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May 2006
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From Bloomberg News
(excerpt)
Disney Begins Selling Internet Film Downloads With CinemaNow
May 31 (Bloomberg) -- Walt Disney Co., the second-largest U.S. media
company, today began selling films including ``Chicken Little'' and ``Pirates
of the Caribbean'' over the Internet using the CinemaNow Inc. download
service.
From InTooDepp found in USA Today May 30, 2006
and a color version of the photo 
Found by Theresa at Media Flux
While the debate rages on about whether Cars will spell the end of Pixar's mastery of CG animated family films or not, a Quebec website has posted the teaser trailer to their next film, Ratatouille, which is scheduled for a June 29, 2007 release. The trailer features the French voice dub, but is still a great sneak peak at the eighth animated feature film to be produced by Pixar.
Synopsis: Ratatouille is a rat who lives in the sewers near a fancy uptown and upscale restaurant run by a famous but eccentric French chef, Chaz Morinto. This rat fancies himself a gourmand, but his father tells him he should grow up and learn to eat garbage like other rats. When Ratatouille is caught in the restaurant one night, he endangers every rat in the sewer when The Exterminator is called.
This would have been the first Pixar film released after ending their previous co-production deal with Disney. However, on January 24, 2006, Disney announced it would purchase Pixar in a $7.4 billion (US) deal that will merge the two companies. Prior to the merger's announcement, Disney and Pixar announced an extension of their current partnership to include Ratatouille, in case the closure of the merger took longer than expected.
The director will be Brad Bird, director of the 2004 Pixar film The Incredibles, replacing Jan Pinkava, director of the 1997 Pixar short film Geri's Game. According to IMDb, Bob Peterson will be co-directing the film. The screenwriters will be Emily Cook and Kathy Greenberg, both making their feature film debuts. The voice cast includes Johnny Depp as Ratatouille, Brad Garrett as Chef Chazz, Russell Allman as Snive, Christopher Lee as Pat, Keanu Reeves as Garr, Christopher Walken as Winston. and Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Exterminator.
Source: Cinoche
From InTooDepp
The "What's Eating Gilbert Grape (Special Collector's Edition)" is selling at Amazon for $13.99 - available June 23rd.
From Shelle
Starz "Behind the Scenes Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest"
Friday June 23rd 1:30 AM ET - set your calendar reminders now!
From BizJournal
(excerpt)
Poll: 'Pirates' to crack 'Code' this summer
Los Angeles Business from bizjournals - 12:52 PM PDT Friday
Readers participating in an informal Los Angeles Business survey have declared that "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" will be the top grossing movie of the summer.
The Disney sequel to 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of
the Black Pearl" garnered 32 percent of the votes cast. Coming in a close
second is "The Da Vinci Code" from Columbia Pictures, which brought in
$77 million domestically on its opening weekend. "Da Vinci" got 31 percent
of the vote.
IBM West
"X-Men: The Last Stand" from 20th Century Fox, which opened Friday, came in next, with 17 percent of the vote. Disney/Pixar's "Cars," came in next with 8 percent, "Superman Returns" from Warner Bros. got 7 percent of the vote and Universal's "Miami Vice" only received one percent of the vote.
Readers' comments on the question were varied:
"We need more family-oriented movies so the whole family can enjoy."
"It's gonna be close, but die-hard fans of the first (Pirates of the Carribean) will definetly make it a winner, just like the first groundbreaking one."
"When will Hollywood learn? There is only one nonderivative film on
this list. Superman Returns?? Did anyone miss him?? Miami Vice?? REALLY??
The Da Vinci Code? For those who can't read but are interested in the Bible?"
If you aren't checking our POTC2 news page, you're missing most of the news.
From InTooDepp
People Magazine has POTC 2 photos/story in its latest issue! Nothing new for those visiting our pirate pages here. The current Premire Magazine with Tom Cruis on the cover has a 2 page lay out with photos of "the wheel" and how they filmed those scenes. Cine Live has "Jack" on the cover.
From InTooDepp
Friday May 19, 2006
Rag takes a cheap shot at Johnny
From Dispatch.com
(excerpt)
Not cool, man: Classic definition no longer applies
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
The study also ranked celebrities. Although Johnny Depp, an iconic rebel, still dominates the list, Dar-Nimrod said, most are now more trendy.
