Re: [MOPO] A VERY BIG DEATH IN HOLLYWOOD
If you ask me, Kerkorian was the Kervorkian of MGM.the only difference beinghe didn'tbother to ask The Lion That Will Roar No MoreBy DAVID THOMSON an Francisco IT was a long time ago, but there are many who still remember that Stanley Donen (who was 81 yesterday) did "Singin' in the Rain"; that Cyd Charisse made X's and O's with her long legs in that film, as well as in "Brigadoon," "Party Girl" and "Silk Stockings"; that Elizabeth Taylor gave her violet eyes and her black hair for Technicolor tests; and that there were other stars like Debbie Reynolds, Margaret O'Brien (who smashed the snowmen even after Judy Garland had sung "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"), and many more, not forgetting the Mick, Mr. Rooney - hail to thee, blithe spirit - who ran the gamut from Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to "Baby Face Nelson." I know, those last two films were not thought of by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, but nobody's perfect, and Mickey Rooney was the all-American boy at his home studio, which effectively went out of the movie business last week with its purchase by Sony and a group of other investors for nearly $5 billion. The death of this institution, of MGM, has been announced many times over the course of its 81-year history. In 1936, when the boy wonder, Irving Thalberg, died, there were those who said it would never be the same. But it pretty much was, for good and ill. Thalberg loved Lon Chaney and Norma Shearer; he encouraged the Marx Brothers but he put songs in their pictures, just as he cut about four-fifths of "Greed," Erich von Stroheim's wildly ambitious 10-hour epic. Boy wonders are often boys who wonder what they can get away with. Then Louis B. Mayer, Irving's father figure, boss and secret opponent, was fired in 1951, after being head of the West Coast operation since 1924, the highest salaried man in the United States, a friend to presidents and the most heartfelt and constant actor at the studio. What did that mean? That he reckoned he was living in a movie all the time. He was, as they say, a man who drank his own liquor and never noticed he was drunk. For 20 years more or so, MGM seemed to be the old place. Hanging on, remaking a great hit from the past, "Ben-Hur," redoing "The Philadelphia Story" as "High Society," and having the lion's head on "Doctor Zhivago," "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Zabriskie Point." But in 1969, the financier Kirk Kerkorian bought the studio. Eventually he would plaster the three great initials on an emerald bunker in Las Vegas. He cut back on movie production. He organized a sale of studio properties - just little things like Dorothy's red slippers, nothing to break your heart - and he is said to have burned a great volume of papers (the history of our story) to make space. By 1985, Mr. Kerkorian owned both MGM and United Artists, and Ted Turner subsequently bought the package from him so that he could own the thing he maybe loved most in the world, "Gone With the Wind," and so that he could obtain the video rights to the Metro library. Having been stripped of those assets, the diminishing, ever more tattered property went back to Mr. Kerkorian. Giancarlo Parretti was the next owner, and then in 1993 Sony bought the Culver City property, which meant the soundstages, the Thalberg building, the Grecian colonnade on Washington Boulevard and all the sentiment there was left. Three years later, the dogged Mr. Kerkorian came back as his own sequel, older and with fewer ideas on every return. Now at last the whole thing belongs to some investment companies and Sony. To help pay for the purchase, the staff will shrink from 1,500 to 200. Nothing will be left except for a few people to run a small library, and the memories of people like the Mick. As studios become libraries, and film turns to digital, so the movies - the great things we made once - seem doomed to become miniaturized experiences, with outtakes, variant endings and directors remembering how smart they were. It's not that MGM was the best studio, though it did better financially than most. It was not always as daring as Warner Brothers, Paramount or RKO. It liked to project a very safe, conservative view of the American imagination. And it could cheat: though it claimed "Gone With the Wind" as an MGM film, that monstrous thing owed itself to the obsession of David O. Selznick, who had every reason to keep away from Mayer (the man was also his father-in-law). Creative obsession was not really Metro's thing, and the studio picked up "Wind," finally, only out of Selznick's madness and a stealthy set of deals made by Mr. Selznick's former wife (and Mayer's daughter). It was a family business, then reason enough not to get too sentimental over it. On the other hand, it is the studio where King Vidor directed Garland singing "Over the Rainbow" and later, when idiots thought the song too sad, Mayer said, "Keep it in
