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Volume 1136
Presents
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JOHN CARTER OF MARS (A Princess of Mars) Paramount Film Project: Pre-Production Series Note: Paramount is no longer involved in the project. For more recent developments on the John Carter project see www.ERBzine.com/news archives |
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Robert Rodriguez: 
PROJECT EVOLUTION IN THE TRADES
Read the Variety Release
http://www.erbzine.com/mag6/0648.html
Recommended interview on The Onion AV site:
http://www.theonionavclub.com/avclub3829/avfeature_3829.htmlRodriguez is an enthusiastic pioneer in theshooting of films with high definition progressive scan digital cameras on digital film. In response to the old film axiom: "Creative people aren't technical; technical people aren't creative. They always need each other, and they're always on opposite sides of the room." Rodriguez said: "That's why nothing gets done. I've abandoned film forever. You can't go back. It's like trying to go back to vinyl after you've got recordable DVD.".
The Latest On The Paramount A Princess of Mars Project Robert Rodriguez's resignation from the Directors Guild of America has jeopardized Paramount's development of its adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' classic SF book A Princess of Mars, Variety reported. The director of Spy Kids quit the union so he could co-direct Sin City with Frank Miller, who created, wrote and illustrated the three-book graphic novel series on which that movie is based, the trade paper reported. (Guild rules do not permit such "co-directing" credits.) But that imperils Mars, because as a DGA signatory, Paramount is required to employ only guild directors, the trade paper reported. Insiders close to Rodriguez tell the trade paper that, at least for now, the director is unwilling to rejoin the guild just to direct Princess of Mars. Insiders close to Rodriguez insist he is unwilling to rejoin the DGA just to direct the $100+ million CG-extensive "Princess of Mars" which Paramount hopes will become its equivalent of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Paramount's COO Rob Friedman told the trade "We are in discussions with Mr. Rodriguez and are trying to come up with a solution".
Mars Imperiled?
Posted: Wed., Apr. 7, 2004, 10:00pm PTRodriguez's wife and producing partner Elizabeth Avellan is quoted as saying "As of today, we are not dropping out. We are still very much making that movie".
Read the full article at:'Mars' out of Par's orbit? Rodriguez's move imperils pic Robert Rodriguez's resignation from the DGA has jeopardized Paramount's development of its tentpole pic "A Princess of Mars." The problem: As a DGA signatory, Par is required to employ only guild directors. Rodriguez's recent move to leave the DGA was triggered by his desire to co-direct "Sin City" for Dimension Films with Frank Miller, who created, wrote and illustrated the three-book graphic novel series on which the "Sin City" pic is based.
By CLAUDE BRODESSER, DAVE MCNARY ~ Variety"We are in discussions with Mr. Rodriguez and are trying to come up with a solution," said Rob Friedman, vice chair and chief operating officer of Paramount's motion picture group. Insiders close to Rodriguez insist that -- at least for now -- he is unwilling to rejoin the Directors Guild just to direct "Princess of Mars." DGA rules dictate that there be only one director assigned to direct a motion picture at any given time, although the guild occasionally grants a waiver, such as with the Coen brothers.
The DGA issued the following statement: "When it comes to creative judgment, vision, leadership and decisionmaking ... co-directing generally does not work. Having said that, there are exceptional circumstances where two individuals have demonstrated an ability to reflect a singular vision through previous directing experience, which the DGA has always supported through the granting of waivers to bona fide co-directing teams."
Rodriguez, who is in production in Austin, Texas, on "Sin City," was not available for comment Thursday. When Rodriguez resigned last month, he portrayed his departure as reflecting his unorthodox plans for "Sin City" -- such as having Quentin Tarantino helm part of the film, possibly using a "special guest director" title that would not be available under DGA guidelines.
Rodriguez also quit the DGA a decade ago so he could take part in the Tarantino-orchestrated film "Four Rooms." He told Daily Variety last month that the co-directing credit for Miller would more accurately reflect how the film will be made.
