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January 23, 2006
And They’re Off!!!
The second – and perhaps last – bidding war at Sundance 2005 has begun over Michel Gondry’s The Science of Sleep.
(There will be other bidding situations, but skirmishes, not wars.)
It actually started before the film screened, as Paramount Classics’ (or whatever it will be called) John Lesher started the conversation about embracing Gondry not only for this film and beyond. Fox Searchlight and Focus Features also initiated conversations before the movie was over.
The lobby of the Eccles had that “war room” feel following the movie, though everyone but Warner Indie’s Mark Gill had exited, awaiting cell conversations leading to all night negotiations, before the Q&A had ended.
In one corner, Warner Indie... near by, 13 members of the Paramount team huddled... Bob Berney’s Picturehouse crew huddled behind a chalkboard, out of the eyeline of the others, the new First Look team hung out talking numbers with owner Henry Eschelman, various Searchlighters, Focused folks and other assorted players played around the rest of the Eccles lobby.
How will it come out? Earlier in the day, word around town was that John Lesher was interested in the film in great part because he wanted to develop the relationship with Gondry, reflecting his former life as an agent. But the movie is more than a relationship. There is, in my opinion, between $7 million and $10 million to be made on domestic theatrical with the right marketing. But this is also one of the problems with anyone who makes a deal with Lesher here at Sundance. With no head of marketing currently in place and the coming head of publicity stuck in her current job for another four months, who going to sell the movie.
The buzz around is that ParClassics dropped out of the bidding on Little Miss Sunshine specifically because big Paramount marketing chief Gerry Rich didn’t see a way to sell the movie to make the numbers necessary to make it work. And he really shouldn’t have to. He is a big studio guy and films here at Sundance need indie minded marketing, as Paramount learned last year with Hustle & Flow, whose marketing was taken over by the big studio and which struggled to get to break even.
How serious is Searchlight? RiceUtleyGilula didn’t stick around to watch the film, but left Josh Deighton to be their eyes.
Focus seems to be the most natural fit, with a successful history of dealing with foreign language product and a pipeline need.
The film will probably be priced out of range for Picturehouse and certainly First Look. And while Warner Indie made great hay changing March of the Penguins dramatically and getting well deserved awards for Paradise Now, it’s not clear that they are ramped up for a wild ride movie from a director who is not going to adjust to them.
There will likely be an answer by morning. How far will the players go in bidding? Not as far as Little Miss Sunshine, but it is likely to be more than $4 million and it is likely to be the last film at this year’s festival to fetch that kind of price.
Posted by poland at January 23, 2006 12:05 AM
Comments
After Eternal Sunshine, I'd get in the Gondry business too. Talented directors don't grow on trees. The more in the fold, the better.
Posted by: Terence D ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 23, 2006 05:24 AM
I'd be curious to see what he does with a movie not written by Charlie Kaufman, too, because maybe his sensibilities are more mainstream. It's funny how few people have seen their first collaboration Human Nature...would probably be less claims of genius if more people did.
Posted by: EDouglas at January 23, 2006 05:50 AM
I think people like to forget Human Nature ever, ever took place.
Posted by: Josh at January 23, 2006 05:51 AM
didn't they have problems on human nature and the money men made them recut it and reedit it?
Posted by: bicycle bob at January 23, 2006 06:19 AM
Paramount is going to pay a unheard of 10 to 12 million for Little Miss Sunshine which is 80% due to Steve Carrel's star rising. 20% may be due to the movie being actually good. Exec's should not forget Greg Kinnear's last festival hit (The Matador) which hasn't been doing too well at the box office even with the draw of Pierce Brosnan.
Posted by: metsys at January 23, 2006 06:28 AM
I'm really excited to see this. I'll consider "Human Nature" a slight blip on the screen. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't good. But "Eternal Sunshine" was a near classic. One of my fav's.
Posted by: Bruce at January 23, 2006 07:15 AM
If this movie grosses half of what "40 Year Old Virgin" does, they will be really happy. It is well worth the risk. To take a shot on a semi proven box office star and now a tv star. It would have to completely bomb for it not to recoup their investment.
Posted by: BluStealer at January 23, 2006 08:46 AM
They'd do backflips if it does anything close to what 40 Year Old Virgin did.
Posted by: PandaBear at January 23, 2006 01:35 PM
I can't call Pierce Brosnan a box office star. Bond movies were very profitable but what has he done besides that? The Thomas Crown movie was a long time ago. At least they take a shot on Carrel maybe becoming the next Carrey.
Posted by: Angelus21 at January 23, 2006 01:44 PM
Sundance movies are a crapshoot. Anytime you pay over 10 mill for one you have better do your homework on it. Too many have sold for that price and flamed out.
Posted by: Mark Ziegler at January 23, 2006 02:04 PM
In that case any movie greenlit is a crapshoot. Even best selling novels, A list stars, and top directors. At least here they get a chance to see the product.
Posted by: Angelus21 at January 23, 2006 02:28 PM
"Human Nature" wasn't really given a chance. It was dumped and forgotten.
Posted by: Sanchez at January 23, 2006 04:46 PM
Looks like Warner Independent picked this up:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117936672?categoryid=13&cs=1
Posted by: EDouglas at January 23, 2006 07:15 PM
Excellent pickup, I must say.
Posted by: Bruce at January 24, 2006 06:29 AM
for us, yes...
Posted by: KamikazeCamelV2.0 at January 24, 2006 08:44 AM
Good choice by Warners Indie. He seems like a director you want a relationship with.
Posted by: PandaBear at January 24, 2006 02:50 PM
again - for us, good. For them... well, we'll see.
Posted by: KamikazeCamelV2.0 at January 24, 2006 09:20 PM
Business wise? Who knows?
Artistically and for us as audience members? I'll take it. You're right.
Posted by: Bruce at January 25, 2006 05:48 AM
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