'Devil' rides the borderline
'Devil' rides the borderline
Pic is a coming-of-age drama adapted from Daniel Woodrell's novel "Woe to Live On" and takes place during the time of border wars between Missouri pro-slavers and Kansas abolitionists.
Kansas and Missouri were selected as filming sites "in order to stay true to the heart of Daniel Woodrell's story," said Lee.
The film stars Tobey Maguire ("Deconstructing Harry," "The Ice Storm"), Skeet Ulrich ("Scream") and, making her film debut, recording artist Jewel. James Schamus, who shares producer credit with Ted Hope and Bob Colesberry, scripted. David Linde exec produces. Universal will release the film domestically.
Patti Watkins, director of the Kansas City Missouri Film Office, said "Ride With the Devil" represents the largest feature project for the film office to date. Watkins worked with Vicky Henley of the Kansas Dept. of Commerce and Housing/Kansas Film Commission, and Richard Smreker of the Missouri Film Office, in a bi-state effort to secure the project.
"Since the film office began just over three years ago, it has attracted film projects that have invested more than $41 million in Kansas City's economy," said Mayor Emanuel Cleaver II.
A highlight of the film is to be the burning and sacking of Lawrence, Kan., a stronghold of abolitionists, by Col. Quantrell and his Missouri raiders in 1863. But Lawrence will not be seen in the film. Instead, Pattonsburg, Mo., -- now a ghost town that was decimated by a flood in 1993 -- will be taken over by Lee's company because it is a town "we could burn to the ground," said Lee.
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While there is a healthy need for studios and soundstages in Los Angeles, developers should understand that even in this era of bountiful money, financing is difficult to secure for this esoteric land use. This was the sentiment of a recent Urban Land Institute Santa Monica seminar.
Todd Hess, president of Santa Monica Studios, which is planning a $90 million state-of-the-art facility to replace its current studio, said most lenders are afraid of studios because they don't understand the business.
Downtown L.A. is gaining Los Angeles Centers Studios, located in the former Unocal headquarters building. But, adds Stephan Smith, president of Smith & Hricik, developers of the project with Hollywood Location Co., "Even with the current shortage of production facilities, and the significant profitability of well-managed studios, it is doubtful we could have gotten financing if we did not have an existing building." Smith feels Los Angeles needs 50 studios in addition to its current 375.
Understanding the spatial needs of corporate entertainment and studio users is key, explained architect Thomas Landau. "They lust for open, creative space with 'vibes,' plus amenities -- such as fitness centers and commissaries -- that cushion the long hours that those in the industry put in, and flexibility," he continued. "Above all, they want it, figuratively speaking, overnight."
Landau, who redesigned the Skunk Works building in Burbank, now occupied by the Disney Feature Animation unit, is designing the highly innovative Santa Monica Studios, which will have office space and production facilities in a motif reminiscent of a northern Italian village. It will also be the first studio to provide live/work accommodations.
The desire for open space applies to the surrounding area outside as well as inside entertainment venues, noted M. David Paul, developer of the 1 million-square-foot Media Studios North in Burbank, which included the Skunk Works building. "The campus concept has great appeal," Paul said.
The panel was moderated by Stanley Gerlach Sr., VP for CB Commercial.
(John Quinn in Kansas City contributed to this report.)
