DVD premieres in production despite writers strike
Some movies delayed
By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 12/14/2007
DEC. 14 | The ongoing Writers Guild of America strike is not preventing a strong supply of DVD premiere movies from hitting retail through 2008.
Some projects have been delayed due to not yet ready scripts from boycotting screenwriters, including New Line Home Entertainment’s second Danielle Steel title and a sequel to 2004 theatrical Cellular.
But the made-for-DVD pipeline should be adequately full through the year, with titles nearing completion including 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment’s Joy Ride: End of the World and Behind Enemy Lines 3; Warner Home Video’s The Clique, The Lost Boys 2, Batman: Gotham Knight; and New Line’s The Cell 2, Poison Ivy: Secret Society and Undisputed 3.
Many DVD executives say that the uniquely speedy production schedule for straight-to-disc films protects the product from further looming strike possibilities in Hollywood. Contracts for members of the Directors Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild are now nearing expiration and, like the WGA dealings, will require new negotiations between the groups and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
“The writers strike has put some things in a holding pattern,” said Kevin Kasha, senior VP of acquisitions at New Line. “But we are moving ahead [if scripts are completed]. For video and ancillary properties, you can be a little more nimble and can get things on the fast track.”
New Line’s The Cell 2 began principal photography last month. Its story line is under wraps, but Kasha confirms it does extend the franchise, which kicked off with 2000 theatrical The Cell starring Jennifer Lopez. This next installment, slated for third-quarter 2008, stars Frank Whaley and Tessie Santiago.
Other New Line 2008 definites include The Crib, co-produced by Ice Cube’s Cube Vision company, Undisputed 3 and a fourth Poison Ivy installment.
Now in postproduction, Poison Ivy: Secret Society will star newer faces Shawna Waldron and Miriam McDonald. The duo will follow Drew Barrymore, Alyssa Milano and Jamie Pressley, who starred in the past three editions of the racy series.
Fox just wrapped production on Joy Ride 2, slated for release next fall. Additionally, the studio hopes to also churn out a third Enemy Lines by 2009. That is contingent upon what happens with the DGA and SAG, however.
“For us, it’s the same as it is in the feature world; we have banked a bunch of scripts, and we are evaluating the ones we want to make,” said Tom Siegrist, Fox VP of production. “We are monitoring what is happening with the [WGA] strike and potentially what could happen with the directors and actors. Actors contracts come up at the end of June, and if the writers strike is still going on, it’s impossible to say” how things will be resolved.
Casting isn’t finalized for Behind Enemy Lines 3, but the story line focuses on a team of Navy SEALs as they travel to Columbia to perform a secret mission.
Warner-distributed made-for-DVD label Warner Premiere is readying at least seven releases for 2008, including Another Cinderella Story, an untitled companion to this summer’s theatrical Get Smart, a second animated Justice League and an animated Wonder Woman.
The debut Clique film, whose script is complete, is slated to bow in fourth-quarter 2008. Screenplays are in various stages of completion for Warner’s planned four installments of The Clique, which is based on the popular young adult novels by the same name.
Slotted for a July 2008 bow from the studio is Lost Boys 2, with original star Corey Feldman.
“It is spot-on to what fans loved about the original, but this one is current,” said Irika Slavin, senior VP for the division. “Corey Feldman is spectacular. And it will absolutely be out in 2008.”
