JUNE, 6

MOVIES RELEASED

1-CAROUSEL

Musical / Comedy
Directed by Sam Mendes
Starring Jim Carrey, Claire Danes, James Franco, Dakota Fanning, Alexis Bledel, William H. Macy, Kathy Bates
Box Office: 84 mill.
Net Gains: 62 mill.

CMP Reaction: A more than good box office for a musical. This movie looks as it’ll become a CMP’s classic long time remembered. After releasing three musicals this Season, the balance of the genre is positive enough to keep trying with musicals in the future.

2-THE GROTTO

Horror / Evil
Directed by John Carpenter
Produced by Wes Craven
Starring Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Danny Trejo, Freddie Highmore
Box Office: 45 mill.
Net Gains: 14 mill.

CMP Reaction: A correct breakdown. The horror genre resurrects after the flop of ‘London Underground’. Satisfactory.

THE CRITICS CORNER

1-CAROUSEL

“Sam Mendes is not only a movie director but also an experienced and talented stage director. And you can notice that in this movie. He has planned each sequence of this story with a perfect timing, making a perfect mix between music numbers, dialogue and dramatic moments, so everything looks as a whole in a brilliant and intense show, much more deeper than ‘Piece Of My Heart’ and much more complete than ‘Nine’. Finally, CMP has a great musical in its vaults”
-Jackie C. O’Callaghan

“I was so scared when I saw Jim Carrey related to this production. The whole concept looked great… but did it have to be Carrey? The most overacted talent and most overvalued comedian ever could sink what seemed to be a promising production. Well, I was wrong. Here we have the good Carrey version (the one in ‘The Truman Show’ or ‘Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind’) not the horrible Carrey version (‘Ace Ventura’, ‘Liar, Liar’). Thanks God. Carrey has been controlled by Mendes and, thanks to that, he has probably made the best performance of his career. I could never imagine I’d ever write this about him… but I would even vote for him for the GMA!”
-Charlie Kiggs

“Finally, ‘Carousel’ has the movie version the story deserved. A perfect balance between drama, adventure and romance all together with one of the best musical scripts ever. Sam Mendes’ approach to the Rodgers & Hammerstein’s play has given it the epic and drama dimension it deserved, making us forget the mistakes of previous adaptations. The cast of the movie is a knock-out as they all looked as born to play their characters. A visual pleasure.”
-Roy Winslow

2-THE GROTTO

“Here is another of those Carpenter’s B-series horror movies. Everything is cheap around this production. Visual effects are poor. Direction is routine. And the screenplay has a severe lack of consistency. Not even the effort of the Sutherlands trying to give dramatic intensity to their empty characters saves a disappointing function”
-Lilly Stevens

“There are a few moments in the movie – those taking place in the underworld of the grotto – that reach a decent level. But this movie is far away from John Carpenter’s best works, such as ‘The Thing’. It seems like Craven and Carpenter did not know what to do with the material they had in hands and they haven’t been able to lift up a poor story based on an evil Santa not very scary”
-Anne Roman

“Will Darkman ever return? This movie made me miss the achievements of ‘Fear the Darkness’ and ‘The Long Dark Night’ (both directed for CMP by Craven, now producer of this one). In so many ways, ‘The Grotto’ recovers some elements from those movies (an unknown and evil universe hiding behind the ordinary life, a premise also seen in Shymalan’s ‘Cursed Neverland’, another reference for this movie) but Donald Sutherland’s Santa never scared me half as much as Del Toro’s Darkman did”
-Jack Carter

AWAITING RELEASE

1-CAPTAIN AMERICA: DESTINY

The Cast: Heath Ledger, Kate Beckinsale, Alec Baldwin, Jon Voight

The Director and Producer: Tim Burton
The Screenwriter: Joey Stark

The Plot: The world is changing for Superheroes. The Government of the USA has declared war on an Arab terrorist organization that is threatening the whole Occidental world. Some superheroes, as Captain America (H.Ledger), are helping the Government in this war, fighting all together under a secret agency ruled by old Captain America’s contact in the Government, Nick Stanley (A.Baldwin). But there is a press campaign against some superheroes that are said to be working independently from the Government and out of control. This press campaign is being orchestrated by the head of the National Security Agency, the ambitious William Carrington (J.Voight). The reason for Carrington to do that is that he does not control Stanley’s secret agency and feels jealous of its success.

Carrington, who wants to run for President, wants to appear in front of the public opinion as the man who ended up with terrorists. But that plan is not possible while the superheroes keep being the real winners of the war and not his Agency.

So, after spreading the false rumour that some superheroes may be dangerous for national security, he convinces the weak and easily influenced US President to promulgate a Law that extinguish Stanley’s agency and put all superheroes under Carrington’s control. Captain America rejects that and keeps acting by himself.