Re: [MOPO] A VERY BIG DEATH IN HOLLYWOOD
what the hell is Dr Death doing In Hollywood!! i thought he was In jail??? well now that I think of it... maybe Hollywood is a great place For Dr kervorkian .. MGM was one of my favorite studios,, I did some clappers and stuff with the Lion LOgo that was sold in the studio shops and Disney MGM in Florida.. However they would take deductions ( like screen charges for mt screenprint machines,) they would deduct and say we wont pay for those costs.. HUH?? tey do it without asking so I said BYE BYE,MGM... see YOU later!, and then tehy wanted me to sign a contract so they could get exclusive rights.. ( which i said NO) then.. they asked me to supply the MGM grand,, ( I said NO I learned from the last go around) so far Im impressed with Roy Disney... he has the same views as I on the demise of showbiz especially at Disney... stratigic manament!! www.savedisney.com they need o rethink like KIds.. and when they do that the Numbers will follow.. because parents and Kids want a escape and to be pampered with FUN and relaxing... NOT have there Credit cards JUMP to extreme danger so that they have to RE- FInace theHouse To get To DISNEYWORLD... Plus.. they could sell at 1/3 and do more businees if they REFOCUSED ON quality.. In the Park... merchandise,, and ATTITUDE of management.. the animation dept veterens were what Disney was built From/// what did they do??? FIRE THEM! FOOLS.. Roy Disney Knows.. and could restore the Magic..read his words at http://www.savedisney.com Hollywood has some great people.. Like itseems the weinsteins and Roy Disney,, and the guys at Imagine, and even Lucasfilm and Dreamworks and zoetrope.. themajor studios need to get rid of beancounters that are sucking the life out of creative sorts and take some gambles on creativity,,, If anyone could spot phenonenas with certainty there would be 1 studio. But then dont listen to me I cant even find my zipper on my pants. I might be getting close though... watch out! Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
Re: [MOPO] A VERY BIG DEATH IN HOLLYWOOD -THE WEINSTEINS?
Hollywood has some great people.. Like itseems the weinsteins and Roy Disney,, The Weinsteins? Great people?! Oh, Brother! I worked for the brothers briefly, doing rewrites. Kind of like Thalberg, I guess. If you're mean enough, they give you your own award. Henry The Poster Mint
Re: [MOPO] A VERY BIG DEATH IN HOLLYWOOD
Hi from Joe B. Tom and I have the same feelings about Disney and what should be the Return of Roy. Joe B. From: Tom Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2005/04/14 Thu AM 10:45:28 EDT To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Subject: Re: [MOPO] A VERY BIG DEATH IN HOLLYWOOD what the hell is Dr Death doing In Hollywood!! i thought he was In jail??? well now that I think of it... maybe Hollywood is a great place For Dr kervorkian .. MGM was one of my favorite studios,, I did some clappers and stuff with the Lion LOgo that was sold in the studio shops and Disney MGM in Florida.. However they would take deductions ( like screen charges for mt screenprint machines,) they would deduct and say we wont pay for those costs.. HUH?? tey do it without asking so I said BYE BYE,MGM... see YOU later!, and then tehy wanted me to sign a contract so they could get exclusive rights.. ( which i said NO) then.. they asked me to supply the MGM grand,, ( I said NO I learned from the last go around) so far Im impressed with Roy Disney... he has the same views as I on the demise of showbiz especially at Disney... stratigic manament!! www.savedisney.com they need o rethink like KIds.. and when they do that the Numbers will follow.. because parents and Kids want a escape and to be pampered with FUN and relaxing... NOT have there Credit cards JUMP to extreme danger so that they have to RE- FInace theHouse To get To DISNEYWORLD... Plus.. they could sell at 1/3 and do more businees if they REFOCUSED ON quality.. In the Park... merchandise,, and ATTITUDE of management.. the animation dept veterens were what Disney was built From/// what did they do??? FIRE THEM! FOOLS.. Roy Disney Knows.. and could restore the Magic..read his words at http://www.savedisney.com Hollywood has some great people.. Like itseems the weinsteins and Roy Disney,, and the guys at Imagine, and even Lucasfilm and Dreamworks and zoetrope.. themajor studios need to get rid of beancounters that are sucking the life out of creative sorts and take some gambles on creativity,,, If anyone could spot phenonenas with certainty there would be 1 studio. But then dont listen to me I cant even find my zipper on my pants. I might be getting close though... watch out! Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
Re: [MOPO] A VERY BIG DEATH IN HOLLYWOOD
