Dreamgirls film might not happen???

[GhettoBway]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 3:02am

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117926682?categoryid=10&cs=1&s=h&p=0

What happened to the dream?

Just 11 years after DreamWorks was founded with much fanfare by Steven SpielbergSteven Spielberg, Jeffrey KatzenbergJeffrey Katzenberg and David GeffenDavid Geffen as a "new" kind of studio in the vein of artist-friendly United Artists, the studio is on the block.

If an NBC U deal goes through, DreamWorks would remain a studio under the Universal umbrella -- much like New Line at Time WarnerTime Warner -- and not be made into a production shingleshingle.

The live-action studio would be the last DreamWorks property to be scaled back. The music division has been sold off, and the TV business has never lived up to expectations.

And so the end of a very short era may indeed be near.

Early on in the history of DreamWorks, there was talk of studio space in Playa Vista, a physical plant and creative freedom from studiolike politics. But it's hard to be a giant.

Hollywood weighed in with surprise at the news that a company whose original purpose was to stand as an alternative to the increasingly corporate film industry may be folded into just that structure. (Unlike U.A., the DreamWorks principals always intended for infrastructure -- buildings, studio space, offices, etc.)

One film exec said, "Do I want more companies gone in the motion picture business? That does represent less capital in the movie business if that is indeed true about DreamWorks. No, it's not good."

Nothing is a fait accompli, however, and people close to the situation say the deal will have to clear some major hurdles before it's done.

The benefits of such a deal to DreamWorks are evident: The privately held studio would shed overhead costs and be less strangled by losses, such as those it's now incurring on "The Island," which last weekend opened to a disappointing $12 million. (The studio would also receive cash to pay out investors such as Paul Allen.)

But the gain for NBC U, which has recently been crowing about belt-tightening, is less obvious.

The NBC network recently took a hit in primetime, resulting in an almost $1 billion loss in ad buys.

This setback prompted NBC U chief exec Bob Wright to send a companywide email saying he was looking to "rein in spending accordingly."

An asset on the DreamWorks side is Geffen, a legendary lover of dealmaking.

In many ways Universal already has a valuable stake in DreamWorks. The studio handles homevideo distribution for DreamWorks films and distributes them internationally through UIP. (UIP is in a precarious situation and there is talk that the distribdistrib -- jointly owned by U and Paramount -- may break up by the end of the year. Such a scenario would mean that U and DreamWorks could build their own foreign distribution arms.)

DreamWorks is even based on the Universal lot.

While Spielberg is said to be one of the major selling points in the deal, the director is already in business with Universal, a company with which he has a long history and where his Amblin production company was based. His upcoming film "Munich" is a co-production between DreamWorks and Universal.

As one producer on the U lot said of the possible merger, "It seems like a favor, and I don't know if GE is in that business."

A merger between the two companies has nevertheless been rumored for some time.

One of the biggest questions, however, is how much U would be willing to pay for the studio, the value of which some estimate at $1 billion.

DreamWorks' library has only 60 titles, and while some have Oscar laurels, such as "American Beauty," "Gladiator""Gladiator" and "Saving Private Ryan," they are a select number. Furthermore, the library does not boast a franchise. Although a second "Gladiator" film has been in development for some time now, the project has not moved beyond the script phase.

The valuable "Shrek""Shrek" franchise belongs to DreamWorks AnimationDreamWorks Animation. The public toontoon company would not be included in the deal in the event of an acquisition, although Universal would gain the rights to distribute the company's films domestically.

The value of the company has also likely been jeopardized by the poor performance of "The Island," a $130 million investment (split with Warner Bros.) on which DreamWorks looks to lose north of $50 million. At the very least, the film may be used as a negotiating tool in talks.

Whether or not the talks come together, DreamWorks, which has been in a box office slump since 2003, has quietly been preparing for a transition.

In recent months execs have been signed to just one-year contracts, and the number of production deals at the studio has dropped.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 3:52am

did i miss something?

Just to clarify, what i mean is, what you posted says NOTHING about dreamgirls. so you're "dream girls might not happen' makes little sense to me.

Updated On: 7/29/05 at 03:52 AM

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 3:59am

Your "Dreamgirls might not happen" means nothing to ME.

[GhettoBway]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 4:15am

Okay this is for the kids that had to ride the small bus to school.

Fossichild & Zoneface
I just posted news ok get into it that
keep your comments cute.

um Zoneface lets see if you knew anything about who is making the film you would understand the article

Dreamgirls may be one of the films that will be shelved because what? it is being made by Dreamworks and it seems they can not afford the 90 million if they do not sell the studio

ether post what you think about the artile or dont post at all i didnt ask for negative comments.

OK???
Raise your hand when you want to speak to me
Thanks
Motherfu**in JEN JEN

Updated On: 7/29/05 at 04:15 AM

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 4:28am

are you such an angry prick? no need to be a little bitch about it. All i said was that there was no mention of Dreamgirls in anything you posted, and just for the record, i will respond to any thread i damn well please regardless of whether you like what i have to say or not.

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 4:31am

1. Its "FosseBOI" not "FosseCHILD"

2.I didnt appriciate that stupid PM you sent me. I dont know why you cant be public about that sort of thing. I dont care what ppl think about what I have to say, you feel the same. Be proud of what you think.

3.It was two little comments stating that we didnt get your post. Nothing to get THAT bitchy about. All you had to do was tell us what your point was, and all would be fine. I prob. would have said some POSITIVE about your post, had you been NICE about it. But instead, you proceeded to be mean about it.

What goes around, comes around.

I apologize to everyone else that had to read this!

[Akbar-n-Jeff]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 6:08am

Maybe that silly film studio would have been more sucessful if their name didn't sound like a sleepwear company.

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 7:22am

Guys guys guys! Everyone chill out. my word....getting so worked up about something so trivial isn't worth it. just forget about it and move on....

Posted: 7/29/05 at 8:26am

What an appropriate username for the person who started this thread. I too read the original post and was a bit confused.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 9:49am

This project -- already greenlit -- wouldn't be shelved. It would only be things in development under Dreamworks, that might not happen.

Posted: 7/29/05 at 10:48am

GhettoBway, I'd just suggest that calling posters "fag" isn't going to win you any points on this board.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 12:19pm

And I am telling you, the film will happen.

[Plum]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:06pm

I don't completely believe a film will be made until the cameras start rolling, and then I get skeptical about distribution. But as Michael Bennett has pointed out, the film has been greenlit. It also has a director, screenplay, and some casting, all of which are promising signs. I wouldn't freak out over this. Just stay doubtful.

[SFFrontRow]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:48pm

Given the quality of the names associated with this project (especially Jaime Fox and Beyonce) I would assume if production does not start on this with DreamWorks, the chances are good it may be picked up by another studio.

I certainly hope so, this is a great property (I saw the original B'way production twice) that has a great story and great music.