When Carrington sees how popular Captain America is for the American people, ruining his plans of becoming the only leader against terrorism, he decides to act.

Carrington contacts the terrorists and makes a deal with them. He will help them to kill Captain America.

So he set a trap. He kidnaps Stanley but announces that it's been a terrorist commando the ones that have done it. Then, he tells Captain America he needs to see him at the National Security Agency Headquarters. He attracts Captain America telling him he has some confidential information about where his friend could be kept as hostage.

Captain America goes to see Carrington together with his girlfriend (K.Beckinsale). Accepting Carrington’s demands, he goes anonymously as Steven Rogers. But when he’s walking up the stairway to NSA’s Headquarters, he is shot by a shooter, an Arab terrorist. Three shots kill him and Captain America dies in the arms of his beloved girlfriend.

What Carrington did not expect is that the shooter is accidentally captured by a cop that was passing by. And the shooter confesses Carrington’s deal with terrorists. Carrington is discovered. After letting Stanley free, Carrington shoots himself.

Captain America is gone. But the war against terrorism, leaded now by Nick Stanley and the rest of superheroes, goes on.

The Comment: Third Captain America movie. And last one. The two previous ones worked so well at box office so this one is expected to become another blockbuster for sure. As everybody knows, the first superhero movie ever in which the superhero dies.


2-KING OF THE WORLD

The Cast: Matthew Perry, Eva Mendes, Vince Vaughn. Cameo: Steve Carrell.

The Director: Andrew Bergman
The Screenwriter: John Daws

The Plot: A dark drama/comedy about the rise and fall of a man in the business world and the turning around of a corrupt man in a different kind of business.

David Newman (M.Perry) is the owner of a failing IT company and his wife Ellie Newman (E.Mendes) has had enough of the lack of husband she now has.

She is having and affair with corrupt 'business man' Marc Hannigan (V.Vaughn).

Knowing of her husband’s plight he sees an opportunity to get something out of the desperate man and visits David with a business proposition.

He wants to use his office as a front to his own business and wants to store stolen good and ship drugs in and out of the country inside PC cases!
In return Marc will use his contacts to make his company thrive.

A reluctant but desperate David agrees and so the business relationship takes off.

Business thrives for David and his wife starts to see a change in her husband once again but still the triangle exists and it gets increasingly difficult to keep the men apart seeing as they work with each other.

Then Marc gets in trouble with a gang who he owes, leaded by Steve Carell. David feeling like he owes Marc gets involved and so a plot to get the gang the money they want by stealing it from them hatches.

Marc gets a concience and as a new found friend tells David about the affair. David angry and feeling now unhelpful leaves and gets caught by the gang who were already onto the plot.

Marc then has to save David and eventually does. They get all the money they need and Ellie is left with nothing and both the men set off together to London.

The Comment: Andrew Bergman and Matthew Perry had a hit recently with ‘Casual Day’. This one follows the same pattern: action, comedy and a bit of romance. These kind of stories always do well in box office so the winning strike of Perry may go on without major surprises.


THE INTERVIEW SERIES – HARRY STARK
By Amy Ratched

Last interview of this series is the boss himself, CMP’s President Harry Stark. He was the man that once had this crazy idea of creating a Movie Studio not knowing where will it take him. Now, after more than 100 movies released, he looks surprise of the success of his idea and enjoys more than ever the experience. Stark is always thinking on new initiatives to improve CMP while keeps working tireless to keep his Studio going.

(By the way, I hope this series of interviews has helped everyone to know a bit more about all the CMP’s family, a bunch of creative people with one thing in common: their love for the art of moviemaking!)

A.R.:So how was it that you decided to create a Movie Studios?
H.S.: Well, I wanted to get into the business world and I wasn't sure if opening a McDonalds or creating a big Hollywood Studio, you know. It was a coin that decided it... *laughs* Seriously now, I love movies and I have been working in the movie industry with HM for a very long time. I just thought it would be nice to try to expand the experience and the idea just came to me.

A.R.:How is the experience being so far?
H.S.: Absolutely great. When I started with it, I had no idea if it would last or if anyone would be interested in it. I'm so surprised how many people has joined the adventure. I wasn't even sure if I would enjoy it myself. But the truth is that I'm having a lot of fun and I think there's a great bunch of people involved now. I just wanted to have fun and you bet I'm having it.

A.R.:Is it hard to manage the Studio?
H.S.: Well, it takes time, imagination and inspiration. Now, I'm used to it and I'm well organized so it does not take me as much time as it did at the beginning. I think it is just a matter of organizing yourself.