Don't worry, Tom. The Weisteins are coming back but not in the form of Miramax. They'll be able to buy things for dirt cheap, make their employees miserable, and lock new writers into unfair deals again. I feel bad about MGM, the people who owned it just weren't into the company as a whole. There are many properties which Sony now owns through MGM; perhaps they'll come back...I'll miss the Lion. Disney will be fine. I think it needed a little shake-up. The business is shrinking. With video games making more money than movies, it's getting bleak. To everyone: wanna help the film industry? GO SEE MOVIES! Wishing everyone the best, Toochis --- Tom Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: what the hell is Dr Death doing In Hollywood!! i thought he was In jail??? well now that I think of it... maybe Hollywood is a great place For Dr kervorkian .. MGM was one of my favorite studios,, I did some clappers and stuff with the Lion LOgo that was sold in the studio shops and Disney MGM in Florida.. However they would take deductions ( like screen charges for mt screenprint machines,) they would deduct and say we wont pay for those costs.. HUH?? tey do it without asking so I said BYE BYE,MGM... see YOU later!, and then tehy wanted me to sign a contract so they could get exclusive rights.. ( which i said NO) then.. they asked me to supply the MGM grand,, ( I said NO I learned from the last go around) so far Im impressed with Roy Disney... he has the same views as I on the demise of showbiz especially at Disney... stratigic manament!! www.savedisney.com they need o rethink like KIds.. and when they do that the Numbers will follow.. because parents and Kids want a escape and to be pampered with FUN and relaxing... NOT have there Credit cards JUMP to extreme danger so that they have to RE- FInace theHouse To get To DISNEYWORLD... Plus.. they could sell at 1/3 and do more businees if they REFOCUSED ON quality.. In the Park... merchandise,, and ATTITUDE of management.. the animation dept veterens were what Disney was built From/// what did they do??? FIRE THEM! FOOLS.. Roy Disney Knows.. and could restore the Magic..read his words at http://www.savedisney.com Hollywood has some great people.. Like itseems the weinsteins and Roy Disney,, and the guys at Imagine, and even Lucasfilm and Dreamworks and zoetrope.. themajor studios need to get rid of beancounters that are sucking the life out of creative sorts and take some gambles on creativity,,, If anyone could spot phenonenas with certainty there would be 1 studio. But then dont listen to me I cant even find my zipper on my pants. I might be getting close though... watch out! Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
Re: [MOPO] A VERY BIG DEATH IN HOLLYWOOD
QUOTE - To everyone: wanna help the film industry? GO SEE MOVIES I would if they give me something to go see Hey - I have an idea you know that semi original movie we made two years agoyou know the one with the same plot as that movie made in the 30's, then again in the 50's, yet again in the 70'syeah that one...well lets make a sequel, we can get that Roberts girl, maybe even resurrect that Willis guy, add some CG's, get that Woo person to stretch out the scenes by showing the same stunts from different angles (that's really cool), add some more explosions, strike a deal with Nike or Coke even both, Photoshop a poster for marketing - something all black with just the name of the movie for a teaser, then plop the headshots of stars on the regular release, run it in 5000 screens the first week, have it go to DVD the next, create a video game but only for teens (that makes everybody want it) a few action figures with kongfu grip and g-strings, then put out a director's cut of the DVD two weeks later, then a special one year anniversary release DVD with one added scene and an ! audio commentary by the assistant lighting coordinator. Then, to top it off, take the same plot, tweak it by a someone right out of high school, add the word Revenge in front of the title or the new buzz word Volume III behind the title, add another famous good looking actress/actor, who really cares if they can act, along with the original cast and bingo this thing can go on and onanybody with me. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
Re: [MOPO] A VERY BIG DEATH IN HOLLYWOOD
