'Sweethearts' deal
Studio changes Italo distrib at last minute
Revolution Studios has pacted with newly reactivated independent banner Italian Intl. Film, which will put the pic out in late January, angering exhibs who say the move leaves a hole in their schedules.
The change has taken industry observers by surprise. CTSI has had posters up and trailers in theaters and on national TV for some weeks to hype the Nov. 23 release of the pic, which was booked onto 350 screens.
Perhaps most significantly, CTSI has covered the considerable cost of translating and dubbing the romantic comedy into Italian, retitling the pic "I perfetti innamorati."
National exhibs are now forced to scramble for replacement titles for the run-up to Christmas, when crowd-pullers are thin on the ground until "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" opens Dec. 6.
Deal was made by IIF chief Fulvio Lucisano with Sony and Revolution late October, long after the wheels had been set in motion for the Italian release through CTSI, which appears to have been caught unawares by the move.
"I'm unable to comment directly on the reasons behind this decision since the agreement was made in Los Angeles without our involvement," recently appointed CTSI director general Fabrizio Ferrucci told Daily Variety. "But Revolution titles go out through independent distributors in several key territories, including Germany and Japan, so this sublicensing deal is nothing unusual.
Homevid deal remains
"CTSI has had a deal with IIF for six years now for homevideo distribution, so we will still be involved in handling 'America's Sweethearts,' and the theatrical release will carry the Columbia logo," he added.
In addition to "Sweethearts," CTSI's original deal with Joe Roth's Revolution covered "The One" and "The Animal." All three pics will now go out through IIF.
Insiders say Sony and Revolution found Lucisano's offer too good to refuse, standing to make more cash from the sale than from channeling the releases through the Italian division.
Ferrucci confirms that on top of the pricetag, which unconfirmed reports place in the $5 million range for "Sweethearts" alone, IIF also will be billed for all costs incurred by CTSI in launching the film.
Having been largely inactive for the past two seasons while Lucisano concentrated on his role as president of national producers association ANICA, IIF is understood to have been anxious to secure a key title around which to build its new-season slate. Lucisano, who steps down as ANICA prexy Dec. 31, was unavailable for comment.
