TBS, AMC, Lifetime among nets to claim pic’s rights

NEW YORK — Miramax Films may have set a record by selling a total of six cable networks the rights to one movie, “Jersey Girl,” in the shared network window for a combined license fee of about $3.6 million.

The nets are Turner’s TBS and TNT; Rainbow Media Holdings’ AMC, IFC and WE: Women’s Entertainment; and the standalone Lifetime.

Masterminding the deal was Rick Sands, chief operating officer of Miramax, who said he had fun satisfying all of the networks while, as he put it, “cobbling together” such a complicated series of windows within a license term of five years.

Sands declined to discuss dollar figures, but Turner will pony up $1.8 million to get the first plays of the movie for a nine-month exclusive window beginning in July 2006.

Then Lifetime, which will shell out $1 million, gets 12 months to schedule a multiple number of runs.

Turner gets “Jersey Girl” back for just three months before the movie journeys to Rainbow for two years of exclusive plays divided among AMC, WE and IFC.

For the last year of the contract, the movie winds up for its final runs at Turner.

While Turner is one of the most active buyers of recent movies, the Miramax deal signals that Lifetime and Rainbow are beginning to step up after previously steering clear of buying movies in the network window because the license fees were considered prohibitive.

But when a distributor like Miramax can engineer a risk-sharing arrangement like the one for “Jersey Girl,” all sorts of cable networks may start entering the network-window auction to get their hands on fresher movies for reasonable prices.

And the distribs will get the license fees they need to satisfy profit participants, neatly sidestepping the ongoing sluggish TV marketplace for theatrical movies.

Date: Saturday, May 1, 2004

Time: 10 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.

Complete Description

Williamson Auditorium – reserved seating. Tickets at all CarrsTix outlets. UAA student tickets at Campus Center Information Desk only. $7 UAA students.
$20 General Admission. Join filmmaker Kevin Smith as he talks about his films, stories, and philosophy. Q&A follow the lecture. Presentation will be
interpreted for the Deaf. For more information contact 786-1221.

By Jim McLauchlin

Brodie Bruce ends his reign as king of late night when he exclaims “F*** it” and storms off the set of NBC’s Tonight Show. Bruce was under attack from the FCC and Christian Mothers Association for the constant stream of profanity that shocked late night viewers. Jeffrey Macintyre, president of FCC said “This won’t go over well in Oxnard, What’s this kid trying to pull here, you can’t talk that way on T.V.”. Fines in the first month of Bruce’s wild card takeover out weighed his first years salary. Replacing Carson’s trademarked “golf swing” with sophmoric pelvic gyrations, Mr. Bruce won the hearts of males ages 18 to 35. However, Brodie Bruce’s radical departure from traditional Tonight Show booking procedures, the abandonment of pre-interviews, and arcane comic book references are considered too obscure for Mr. and Mrs. Middle America.

Rumors on the set were such that Brodie was constantly prevoking producers and crew members. One crew member recalls “Brodie would ‘stink palm’ network brass and A list guests”. Just two months ago, the notoriously difficult host pressed charges against his assistant and long time friend for allegedly attacking him with pepper spray.

Brodie was first chosen to host the Tonight Show when he was randomly discovered by two network executives while participating in a local game show at a New Jersey mall.

“We decided to replace him with a more personable host” explained NBC V.P. Ralph Meyer.

Mr. Bruce’s publicist could not be reached for comment.

I know it’s been a couple of days, but I noticed that no one else posted any details, so I decided to step up. Had to register and all. I’ve been lurking here for a while and was happy to read about what went down in Berkeley and ECU. Maybe folks aren’t going into so much detail ’cause they’re making a DVD? Anyway, here are the highlights of the evening from my perspective:

Funny stuff

Primadonna: tommybruce already mentioned that he asked this question (it was regarding the fallout between Kevin and Jeff Anderson). My friends and I got a kick out of Jeff jumping up out of his seat as if to kick this guy’s ass! Quite a jokester.

New Jersey asshole: So this guy goes up to the mike and says, “New Jersey represent!” Of course they ask where he’s from, and he’s all, “I’m not from NJ.” WTF? That was strike one. Then he started to ask about the look of the picture. He said that this copy was by far the best, but it was still bad! Strike two. Then he goes on to talk about how Mallrats looked and digs himself an even deeper hole. Strike three!

Not only was this guy’s line of questioning somewhat tactless, but the way he asked the questions was also kinda rude. So he came off as, well, as an asshole! Kev sent him packing saying that he’d lost his patience with the guy…but of course he was funny about it. We all cheered.