Hi Jeffrey Very good! Perhaps, if we think smaller, then we may just find something to go and see though. Amongst the repetitions, the re-makes, the re-hashes and sometimes, the retarded .. there are little gems that spring up. It's a shame there aren't more but I agree with Toochis and sadly, see the truth in what you are saying too. Shelly Original Message Follows From: Walton, Jeffrey [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: Walton, Jeffrey [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Subject: Re: [MOPO] A VERY BIG DEATH IN HOLLYWOOD Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 12:15:02 -0500 QUOTE - To everyone: wanna help the film industry? GO SEE MOVIES I would if they give me something to go see Hey - I have an idea you know that semi original movie we made two years agoyou know the one with the same plot as that movie made in the 30's, then again in the 50's, yet again in the 70'syeah that one...well lets make a sequel, we can get that Roberts girl, maybe even resurrect that Willis guy, add some CG's, get that Woo person to stretch out the scenes by showing the same stunts from different angles (that's really cool), add some more explosions, strike a deal with Nike or Coke even both, Photoshop a poster for marketing - something all black with just the name of the movie for a teaser, then plop the headshots of stars on the regular release, run it in 5000 screens the first week, have it go to DVD the next, create a video game but only for teens (that makes everybody want it) a few action figures with kongfu grip and g-strings, then put out a director's cut of the DVD two weeks later, then a special one year anniversary release DVD with one added scene and an ! audio commentary by the assistant lighting coordinator. Then, to top it off, take the same plot, tweak it by a someone right out of high school, add the word Revenge in front of the title or the new buzz word Volume III behind the title, add another famous good looking actress/actor, who really cares if they can act, along with the original cast and bingo this thing can go on and onanybody with me. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. _ It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today! http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
Re: [MOPO] A VERY BIG DEATH IN HOLLYWOOD
Jeff, Excellent! If only your post was just a joke instead of what really happens 90% of the time... Particularly the bit about the black background posters. I've been noticing that myself for several years -- a totally excessive use of black (or very dark) backgrounds on far too many posters, with a serious lack of imagination in what they plop onto those backgrounds. The same old dramatic headshots... or else the even moredramaticfakey posesof the characters (see the FANTASTIC FOUR advance for a classic really poor example). Not that you didn't have similar head shots and poses on older posters, but when they were done as paintings or drawings, they were done with more talent and soul and worked better. The almost exclusive use of photo elements these days has lead to as long string of boring and look-alike posters, at least for my tastes. Every once in a while we still get a decent poster out of Hollywood, but it's been pretty slim pickin's for quite a while. Or, as John Stewart might say: "Damn you, Photoshop!" -- JR - Original Message - From: Walton, Jeffrey To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 12:15 Subject: Re: [MOPO] A VERY BIG DEATH IN HOLLYWOOD QUOTE - "To everyone: wanna help the film industry? GO SEEMOVIES"I would if they give me something to go seeHey - I have an idea you know that semi original movie we made two years agoyou know the one with the same plot as that movie made in the 30's, then again in the 50's, yet again in the 70'syeah that one...well lets make a sequel, we can get that Roberts girl, maybe even resurrect that Willis guy, add some CG's, get that Woo person to stretch out the scenes by showing the same stunts from different angles (that's really cool), add some more explosions, strike a deal with Nike or Coke even both, Photoshop a poster for marketing - something all black with just the name of the movie for a teaser, then plop the headshots of stars on the regular release, run it in 5000 screens the first week, have it go to DVD the next, create a video game but only for teens (that makes everybody want it) a few action figures with kongfu grip and g-strings, then put out a director's cut of the DVD two weeks later, then a special one year anniversary release DVD with one added scene and an !audio commentary by the assistant lighting coordinator. Then, to top it off, take the same plot, tweak it by a someone right out of high school, add the word Revenge in front of the title or the new buzz word "Volume" III behind the title, add another famous good looking actress/actor, who really cares if they can act, along with the original cast and bingo this thing can go on and onanybody with me. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
Re: [MOPO] A VERY BIG DEATH IN HOLLYWOOD
The David Thomson piece was interesting, but in
many respects the MGM he's talking about died a long time before this, leaving
it just asa brand name without real meaning to what the studio used to
represent in terms of its house style. Nothing new there. Do any of the
"studios" now represent what they used to? Warners perhaps comes closest, and
that more by accident than the design of the current studio regime there in
their choice of projects.