From Contact Music
DEPP OFFERS RICHARDS SHOE SERVICE
THE ROLLING STONES guitarist KEITH RICHARDS has such a fan in JOHNNY
DEPP, he asks the Hollywood star to wear in his shoes in for him. And the
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN actor, who famously drew on Richard's trademark
appearance for his role as CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW, is happy to help his idol
out. Richards' wardrobe designer ROBERT CARY-WILLIAMS says, "Johnny idolises
Keith. Everyone knows Depp modelled his character in Pirates on Keith,
so he's happy to oblige. "The thing with Keith is that he doesn't like
things to be new or too obvious. "Sometimes you have to leave clothes about
the place for him to find, as opposed to just offering them to him."
17/05/2006 13:43
From Rebecca found at MGM and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
JOHNNY DEPP AND ROB MORROW STAR IN THE HILARIOUS TEEN COMEDY
Private Resort
- Available on DVD June 27 -
Culver City, Calif. (April 17, 2006) – MGM Home Entertainment and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment release the teen comedy Private Resort on DVD June 27. Directed by George Bowers (Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, How Stella Got Her Groove Back), Private Resort stars two-time Oscar® nominee Johnny Depp (Finding Neverland, Pirates of the Caribbean, Platoon) and Rob Morrow in his film debut (TV's "Numb3rs," "Northern Exposure," Going Shopping) as two teen boys who explore their curiosity of women while vacationing at a luxurious resort hotel. The film also stars Hector Elizondo (Princess Diaries, Pretty Woman, "Chicago Hope"), Emilt Longstreth (Pretty in Pink, American Drive-in), Karyn O'Bryan (Evil Laugh, "The A-Team") and Dody Goodman (Splash, Cool As Ice). Private Resort will be available on DVD for an SRP of $14.94.
Synopsis: In Private Resort, teen buddies Ben (Depp) and Jack (Morrow) are weekend guests at a posh Miami resort where they're in search of beautiful, wealthy women. Also on the prowl is the Maestro (Elizondo), a skilled jewel thief who evades detection by cross-dressing as a woman when he steals the diamond necklace of society woman Amanda Rawlings (Goodman). When the teen boys accidentally encounter the Maestro, Ben and Jack suddenly find they have their hands full with more than they can handle.
DVD Catalog #: 14966
DVD UPC Code: 0-433961-49663
DVD Order Date: 5/25/2006
DVD SLP: $14.94
Private Resort was written by Gordon Mitchell ("The Twilight Zone,"
"Diff'rent Strokes"), Ken Segall ("Bagboy!") and Alan Wenkus and produced
by R. Ben Efraim (Private Lessons, Private School) and Don Enright ("Confessions
of an American Bride," "Caroline?"). Private Resort has a run time of 82
minutes and is rated R. Artwork is available at www.SPHEPublicity.com.
Visit Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on the Web at www.SonyPictures.com.
From Gilly found at TVNZ
ATTENTION KIWI FANS
If you live in New Zealand, you have a chance to win tickets and airfair to the Los Angeles Premiere of POTC2
Details are HERE
InTooDepp has sent in clippings of stories about Johnny from this month:
From ContactMusic
DAD DEPP DESPERATE TO QUIT SMOKING
JOHNNY DEPP is desperately trying to give up his smoking habit for the
sake of his children. The PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN star rolls his own Bali
Shag cigarettes and has been forced to drastically cut back the amount
he smokes - and now he's trying to give up altogether. He says, "I'm not
far away from quitting. I've cut down quite heavily... It's such a dumb
addiction. "And with the kiddies, man, just being a parent - you start
worrying 10 years ahead of the curve."
5/12//2006
(Also sent in by Depp's Girl18)
From KESQ
Magazine says Depp best, Diaz worst at signing fan autographs
SANTA ANA, Calif. A list from Autograph Collector magazine concludes Johnny Depp has the write stuff when it comes to signing autographs while Cameron Diaz is the worst. Followed by George Clooney, Depp tops the Santa Ana-based magazine's 14th annual survey of Hollywood's best and worst signers. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star also was rated best last year.
Editor-publisher Steve Cyrkin says many stars become bad signers once fame and fortune hits, but not Depp. He's even signed autographs for crowds at the airport while carrying luggage.
The editor says Diaz may be a talented actress, but she's persistently a terrible signer. Instead of just turning down a person's autograph request, she'll lecture them about how dumb autographs are.
