Sunday January 6, 2008
HOLLYWOOD MAKES A BAD FILM
by Yasmine Youssi
The decision is in: no high-profile actor will attend the Golden Globes, a ceremony that often presages the Oscars, because of the writers' strike, still on-going on the payments to authors issue. This strike has halted all film-making since December. And a further strike, this one by actors and directors, is set for between now and July.
"You going?" All week the question toured the closed world of Hollywood celebrities. No one knew until yesterday morning whether they would be attending next Sunday, the Golden Globes ceremony, first step to the Oscars. The question is no longer open. No 'people' will walk on the red carpet that night, in solidarity with the Writers' Guild of America (WGA), the powerful union of American writers (12 500) members, on strike for the past ten weeks. No one wants to be seen as 'not- on- board' on this either and risk being black-listed at a further date. Glen Close and David Cronenberg had indicated before all others that they would not cross the picket lines. Steven Spielberg (who was to receive a Golden Globe for his career achievements) reserved his answer for a while, but has now joined his comrades. Yet one still finds a few like John Travolta to argue for a possible near settlement.
The issue is not new. 'The Association of Producers for Cinema and Television refuses to share benefits from digital media', explains Sherry Goldman, representative for the writers who want more value put on their rights in the case of DVDs and films- on- line. In short, for a DVD sold 19.99 dollars, those authors presently getting 4 cents would like a royal 8..."Negotiations are not moving because the striking writers are also concerned with telereality, animation, and so forth", answers back Jesse Hiestand, representative for the producers.
Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Johnny Depp, all deprived of film-making work
From strike to chaos, is but a short step. All the major projects for 2008 have been cancelled. Others seem on the verge. First casualty, Angels and Demons by Ron Howard. Colunmbia had asked Akiva Goldman (I Am a Legend), a highly prized writer, for a script turning the Dan Brown novel into a sequel for Da Vinci Code that would allow Tom Hanks to once again play Professor Robert Langdon. The film was to come out December 19, 2008 and the script was near completion when Goldman went on strike. The studio now foresees a May 15, 2009 opening. Luckily Tom Hanks has accepted no other roles which will allow the filming to begin as soon as possible.
Bruce Willis' overcharged dance card however risks putting-off the filming of Oliver Stones' (member of WGA) Pinkville, to a yet undetermined date. And that if the actor does not bail out of the project. He was meant to play a general asked by the American Army to investigate a massacre perpetrated in Vietnam, in 1968, by a group of GIs. Oliver Stone had planned to go to South-East Asia in December to begin filming. Since it is impossible for him to alter his script, shooting has been suspended. And Bruce Willis is scheduled to film The Surrogate, with Jonathan Mostow, in February.
Johnnny Depp, for his part, was meant to spend the winter in India filming, with Mira Nair, the hero's role in Shantaram, the story of an Australian adventurer. Warners insisted that Eric Roth work on the scenario but he too is now on strike and even if it were to stop, monsoon rains are approaching. Hence a decision to abandon the project for the time being, thus liberating Johnny Depp from his obligations. He would thus be free to accept a role in the next Michael Mann (Miami Vice) film on the life of gangster John Dillinger. Which will start shooting in May. If all goes well.
'The risk is that there will be few new films in the coming years'
Europe is also touched by all this. Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard could quickly pack up and leave. All were meant to play in Nine, a musical comedy by Rob Marshall (Chicago), inspired by Fellini's Eight-and-a-Half. British writer Anthony Minghella ( The English Patient) had been called in to take over the scenario..two days before the strike. So, Marshall has to wait and see.
As a response to what is becoming a crisis, the producers have opted for resistance: 'The writers' union had threatened to close down the movie industry, and are close to having succeeded' is Jesse Hiestand's angry remark. 'But the producers are ready for a long strike'. Especially so since a new strike, that of actors and directors, is looming for July. At that date, they too will be in a position to re-negotiate their collective agreement. And request a greater value be put on their rights...'One risks seeing very few new films in the coming years', predicts Sherry Goldman. February 24, it is Oscar Night which is in danger.
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