As for too many posters today, once the stars
contractual demands and approvals are met (that is, how big the headshot will
be, what side their name will be on, what percentage in size their name is to
title treatment, etc) then they get to something called "design".
Perhaps more tragically, we are also seeing the
Americanisation (or perhaps Internationalisation is a kinder term) of poster
art. More and more the same art is used in all countries as studios and
distributors recognise both economic rationalisation in their marketing budgets
for theatrical, and the perceived need to brand their item with the same key art
right through to the DVD POS materials.
Phil Edwards
Phil Edwards Cinema Arts26 Vista AvenueSoldiers PointNSW
2317AUSTRALIA
E: [EMAIL PROTECTED]W: www.cinemarts.comPhone: (International
Dial) 0011 61 2 49847322Phone: (Domestic Dial) 02 4984 7322
- Original Message -
From:
JRS
To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 8:33
PM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] A VERY BIG DEATH IN
HOLLYWOOD
Jeff,
Excellent! If only your post was just a joke instead of what really
happens 90% of the time...
Particularly the bit about the black background posters. I've been
noticing that myself for several years -- a totally excessive use of black (or
very dark) backgrounds on far too many posters, with a serious lack of
imagination in what they plop onto those backgrounds. The same old dramatic
headshots... or else the even moredramaticfakey posesof the
characters (see the FANTASTIC FOUR advance for a classic really poor example).
Not that you didn't have similar head shots and poses on older posters, but
when they were done as paintings or drawings, they were done with more talent
and soul and worked better. The almost exclusive use of photo elements these
days has lead to as long string of boring and look-alike posters, at least for
my tastes. Every once in a while we still get a decent poster out of
Hollywood, but it's been pretty slim pickin's for quite a while.
Or, as John Stewart might say: "Damn you, Photoshop!"
-- JR
- Original Message -
From:
Walton,
Jeffrey
To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005
12:15
Subject: Re: [MOPO] A VERY BIG DEATH IN
HOLLYWOOD
QUOTE - "To everyone: wanna help the film industry? GO
SEEMOVIES"I would if they give me something to go
seeHey - I have an idea you know that semi original movie we
made two years agoyou know the one with the same plot as that movie made
in the 30's, then again in the 50's, yet again in the 70'syeah that
one...well lets make a sequel, we can get that Roberts girl, maybe even
resurrect that Willis guy, add some CG's, get that Woo person to stretch out
the scenes by showing the same stunts from different angles (that's really
cool), add some more explosions, strike a deal with Nike or Coke even both,
Photoshop a poster for marketing - something all black with just the name of
the movie for a teaser, then plop the headshots of stars on the regular
release, run it in 5000 screens the first week, have it go to DVD the next,
create a video game but only for teens (that makes everybody want it) a few
action figures with kongfu grip and g-strings, then put out a director's cut
of the DVD two weeks later, then a special one year anniversary release DVD
with one added scene and an !audio commentary by the assistant
lighting coordinator. Then, to top it off, take the same plot, tweak
it by a someone right out of high school, add the word Revenge in front of
the title or the new buzz word "Volume" III behind the title, add another
famous good looking actress/actor, who really cares if they can act, along
with the original cast and bingo this thing can go on and onanybody with
me. Visit the MoPo
Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
___
How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing
List Send a message addressed
to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L
The author of this message is solely responsible for its
content.
Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
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