a new Paramount head, presumably Brad Grey, comes in (says Variety, somewhat obliquely, “In an unusual development, Par topper Donald De Line has allowed development to progress without assigning an exec. The producers wanted it that way so they could flesh out their […]
by Scott Macaulay on Jan 6, 2005
OUT OF THE TANK

One New York indie I’ve been tracking over the last year is Kevin Jordan’s Lobster Farm, the story of two generations of one Brooklyn family struggling to hold onto the family business, a Sheepshead Bay lobster shop. Jordan’s previous pic, Smiling Fish and Goat on Fire, received much festival acclaim, and as he readies his new one for a fest premiere, he’s already picked up one high-profile supporter. Reports Michael Fleming in Variety, Martin Scorsese has agreed to put his “Martin Scorsese presents” label on the film, assuring it some degree of critical buzz. Jordan connected with Scorsese when he […]
by Scott Macaulay on Nov 11, 2004
CELLUAR ENTERTAINMENT

Via Variety comes this interesting subscription-only piece announcing a new spin-off for Fox’s espionage TV series 24 which reachers viewers via cell-phone. Writes Josef Adalian, “In a first-of-its-kind deal for a U.S. TV studio, 20th Century Fox TV has greenlit production of a live-action 24 spinoff skein that will be produced exclusively for cell phone users. Dubbed 24: Conspiracy, the show — featuring original characters separate from the Fox TV skein — will unfold over 24 roughly one-minute episodes; one seg will be downloaded to subscribers’ phones every week.” Premiering in the U.K., where cell phone use and 3G technology […]
by Scott Macaulay on Nov 10, 2004
WALKER WALKS… TO CAA

Via Variety comes this (subscription-only) news that agent Bart Walker has left ICM for CAA. Based in New York, Walker has for years at ICM repped high-profile independent auteurs like Jim Jarmusch, Julian Schnabel and John Turturro. In addition to negotiating director deals, he usually works actively to arrange financing for his clients’ pics by combining foreign distribution and presale monies with domestic partners. Recently, Walker worked to put together the financing for Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides in a manner that allowed the filmmaker to retain the film’s copyright. Directors who will travel with Walker to CAA include all […]
by Scott Macaulay on Nov 3, 2004
GIMME A (TAX) BREAK

It’s pretty unusual to wake up in the morning and read entertainment industry news detailing benefits specifically targeted towards independent filmmakers. But that’s what this (subscription-only) Variety piece does as it explains provisions in the just-signed American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 that make it more advantageous for investors to invest in independent film. Writes Susan Crabtree and Ian Mohr, “After years of lobbying, independent filmmakers scored a major victory Friday when President Bush signed a bill that gives a sweeping tax break to movies made in the U.S. Producers believe the measure may draw substantial fresh funds into indie […]
by Scott Macaulay on Oct 25, 2004

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