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Hollywood & Vine
Hosted by Sharon Waxman
Post Style Correspondent
Tuesday, June 12, 2001; 2 p.m. EDT
Washington Post Style correspondent Sharon Waxman brings Hollywood & Vine Live Online for a discussion about the inner workings of the movie industry. There is a whole political universe behind how the movies happen, the tug and pull of egos, financial imperatives, a pecking order for privileges as well as genuine creative impulses.
Sharon Waxman is online Tuesday, June 12, at 2 p.m. EDT, to answer your questions and field your comments on the industry personalities she has met; the movies that are causing a stir and why; and trends in the industry and the culture of moviemaking in general.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
A transcript follows.
Sharon Waxman: We're back! We're not talking about Timothy McVeigh! Things are unnaturally quiet on the Hollywood front, no doubt due to the cacophonous noise coming from the rest of the country. Quietly, the actors and producers are talking about making a deal. Quietly, television executives are weeping about the slow flow of ad revenue for the fall. Timerously, movie moguls are crossing their fingers ahead of huge releases like Tomb Raider and Planet of the Apes.
I, for one, am very excited to go see "AI" tomorrow. I passed along a reader's comment about the 'A-1" sauce confusion to the movie's chief publicist and got a huge guffaw. Apparently not a big issue.
Also saw Moulin Rouge, which blew my socks off. And I thought the trailer for Planet of the Apes was exceedingly cool. Ok, let's go folks.
Ridgefield, Conn.:
Sharon dahling,
Your chats are the greatest. I never miss one. Anybody who cares about the industry should be here every week to ask about the latest news. -- Dave
BTW, I assume you don't have actual info beyond what already been reported, rumored and denied about the alledged half mill to Halle Berry. But, could you fill in about cultural background behind this issue, like:
Would an actress of Berry's stature normally be paid a similar amount to do such a scene? And would such payment normally be structured implicitly into her contract without being a baldly stated quid pro quo?
About the rumor itself, does it sound like something started by a studio publicist to draw interest, or more likely the uninformed speculation of reporters?
Sharon Waxman: Thanks for tuning in. I'm inferring from your comment that Halle Berry was paid a half-million to, what?, appear topless in 'Swordfish'? I've never ever heard of an actress getting a specific fee to get undressed in a film. It may well be true that her agent may demand more if that's what the requirements are, but I'm not privy to those details.
There is a theory here that many actresses' careers start to go downhill once they take it off. That they lose some sense of mystery to their audience. But it's an interesting question; Halle Berry has always cultivated a very wholesome appeal (the not-JLo approach), so maybe she decided it was time to be daring.
Reston, 20190:
Of course the ads for AI do have "Artificial Intelligence" below "A.I" so that people will know what AI is.
Sharon Waxman: Good point.
EraserheadGuy, D.C.:
Sharon, a few weeks ago, when John Frazier guested, he opined, “You can't condemn the industry for popcorn movies. That's what keep the theaters open so you can see your art movies.”
I was nettled by that statement, but am now wondering whether he has a point. In the economics of the movie biz, does indie cinema (I mean REAL indie, not Tinseltown-owned indie, like Miramax) indeed depend on Hollywood, much like those little birds that live by picking ticks off the backs of rhinocerosauruses and hippopotamooses? David Lynch didn’t need Hollywood in his early days. He made “Eraserhead” with the help of friends. Oh, wait, he did get a grant from AFI, so maybe even he needed Hollywood to make it...darn...
Sharon Waxman: First order of business:
Rhinoceri. Hippopotamox.
Second order of business:
We need to open your eyes a bit to how movies get financed these days. And by this I mean ALL movies. Hollywood studios are ever less eager to take on the huge financial risk of movies. Increasingly they are looking to partners via independent producers (Village Road Show, Summit Entertainment, Franchise Pictures etc. ad nauseum) who in turn raise money from star-struck foreigners, lately the Germans and Japanese, who have had stock market cash to burn. They use this to finance movies as large as "Final Fantasy" this summer (all Japanese money) and as small as Sexy Beast (I'm not sure who, but I'd bet the money is European).