"I didn't want Frank (Miller) to be treated as just a writer, because he is the only one who has actually been to 'Sin City,' " Rodriguez said. "I am making such a literal interpretation of his book that I'd have felt weird taking directing credit without him." Par-based Alphaville Prods., partnered with Rodriguez's Troublemaker Studios, plans to begin shooting early next year. Pic is based on the first book in Edgar Rice Burroughs' 11-volume "John Carter of Mars" series. Producers will be Alphaville toppers Sean Daniel and Jim Jacks with Rodriguez and producing partner Elizabeth Avellan, as well as online movie industry pundit Harry Knowles.
Mark Protosevich is scripting; cast has not yet been set. Budget is said to top $100 million due to extensive CGI. Goal is to match the scale and scope of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
http://www.variety.com/story.asp?l=story&a=VR1117903038&c=13
PROMISING UPDATE:Rodriguez Talks Mars: Director addresses DGA snafu. April 20, 2004 - Entertainment Weekly has asked filmmaker Robert Rodriguez about his status as the director of Paramount/Alphaville's A Princess of Mars (a.k.a. John Carter of Mars). Rodriguez's recent decision to resign from the Directors Guild of America placed his ability to helm the big-screen adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' classic sci-fi novel in doubt. As a DGA signatory, Paramount is not allowed to hire a non-union director. Rodriguez advised EW, however, that the situation is under control.
"I can still do that movie," claims Rodriguez, "because I was assigned to it before I left the DGA. I'll occupy that island of misfit directors like Quentin Tarantino and George Lucas. (Laughs) It's actually quite nice here."
Entertainment Weekly, April 23, 2004
Scott Brown; Robert RodriguezIn Sin City, the rotten comic-book noir-opolis created by writer-artist Frank Miller, rules (and bones) are made to be broken. Director Robert Rodriguez is rebelling appropriately with Sin City, his adaptation of three of Miller's beloved graphic novels: Sin City, The Big Fat Kill, and That Yellow Bastard. He's enlisted Miller as codirector--which has gotten Rodriguez in trouble with the Directors Guild of America (DGA)--and asked pal Quentin Tarantino to lend a helming hand later this summer. Now, Bruce Willis joins an ever-expanding cast. EW collared Rodriguez for a hard-boiled sit-down.
How'd you convince Miller to let you adapt it?
I said, I'll shoot the opening sequence [with] Josh Hartnett and Marley Shelton. You'll come down, hang out, be part of it. I'll cut it together, put the effects in. If you like what you see, we'll make a deal and keep going. If you don't, you've got a nice short film to show your friends.
Who's Bruce playing?
He's Hartigan, a cop who's retiring. He's got a bad ticker. He might not be 60 [as in the comic], but he'll be up there. We're aging him a little bit--because Bruce, of course, is still badass Bruce.
I've been a big fan of Bruce's since Moonlighting. I remember seeing a black-and-white film noir episode of him in Moonlighting. [He]'s got this great, hard-boiled black-and-white face. Bruce's section's black and white--in keeping with the comic. Some sections are color.
What happened with the DGA?
They said, "As you know, it's totally against the rules to have two directors." And I was like, it is? How was I supposed to know that? I see codirectors all the time. The Wachowski brothers, the Hughes brothers. It's a subjective ruling. There's nothing in the rule book that says it specifically--the rule book is very thick, by the way. I looked at it and it said you have to be "a bona fide team." Whatever the f--- that means.
So you left the Guild. Does that mean you can't make A Princess of Mars for Paramount?
I can still do that movie, because I was assigned to it before I left the DGA. I'll occupy that island of misfit directors like Quentin Tarantino and George Lucas. That's where I've been banished. [Laughs] It's actually really nice here.
Any regrets?
Every day, I just look over at Frank, and he's got this big smile on his face. And I think, God, I'm really glad I got to make this movie.
