Weinsteins finds unorthodox way 'round 'Dogma' dilemma - Miramax no stranger to distrib drama

By BENEDICT CARVER & OLIVER JONES

The ghosts of “Kids” and “Priest” have returned to haunt Bob and Harvey Weinstein in the form of “Dogma,” a controversial new film from writer-director Kevin Smith.

The Miramax Films co-presidents announced Wednesday that they would be forming their own corporation to purchase “Dogma,” a religious satire of the Catholic Church that includes plenty of elements certain to offend the God-fearing.

The execs have ponied up slightly north of $10 million of their own money to buy all rights to the pic. Miramax Intl., which pre-sold “Dogma,” will remain on board as the foreign distrib.

Miramax is no stranger to such distribution drama. Its involvement with Antonia Bird’s “Priest” in 1995 incurred boycotts from religious groups and even bomb threats. That same year, when Larry Clark’s “Kids” gained an NC-17 rating, the brothers formed their own banner, Shining Excalibur, to release the pic unrated.

DISNEY RESTRICTIONS

Under their agreement with Miramax’s parent, Walt Disney, the Weinsteins may not release any pics with an NC-17 rating.

This time, the Weinsteins are seizing the initiative and preempting any protests and pickets aimed at Miramax and Disney. The Weinsteins said they intend to sell the film to a third party for domestic distribution.

“Through the new corporation, we intend to work with a distributor that shares our vision of the film,” the brothers said in a joint statement. “We are confident that we will find a marketing and distribution partner that will fully realize ‘Dogma’s’ potential as broad entertainment.”

CROSSOVER DREAMS

Unlike “Kids” and “Priest,” which were both niche titles, the Weinsteins believe “Dogma” to be a crossover release that would be too big for a one-off releasing entity like Shining Excalibur.

Hence the brothers are keen to place the film at a studio or an indie distrib with some muscle. As Miramax commonly co-produces and co-finances pics with studios, including Paramount and Universal, this shouldn’t be too hard to accomplish.

“Dogma” is said to include such hot-button material as a foul-mouthed apostle, a discussion of whether Joseph and Mary had sex and a descendent of Jesus who happens to work in an abortion clinic.

The pic is described as an adult fairy tale, a fantastical journey about a lone hero, joined by a band of misfits marching on to a common goal to save humanity.

One factor in the Weinsteins’ decision to take over the pic may have been the growing media speculation over its future, which Miramax sources felt could not only damage its chances at the box office, but potentially the studio’s relationship with Smith. Following “Clerks” and “Chasing Amy,” it would have been the helmer’s third pic for Miramax.

The pic stars Miramax alumni Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, as well as Linda Fiorentino, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Alanis Morisette, Alan Rickman and Jason Mewes.

Specialized film companies, increasingly owned by or forming part of large corporations, always run into problems with graphically sexual or blasphemous pics. Fine Line did with “Crash,” and October Films, then part of Universal, did just last year with Todd Solondz’s “Happiness.”

However, in a prepared statement, Smith said he felt that “Dogma” was not in the least bit offensive. “I wrote the film, I directed the film, I have seen the film many times — in my opinion, ‘Dogma’ is in no way blasphemous or worthy of the mild controversy that seems to be brewing around it,” he said.

In setting up the new arrangement for the pic, Bob and Harvey Weinstein negotiated with the pic’s producer Scott Mosier and with Smith.