Here is the magazine's list of the ten best and ten worst Hollywood autograph signers for 2006:
Best 1. Johnny Depp 2. George Clooney 3. Matt Damon 4. Al
Pacino 5. Tom Cruise 6. Angelina Jolie
7. Elijah Wood 8. Brittany Murphy 9. Jack Nicholson
10. Clint Eastwood
Worst 1. Cameron Diaz 2. Bruce Willis 3. Demi Moore
4. Tobey Maguire 5. Alan Alda 6. Halle Berry
7. Winona Ryder 8. Teri Hatcher 9. Joaquin Phoenix
10. Russell Crowe
From ChartAttack
Bono, Waits And Cave On New Pirate-Themed Album
Wednesday May 10, 2006 @ 07:30 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff
(excerpt)
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest probably doesn't need much outside promotion to make it one of the summer's biggest movies, but its star is taking an extra step to get people into a swashbuckling frame of mind.
Johnny Depp is the executive producer of an album of sea shanties recorded by an impressive group of artists that's expected to arrive in stores via Epitaph Records sometime around the movie's July 7 premiere.
Producer Hal Willner, who's probably best known for his 1985 Kurt Weill tribute, Lost In The Stars, is overseeing the project. The former Saturday Night Live music supervisor has also been responsible for all-star musical tributes to Nino Rota, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus and music from Walt Disney animated films.
Willner has assembled an extraordinary cast of contributors to the new album, including Bono, Bryan Ferry, Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Antony And The Johnsons, Richard and Linda Thompson, Loudon Wainwright III and former Virgin Prunes singers Gavin Friday, Guggi and Dave-id.
The three former Prunes vocalists reunited for the first time since the mid-1980s to sing "Bully In The Alley."
"It was Dave-id as head pirate on lead vocals, and myself and Guggi as his shipmates on backing vocals," said Friday. "Hal said it was probably closest to what pirates really would have sounded like."
Friday recorded another song called "Tommy's Gone To Hilo" with Andrea Corr of The Corrs, whom he previously duetted with on 2003's "Time Enough For Tears" from the In America soundtrack.
"It's not really a duet, though," explained Friday. "They're all chanteys, which are call and response songs. Except Andrea's 'Caroline And Her Young Sailor Bold' and Bono's song, which are both sea songs or seamen's songs."
Bono was apparently able to get involved in the project because of the
postponement of U2's antipodean tour. Friday said that he performs a song
called "The Dying Sailor To His Shipmates."
From KSmith at JDZ new cover for Cine Live
From Syakura - the release date for POTC2 in Spain is August 11th.
At
the top left corner of THIS
PAGE they are polling to see which summer movie you want to see the
most and Pirates 2 is way behind. Please go and vote.
From Bonnie- Johnny leaving the Nice airport today May 5, 2006
Click thunbnail to see full size photo
Found by Emma at Hollywood Wire Tap
May 04, 2006
WEB EXCLUSIVE: STEVE JOBS #1 ON PREMIERE'S POWER LIST...LOVETT RANKS
HIGHER THAN SONY, U
By Tom Tapp
The angry calls to and from publicists began today as Premiere's annual Power List was released. Pixar's Steve Jobs and John Lassiter top the rankings. (Disclosure: I helped report on the project).
Among the studios, Warner's Barry Meyer and Alan Horn rank highest (#2) on the strength of their "whopping" $1.9 billion worldwide theatrical take. Fox comes next and then Disney.
One huge mover was CAA's Richard Lovett, who jumped from 13 to 7. That ranking puts him ahead of Sony bosses Michael Lynton and Amy Pascal (8) as well as Universal's Ron Meyer, Marc Shmuger and David Linde. It is the first time an agency head has ranked above studio heads on the list.
Last year's #1, Peter Jackson, freefell to #11 based in part on the "deafening roar of post-release 'Kong'-kvetching."
Among stars, Tom Cruise (Premiere's coverboy) still ranks highest at lucky number 13. He's followed in order by Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Mel Gibson and Johnny Depp.
On the distaff side, there's a huge upset in the fact that Reese Witherspooon is ranked 29 to Julia Roberts' 30. Magazine attributes this to the fact that "Julia's been busy with twins."
New talent on the list includes Keira Knightly(45), "40-Year-Old Virgin"
Steve Carrell (33), Vince Vaughn (31), Angelina Jolie (38) and Jake Gyllenhaal
(48).
From Emma 12 May 2006 Entertainment Weekly
Box office is sliding, budgets are rising, and big stars aren't the draws they used to be. EW wonders... ARE THEY WORTH IT?