This is equally true with 'indie' movies. Their money comes from all over the map, quite literally. This may include but is not exclusive to, Europotami like Canal Plus in France, or BBC Films in England.
What you call REAL indie is probably still made with some kid's father's credit card.
Re: Halle Berry:
I have no idea if an A-list actress has taken that much money to appear topless before, but I do know that Sigourney Weaver requested double her original fee to shave her head for "Alien 3."
Sharon Waxman: Hmmm? Where will it end? Bonuses to cry real tears? A premium for a french kiss lasting longer than five seconds? Charging producers per take, perhaps?
Downtown D.C.:
How is "Moulin Rouge" doing in the box office, relative to expectations?
Sharon Waxman: Just checked on imdb.com and -- ouch. The movie's taken in only $14 million so far, and it cost upwards of $50 million. That is a very not-good sign. If it were one weekend, that would not be awful, but that looks like two weekends worth, which has to be disappointing.
There was a piece in the LA Times noting how the marketers got smart and released the "Lady Creole" song to radios to make the movie appealing to kids, and that worked. But they have a very long row to hoe before they hit Profits.
I'd think the movie will do well in Europe, though.
Arlington, Va.:
I read on www.imdb.com that Monty Python's Holy Grail will be re-released soon. Can't find any other info on it, though. Do you know anything, or can you recommend a good resource? Clicksters, any word?
Sharon Waxman: Clicksters?
SF, Calif.:
But some actresses get more notoriety for taking their clothes off. Sharon Stone in particular. And what a nice Father's Day gift she gave her husband. Ouch!
Sharon Waxman: As a career choice it certainly worked for her. But I think she's the exception. And she's not been able to ever break out of that sexualized image of herself that she imprinted on her public with that first movie. Not that she doesn't like playing the sexy card, but it's been hard for her to get parts that extend beyond that. And lately it's just been hard for her to get parts period.
Re Father's Day: for those who don't know, Stone arranged a private visit for hubby Phil Bronstein to the SF Zoo and his feet got chewed up by some miniature dragon. Pretty funny. He'll survive.
Georgetown, D.C.:
I'm with you on Moulin Rouge. What an experience. All five friends that I went with loved the movie. I can't wait for it to be on DVD! Have you seen Tomb Raider yet?
Sharon Waxman: Thanks. No on Tomb Raider, media screening here is June 13.
D.C.:
Hi Sharon:
What exactly blew your socks off about "Moulin"? I'm a big Lurhmann fan but the thought of sitting through 90 minutes of Nicole Kidman singing has proven to be a deterrent.
Sharon Waxman: Where to start? The movie was so wildly inventive it took my breath away, really. There were many parts that were so over the top that I just rolled my eyes - things just patently ridiculous. But some of the patently ridiculous stuff was really funny - like Jim Broadbent as the Moulin Rouge impresario credibly singing 'Like a Virgin' to the evil count, who is lusting after Kidman (Satine, the courtesan), while the French waiters do a Broadway-style dance in the background (shades of 'Springtime for Hitler'). The other scene that made the entire thing worthwhile was a tango-version of 'Roxanne' (one of my all-time favorite songs anyway), danced by the Moulin Rouge can-canners, intercut with scenes of Kidman's seduction by the evil count. It was so dramatic, moving, exciting - and seems like I never say that about movies anymore.
Trust me, it's not 90 minutes of Nicole Kidman singing. It's not like any movie I"d seen before.
N.Y.C.:
Looking forward to seeing Moulin Rouge and Tomb Raider this weekend. But my question is about A.I. I've seen a few TV previews for it here in N.Y., but most make it look like an artsy 2001 type film, rather than showing some of the gee-whiz "robot" effects. Obviously the studio is making a decision here. Do you think this spin will affect the box office?
