Case study: ‘The Musketeer’
Alexandre Dumas, author of the 19th-century French classic of intrigue and adventure "The Three Musketeers," would no doubt be honored to know that the financing plot behind "The Musketeer," MDP…
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Braden Phillips
Hidden treasure
The results are in, and we hope they're on the money. Variety's first indie finance survey confirms several recent developments in the nonstudio world and reveals some new insights. We had a 62%…
Bond companies get tough post consolidation, 9/11
The number of completion bond companies has contracted by more than half during the past year, but the handful that remain say they will have no trouble covering the needs of independently financed…
Acad vs. guilds: apples and oranges
Good period work for a costume designer is the equivalent of a drunk scene for an actor," says Albert Wolsky, who won two Academy Awards for "All That Jazz" and "Bugsy." "You can't lose."
New Mexico passes major prod’n incentives
In an effort to lure film production to their back yards, most states have some form of tax incentive or rebate; some also have arts agencies that give small-size grants, and a couple, like Illinois…
Strategies pay off for top genres
Dramas, thrillers and action pics, of both the adventure and suspense variety, are the top genres at the American Film Market most years, this one included.
Positive reaction to Oscar’s look
Something has happened to Oscar. In past Academy Awards posters, the film industry icon has a composed, even serene aspect. This year he's a rippling superhero, overlooking Hollywood with lordly…
Filmmakers’ almanac
With the next installment in its "100 Years ..." series, which it started in 1998, the American Film Institute will have produced 25 hours of television documenting the first century of American…
Lively debate colors committee votes
Roger Ebert gives his experience on the film nominating committee for the American Film Institute's inaugural awards a hearty thumbs-up.
‘A.I.’ submerged in awards season hoopla
Given Steven Spielberg's cachet as the most powerful filmmaker in Hollywood, the idea of his latest film getting lost amid all the award season hoopla seems unfathomable. Could it be that the…