Harry Knowles
HollywoodReporter.com
AintItCool.com Interview
Robert Rodriguez Bio on the Internet Movie Data Base Site: See films worked on and 26 photos
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001675/Robert Rodriguez was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, USA ~ 20 June 1968. At a very young age he showed an interest in cartooning and filmmaking and devoted all his time to this developing fascination. Finally it resulted for him in making real movies, and just first of them - Mariachi, El (1992) - made him the legend of independent ultra-low budget filmmaking. His further career is a sign for young filmmakers that even the most wild dream may come true if you are brave enough to follow your own path. Since then Robert has written, directed, and/or produced up to 10 cool movies, such as Desperado (1995), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), Faculty, The (1998) and Spy Kids (2001).
NEWS LINKS
Rodriguez Talks Mars
Director addresses DGA snafu.Mars Trouble Confirmed
IGN FilmForce's exclusive scoop proves true.Rodriguez's Mars Mission Scrapped?
We've heard an interesting rumor.There's Life on Mars!
But it's Harry Knowles ...Mars Mission Confirmed
Rodriguez rescues Princess from development hell.The Stax Report's Pulp Movie Update
The status of Doc Savage, Flash Gordon, and more!Rodriguez Gets Carter?
Directing & casting buzz for John Carter of Mars.
Companies and Personnel Involved in the ERB Mars ProjectPar-based Alphaville Prods., partnered with Rodriguez's Troublemaker Studios Producers will be Alphaville toppers Sean Daniel and Jim Jacks with Rodriguez and producing partner Elizabeth Avellan. Scripted by Mark Protosevich ("The Cell"), the film may be called "A Princess of Mars" or "John Carter of Mars." See the Mariachi Script
- Rodriguez is a pioneer in shooting his films with high definition progressive scan digital cameras on digital film,
- His action sequences have been compared with those of John Woo.
- Has worked with and is influenced by his friend, film god Quentin Tarantino
- His work has been compared to Leone’s spaghetti Westerns: A fist Full of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More.
- Gets amazing results on a low budget
- He is involved in all aspects of film making: writing, directing, producing, post-production, music scores,
- Considered the top Hispanic film maker in Hollywood
- Famous for doing it his way... without creative suggestions from fans or outside sources
- He made one of the most entertaining, and well put together, low budget films of all time, El Mariachi. With \\$7000 of his own money, (much of it earned working as a guinea pig for a pharmaceutical company) he wrote, shot, directed, edited, mixed sound, and sold a very tight little Spanish action film to an American audience.
- Spouse Elizabeth Avellan (1990-present) (sons' names: Rogue, Rocket, Rebel, and Racer Rodriguez)
FILMOGRAPHY
Director/Editor/Producer/Camera Operator/Post Production/Editor/Writer/Composer
FILM
Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)
Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002)
Spy Kids (2001)
Faculty, The (1998)
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
Four Rooms (1995) (segment "The Misbehavers")
Desperado (1995)
Mariachi, El (1992)
Bedhead (1991)
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) (post-production) (additional music) (thankyou
credit)
TV
Inside Troublemaker Studios (2004) (V)
Ten Minute Cooking School: Puerco Pibil (2004) (V)
Ten Minute Flick School: Fast, Cheap and in Control (2004) (V)
10 Minute Film School (1998) (V)
10 More Minutes... Anatomy of a Shootout (1998) (V)
Roadracers (1994) (TV)
... aka Rebel Highway (1994) (TV)
Actor - filmography
Delayed (2002) .... Robert Jimenez
Bullfighter (2000) .... Bull Boy
Famous (2000) .... Punk #2
Discussion of The Rodriguez Films
Written and published by the Ambidextrous
Pictures Website;
http://www.godsoffilmmaking.com/html/robert_rodriguez.html
El Mariachi (1992) This movie is a fantastic example of what $7,000 can do. Rodriguez was writer, director, producer, camera, sound, and everything else. The only reason he didn't star in it was because there would be no one to hold the camera. And speaking of producing, a large part of that seven thousand was earned from Rodriguez giving himself up to science projects. The story follows a man who has come into a small town looking for work as a mariachi. Mistaken for a killer, who carries his guns around in a guitar case, a local gang chases him down and tries to kill him. Also interesting: most of the guns used were water guns and the few real ones were borrowed from the local police department. (Written and directed by Robert Rodriguez)