Sharon Waxman: Spielberg is really keeping this one close to the vest. There's still only one print of the movie as I understand, and they're just starting to selectively show it to press, and the movie opens in three weeks! Seems to me the trailers have been aiming to evoke a sense of mystery and wonder about the movie. I don't know about gee-whiz robot effects, especially since the robots are being played by humans.
Fairfax:
rhi·noc·er·os (r-nsr-s)
n. pl. rhinoceros or rhi·noc·er·os·es
hip·po·pot·a·mus (hp-pt-ms)
n. pl. hip·po·pot·a·mus·es or hip·po·pot·a·mi (-m)
Sharon Waxman: Thank you. I knew someone would come through.
Laurel:
Re: Sharon Stone
She was already 35 when she "broke out" in Basic Instinct. Since then she's been trying to maxmize her income and simultaneously re-make her image as a more mature actress. That she hasn't been real successful is hardly surprizing.
Sharon Waxman: Ok thanks.
Charm City:
Does the drastic drop last weekend at the box office for Pearl Harbor spell disaster for this piece of dreck?
(Please say yes!)
Sharon Waxman: Doesn't spell disaster, but the huge drop-off has to be worrying to Disney.
Baltimore:
Why are you so mean?
Sharon Waxman: Why are you so humorless?
Re: A.I.:
Actually, there is a new trailer out that focuses more on the action/special effects aspects of the film. Don't know if they decided the other focus wasn't generating enough interest or if they're trying to broaden the appeal.
Sharon Waxman: I think they were very concerned about those A-1 sauce rumors.
Bethesda, Md.:
Sharon:
Wanted to chime in with a correction on the "Moulin Rouge" information: the film appears to have taken in $27.5 million so far ($14 million was in its first weekend). And, not to be Little Miss Nitpicky, but the song is "Lady Marmalade," not "Lady Creole."
Really enjoy these chats, Sharon, and am glad to hear you also enjoyed "Moulin." I thought it was fantastic and hope a day will come when a movie like that actually outdoes "The Animal" at the box office. (Of course, "Moulin" is on fewer screens, but still...)
Sharon Waxman: Oh good. As I say, I took that info off imdb, which apparently wasn't updated. I'm glad the movie did so well its second weekend (unlike Pearl Harbor), that IS a good sign. Consider that first comment revised, pls.
Washington, D.C.:
Holy Grail will in fact be released later this summer in the theaters, containing 49 seconds of new footage which, according to Cleese, is 49 seconds of blinking film that says "New Footage here."
They haven't lost their edge...
Sharon Waxman: Thanks for that.
Bowie:
Re: Moulin
Acutally I was VERY surprized at how good a singer Nicole Kidman was. (Although some of the men's voices were somewhat weak.)
Tom who?
Sharon Waxman: She has a very tuneful voice, I thought, though without much character to it. I thought she very credibly carried that role.
D.C.:
I just checked on Yahoo's box office report & Moulin Rouge has made $28 million -- not quite the "ouch" you reported. I think it's actually done quite well considering it's a musical starring actors not known for their singing talents, especially given the fact that none except Kidman is a major star (John Leguizamo & Ewan McGregor are hardly big box office draws).
Sharon Waxman: Yes I've already been slapped on the wrist, thank you very much.
ZZZ:
My initial reaction to the ads for A.I., knowing nothing about the movie was, hmmmmmm, it's Pinnochio - retold.
It's not, is it? Is it an original story...I hope?
Sharon Waxman: I believe AI is an original story, worked on by Stanely Kubrick for many years. I hadn't thought about the Pinnochio thing, and I'm sure there are some germs of connection there, but from what I've heard the story goes far beyond that.
Baltimore:
See? My point exactly. I am going to cry now. Boo Hoo.
Sharon Waxman: Really? We need to sign you up for some "Weakest Link" training.
The Holy Grail:
The trailer is wonderful. It's all done with a Chinese martial-arts movie voice over, ending in a restaurant ad.
Sharon Waxman: Just continue speaking among yourselves. I have no idea what you're talking about and that's fine.
