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UPDATES FINAL MGM BIDS DUE FRIDAY: So Who’s In And Who’s Out (Or Doesn’t It Matter)? Look, almost everyone believes — and has for some time – that this is going to be a busted auction at the end of the day…
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Good christ, it’s about time thay drove a stake through this old queen’s heart. She’s been resurrected more times than Count Dracula and hasn’t been relevant since Ted Turner bought and colorized the library back in the ’80′s. I’m surprised Sloan bought into it in the first place. Other than Turner the only person who seems to have profited is Kirk Kerkorian.
Michael,
I guess you’re excited that there’s a chance that there might be one less buyer for scripts, one less competitor in the marketplace, one less option for creative talent. The regime in creative control has only been given the opportunity to produce four films. Give them — and us — a break.
As my old friend Guido the pimp once advised, ” In a sluggish economy, never ever fuck with another man’s livelihood. ” Had I realized MGM was such an important client of yours, Don, I would have never waxed so disparagingly. In my own experience MGM has been a lox for some time. Yes, of course, it’s sad that this once iconic studio will meet its demise with the release of its crowning achievement, Hot Tub Time Machine, but the “screenwriting” has been on the wall for this band of blubbers for quite some time. If you were so fortunate to sell them anything, I’d try like hell to buy it back and fast! Because, guess what, you’re no longer in development hell, you’re in Chinatown, Jake.
I am happy to see that the writer of three episodes of “She-Ra,” as per the IMDB and one who has “Galaxy High School” in development can criticize Hot Tub Time Machine. And a Chinatown reference! Also, thank you for introducing me to the word “scribing.” Wow.
Er, uh, gee Hilarious, I’ve done so much more in my life than IMDB records, but unlike you I don’t justify my career by it. Chris Columbus created Galaxy High School and I still consider it one of the best animated TV shows ever aired. Currently, I have seven major features in development and can proudly stand by my past, present and future, but, once again, unlike you, at least I have a name and not some quaint little sobriquet. Ever think of changing it to “Bitter”? You might find better luck. Oh, yea, and I never used the word scribing, especially referring to you. That might be as ill suited as Hilarious.
It’s not “Michael,” it’s the market. There are too many studios, too many executives, too many movies being produced. Based on the choices of MGM’s current creative regime, MGM is already dead. It’s a “zombie studio,” just as we have “zombie banks.”
It’s not “one less buyer.” It’s a company wasting money on bad movies, bad advertising and bad management. The assets MGM is burning on, say, Mary Parent and her staff, could be producing several good movies written by, say, “Don Kozak.”
Time-Warner will likely buy MGM. Instead of wasting money on MGM executives and office space, they will more efficiently exploit the MGM’s library and other assets. And it’s not all bad news for people like Mary Parent. She may have been a poor studio exec (or limited by her circumstances), but she could be a talented producer. This change will give her and her staff a chance to follow their bliss, rather than being trapped inside a staggering zombie of a studio.
There is only so much money going around in the film business. Money spent on management is money not being spent on making films and television.
You can formulate whatever opinion you want, but Mary and the rest of the MGM development staff (which is compact and significantly smaller than most production companies, much less studios) have been working their asses off and hamstrung by the fact that they haven’t been able to spend anything on development. People grouse about the focus on remakes, but that’s all they’ve been able to do. Time Warner buying MGM is the worst possible outcome. They’ll take Bond and the Hobbit, do nothing with the library and crap out the bones. First New Line and then MGM? TIme-Warner is a symbol of all that is wrong with the consolidation and homoginization of Hollywood and the ultimate zombie mentality.
I agree there are too many executives, but too many studios? Competition is a good thing. In MGM’s case, they can’t put out a better product because stars, writers and directors are afraid to work for a studio in this much turmoil. The Hobbit was the only promising film MGM had, and now even that will be taken away from them. Big names need to have the guts to come to, and stick with, this studio. Where are they? They’ll be giving fake sympathy soundbites at MGM’s funeral.
Why would anyone sell a script or book rights to a studio knowing full well that it will end up in bankruptcy court and likely never revert? Don’t admonish people for being smart.
Sony should have purchased MGM and brought it back home to Culver City where it belongs. MGM deserves the resources of a real physical studio. Columbia was bounced around and survived when it seemed it was finished only because Sony didn’t give up. MGM deserves the same chance instead of the “band-aid on a bayonet wound” treatment its been getting all these years. Time Warner has the cash, and should bring MGM to Burbank.
Sony got the Culver lot from Warners since they owned Lorimar…. and Steve Ross did a deal with Sony’s Morita when he was buying Columbia since Ross did not want two different studios in two different parts of town.
In The End, Sony will purchase MGM. hahaha….
How many more times will the date be pushed back at this point?!?!