CHRISTINE SPINES"Are They Worth It?" reporting by Jennifer Armstrong; Will Bottinick; Scott Brown; Raymond Fiore; Dade Hayes; Jeff Labrecque; Sean O'Heir; Joshua Rich; Missy Schwartz; Alice Lee Tebo
Something extraordinary happened just a few days before this year's Oscar ceremony. One rumor eclipsed all the talk of gift bags and gossip, of gay cowboys and emperor penguins: A certain young actress, it was whispered, was about to break Julia Roberts' $25 million record as the highest-paid female star in show business. Word had it that Reese Witherspoon would earn a whopping $29 million for her role in a high-end horror flick at Universal called The Bell Witch.
This news was greeted with relish. At cocktail parties, agents and other industry insiders seemed positively drunk about the development. "I heard she's actually getting $39 million," chirped one dealmaker, who had nothing to gain from Witherspoon's windfall. In an industry constitutionally predisposed to lament other people's good fortune as one's own personal loss, it was an unprecedented kumbaya moment of group celebration over someone else's success.
Of course, there was one hitch to this collective you-go-girl moment. It wasn't true. The industry was aflame with the news for more than a week before the studio finally doused the rumor: Witherspoon hadn't finalized her deal to star in the movie yet. (She still hasn't.)
Obviously, Hollywood needed a morale boost. After last year's sagging box office (down 5.2 percent), fueled in part by a convoy of lackluster star vehicles (think Bewitched, Cinderella Man, Elizabethtown), the movie industry has been forced to confront the reality that it is no longer the economic Energizer Bunny it once was. Hollywood has always thrown ungodly sums of cash at top-tier actors, who ostensibly provide a kind of bomb shelter for the studios picking up the tab. It was a strategy that worked well enough until it didn't. Now that the costs of making movies have ballooned with added expenses for digital enhancement and global marketing, studios are trying to add a new step to their budget calculations: common sense. "It's a rationalization of the business," says former Twentieth Century Fox chair-CEO Bill Mechanic. "It's long overdue. You paid someone a lot of money to star in a movie, and then you spent a lot of money to make a movie, and then you lost money."
Consequently, stars have been hit with dramatic wage cuts. While the megatalent will always take home pay the size of a Powerball jackpot, even they are now being asked to forgo either a portion of their initial salary or a percentage of their "back-end points," studio-speak for profit participation in a film's box office revenues. Until recently, such A-listers customarily got extravagant sums up front in addition to huge percentages of the box office grosses, all before the studio had broken even on its own investment. However, dozens of conversations with industry players reveal that now studios are increasingly reluctant to fork over the kind of deal Universal made with Peter Jackson and his creative team on King Kong, paying them $20 million on top of their 20 percent of the gross. "The balance is out of whack," says Universal Pictures chairman Marc Shmuger. "We're seeing that finally addressed by the talent community, agencies, and studios." Even Tom Cruise, who reportedly collects 20-30 percent of his movies' grosses, agreed to a smaller piece of the pie on M:I-3 when Paramount was faced with a bloated budget. (The following story has more on our cover subject, whose movie debuts this weekend; see review on page 53.)
But it's the town's middle class of stars who are most feeling the pinch. While it was once customary for up-and-comers to breeze into the salary stratosphere without ever establishing their box office drawing power, future Colin Farrells and Orlando Blooms of the world will have to pay their dues making lowly seven-figure sums before catapulting to the high rollers' club. "The problem," explains Mechanic, "is that people have jumped to higher salaries before earning their spurs. You're paying for someone who's never opened a movie." So, about those back-end points? Fuhgeddaboudit. "The purse strings are way tighter," says one top talent agent. "First-dollar gross deals are very hard to come by. Now there's no opportunity for [stars] to make any money on the success of the movie. It's very hard."
Anyone looking for a culprit for movie stars' financial blue period might start with all those hobbits and Caped Crusaders who have gradually usurped stars' box office mojo over the past decade. Last year, only three of the 10 highest-grossing movies--War of the Worlds, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mr. & Mrs. Smith--were considered star-driven movies. The rest of last year's bona fide megahits were high-concept event movies--Star Wars: Episode III, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Chronicles of Narnia--with a big geek factor: a built-in audience of devoted fans. In some cases, fanboy appeal has eclipsed star power as a predictor of a movie's success. Talk about revenge of the nerds.
Part of the problem is that star salaries skyrocketed in the late '80s and early '90s, before CGI jacked up the baseline budgets for geekfests and action movies. "The cost of production is going way up, and it's a little more hair-raising to greenlight a movie with a top star because the investment is that much bigger," says DreamWorks president of production Adam Goodman. "You have a lot of [brand-name] franchises with superhero characters or other properties that don't need gross participants. Superman is Superman. You don't need a big gross player." Also, while movies like War of the Worlds may do quite well, they often aren't as profitable as they seem; big kahunas like Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise ate up a huge chunk of the film's nearly $600 million worldwide gross.