Desperado (1995) A huge budgeted sequel to El Mariachi. The time the mariachi comes back to the town that took everything he loved for some revenge. The gang that tried to kill him and ended up killing his girlfriend in the first movie is the target in this one. El Mariachi was so well received as an independent film, that funding for this big commercial project came along very easily. Again, the action is huge and explosive. Very fun to watch. This film also established relationships between Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, and Rodriguez and ever lovely Salma Hayek. Big ups to Salma. I love you, girl. (Written and directed by Robert Rodriguez)
Four Rooms (1995) It's hard to express feelings for this film. On one hand, there's nudity. On the other, it sucked. Rodriguez directed the third of four segments titled "The Misbehavers". The story is about a couple of bad kids stuck in a hotel room while their parents attend a New Year party. Rodriguez’s contribution was certainly on of the better efforts in the film, but couldn’t save this stinking ship. (Segment written and directed by Robert Rodriguez)
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) Totally bitchin' movie. One of action's greatest. After making buddies with Tarantino in Desperado, the two teamed up for this film. It starts off as a rough gangster movie and ends up as a vampire killing romp. With some of the greatest Tarantino dialog and some of Rodriguez’s finest action, this movie was bound to be cool. I believe that Leonard Maltin put it best as "a celebration of excess". How true. (Directed by Robert Rodriguez)
The Faculty (1998) Another great action/horror movie from Rodriguez and this time you could throw in a little of the sci-fi. The movie is about a high school that is quickly taken over by some sort of alien parasite. A small handful of unaffected students remain and it's up to them to save to world. This script was actually pulled off of a five-year stint on the shelf before screenwriter Kevin Williamson was given the job of spicing it up. If you've enjoyed Rodriguez’s earlier works, you'll surely like this one too. (Directed by Robert Rodriguez)
From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter (2000) This straight to video feature is a far cry from the first film, but leaps and bounds better than the second. Actually, this prequel pretty well follows the story line of the first one, only this one is about the origins of Santanico Pandemonium. It is set back in the old gunslinging west and ends up in a brothel where the vampires live. Check it out if you liked the first one. (Story written by Robert Rodriguez)
Spy Kids (2001) I'm all about Robert Rodriguez. And when I heard that he was doing this movie I thought that it was great that he was trying to expand his career and not confine himself to be a genre filmmaker. I thought this all the way into the theater. I also understand that this movie wasn’t exactly aimed at my demographic, but could it have been any stupider? I mean damn. I enjoy kids movies as much as the next guy, maybe more. But this movie was rough to watch. It was inspired by Rodriguez’s short segment in his earlier project, Four Rooms, and is about two kids that venture out to rescue their captured spy parents. This is the last movie that Rodriguez shot on film. He did his post production work at George Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch, and was there introduced to the advantages and freedoms of digital filmmaking. (Written and directed by Robert Rodriguez)
Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002) Well, surprisingly enough this sequel was actually more enjoyable than the first film. It was no cinematic classic by any means, but is wasn’t all that bad. It tells the story of the Spy Kids next adventure through an amusement park, under the sea, an to a mysterious disappearing island. there a mad scientist has created a device that can either control or destroy the entire planet. He just wants to be left alone to tinker with his devices in place, but when word get out about his invention his cloaked island starts crawling with all ages of spies. This is Rodriuez’s first digital film and only the second to be shot on the high definition progressive scan digital camera (the first being Lucas’s Attack of the Clones). We give Rodriguez credit for the amazing roles he takes on in this and every picture he works on, and this film is no exception. Here he has almost a dozen credits and even co-wrote the songs for the film’s soundtrack. (Written and directed by Robert Rodriguez)