A.R.:What's your favourite part of managing CMP?
H.S.: I'm so hooked to the Marketing Department. I mean, I enjoy so much the challenge of creating nice posters and adds for the movies. It is harder than it seems. The concept, the design, trying not repeating ideas... It's more challenging than it may seem. And it is frustrating when you just do not find the idea. I also love the thrill of releases. You have been developing a movie for weeks, fighting with director and writers and stars, creating all the marketing campaign... and then comes the moment when the movie finally hit the screens. When the moment comes, you have been involved in the whole process of production for quite a long time since you received the screenplay until it is ready to release. It's been weeks and sometimes even months! At the end, every movie becomes your beloved little creation and then it hit the screens and the Financial Department brings me the Box Office report and... Well, you can imagine how painful it is when a movie flops.

A.R.:What have been your biggest deceptions?
H.S.: Probably, 'Outer Eye'. Maybe because I'm a big fan and friend of John Cusack. And also because it was such an original and creative concept. Also, I was frustrated to read once that Natalie Portman was considered 'box office poison' for CMP. Natalie is one of my favourite actresses. So I just hope I'll have the chance to produce a big hit for her. Oh, and of course we have our legendary flop... 'Tales Of The Jedi'.

A.R.:What are your favourite CMP movies?
H.S.:The ones that make a lot of money... *laughs*. I like all kind of movies and genres. What I want for CMP is diversity. I mean, I'm not interested in just producing big action blockbusters. This season, we have been giving a try to musicals and western. I like that. Changing from one genre to another. I finally get to love all our movies but, just to mention some specific favourites, I loved the chance to produce 'The Toymaker', that was absolutely great in my opinion; the three 'The Heirs' movies and that big little jewel that was 'The Little Sister'.

A.R.What about franchises and sequels?
H.S.: It's great, cause they usually mean money. But I don't want to be trapped with too many franchises. We produce something like 8 to 10 sequels per season and seasons are 30 movies. So we are producing too much sequels. I'll try to reduce that in the future and only really successful movies will have the chance of a sequel.

A.R.:Tell me about your team of screenwriters.
H.S.: That's the best part of the Studio. We have been so lucky to get together a really nice group of writers. They are very creative people. I enjoy so much the relationship with all of them. I like to think that we have become something like a family: some times we fight but most of the time we have fun working together. I hope more screenwriters will join us in the future. There's room for everyone that wants to have fun with us.

A.R.:And how's your relationship with the media?
H.S.: That is growing too lately. We have Misterbaldy, who is an intelligent and brilliant journalist and is doing an incredibly good job. And we had The Shadow, which of course we all hated. But it seems like The Shadow is staying in the shadows and I must admit I miss him. I was curious about The Shadow Awards but they just never showed up... And of course we have the critics from The Critics Corner, which some times are unfair, as every movie critic is.

A.R.:Do you interfere much in productions or do you give freedom to authors?
H.S.: I try to respect the freedom of authors. But sometimes I have to give them bad news like when some star rejects to be in a movie or something. Other times I make recommendations about the stories. But I think that the level of freedom is pretty high. After all, I run a Studio and I have to be sure that the final product will be profitable and not only artistic, you know.

A.R.:How long will CMP last?
H.S.: I have no idea. Maybe some day Dreamworks will show up and make me an offer for the Studio and I'll retire to Bahamas forever... I don't know. As long as I have the energy to keep working on it and I keep enjoying it and screenwriters keep sending good pitches, I'll go on. But you just never know what future may bring.

MOVIES IN DEVELOPMENT

22:01: What begun as a little movie is getting big, very big. Robert De Niro convinced Tarantino to direct it. And now, De Niro has convinced another big name to play his enemy, the leader of his rival gang. No other than Al Pacino himself. Now, the movie has become the awaited reunion between Pacino and De Niro after the legendary ‘Heat’. Wow.

FLASHES OF LIFE: Natalie and Jake have a director. Cameron Crowe has accepted to direct this sentimental drama. Crowe has never worked for CMP before and he has stated he feels so thrilled with the challenge of making the most dramatic story he has ever directed.

NAGASAKI DAYDREAMS: Ziyi Zhang and Ken Watanabe (‘Ace Banner 2’) complete the cast of this drama about the last days of Nasagaki before the airplane ‘Bockscar’ dropped the atomic bomb. Clint Eastwood is finishing this movie that he both directs and produces.

WELCOME TO SUMMER CAMP: Director Shawn Levy has not only made the blockbuster ‘Night At The Museum’ but also another hits starred by Steve Martin, like ‘Cheaper By The Dozen’. It’s been his friendship with Martin what has taken Levy to debut in CMP directing him in this children comedy.