Studios gained increased leverage in negotiations with actors after MGM and DreamWorks were swallowed up by Sony and Paramount, respectively. That means there are simply fewer buyers seeking stars' services, giving the remaining studios the clout they need to make deals in which the actors share in the risks and rewards of moviemaking. For example, on movies like the Nancy Meyers-directed romantic comedy The Holiday, Sony execs refused to issue a green light until major players like Cameron Diaz and Meyers agreed to a new deal structure known as "cash break-even," in which they wouldn't collect on profit participation until the studio recouped its investment. And on the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels, Disney spent months hammering out contracts with Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley to ensure nobody makes off with any booty before the studio collects its due. This may sound like Business 101, but on the battlefield of Hollywood dealmaking, getting real with stars is nothing short of revolutionary.
Back in the action-hero heyday, it would have been unfathomable to release a popcorn spectacle like this summer's Poseidon with an ensemble cast led by Kurt Russell, who hasn't headlined a blockbuster since Bruce Willis had a full head of hair. "Twenty years ago, people were making movies with giant movie stars," says one reputable action director. "If the movie flopped, you could always go to the board of directors and go, 'Hey, I got Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone or Robert Redford. It's not my fault.' What's happened since is, when you're talking about $150 million to $200 million movies--and actually well above that--to take a gamble on [expensive stars] is unimaginable."
Well, maybe not unimaginable if you're talking about Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, or Will Smith. But up-and-comers without a cultish fan base erecting Internet shrines and counting down to their next movie's opening day shouldn't expect Monopoly-money paydays in the future, even if they happen to score a blockbuster. Studios have been gradually weaning themselves off their star dependence, especially in established franchises, ever since Sony squared off against Tobey Maguire on Spider-Man 2, when the actor reportedly asked for a $21 million raise or 10 percent of the gross, whichever was higher. The studio eventually agreed to pay Maguire $17 million up front only after briefly firing the actor and talking about replacing him with the relatively bargain-priced Jake Gyllenhaal.
Stars have always worked on a sliding scale, using the studio gigs to pay the Jetstream bills and taking peanuts for indie Oscar- bait roles. When it comes to prestige projects, actors are willing to sacrifice almost anything in exchange for the opportunity to step up on the podium and bask in the approval and envy of a roomful of their peers. In fact, the one thing this year's motley crew of Best Actor nominees had in common was that they had all earned rock- bottom fees. Johnny Depp, Adam Sandler, Nicolas Cage, and even Jim Carrey have all worked for next to nothing for similar reasons. And Brad Pitt just cut his $20 million sticker price down to $1 million for the privilege of starring in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford with Andrew Dominik, the critically acclaimed director of the gritty revenge flick Chopper.
But today's price shaving isn't exactly about prestige. If Tim Allen and John Travolta hadn't agreed to reduced fees on the Disney midlife-crisis comedy Wild Hogs, according to a source close to the project, the movie might not have gotten greenlit. Even on glossy all-star franchises like Ocean's Twelve, the principals drastically reduced their up-front salaries in favor of back-end points, just to keep the budget within striking distance. "I'm sure there are other cases of movie stars adjusting their fees, but [Ocean's] was the first time I had experienced it," says Warner Bros. president of production Jeff Robinov. "Obviously that helped get the movie made."
While people have no trouble trading tips on plastic surgeons and past-life therapy over lunch, money, in some ways, has always been considered the last taboo topic in Hollywood, especially among talent. Money was the dirty backroom business handled by agents and executives. But now that's starting to change. As studios draw the line financially, the movie doesn't get made unless everyone takes less. Spike Lee personally called the stars of Inside Man and asked them to cut their salaries to help move the project toward a green light.
Still, it's far too early for studio accountants to start celebrating. The laws of reason simply don't have everlasting traction in a high-stakes business subject to the whims of taste, talent, and fear. When desperation strikes (i.e., constantly), studio heads will always find ways to lavish extravagant salaries and perks on stars in the hopes of besting the competition and mollifying their Wall Street bosses. Hell, Vince Vaughn just stormed the gates of the $20 million club when he signed on to play Santa's slacker brother in the black comedy Joe Claus.
