Zide-Perry moves to WB
Pair behind 'The Big Hit' inks two-year deal
Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, WB's prexy of worldwide theatrical production, announced the pact, which begins immediately.
The producer-managers said that they aimed to make "at least" two pics a year for WB. Zide-Perry, which moves to Warners from Touchstone, will remain based in its Beverly Hills offices.
According to Zide, the duo's deal is to provide WB with cost-effective, but commercial, pics in the vein of their Mark Wahlberg actioner for Sony, "The Big Hit."
Zide said "Hit," which was directed by Kirk Wong and co-produced with Wesley Snipes' Amen Ra Films and Terence Chang and John Woo's Lion Rock, cost $12.5 million to make. Pic has grossed $27 million in the U.S. after nine weeks, with most of the rest of the world yet to open.
"We'll be looking for big movies, but our primary focus will be script-driven films, probably comedies," Zide said.
Zide and Perry "have an eclectic taste in movies and wide-ranging relationships that have brought them many interesting projects," Di Bonaventura told Daily Variety. "Their ability to move material through the development process effectively and their cost-conscious approach to filmmaking will make them valuable assets."
The deal demonstrates an increasing willingness on the part of WB, which in the past has favored star vehicles and event pics over smaller films, to diversify its production strategy.
Zide-Perry has two titles in early development at WB: the comic book "Pride and Joy" and the romantic comedy "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
Meanwhile, Zide-Perry begins shooting the $11.5 million "East Great Falls High," starring Shannon Elizabeth, on July 21. Paul and Chris Weitz are directing the teen sex comedy, which Universal Pictures is financing and distributing.
Zide and Perry, who first met in the mailroom at New Line Cinema, have numerous projects in development at the WB sister studio, including the horror spec "Black Ice," a "Titanic" spoof entitled "Gigantic," thriller "Flight 180" from scribes Glen Morgan and James Wong, and a screen adaptation of the novel "Henry's List of Wrongs."
Earlier this week, Zide-Perry and Gary Fleder's Mojo Films set up the comic book actioner "Danger Girl" at NL.
Zide acknowledged that the company's large number of development projects called for an increase in staffing levels. "The company will expand before the end of the summer," he said.
Zide-Perry already has promoted one of its managers, J.C. Spink, to director of development.
After his stint at New Line, Zide joined ICM, subsequently founding Zide Entertainment as a management firm specializing in young screenwriters.
Perry was director of development for Silver Pictures and vice president of development for Scott Rudin Prods.
The pair reunited to form Zide-Perry a year ago, with "Hit" becoming their first production. Zide Entertainment continues to exist as a management firm alongside Zide-Perry.
Attorneys Jeff Frankel and Jason Sloane repped Zide-Perry in the negotiations.
