Random House Films and Focus Films Snuggle Up
Random House Films and Focus Films have rubbed noses and climbed into bed in a multiyear deal to produce films together. They’re forging ahead on the film version of The Attack by Yasmina Khadra, pub date May 2006, and Curveball by Bob Drogin, pub date fall 2007.
I’m wondering, however, if in the end Random House and Focus Features will be pulling the sheets over their collective heads.
First, I hate synergistic deals where everyone is equal. I think someone needs to be the BOSS. The final decision-maker. The guy willing, personally, to take the fall if… well, you know, the worst happens: the film versions stink or the partners “aren’t compatible” in that particular area. The press release says the companies will co-finance and co-produce a “substantial slate of feature films.” And they’ll partner together “on script development, director selection, all phases of production, and marketing and publicity.” All these films will be based on Random House imprints.
So when does the fighting begin? When does lockstep become logjam?
Second, I’m worried about their choices for the first two movies. Sara Nelson, Editor-in-Chief of Publishers Weekly, gave them a less than wildly enthusiastic endorsement today in her column Random’s Late, Late Show by describing The Attack and Curveball as “sophisticated and interesting.” The Attack is a story about an Arab surgeon living in Tel Aviv and Curveball is based on (Get that? Frey taught us a lesson, no?) a true story about an Iraqi informant. I hope it’s not a cold night in New York City (where it was about 15 degrees Fahrenheit last night) when these films hit the theaters because I’m not likely to bundle up for them.
It’s just that I might have picked something a lot safer for a first venture. Something like Benji! Go Home! A dog. A kid. A little trauma. A lot of tissues. SOLD OUT!
Of course, Focus Films produced Brokeback Mountain (which I found boring) and Pride and Prejudice (which, mush that I am, I loved), so those folks are daring and award-winning film producers. And Lord knows, Random House has such great books from which to choose: new, old, amoldering in the bowels of the company. Still, while in theory this partnership is a great idea and a bold, brave stroke on the part of Random House, in practice I’m not sure it will work.
March 7th, 2006 at 8:18 pm
I hope I’m never damned with a critique like “sophisticated and interesting.” And why not an Irish dentist living in Arkansas? With luck, the big publishers will start doing all the movies and the Hollywood-set, the books. Oops, they already are.