Monotony: There were three variations of the budget question: one relating to the schedule and filming, one relating to it being shot in black and white, and one asking how they saved money. It got old, very old.

Stuff I learned: Marilyn was going to be in Chasing Amy playing Alyssa’s girlfriend, Kim. But she felt uncomfortable making out with a girl.

Walt played multiple parts by default…he was an understudy of sorts.

Because they filmed from 10pm to 6am, many of the actors who were scheduled to show up didn’t. So Walt had to get in there and play various parts.

Brian and Marilyn have theatre backgrounds. Kevin and Co. were quite impressed with Marilyn ’cause she cried during her audition.

Jeff’s next project is titled “Now You Know”…with Miramax!

My fave part of the evening: Someone asked if the cast could talk about their favorite part in filming Clerks. Kevin recounted the scene with the contractor who talks about job risk and the Death Star. The actor had to do it several times. Mewes was sitting on the floor watching and after, like, the fourth take, he insults the guy! Says something like, “Dude, you fucked up AGAIN!” Needless to say they kicked Jay out of the store so they could finish filming.

So afterwards, they’re next door at RST, Jay and Kev are talking and Jay is telling him how much pot he scored. And that he’s got it right…here. The contractor guy happened to be there too and says, “Do you know what I do? I’m a Narc!” So funny…but definitely funnier when Kev tells it…hope it makes the DVD.

After the Q & A, I hung around so I could meet Kevin. I let him know that I was his “newest” fan! I guess that’s kinda misleading…he thought it had taken me ten years to see Clerks! I did actually see it in the theatres when it came out. But I really didn’t remember it…I just knew that I laughed out loud and loved the witty dialogue. I just love the way he tells a story!

Anyway, thanks again to Kev and Co. for Clerks and the Q&A. Can’t wait for the DVD!

Kevin Smith has a cult following and a legion of loyal fans. Not bad for someone who rarely speaks in his own movies. Smith is the brains behind “Clerks”, “Mallrats”, “Chasing Amy”, “Dogma”, “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and “Jersey Girl”. Many of the films are cult classics, laden with dialog ripe for frequent recitation.

“He’s a good voice for the younger generation,” said Paul Jones, president of the University of Alaska Anchorage film club. “I can’t think of another filmmaker who sees things and comments on them like he does.”

In his films, Smith plays Silent Bob, the quiet, contemplative counterpart to Jason Mewes’ explosive Jay. The two are standard fixtures in Smith’s films, allowing him to spend time both behind and in front of the camera. Smith’s newest film, “Jersey Girl”, is a romantic comedy that shows he is maturing. The proof? Jay and Silent Bob aren’t even in it.

“It will be cool to hear him talk about the difference between making serious movies and films that are completely ridiculous,” Jones said.

With a question and answer session, the event will also provide a chance for film buffs to hear the independent film guru talk about the business. Smith super-fan and UAA film club member David Turnbull recommends doing your homework before the show.

“I hope people avoid stuff that he has already talked about. Go rent his DVD,” Turnbull said in reference to 2002’s “An Evening with Kevin Smith.”

The forums are a way for Smith to keep in touch with the community that supports his films. Jones likes that Smith can give advice and tips to burgeoning indy filmmakers and also talk about the hurdles of working in Hollywood.

“He has accomplished a lot and it’s cool that he lectures at colleges as a way to give back,” Jones said.

For Turnbull, the chance to see Smith come to Alaska is a dream come true. Turnbull’s admiration for Smith led him to take a trip to Vulgarthon, Smith’s New Jersey film festival.

He has trouble defining what it is about Smith’s movies that he likes so much. He says part of it is the characters, part of it is the humor and, well, he enjoys the cussing, too.

This time, Turnbull won’t have to pony up the money for a plane ticket and have to travel across the United States, he can just cruise over to campus.

“This time it’s only going to cost me $20 instead of $1,000,” Turnbull said.

Kevin Smith will be on campus Saturday, April 24 in the Wendy Williamson Auditorium. The show is $7 for UAA students and $20 for general admission. Those interested in a recap of his work can catch a showing of “Dogma” at 8 p.m. on April 22 and “Chasing Amy” on April 23 at 10 p.m., also in the WWA. The admission for the movies is $1 for students and $2 for general admission. Students can get their tickets at the Campus Center Information Desk or at the door. General admission tickets are available at CarrsTix outlets or by calling 1-800-GR8-SEAT.