Reston, 20190:
So is anyone working on the story of "A-1" And is it a culinary adventure of a movie, or just some spiced up ketchup for the direct to video market?
Sharon Waxman: I am, for the Post. Is that what you meant? They don't inform me about other projects in the works. In fact I don't even know about 99 percent of what's in the Post until it's printed.
Chicago:
Am I the only person on the planet who is not looking forward to the release of AI? Maybe its because I don't care for Speilberg movies except for the rare exceptions and am convinced he could do nothing except for ruin a Kubrick idea.
Sharon Waxman: You're so mean. I'd bet we'd be fast friends.
MagnoliaGuy, Alex., Va.:
I found Swordfish to be just about the worst mainstream Hollywood movie I've seen since Hannibal(haven't seen Pearl Harbor though). Completely imbecilic and incoherent on just about every level. And the site of Halle Berry's breasts is ruined by a later scene where she's dangling on a rope about to be hung by Travolta's bad guy character. Have we really sunk this low that the best part for a black actress in Hollywood is be lynched in service of some lame-Broken Arrow knockoff genre piece? Swordfish is of such a sloppy quality one thinks they had the set pieces and trailer shot and -then- worked out how to connect the plot points. Hollywood has nothing but contempt for its targeted audience and I guess I shouldn't have paid my $8.50 towards making this wreck of a film #1 at the Box Office this weekend. Rant over.
Sharon Waxman: Thanks for ranting. Now I know not to see it.
Arlington, Va.:
Sharon,
I saw Bridget Jones and found it much better than I expected it to be. However, it was lacking in many areas. The cameo by Salman Rushdie was amusing; and I was pleased to see that Hugh Grant seems to have abandoned that annoying bliny-eyed thing he used to do all the time. Still, his hair is a role unto itself. Colin Firth on the other hand, is divine. Do you predict a sequel?
Sharon Waxman: Sadly, I do.
Arlington, Va.:
What's the matter with "Swordfish"?
Sharon Waxman: See above.
Boston, Mass.:
Good Afternoon Sharon,
Why is that movie-goers are so obtuse in their choice of movies these days, "Moulin Rouge" was such a cutting-edge movie, amazing direction and singing, however, but it got beat out by a bombs and boobs movie like PEARL HARBOR. Come on!
Also saw "Bound" this weekend. Why was that movie swept under the rug?
P.S. Saw the trailer for "Original Sin," Antonio Banderas looks tailor-made for this movie but somehow I think Angelina Jolie looks mismatched. Any early buzz?
Sharon Waxman: I saw a bootleg copy of Original Sin. About the worst movie I can spare you from seeing this year.
Dundalk Adjacent:
Hi Sharon, can you recommend a decent place to stay out close to the Getty Museum?
After I'm done with the museum, are there any worthwhile attractions that an old black and white movie lover like myself should see in the Westside area? Outside of the Laurel and Hardy piano steps, of course. Thanks!
Sharon Waxman: Travel questions? No problem.
There is a redone silent era, actual silent film on Fairfax near La Cienega. It opened earlier this year.
As for hotels, sorry I don't know. There's one near the 405 entrance on Sunset that's not far from the Getty, but I don't remember the name.
Dex, San Francisco:
AI is based on the (very) short story "Supertoys Last All Summer Long" by Brian Aldiss. Read it here:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/5.01/ffsupertoys_pr.html
You've almost convinced me to see Moulin Rouge, despite my aversion to all things Kidman (she's a little to high on the precious-meter for me). It looks like the David Lynch red-curtain quotient is quite high, though - that's a draw, right E-man?
Sharon Waxman: Dex, just take a leap of faith. It's actually a psychedelic experience. And it's not really Lynchian at all, which evokes sinister notes to me. We may have to call it Bazian or something. If you do go, please write next week and let me know what you thought.
Sharon Waxman: Gotta run to some official luncheon of sorts. Thanks for coming and bringing your grammar books, dictionaries, box office updates and other sundry details that are just too hard for me to cope with.
Next week we can talk with some actual knowledge about AI. See you then!
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