Spy Kids 3: Game Over (2003) As the tagline says “Third Mission. Third Dimension.” This film is literally a 3-D virtually reality adventure. An evil toy maker has developed software to take over the minds of the planet's youth and it’s up to the Spy Kids to thwart his efforts. They are transported into the game (at which time the audience is prompted to dawn their classic blue and red cardboard glasses) and they have to defeat the program level by level. As it is now Rodriguez’s mainstay of filmmaking, the entire project was shot on digital film, but the vivid images and colors are bleached out by the cheap and gimmicky 3-D glasses. The film has not been as well received as the other two Spy Kids movies, and lets hope that it marks the end of the franchise. (Directed by Robert Rodriguez)
Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) Being the third film in the series (El Mariachi 3 or Desperado 2), this film holds little in common with the previous two besides similar characters. The first film is a story about mistaken identity. The second of revenge. Both revolve around one character, El Mariachi. The third film is so packed with different characters and subplots that is seems that our good friend El is merely playing a supporting role. The story centers around a powerful druglord’s attempt to overthrow the Mexican government and is told via a number of different characters views. It’s not he best film in the series, but overall it is pretty enjoyable. The action is explosive and the camera work is fantastic. Rodriguez found a lot of freedom in the digital cameras he used, and he seems to revel in it. But, by the time you’ve figured out what everyone is up to, and why they are up to it, you find it wasn’t worth the effort. Rodriguez’s friend and fellow God of Filmmaking Quentin Tarantino suggested the film and the title. He pointed out the similarities between Rodriguez’s career and that of Sergio Leone. He compared Rodriguez’s El Mariachi and Desperado to Leone’s A fist Full of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More. Tarantino said that the logical progression would be Once Upon a Time in Mexico to balance with Once upon a Time in the West. (Written and Directed by Robert Rodriguez)
The new sound system includes BSS Audio's Soundweb system, Crown Audio's
Studio Reference One amplifiers and Pioneer's Cinema Series. The room now
meets Dolby and THX standards, allowing Rodriguez to mix entire soundtracks
from predubs to print masters in surround. The new mixing stage hosts two
Pro Tools|HD systems with the option to install three more during final
mixing.
Mark Protosevich
The scriptwriting chores have been assigned to
Mark Protosevich
Agent: CAA’s Scott Greenberg, atty. Steve Warren of Hansen,
Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Sloane & Richman, LL
whose previouis credits as a screenwirter and co-producer include
The Cell:
(2000)
Starring Jennifer Lopez
and
The Imposter (2002)
Starring Gary Sinise and Madeleine Stowe,
See another sample script by Mark:
I am Legend
Screenplay by Mark Protosevich
based on the novel by Richard Matheson
http://www.wordsfromhere.com/scripts/novels/legend.pdf
Review
Mini Bio from Cinema.com
Mark Protosevich
After his arrival in Los Angeles, Protosevich worked as a feature film development executive for Columbia Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and producers Dawn Steel and Scott Rudin.
The Cell also marked Protosevich’s screen writing debut. Since writing the sci-fi thriller, he has adapted Allan Folsom’s novel The Day After Tomorrow for producer Richard Zanuck, and he has adapted Richard Matheson’s classic horror novel, I Am Legend. The film version of the post-apocalyptic tale will be produced by Steve Reuther’s Bel Air Entertainment and released by Warner Bros., for whom Protosevich then scripted what was to be the fifth installment of the Batman series.
After a rewrite of Jan DeBont’s proposed alien western Ghost Riders in the Sky, Protosevich adapted the Philip K. Dick short story Impostor for director Gary Fleder. Originally intended as one-third of a sci-fi trilogy (including Danny Boyle’s Alien Love Triangle), Impostor is now expanded to feature-length.
Josh Duhamel
One rumour has it that Emmy-winner Josh Duhamel (Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, TV's Las Vegas) has been considered for the title role.
Bio Info from IMDB
The Mummy's Jim Jacks and Sean Daniels will produce John Carter via their Alphaville operation. Jacks reportedly wants at least three of the most popular books (including Gods of Mars and The Warlord of Mars) "to be made into pics of a scope akin to The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, but were impossible to make before, because CGI (technology) wasn't there.'"
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