MAY, 9

MOVIES RELEASED

1-SOUTH EAST

Drama / Action
Directed by Neil Jordan
Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Kirsten Dunst, Don Cheadle, Daniel Craig
Box Office: 75 mill.
Net Gains: 54 mill.

CMP Reaction: To be honest, such a great box office breakdown was not expected. A low budget and high net gains together with quality. A delicious surprise.

2-DAKOTA NORTH

Western
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Produced by Brad Pitt
Starring Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke, Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Ryan Gosling
Box Office: 26 mill.
Net Loss: 16 mill.

CMP Reaction: The Studio knew it would be hard to make a western work in box office. Not even the big, very big names, involved in the movie could save it from a flop.

THE CRITICS CORNER

1-SOUTH EAST

“A little great movie, a great little movie. Here is the ‘sleeper’ of the Season. A modest British production that has become a major hit and maybe one of the most brilliant pictures ever produced by CMP. There’s quality in each and every scene of it.”
-Jack Carter

“Watching the movie, it came to my mind some scenes from quite a few movies, like ‘Goodfellas’, ‘A Bronx Tale’ or ‘Once Upon A Time In America’. A teenager getting involved with bad companies. There’s more hope in this movie that in those ones, anyway. Interesting, moving and thrilling. I loved it.”
-Anne Roman

“After this one, Daniel Radcliffe has gained the status of Actor. Forget about Harry Potter. This guy is the future of British acting. And when will Don Cheadle be recognized as the major talent he is? You’ve got my votes, boys.”
-Roy Winslow

2-DAKOTA NORTH

“Is Clint Eastwood an overvalued director? I know it is politically incorrect to say that, as he has been sited in the Olympus of Movie History. But when you look at his filmography, not everything is wine and roses. Personally, I would put this movie in the bad side of that filmography. A too predictable story without the magic of classic westerns. Too far away from ‘Unforgiven’, Clint.”
-Charlie Kiggs

“It is funny how Angelina stays clean and sexy no matter the dust, the fights or the pain. ‘Dakota North’ is to brilliant westerns the same thing than ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’ is to good action movies.”
-Wayne Hart

“Here was a difficult task for Eastwood. A movie conceived as a vehicle for Angelina Jolie’s shining. A movie produced by the lead star’s husband. A genre that hasn’t got too many chances in box office in our days. A villain played by an actor with tendency to overact as Sean Penn. Too high expectations and a hard to believe revenge plot. No, Eastwood hadn’t it easy. But only he could face the challenge. And, personally, I think he has done a great job. An entertaining western that connects tradition with contemporary action stories. I’m so sorry audiences didn’t appreciate this brilliant exercise of movie making.”
-Bob Felton

AWAITING RELEASE

1-LONDON UNDERGROUND

The Cast: Liv Tyler, Ryan Gosling, Julie Delpy, Sean William Scott

The Director: Stephen Sommers
The Screenwriter: Matt Kubrick

The Plot: Four tourists, two men (R.Gosling and S.W.Scott) and two women (L.Tyler and J.Delpy) are involved in a car accident and must make their way through the night after barely escaping with their lives. Hopelessly lost they witness a brutal murder and are seen. They escape into a subway. After fleeing into the tunnels it becomes a struggle to survive as their night gets worse and worse, continously being stalked by a killer at every turn.

The Comment: Here is Matt Kubrick’s horror movie of the season. A terrifying story in London subway’s tunnels sounds like a good premise. Expected to be a Halloween’s blockbuster.


