December
5How “Slumdog” Emerged From The Slums
I’ve always found that big hits stem from corporate inadvertencies, not from careful planning. Certainly the “Slumdog” saga reinforces that theory.
As “Slumdog Millionaire” picks up heat in the kudo competition (the “top picture” award from the National Board of Review being the latest example) the folklore also builds about its origins. Who had the guts to greenlight a movie in Hindi set in Mumbai?
The answer is that no one quite did.
But Peter Rice at Fox Searchlight looks smart for ending up with the finished movie. And Warner Bros looks very uncool for having let it go.
The movie, under the direction of Danny Boyle, started shooting under the aegis of Warner Independent. Credit Polly Cohen for moving it forward. Rice, having worked with Boyle before, could have cofinanced, but chose not to. One demerit for Rice.
By the time “Slumdog” finished shooting, there was no more Warner Independent. That scared the hell out of Boyle. But Bob Berney from Picturehouse, a company that had been buried along with Warner Independent, offered to handle distribution. He liked the movie – and Berney had built up an amazing record going back to “Greek Wedding” for working with indie projects.
Berney asked Jeff Robinov of Warner Bros. to keep Picturehouse in business for an additional four months so he could deal with “Slumdog.” Robinov and his corporate colleagues said no. One demerit for Warner Bros.
Boyle played his final card. It was back to Rice. This time, he said yes. Maybe he asked himself, how many times can you say no to an old friend?
If “Slumdog” wins an Oscar, lots of folks will line up for credit. My kudo goes to Danny Boyle for persistence.
As “Slumdog Millionaire” picks up heat in the kudo competition (the “top picture” award from the National Board of Review being the latest example) the folklore also builds about its origins. Who had the guts to greenlight a movie in Hindi set in Mumbai?
The answer is that no one quite did.
But Peter Rice at Fox Searchlight looks smart for ending up with the finished movie. And Warner Bros looks very uncool for having let it go.
The movie, under the direction of Danny Boyle, started shooting under the aegis of Warner Independent. Credit Polly Cohen for moving it forward. Rice, having worked with Boyle before, could have cofinanced, but chose not to. One demerit for Rice.By the time “Slumdog” finished shooting, there was no more Warner Independent. That scared the hell out of Boyle. But Bob Berney from Picturehouse, a company that had been buried along with Warner Independent, offered to handle distribution. He liked the movie – and Berney had built up an amazing record going back to “Greek Wedding” for working with indie projects.
Berney asked Jeff Robinov of Warner Bros. to keep Picturehouse in business for an additional four months so he could deal with “Slumdog.” Robinov and his corporate colleagues said no. One demerit for Warner Bros.
Boyle played his final card. It was back to Rice. This time, he said yes. Maybe he asked himself, how many times can you say no to an old friend?
If “Slumdog” wins an Oscar, lots of folks will line up for credit. My kudo goes to Danny Boyle for persistence.
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As an insider I will tell you straight out. Warner Brothers is the worst! Total Chicken' Shi$s.
To those who decided just to make a good movie, or at least a movie trying to be good, thank you.
We are dying out here for movies. Not amusement park rides. The lemmings at the top will always make the money. But they are judged inside themselves. They know who they are.
Guys like Kevin Misher who lose their producing deals should. Thank God. We don't need them to produce the crap they do. Anyone can produce those movies. It takes real producers, like Wendy Finerman, who can produce studio pictures and the tougher ones as well. It's the real stories that take skill as a producer. The Misher projects can be handled by execs. at the studio. Make a rich offer, get a yes and make the movie.
Thank you.
Posted by: AnHonestAnswer | 12/6/2008 5:58:01 PM
Not quite correct. I believe Celador and Film4 greenlit and financed the move, then sold domestic to Warner Independent during filming.
Posted by: Steven Pitsitch | 12/6/2008 10:01:28 AM
It''s these kinds of movies that separate the men from the boys.
Posted by: Jo Marr | 12/6/2008 5:02:59 AM