And there will be no shortage of big-screen heavyweights duking it out in this summer's blockbuster bacchanal. From The Da Vinci Code --Tom Hanks, director Ron Howard, and producer Brian Grazer are all gross players--to Adam Sandler's Click, the A list is well represented in this crop of extravaganzas. The only difference is that in the future some of them may have to hold off on buying those his-and-hers yachts until the check arrives after the studio has taken its piece of the pie. "There's still a comfort in having a big movie idea with a big movie star, because even if they don't perform, they don't completely fail," says Mechanic. "At some point, you're going to pay for that talent. What you don't want to do is pay more than you're making on the talent." He laughs ruefully at the notion that a revolution to overthrow the staristocracy might be afoot. "You're not going to turn a crazy business into a sane one overnight."
*All salary figures are based on published reports, conversations with industry experts, and EW estimates.
Big Stars, Not So Big Grosses
A-list actors traditionally guarantee hits, but in Hollywood you don't always get what you pay for
BEWITCHED STARS Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell PAY $17 mil, $ 20 mil* GROSS $63 mil Some magic--they made the audience disappear.
AEON FLUX STAR Charlize Theron PAY $10 mil GROSS $26 mil Halle's Law: Don't accessorize your Oscar with a spandex catsuit.
FIREWALL STAR Harrison Ford PAY $15 mil GROSS $49 mil We'll line up for Indy 4, but Han Solo's action days are clearly waning.
THE BROTHERS GRIMM STARS Heath Ledger, Matt Damon PAY $3 mil, $10 mil GROSS $38 mil Hardly a fairy-tale ending.
BASIC INSTINCT 2 STAR Sharon Stone PAY $12.5 mil BOX OFFICE $6 mil She's been coasting on Basic 1 since 1992, but time to cross those legs.
Get 'Em While They're Hot
Act now! These actors won't be this cheap for long.
$5-7 MILLION* JAKE GYLLENHAAL Good with popcorn (Day After Tomorrow) and prestige (Brokeback).
$5-9 MILLION SCARLETT JOHANSSON Goes from Michael Bay to Woody Allen losing nothing in translation.
$3-4 MILLION RACHEL McADAMS As funny (and pretty) as Diaz but a fraction of the cost.
$5 MILLION CLIVE OWEN Coolness points for reportedly nixing Bond role for edgier career.
Future Colin Farrells and Orlando Blooms of the world will have to pay their dues before catapulting to the high rollers' club.In some cases, fanboy appeal has eclipsed star power as a predictor of a movie's success.
In most parts of the world, it's considered rude to ask people how much money they make. In Hollywood, you might actually offend someone if you don't already know. This is a town where stars are regarded as commodities and their salaries quietly obsessed over like stock prices (Tom Cruise and Will Smith: Buy! Buy! Harrison Ford and J. Lo: Sell! Sell!). After decades of seemingly unlimited star paydays, studios are fretting over declining audiences and rising production costs, and taking a hard new look at those eye- popping price tags--so we thought it would be a good time to do the same. Pinning down exact salary figures is trickier than ever these days, given the back-end points, producing fees, and DVD proceeds that increasingly pump up an actor's compensation.
(In most cases, the numbers listed here represent the star's basic salary for a major studio film.) But we've canvassed the industry, spoken with agents, managers, execs, and producers, pored over all the available reporting, and come up with our own estimates to determine who is making how much and separate Hollywood's bargains from its money pits.
WORTH EVERY PENNY
$25 MILLION TOM HANKS His box office invincibility took hits with the back-to-back disappointments The Ladykillers ($40 mil) and The Terminal ($78 mil). But he remains one of the most bankable brand names in the world--which The Da Vinci Code should demonstrate later this month.
$25 MILLION WILL SMITH Almost everybody in Hollywood agrees that the Fresh Prince offers the biggest bang for the buck today. He's one of the few stars who consistently fills seats-- Hitch hit $178 million despite so-so reviews--and he isn't shy about promoting his movies. A bargain, even at this price.
$20 MILLION BRAD PITT He's huge in the U.S., sure, but even bigger overseas. Troy nearly tripled its $133 mil domestic take in foreign markets, a common occurrence for this actor's movies. Breaking Jennifer Aniston's heart hasn't seemed to turn off his fans at all.
$15 MILLION REESE WITHERSPOON She's the only actress today pulling in droves of young female moviegoers (for films like Legally Blonde and Sweet Home Alabama, if not Just Like Heaven) while also winning an Oscar for the more grown-up hit Walk the Line.