2-SPACE QUEST: TIME FOR SURVIVORS

The Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Rachel Weisz, Morgan Freeman, Matthew McGouneghy, Milla Jovovich, Gabriel Byrne

The Director and Producer: Roland Emmerich
The Screenwriter: Steve Connors

The Plot: The Major (M.Freeman) is losing his war against the Zorbgs. He wants an interview with Arlan (k.Sutherland), The Survivors leader. Arlan accepts to see him. The Major propose him to join forces against the Zorbgs. The Major Guard leader (G.Byrne) tells Arlan the truth: The Major does not exist as a human being, he's just a computer programme. The Major offers Arlan to be the new leader of The Conqueror and join him in his tyranny as his pupil. Arlan fakes to accept.
With Survivors and Security Corps fighting together, they finally beat the Zorbgs. Rakanangh retires, defeated.
A few days after the great victory, Carey (M.McGouneghy) surprisingly tries to murder Arlan. Arlan discovers that Carey is not his friend. He became an android controlled by The Major since he was his prisoner. Everything that has happened all this time was in fact a global plan from The Major to destroy both Zorbgs and Survivors!
Arlan kills Carey after an extreme fight. Survivors fight a last battle against The Major. Arlan and Brit (R.Weisz) reach The Heart and finally destroy The Major. But, in that attack, Brit is wounded and finally dies.
Desperate and alone, Arlan rules The Conqueror. The spaceship arrives to a habitable planet. Humans can live there.
But Arlan, alone and lonely, his little son and some Survivors (M.Jovovich among them) decide to stay at The Conqueror and keep travelling across space to live new adventures.

The Comment: Third and probably last episode of this space opera, shot simultaneously with the second episode. Full of B-series spirit, the saga begun with a major flop, the second movie was a decent hit and this conclusion is expected to become a major blockbuster, as fans of the story seem to have increased with time.


THE INTERVIEW SERIES – MARCUS TRAX
By Amy Ratched

Amy Ratched, CMP’s Press Office Chief, begins a series of interviews with all CMP’s screenwriters. We’ll know more of them and their movies from now on.

Marcus Trax is the President of Trax Star Productions, an independent production company that begun making tv series and got into the movie business with CMP. Trax has already written more than a dozen screenplays for the Studio until now. In his career, there are major hits, like ‘Star Wars: New Order’ or ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’ together with deceptions as ‘The Library’ or ‘The Bridge’. Some of his new screenplays, like ‘Eureka!’, ‘Visionaries’ or ‘Dungeons & Dragons’, together with the expected sequel of Star Wars, will hit the screens soon. Trax has proved to be a versatile writer capable to create stories for all kind of genres.

A.R.:'Star Wars: New Order' was a wonderful hit. Now the sequel is coming. What will be new in 'Mysteries Of The Sith'?
M.T.:Mysteries of the Sith will build on the galaxy that was created in A New Order. We now see a state of all out war between the races led by the Sith and the struggling Republic with the Jedi caught on the front line. There will be the grandeous as in all Star Wars but I also explore deep character relationships, I hope!, by looking at the main characters in confined settings.

A.R.:How do you deal with the pressure of being responsible of the biggest franchise ever?
M.T.:Pressure is what you make it. As long as the fans like the films and everyone sees them as an addition to the wonderful universe George (Lucas) has given us then it is worth it.

A.R.:What plans do you have for 'Star Wars'? A trilogy? Or will it go even further?
M.T.:A trilogy is the immediate plan, but there is the option for a prequel trilogy to this one set between Return of the Jedi and A New Order. But lets see how this one goes first!

A.R.:You seem to like mixing big budgeted productions, like 'Star Wars', 'Visionaries' or 'Dungeons & Dragons' with low budget movies like 'Smoke Signals' or 'Outer Eye'. Where do you feel more comfortable?
M.T.I like my spectacle but for a writer it is nice to go into smaller scale productions and tell a more intimate story, so I tend to move between them.

A.R.:How does it feel to work with the biggest names in the industry, such as Lucas, Spielberg, James Cameron or Peter Jackson?
M.T.:They are all great guys and it is wonderful to think that I get to meet them, work with them and just chill out when the situation demands, like after a tough shoot. I always try and get them involved as well with the script making process as they will be the ones transferring it from paper to the screen.

