82 replies to this topic

[JCRendle]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...siness-31157107

Amy Pascal, co-chair of Sony Pictures, has stepped down from her leading position. She has announced plans to set up her own production office within Sony which should go live in May.

She's worked closely with Eon since Casino Royale and apparently had a good working relationship with Barbara Broccoli.

Since the Sony leaks incident at the end of last year, her reputation has taken a hit, as her emails have been amongst the most widely reported due to some questionable content and insensitive remarks.

SPECTRE is the last Bond film under the 4 film distribution agreement with Sony, so it is currently unclear how, if at all, this will affect things.

[SecretAgentFan]

Indeed an interesting yet unsurprising development.  

 

Sony, of course, will do everything to keep Bond´s distribution.  But it certainly will irk EON, probably more Barbara Broccoli than MGW who might retire and hand the reins over to Gregg.

 

If BB does not like Pascal´s successor I could imagine her shopping Bond 25 to another studio - and unless SPECTRE is a colossal failure (which is highly unlikely) everybody in town will do EON´s bidding.

 

Which is probably one of the best situations for EON so far.  Even if it is due to Pascal´s firing.

[tdalton]

The only surprising thing about this is that it took until February for someone at Sony to lose their job over this.  

[Odd Jobbies]

Well, as i've been very happy with the direction in which the reboot has takn Bond i can only commiserate this fundamental shift in the landscape. Hopefully her replacement will want to carry on the good work in the same spirit and not want to kill the golden goose. I'm sure that will be the aim on the way in, but a new face wanting to make their mark can often find it difficult not to micromanage, and sink the ship in doing so.

 

Fingers crossed we get wisdom and not ambition. It's the filmmakers that should be ambitious, upping the artistic  returns - when the suits are ambitious it's in order to up the financial  returns and that way leads to DAD.

 

Sure, Eon could flog their wares elsewhere, but every single one of the studios will be as enthusiastic as Pascal's successor about allowing Eon to carry on doing it their own way. But you never really know how that's going to pan out with hawks holding the purse strings until it's too late.

 

Fingers crossed.

Edited by Odd Jobbies, 06 February 2015 - 11:44 AM.

[tdalton]

I would imagine that EON would be able to find someone to take the Bond franchise to that would allow them to run it the way that they have been.  I would even suspect that Pascal's replacement will maintain a similar relationship with EON, if for no other reason than there's no reason not to allow EON to continue doing what they're doing.  Skyfall earning $1 billion at the worldwide box office pretty much guarantees EON the ability to carry on as they see fit, as it would take a special kind of idiot to decide to mess with something that's earning that much money.

[Odd Jobbies]

tdalton, that's exactly what every studio will promise Eon, but how do Eon really know which one's will be true to their word?

 

You've got to allow for ego and personality in that equation. Once the ball gets rolling the more negative traits might emerge and not until then, by which time it's too late to jump off. There'll always be a pretty substantial element of risk in a change of management.

 

That's why i commiserate Pascal's resignation - she'd proven that, whatever her short comings, she could allow (and probably influenced) Eon in the making of great Bond movies. Now we're in the lap of the gods.

Edited by Odd Jobbies, 06 February 2015 - 01:35 PM.

[SecretAgentFan]

I do believe that EON is the most important element to steer the franchise where they want to, especially after SKYFALL´s box office.  If SPECTRE is doing similar or even better business, nobody will want to interfere with EON.

 

Only if grosses diminish...

[tdalton]

I do believe that EON is the most important element to steer the franchise where they want to, especially after SKYFALL´s box office.  If SPECTRE is doing similar or even better business, nobody will want to interfere with EON.
 
Only if grosses diminish...

Even then, one would have to wonder just how much power Sony could wield over them. It's not like Wilson and Broccoli (I would imagine) need the money at this point. They could always just refuse to make another Bond film if for no other reason than to prove a point to whoever it happened to be that was trying to interfere.

[SecretAgentFan]

Well, I guess they know that the brand has to be kept hot by releasing films again and again.  Also, it´s not just about them but the whole team that is part of the production company.

 

I remember that BB hated John Calley because he tried to enforce his views on the franchise.

[tdalton]

True, but they could always shut it down for a bit to prove a point.  There is always massive anticipation when they put the series through a hiatus, as evidenced by GoldenEye, Casino Royale, and Skyfall.

[Odd Jobbies]

Truth is though that no one's going to shut down Bond 25. Seems like Pascal was a good head (no pun) and Calley a bad one, so does that make the odds on the next one 50/50?

 

No one in their right mind wants to interfere with Eon while they're laying golden eggs, but newly appointed studio heads have been known to make some rash decisions - through their weight around and paranoia, or egomania can easily (imagine) take hold in such a powerful job. The good one's aren't those with the great ideas, but those that can retain some distance from the product and know when to afford the filmmakers the final call. The bad one's are those that think all their own ideas are great.

 

If the new head screws up 25 then the blame game begins and studio heads don't get to be studio heads by taking the blame - they're the kind of people who know when to take the credit and pass the buck. I know i'm being melodramatic and this is very 'worse case scenario', but just saying...

