Thompson on Hollywood

Why Berneys Left FilmDistrict; What’s Next?

The Rum Diary

As New York indie distributor Bob Berney leaves FilmDistrict, which is consolidating operations in Los Angeles, he and marketing chief Jeanne Berney will be able to do what they should have done all along. Go into business for themselves. Why manage egos, seek credit and deal with others’ production choices and cozy relationships when you should be your own boss? Let the Berneys run with their own taste and judgement.

With their track record and relationships—at FilmDistrict alone they delivered decent numbers for horror flick Insidious ($54 million domestic), producer Guillermo del Toro’s Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark ($24 million) and Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive ($34 million)—they should be able to raise money now. “We’re really proud of the success of our initial four films and working with these filmmakers,” Berney told me. “They do stack up against any other independent company that’s ever opened.” (He’s referring to the $116 million gross out of the gate through October 30 for FilmDistrict’s first four films vs. the same period at Overture, Weinstein Co., Relativity and even Summit (before it scored big with Twilight).

By Anne Thompson
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November 4, 2011 6:28 PM
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Rum Diary Reviews: Mild Diversion, Vividly Average, Wildly Indulgent, Idiosyncratic

Johnny Depp is on the promo trail for the long-delayed literary adaptation The Rum Diary (October 28), his second run at his fave writer Hunter S. Thompson--although reportedly, the star of Pirates of the Caribbean and the upcoming The Lone Ranger can't talk about the movie on Disney-owned ABC affiliates. While FilmDistrict did not take the film to early fall film fests, they're spending heavily on outdoor ads and TV spots. Depp did a Q & A at the opening of Elvis Mitchell's Film Independent series at LACMA on October 13, and the film played the Austin and Hamptons Film Festivals. And after an invite-only UC Berkeley screening and Q & A for The Rum Diary, Depp took over music club Shattuck Down Low and served up Hunter's punch cocktails and live music (here's more). And Depp sat down with Fandango.

By Anne Thompson
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October 24, 2011 5:39 AM
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Bringing Burton’s World to Life: LACMA Hosts Collaborators, Screens 70mm Scissorhands

On October 21, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is hosting a Behind-the-Scenes panel, "Bringing Burton’s World to Life," with key Tim Burton collaborators. Oscar-winning composer Danny Elfman, costume designer Colleen Atwood, and art director, sculptor, installation designer and production designer Rick Heinrichs will participate on a panel about transforming Burton’s vision from concept to three-dimensional film reality, moderated by Ron Magliozzi, Associate Curator, MoMA Department of Film and co-organizer of the Tim Burton exhibition. Their films range across Vincent, Beetlejuice, Batman, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood and Edward Scissorhands, which will be shown in 70mm, a rare screening.

By Anne Thompson
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October 13, 2011 1:07 AM
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Depp Developing Live Action Dr. Seuss, Thin Man Remake Finds New Scribe in Billy Ray

It was only a matter of time. Dr. Seuss will be brought to live-action life, and as long as Johnny Depp is accepting the stupid money, he'll likely be in the title role. The project is in development at Illumination Entertainment and Depp's Infinium Nihil, with Depp producing (and possibly starring), and Keith Bunin pegged to write the script.

By Sophia Savage
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October 7, 2011 7:38 AM
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Johnny Depp Will Take The Stupid Money, Thanks--And Will Promo Rum Diary at Columbia, LACMA

Johnny Depp will take the money, thank you very much. “Basically, if they’re going to pay me the stupid money right now, I’m going to take it,” he tells Vanity Fair in their November issue. He's more flattered by compliments from Keith Richards on his singing in Sweeney Todd, and enjoys the "stimulation to the brain," but his paychecks (his Pirates franchise tally is in the $350 million range) are "for the kids" at this point. "It's ridiculous, yeah, yeah. But ultimately is it for me? No."

By Anne Thompson
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October 4, 2011 4:15 AM
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The Rum Diary Hits a Film Festival: The Hamptons

Things are looking up for the long-delayed literary adaptation The Rum Diary, Johnny Depp's second run at writer Hunter M. Thompson. Whenever a movie sits on the shelf for long, it starts to small a little. But while FilmDistrict did not take the film to early fall film fests, they have booked it as the opening of Elvis Mitchell's Film Independent series at LACMA and will play the upcoming Hamptons Film Festival.

By Anne Thompson
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September 27, 2011 10:24 AM
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Weekly Wrap: Oscar Talk, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Moneyball, Gordon-Levitt Interviewed on 50/50

WEEKEND PREVIEW:

By Maggie Lange
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September 23, 2011 10:29 AM
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First Look: Depp, Pfeiffer, Bonham Carter in Burton's Unearthly Dark Shadows Ensemble

With Johnny Depp background and center as a centuries-old vampire, this "family photo" from the upcoming Dark Shadows film, directed by Tim Burton, reveals an unearthly ensemble. Dark Shadows will revamp the ABC 1966-1971 soap opera, which focused on the lives of supernatural siblings and their extended family, including witches, ghosts, and all manners of gothic horrors.

By Maggie Lange
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September 23, 2011 3:16 AM
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Film Independent at LACMA Starts With World Premiere of Rum Diary, Reitman Breakfast Club Reading

Elvis Mitchell is in the building!

By Sophia Savage
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September 14, 2011 1:07 AM
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Lone Ranger: Inflated Budget Drama Pits Risk-Averse Disney Against Verbinski Loyalist Depp UPDATE

UPDATE 9/29: The Lone Ranger is set to ride again, with budget issues being worked out between the studio and director Gore Verbinski and his loyal star, Johnny Depp. Deadline has the good news details (though an official announcement is yet to be made).