GAME BOY: George Lucas keeps hiring big names for the cast of voices. Not only Will Smith and Keira Knightley are in, but also John Leguizamo (the funny thing is that he will be the voice of both Mario and Luigi), Orlando Bloom, Mickey Rourke, Kevin James and Kirsten Dunst, who knows about this as her voice has been previously heard in ‘Calvin and Hobbes’.

NATHAN ZACHARY AND DRAKE’S GOLD (CRIMSON SKIES): Here begins what is expected to become a lasting CMP’s franchise. Jack Hammer writes, directs and produces the first adventure based on the pc game ‘Crimson Skies’, a classic adventure full of airplanes and also some zeppelins… We are going to hear a lot about this one…

NO EVIL: David Mamet (‘Smoke Signals’) has begun the shooting of this drama starred by Edward Norton and Tea Leoni. And he has called Smoke Signals’ lead star Johnny Depp to play a supporting role in it. Depp and Mamet became close friends during the shooting of ‘Smoke Signals’ and that’s why Depp has no doubted to accept the offer.

WILD CARDS 3: ACE IN THE HOLE: Matt Kubrick has promised a redefinition of the saga in this new episode, with quite a few new characters. He directed the first movie. Tarantino directed the second one. And now, a visually creative director, Alexander Aja, will take care of the cameras in this new episode of this comic based weird universe.

CROOKS: Eva Longoria returns to comedy after the success of ‘Casual Day’. She will play a Las Vegas’ stripper that helps Murphy and Carell in their misadventures in this action comedy that is being directed by Martin Campbell.

SYNDROME: PARADISE LOST: Another name joins the cast. Bill Paxton will appear in this post-apocaliptic action adventure that will mean the return of Matt Kubrick behind the cameras.

COMING SOON – THE ADD


RUMOURS AND GOSSIPS

There’s an unconfirmed rumour running through CMP’s offices. Now that the franchise of Captain America gets to an end, Harry Stark would be interested in developing a series of movies based in another Marvel’s trademark: the Avengers. In some way, it would be the sequel of Captain America, as the Avengers would avenge his death in the first movie. Only a rumour, but sounds believable…

There is worry in CMP’s offices with the new Wild Cards’ movie. Some stars leading the two first episodes, as Angelina Jolie, are not returning. Some others, like Bruce Willis or Matt Dillon are not confirmed yet and may only play a minor role. Tarantino is gone. And a less experienced and less prestigious director, as Alexander Aja, is taking control of the saga with new talents starring it. It all sounds too risky and may take the cult saga to a new and promising beginning or to a premature death.

Harry Stark is interested in working with two prestigious directors that have never made a movie for CMP yet: Sam Raimi and Gore Verbinski. It is rumoured that Stark is looking for the right projects to offer them as he wants them very much to be ahead of some CMP’s movie in the near future.

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN… OR HELL

HEAVEN

TED FROATS: Adapting a classic musical was a peculiar bet from Froats. But he has always proved that he does not look for easy blockbusters but always bet for risky projects (remember ‘Saving Samantha Moss’ or ‘Contract Killing For Dummies’). Luckily, this time box office success has come together with quality.

JIM CARREY: A risky choice to star ‘Carousel’. But it finally worked. So Carrey, as his character does in the movie, can face Heaven’s Gates with this success.

HELL

200 MILLIONS: As everyone knows, reaching 100 mill. in box office is considered as an outstanding success in CMP’s world. Reaching 200 mill. is just a kind of miracle and only ‘New Order’ and ‘Darkening Skies’ have been able to make it with HM’s v38. Will it be easier with the upcoming v83? A hell of a challenge.

TRAX AND LUCAS: The relationship between the writer and the producer of ‘New Order’ and ‘Mysteries Of The Sith’ seems to be broken. The awaited third episode of the new Star Wars trilogy may have stepped into the Dark Side due to it. War of the Stars keeps going on. Next episodes coming up soon.

INSIDE CMP

The release of ‘Captain America: Destiny’ and ‘King Of The World’ will mean the end of CMP’s Season 4. Soon, Julian Jones will present the Financial Report for this season. As usual, it will be compared with the previous Season (the most successful for the Studio with HM's v38). It is uncertain if Season 4 has done better than Season 3. And it is even more uncertain what the future may bring to the Studio next Season, when movies will be managed with HM’s v83 – Level 3.

IMPORTANT: Harry Stark is already adapting Smirkworthy’s Databases for next Season. There will be some minor changes in the databases. The reason? Any talent that has ever worked in a CMP’s movie up until now will be included. That means that some minor names will be removed from the original databases. The changes will be announced in HM’s message board soon. It means that talents like Matthew Perry, Sean Connery, Rene Russo or Christopher Lee, among others, won’t stay out of CMP with the upcoming changes.