SOLID INVESTMENTS
$20 MILLION RUSSELL CROWE His movies sometimes fizzle-- Cinderella Man, Proof of Life --but filmmakers know that nobody pours more talent into his pictures. In other words, his name above the title adds priceless prestige.
$20 MILLION BEN STILLER His track record in '04 (Meet the Fockers, Dodgeball, Starsky & Hutch, Along Came Polly) is virtually unrivaled, and his films' $185 million average global take is impressive for a comic. Studios should keep paying him top dollar...and just hope it's not for another Envy.
$17 MILLION Johnny Depp Pirates of the Caribbean boosted him into the upper tier, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory showed his broad appeal. That rep could take a hit if more Libertine s come along, but Pirates 2 should help keep his price tag high.
$15 MILLION JODIE FOSTER Her drawing power is always in question because she's made only five big studio films in the past decade. But they usually succeed: Flightplan was the biggest female-star- driven hit of 2005, earning $90 million.
DECENT BETS
$20 MILLION DENZEL WASHINGTON The success of Inside Man reconfirmed the actor as a big draw. And none too soon, because while John Q and Man on Fire were moderate successes, the disappointing Out of Time and underachieving Manchurian Candidate raised career concerns.
$15 MILLION MATT DAMON He braved several post-- Good Will Hunting flops (e.g., All the Pretty Horses) and emerged as a solid, dependable draw with the Bourne and Ocean's series. Still a little iffy, though, on non-franchise fare like The Brothers Grimm and Stuck on You.
$12 MILLION ANGELINA JOLIE Any film she does these days is assured heaps of free publicity because of her hook-up with Mr. Pitt. And that's good news, because before Mr. & Mrs. Smith --which benefited from said huge buzz--she had more tattoos than hits.
$12 MILLION RENEE ZELLWEGER Bridget Jones's Diary made her a star, Chicago showed her range, and Cold Mountain gave her an Oscar, but her fans are incredibly finicky. They didn't turn out for Down With Love, Cinderella Man, or Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
BIT OF A GAMBLE
$25 MILLION JIM CARREY He was the first to pocket a $20 mil paycheck (for The Cable Guy), but with Lemony Snicket and Fun With d**k and Jane only inching past $100 million each, studios may soon start looking for cheaper funnymen.
$20 MILLION WILL FERRELL After his too-quick induction into the $20 mil league for the upcoming Talladega Nights, Bewitched and Kicking & Screaming whiffed. And studios can't recoup costs overseas: Comedy usually doesn't travel (Elf made $173 mil here but $47 mil abroad).
$17 MILLION NICOLE KIDMAN She adds a certain old-Hollywood allure to projects, but on a financial level, the outlook is less glam: Movies like The Interpreter and The Stepford Wives didn't score big enough to justify her fees.
$15 MILLION CAMERON DIAZ She may be a big draw in franchise ensemble pics like Charlie's Angels, but nobody seems interested in her other films (In Her Shoes, The Sweetest Thing, etc.). She's no longer hearing offers like the reported $20 million she got for 2003's Charlie's 2.
TOO PRICEY
$20 MILLION EDDIE MURPHY He earned his pay with hits like The Nutty Professor and Doctor Dolittle. But vehicles like I Spy, Pluto Nash, and Showtime all flopped. (Plus, he's allergic to publicity, not an attractive quality in a star.) These days, cheaper talent probably could do just as well--or better.
$15 MILLION HARRISON FORD Being one of the biggest-grossing stars of all time virtually guarantees Ford a hefty salary. But lately, the Force hasn't been with him: His three films since 2000's What Lies Beneath -- K-19, Hollywood Homicide, and Firewall --have disappointed.
$12 MILLION JENNIFER LOPEZ Monster-in-Law did well--a fact many attributed to costar Jane Fonda--but the fast disappearance of An Unfinished Life spoke volumes about her audience appeal.
$12 MILLION JOHN TRAVOLTA His career has see-sawed wildly over the decades.
But his recent slump-- The Punisher, Basic, Be Cool -- can't be ignored.
Hitless since 1999's The General's Daughter, the actor simply doesn't bring
out fans like he used to.
From Emma - Johnny on the cover of the Rolling Stone 1000th Issue (far right lower down)
M&Ms Sweepstakes for Pirates HERE
Watch the May 2nd monologue from the Late Late Show for a littel humor poked at Johnny, Orlando and of course Keith Richards HERE This is a temporary link.
