Fox to Screen The Happening for Press After-all; M Night Afraid of Blogs?
For a couple weeks now it was rumored that 20th Century Fox had made the decision to not screen M Night Shyamalan’s The Happening to press after a bad review leaked onto the internet last month. And as you probably know, when studios decide not to screen a movie for the press, it’s usually for good reason.
But as it turns out, Fox has decided to screen the movie for press after all. Studios usually hold WOM screenings (or Word of Mouth Screenings) for the popcorn movies before release. It is typical for movie critics to see the film at these type of screenings. I think the general thinking is that a theater packed with the exact target demographic usually leads to a better theater experience (ie a comedy audience laughs more at more jokes, a horror audience jumps more at scares…etc), which in turn might be likely to influence the invited press also in attendance.
Instead, my local screening of The Happening is being held in a small private screening room, which is very odd for this type of film. Also, I’m not allowed to even bring a guest (another change from standard operating procedure). And I’ve heard the same from friends in other territories, so it appears to be a direct order for Fox themselves. Clarification: The reason I mention this is not that I’m bitter that I can’t bring a guest… 95% of the time I don’t even exercise the option. If I were to read between the lines, I would say that Fox wants invited members of the press, and ONLY invited members of press to screen the film early. Not allowing press to bring a friend or family member means one potentially less negative review on the web the next day.
Even New York Post’s Lou Lumenick notes an unusual addendum to the invite which warns against blogging: “Please keep in mind that reviews cannot post (online blogs included) or run until opening day, June 13th.” Is M Night really afraid of blogs? Is that why no one other than invited press is allowed to screen the film?
It should be noted that even though we are technically a blog, we always hold our reviews of a film until opening day (unless otherwise approved by a national publicist). The note above that Lou mentions is not directed at sites like us, per say (as we follow embargo rules), it is directed at movie critics with personal blogs.
Marley and Me Teaser Trailer
20th Century Fox has released the teaser trailer for the big screen adaptation of Marley & Me. I’ve never read John Grogan’s New York Times bestselling book, but I’ve heard from friends that it is both hilarious and heartwarming. And it seems to me that anyone who has ever had a pet would be able to relate with this story. But many of those same friends were shocked at the typical romantic comedy-esque casting of Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. And the short teaser below doesn’t quarm my uninformed preconceptions with the duo. Tell me what you think in the comments!
The official book cover description follows: The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life. John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.
Marley quickly grew into a barreling, 97-pound streamroller of a Labrador Retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged into drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women’s undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good —Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, “Don’t hesitate to use these.”
And yet, his heart was pure. Just as Marley joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. He shared the couple’s joy at first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a 17-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. Marley shut down a public beach and managed to land a role in a feature-length movie, always winning hearts as he made a mess of things. Through it all, he remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at wit’s end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.
Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.
source: marleyandmemovie
Simpsons Do Have a (Cash) Cow, Man
For the Simpsons cast, it’s less d’oh and more dough. Finally.
After months of negotiations that, until now, have put production on the latest season on hold, the voices of Springfield’s finest (and not so finest) have signed a new four-year deal with 20th Century Fox, bumping up the top cast’s salaries to roughly $400,000 per episode.
The new payday takes effect for the just announced 20th season of the series, which goes into production this morning, and which puts the show on par with Gunsmoke as the longest running prime-time series in TV history.
Though the new per-episode salary is slightly less than the reported $500,000 the group originally collectively sought, it’s a big boost from the $300,000 per episode the regulars were previously receiving.
In addition, Dan Castellaneta, who provides the voice of Homer Simpson and has penned several episodes of the series, has been made a consulting producer.
But while most of the gangCastellaneta, Julie Kavner (Marge), Nancy Cartwright (Bart), Yeardley Smith (Lisa) and Hank Azaria (Moe, Apu, et al.)is expected back on the studio lot today to kick off the first table read of the slightly truncated yet historic season, one key figure may be MIA.
A last-minute hitch prevented Harry Shearer from reupping with the rest of the cast, and it’s unclear whether his voiceand those of Mr. Burns and Ned Flanders, among otherswould be heard at the table read.
Because the lengthy negotiations cut into potential production time, the upcoming season will be comprised of just 20 episodes, rather than the usual 22.
It’s also unclear how much longer the show will go on. While the voice cast is now contracted for four more seasons, the series itself has not been renewed beyond 2008-09.
Which means the actors may be going from dough back to d’oh sooner than they think.
The Simpsons voices re-sign a new deal
It took just a few weeks, but the trouble is over. The two sides have met and negotiated a fair arrangement. No, I’m not referring to the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama camps and the Florida and Michigan delegates. No, the news is more animated than that. The powers that be at 20th Century Fox TV have re-signed the actors who voice the The Simpsons.
The principals are signing new four-year deals in which the talent will receive substantial increases in salary. They had been getting $360,000 per episode and were looking for a bump up in that fee to $500,000 per. The negotiated compromise amount is about $400,000 per show. And as expected, instead of a 22 episode season commencing next fall, there’ll be 20 shows in the year ahead.
And Homer is getting a special promotion. Dan Castellaneta who voices Homer — as well as Grampy Simpson and Krusty the Klown, among others — will be getting a new credit. He’ll be a consulting producer.
This is good news all around; Fox knows what they have with The Simpsons franchise. Considering that they’ve only had to ante up a little more than 11% increases to the actors, they did fine — as did the actors. This is a win-win all around, including a win for the viewers. The Simpsons cast will be back to work next week.