Fantastic $4 million is yardstick at Sundance
PARK CITY -- Four million appeared to be the magic number at the Sundance Film Festival as acquisitions heated up Monday.
Three films sold at or near that price: Fox Searchlight took worldwide rights to the late actress-writer-director Adrienne Shelly's "Waitress" for slightly less than $4 million and George Ratliff's psychological thriller "Joshua" for $3.7 million, while Warner Independent Pictures put down $4 million for a collection of rights to Cherie Nowlan's Australian romance "Clubland".
"No distributor wants to overlook a potential success like 'Little Miss Sunshine' or 'Half Nelson, ' " said William Morris Independent co-head Rena Ronson, who sold "Grace Is Gone" to the Weinstein Co. on Sunday. "They're finding films that either fulfill an economic model that makes sense and/or can garner some kind of award."
Searchlight, which is on an acquisition binge, closed the deal on "Waitress" after the film screened for its second time Monday morning. It was the third and final feature from the filmmaker, who was killed in her New York apartment in early November.
"Waitress" stars Keri Russell in the title role of a poor Southern woman trapped in a bad marriage who finds true love when a new gynecologist comes to town. It was produced by Michael Roiff and executive produced by Todd King, Jeff Rose, Danielle Renfrew and Robert Bauer. Searchlight plans a 2007 release.
The deal was brokered on Fox Searchlight's side by senior vp acquisitions Tony Safford and executive vp business affairs Stephen Plum with the Film Sales Co. president Andrew Herwitz and Irwin Rappaport repping the filmmakers.
Searchlight went on to purchase virtually all worldwide rights minus Canada to Ratliff's "Joshua"; Ratliff helmed the 2001 documentary "Hell House". The film, which debuted Saturday night, tells the tale of a disturbed child who slowly turns the life of his family upside down. Starring Sam Rockwell, Vera Farmiga and young newcomer Jacob Kogan, "Joshua" triggered interest from multiple parties, but it was Searchlight that came through in the end. "George Ratliff and David Gilbert have created an unbelievably tense and frightful tale," said Searchlight president Rice, who plans a summer release.
Tony Safford, senior vp acquisitions and production at 20th Century Fox, and Stephen Plum, executive vp business affairs, negotiated on behalf of Searchlight, while UTA and attorney Andrew Hurwitz represented the filmmakers.
Three films sold at or near that price: Fox Searchlight took worldwide rights to the late actress-writer-director Adrienne Shelly's "Waitress" for slightly less than $4 million and George Ratliff's psychological thriller "Joshua" for $3.7 million, while Warner Independent Pictures put down $4 million for a collection of rights to Cherie Nowlan's Australian romance "Clubland".
"No distributor wants to overlook a potential success like 'Little Miss Sunshine' or 'Half Nelson, ' " said William Morris Independent co-head Rena Ronson, who sold "Grace Is Gone" to the Weinstein Co. on Sunday. "They're finding films that either fulfill an economic model that makes sense and/or can garner some kind of award."
Searchlight, which is on an acquisition binge, closed the deal on "Waitress" after the film screened for its second time Monday morning. It was the third and final feature from the filmmaker, who was killed in her New York apartment in early November.
"Waitress" stars Keri Russell in the title role of a poor Southern woman trapped in a bad marriage who finds true love when a new gynecologist comes to town. It was produced by Michael Roiff and executive produced by Todd King, Jeff Rose, Danielle Renfrew and Robert Bauer. Searchlight plans a 2007 release.
The deal was brokered on Fox Searchlight's side by senior vp acquisitions Tony Safford and executive vp business affairs Stephen Plum with the Film Sales Co. president Andrew Herwitz and Irwin Rappaport repping the filmmakers.
Searchlight went on to purchase virtually all worldwide rights minus Canada to Ratliff's "Joshua"; Ratliff helmed the 2001 documentary "Hell House". The film, which debuted Saturday night, tells the tale of a disturbed child who slowly turns the life of his family upside down. Starring Sam Rockwell, Vera Farmiga and young newcomer Jacob Kogan, "Joshua" triggered interest from multiple parties, but it was Searchlight that came through in the end. "George Ratliff and David Gilbert have created an unbelievably tense and frightful tale," said Searchlight president Rice, who plans a summer release.
Tony Safford, senior vp acquisitions and production at 20th Century Fox, and Stephen Plum, executive vp business affairs, negotiated on behalf of Searchlight, while UTA and attorney Andrew Hurwitz represented the filmmakers.
- 1/23/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
'Waitress' to Searchlight for $4 mil
PARK CITY -- Fox Searchlight continued its Sundance acquisition binge Monday by purchasing worldwide rights to the Adrienne Shelly film "Waitress" for just under $4 million.
Fox Searchlight has confirmed the deal, which closed soon after the film screened at Sundance for its second time Monday at the Library Theatre at 11:30am. It's the third and final feature from the slain writer/director, who was murdered in her New York apartment in early November
The film stars Keri Russell in the title role of a poor Southern woman trapped in a bad marriage who finds true love when a new gynecologist comes to town. Jeremy Sisto, Cheryl Hines, Nathan Fillion and Andy Griffith also star.
"Waitress" was produced by Michael Roiff and executive produced by Todd King, Jeff Rose, Danielle Renfrew and Robert Bauer. It is scheduled to be released in 2007.
The deal was brokered on Fox Searchlight's side by senior vp acquisitions Tony Safford and executive vp business affairs Stephen Plum with the Film Sales Co.
Fox Searchlight has confirmed the deal, which closed soon after the film screened at Sundance for its second time Monday at the Library Theatre at 11:30am. It's the third and final feature from the slain writer/director, who was murdered in her New York apartment in early November
The film stars Keri Russell in the title role of a poor Southern woman trapped in a bad marriage who finds true love when a new gynecologist comes to town. Jeremy Sisto, Cheryl Hines, Nathan Fillion and Andy Griffith also star.
"Waitress" was produced by Michael Roiff and executive produced by Todd King, Jeff Rose, Danielle Renfrew and Robert Bauer. It is scheduled to be released in 2007.
The deal was brokered on Fox Searchlight's side by senior vp acquisitions Tony Safford and executive vp business affairs Stephen Plum with the Film Sales Co.
- 1/23/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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