A.R.:By the way, I loved two historical epic dramas you wrote, 'The Bridge' and 'The Library', but both flopped. I think it was a shame.
M.T.:Thanks but sometimes films just do well in the B.O. For those two specifically they are very niche films that are more prestige films than B.O returns. I am just grateful CMP took the time, effort and money to allow me to make them.

A.R.:Do you think that audiences appreciate enough movies like 'The Library'? I mean, it seems like only action movies or sci-fi operas are able to make it in box office in our days. It's frustrating.
M.T.:I think there are issues with how audiences percieve films. People like popcorn films rather than thought provoking dramas or historical dramas in the case of 'The Library'. But that is modern cinema all one can ask is that studios continue to cater to those who do go to see films like 'The Library' and do supply the budget, crew and cast that makes a georgeous and thought provoking film.

A.R.:Last edition of GMA, two of your movies, 'Star Wars' and 'Smoke Signals', were the most winning pictures. Do you care about awards?
M.T.:Awards are nice for the recognition. But most importantly to me is getting my ideas out there letting people see my stories and thoughts. And to that I thank CMP (except for Minos), the actors, directors and crew involved in all my films.

A.R.:Comedies seem to be the poor relatives of big productions. What are your expectations about 'Eureka!'? I think it looks great.
M.T.:Eureka! is a nice idea I came up with some time ago but Star Wars seems to have taken over. As for expectations I have some. *smiles* I honestly don't know how people will react to it. All I can do is sit and wait... well not sit I have far too much to do to just sit and wait, write and wait is probably more apt.

A.R.:What other CMP's movies, besides yours, have you enjoyed lately?
M.T.:I enjoy the Hitman series immensly and Cursed Neverland has stuck in my head since reading it, a great concept.

A.R..Can you tell us something about future projects?
M.T.:Well I have a few on, Star Wars of course. Then there is Dungeons and Dragons which could provide a new challenge. Apart from that there are a few things in line which I am sure CMP will let the world know about sooner or later.

MOVIES IN DEVELOPMENT

HITMAN: THICKER BLOOD: Sean Bean has joined the cast playing one of the villains of the story. It is the first time that Bean works in a CMP movie. This way, the complete cast of the movie includes Colin Farrell, Paul Bettany, Kate Beckinsale, Patrick Stewart and Bean.

THE COMPANY: Keanu Reeves (‘Deep Silence’, ‘Checkmate’) has accepted to play the role that was initially conceived for Denzel Washington. Reeves will be a kind of messiah that is persecuted by a great religious corporation that feels thread due to his influence in the people.

STAR WARS: MYSTERIES OF THE SITH: Another two new names. Tilda Swinton and Ron Pearlman will play a couple of smugglers that get involved in the war with the Sith. Both of them are making his first work for the Studio with this one.

WARLAND: Julia Roberts already has a starring couple in her war journalists action drama: Edward Burns (‘Smoke Signals’) plays an idealist writer that will get so interested in the Afghanistan conflict… and in Julia herself.

PAPERBACK STORY: Recovered from the deception of ‘Piece of my heart’, writer James Bradley teams up with director Woody Allen in this satire about writers and intellectuals. And they’ll have a very appealing starring couple in the story: Sean Connery (‘The Crusades’, ‘Tales Of The Jedi’, ‘The Bridge’) and best Supporting Actress GMA winner, Susan Sarandon (‘Deadly Sins’).

VISIONARIES: A couple of quality names join the shootage of Bryan Singer and Marcus Trax’s fantasy. Best Supporting Actor GMA winner, Ben Kingsley (‘The Crusades’, ‘The Bridge’) and Jeremy Irons (‘Tales Of The Jedi’, ‘The Great War: Darkening Skies’).

RETURN OF THE LAST LAWMAN: A veteran talent will be the villain of the sequel, playing a mean fanatic religious leader (no controversy here… or so it seems): Mr. Christopher Lee will face Will Smith. It is rumoured that Lee could also be seen in ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ if his agenda allows it.