Found by Chris
Dectur couple believes Johnny Depp behind eBay purchase
By ALICIA SPATES - H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR - Nancy Smith of Decatur learned that as a seller, you never know who is on the other end of an eBay transaction.
But speculation surrounding the recent sale of a seven-piece bamboo and rattan furniture set, has Nancy Smith wondering if collection will be seen in pictures of the rich and famous in connection with the release of the new "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie.
Nancy Smith and her husband, Jeff Smith, believe it was bought by Johnny Depp.
"It is possible since it is going out to Beverly Hills," Nancy Smith said of the rumor.
"The pieces fit, but I can't swear to it," Jeff Smith added with a laugh. "The mover mentioned to me that it was going to Johnny Depp. You never know what goes on on eBay."
Nancy Smith has been selling antique and collectible items from her store, the now closed J & N Memory Shop, on eBay for six years
"We were doing better selling off of eBay than with the store open," she said.
In March, Nancy Smith sold the furniture set for $915. The set included
a four-piece sectional couch without cushions, a lounge chair with a footstool
and corner two-tier table.
After selling the items, Nancy Smith recalled talking to a woman, who she said sounded like a broker, over the phone on more than one occasion about shipping to Beverly Hills.
Arrangements were then set for a Mayflower shipping company in Champaign to pick up the furniture, Nancy Smith said.
"It's interesting to see where things end up," she said.
Jeff Smith told his wife what the mover told him, so she decided to do some research on eBay.
Nancy Smith said she tracked her celebrity buyer's other bids for furniture sets that were similar to the one she sold.
Nancy Smith said she believes the furniture will be used toward a party
for Depp's "Pirates of the Caribbean 3" movie, scheduled to be released
in 2007, according to www.imdb. com. She added that she will be sure to
look for the furniture if it ever shows up on TV during one of his parties.
There's a new site, "Mojo Men" which features 50 men who have "mojo," one of which is Johnny. You can find his page HERE.
From In The News
Moss hits Hollywood as Yates
Sunday, 30 Apr 2006 15:15
Moss hits Hollywood as Yates
Kate Moss is set to star in her first Hollywood film, taking on the role of drug addict Paula Yates. Model Kate, 32, will play Paula in the run-up to her tragic death, according to the Daily Star. And Kate's ex-lover Johnny Depp, 42, is reportedly taking on the role of Paula's boyfriend Michael Hutchence.
Film bosses are convinced that the chemistry between Depp and Moss will attract many people to see the movie.
An insider told the newspaper: "It’ll be a chance for her to really prove she can act. And she’ll be spending a lot of time with Johnny again. "It could work beautifully or be a disaster, but producers want a powerful leading couple."
Kate has made an amazing modelling comeback after allegations of cocaine abuse last year. Her alter-ego Paula Yates, who was once married to Bob Geldof, led a troubled life which ended six years ago when she died of a heroin overdose aged 41. Friends said she had never been able to get over the death of rock star Michael Hutchence, who killed himself in Sydney in 1997.
"Paula and Michael were both big drug users and lived a tortured existence,"
the insider added. "Turning their ill-fated romance into a film will
not make for comfortable viewing."
From DI-VE.com (you're votes are doing some good)
Pirates leads hopefuls of summer box office glory
by Mario Azzopardi
Sunday, 30 April, 2006
May starts next week and Hollywood unleashes hell at the box office. The first summer blockbuster of 2006 is "Mission: Impossible III".
According to several surveys held in the US over the past weeks, the summer box office champ is expected to be "Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest". It debuts worldwide on July 7.
These surveys are predicting that the runner-up will be the controversial "The Da Vinci Code". It bows in the US on May 19. Some scenes were filmed in Vittoriosa.
The third most successful film is likely to be "Superman Returns", with
new star Brandon Routh. It debuts in the US during the Fourth of July holiday
period. Strangely, it bows in European cinemas later on in July after "Pirates".
The AFI
DVD for 2005 is out and it features the entire 54 minute interview
with Johnny.
From Amazon
Or Search
| Want to help the animals effected by Hurricane Katrina? Here
are some links:
http://www.noahswish.org/Donations.htmhttp://www.bestfriends.org/ http://www.nsalamerica.org/ar/index.htmlwww.peta.com http://www.puppymillrescue.com/donate.htmInternation Fund for Whild Animals "For people who left animals in homes or at boarding facilities in the New Orleans, please call 225-578-6111 and leave their name, address of confined animal, species, number of animals, and when food would have run out. We will go house-to-house as soon as we can. The phones are being manned by the LSU Veterinary School and Department of Agriculture." |
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