EUREKA!: Will Ferrell (‘Ultraman’s Revenge’) has accepted to play a supporting role in Ben Stiller’s comedy. Ferrell will play a mean scientist. Also, Lucy Liu is quickly shooting some scenes for the movie, as she has to join urgently the cast of ‘Visionaries’.

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: An appealing starring couple for Peter Jackson’s megaproject. No others than Nicholas Cage (Captain America vs Superman’, ‘The Last Lawman’) and Bruce Willis (‘Bullitt’, ‘Deadly Sins’, 'Sam & Twitch’ and the Wild Cards saga) will be dealing with dragons… and dungeons.

NINE: Antonio Banderas had expressed to CMP his will of directing the musical. But he is too busy acting, singing and dancing that he has decided to let Rob Marshall to work moving the cameras. Marshall had a great hit directing another musical, ‘Chicago’, so he looks as a good choice for this one.

COMING SOON – THE ADD


RUMOURS AND GOSSIPS

Hard to believe. There are rumours about a most peculiar project: a new Ace Banner movie. Remember that ‘Ace Banner 2’ was a total box office disaster. But it is said that writer Matt Kubrick and director Quentin Tarantino, after their work together in ‘Wild Cards 2: Aces High’, want to make a new movie based in the character completely redefining the franchise. In it, Ace Banner would not have the face of Hugh Jackman. Sounds freak, doesn’t it?

And another surprising rumour. Kubrick also wants to make another movie based on Jason Vorhees (Friday 13th). He has presented a screenplay to CMP for consideration. Remember that Kubrick’s debut as director was ‘Vorhees: The Early Years’ (and it made a more than decent box office). Is Kubrick making the right decisions in his career?

Patrick Stewart is one of the most demanded supporting talents in CMP. He is already committed to two major franchises: Hitman and Star Wars. That’s the reason why he hasn’t been able to join the cast of ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ as Marcus Trax wanted.

Friendly is not the word. Peter Jackson is already working in the mega-production ‘Dungeons & Dragons’. And James Cameron is also working in it, as the main responsible of CMP’s technical division. Cameron’s duty is to supervise the digital effects (hundreds of them, probably) that will be created for the movie. And it is said that a Battle of the Egos has begun between Jackson and Cameron.

INSIDE CMP

Besides developing peculiar stories (see above), Matt Kubrick has taken a step beyond in his career. Kubrick has created ‘Midnight Movies’, a CMP’s subsidiary Production Company. This way, the prolific and creative author will gain more control over his movies and more freedom to develop his own ideas. Now, profitable franchises as ‘Wild Cards’ and ‘Robotech’ will be developed by Midnight Movies.


Schedule problems are growing lately. Some talents are committed to more than one CMP movie in production phase and it is getting really hard to have them available on time. That is becoming a nightmare for CMP’s Production Division as it causes too many delays. It seems like CMP’s screenwriters and directors always demand the same group of stars. Some examples of talents with schedule problems are: Lucy Liu (‘Eureka!’ and ‘Visionaries’), Ryan Gosling (‘Dakota North’ and ‘London Underground’), Patrick Stewart (‘Hitman: Thicker Blood’ and ‘Star Wars: Mysteries of the Sith’) or Daniel Craig (‘South East’ and ‘Star Wars: Mysteries Of The Sith’), among others.

CMP’S ALL TIME TOP 6 WORLDWIDE GROSS
(not taking into consideration HM’s version)

1. THE HEIRS - PART 2 – 303 mill.
2. THE MOGULERS – 233 mill.
3. STAR WARS: NEW ORDER – 229 mill.
4. THE GREAT WAR SERIES: DARKENING SKIES – 206 mill.
5. CAPTAIN AMERICA – 199 mill.
6. T.Y.M. – 199 mill.