 

ETA: wow, i tend to get my lecture head on in the evening's with a few single malts put away. I'm sure there's nothing i've written there that you all didn't already know. But there it is, anyhow. Apologies

Edited by Odd Jobbies, 06 February 2015 - 11:13 PM.

[glidrose]

There seems to be loads of disinformation on these and other fan fora. The decision whether or not to renew Sony's contract is not up to EON. It's up to MGM. I know our mods don't want us discussing the leaked emails, however-
 
-unless I've misread them, or missed reading a crucial email or two, there's *nothing* in those emails that supports many of the claims in this post. Without quoting emails, BB has a great working and personal relationship with Amy Pascal. BB and Amy Pascal would love MGM to renew Sony's contract. Pascal doesn't know where MGM will find somebody - meaning some other studio - who will agree to such a one-sided deal. Namely, Sony pays the lion's share - pun intended - of the costs and distributes the film. Let's face it, does MGM have the money to finance a 300 million dollar film? No? Didn't think so.
 
These aren't the only misunderstandings. Over at MI6, there's no shortage of people who've read the leaked emails and somehow conclude that this is Daniel Craig's final Bond film based on the above misunderstandings and Bond's ambiguously controversial final eight words in the two most recent shooting scripts.

 

Spoiler

Sod this. I'm too old. Get Pierce Brosnan.

 

 

And the BBC article says Pascal quit. Not that she was fired. Though I suppose if one wants to be cynical...

[agentbug]

And the BBC article says Pascal quit. Not that she was fired. Though I suppose if one wants to be cynical...

You're firing me?

Let's call it... retirement planning.

[Double Naught spy]

For the simple fact that she did not loudly profess in her e-mails regarding Spectre, "Are you insane?!?  That is the equivalent to the plot of (censored) involving the villains trying to (censored) ala (censored)!" - I say 'good riddance' to Ms. Pascal.   

 

I realize that Ms. Pascal is not involved in the scripting of the new 007 film; but, if she had half the "great working and professional relationship" with Barbara Broccoli that fellow poster Glidrose claims, then it was incumbent upon her that she staged some kind of intervention with BB to prevent the train wreck that is coming this fall.  It's beyond my comprehension that these "wizards of Hollywood" fail to understand (censored).  I'd love to be (censored)'s (censored) come this (censored)! 

 

But cheer up, Ms. Pascal!  According to your (censored) friends in (censored) whom you've personally donated almost (censored) to, the nation's unemployment rate is virtually (censored) - so you shouldn't (edited to reflect that she already has found a new job) within the week.   Just keep those one-sided political blinders firmly in place against your head and continue to hum (censored) as you are chauffeured around Hollywood like the important person that you are.

Edited by Double Naught spy, 08 February 2015 - 11:11 PM.

[Odd Jobbies]

Double Naught spy, excellent post and highly illuminating.

 

However, a polite word in the ear to all  who may wish to reference the leaked script:

 

There may well be members here whom, like myself are trying to avoid hearing about the leaked script, so if you wish to mention it, or allude to it then may i ask you all to kindly place a large 'Spoiler'  notice in the text above it, please.

 

Sorry to be a bore

[tdalton]

At the very least, please use a SPOILER tag

Spoiler

spoiler

 

 

But, it really should be saved for the SPOILER section of the SPECTRE forum, if we must discuss information that has been stolen from the filmmakers.  I think the best bet, in all honesty, would be to ban all discussion of the stolen information.  I don't see there being much difference between posting that stolen information versus having actual portions of the script showing up on the site, the latter of which can (and has gotten) get the site into a massive amount of trouble.

[Dustin]

For the simple fact that she did not loudly profess in her e-mails regarding Spectre, "Are you insane?!? That is the equivalent to the plot of the new Star Wars movie involving the villains trying to suck the atmosphere from a planet ala Space Balls!" - I say 'good riddance' to Ms. Pascal.

I realize that Ms. Pascal is not involved in the scripting of the new 007 film; but, if she had half the "great working and professional relationship" with Barbara Broccoli that fellow poster Glidrose claims, then it was incumbent upon her that she staged some kind of intervention with BB to prevent the train wreck that is coming this fall. It's beyond my comprehension that these "wizards of Hollywood" fail to understand the basic premise that they shouldn't go mining for ideas in films that parody their own movie franchise. I'd love to be Mike Myers' attorney come this November!

But cheer up, Ms. Pascal! According to your Democrat party friends in Washington whom you've personally donated almost a quarter of a million dollars to, the nation's unemployment rate is virtually zero - so you shouldn't have a hard time finding another job within the week. Just keep those one-sided political blinders firmly in place against your head and continue to hum 'Happy days are here again' as you are chauffeured to the local unemployment center.

We've made pretty good experiences here with people keeping their politics their own business. Would be nice if you could, too. On top of minding spoilers, that really is a huge nuisance for many fans. Thanks in advance.

[JCRendle]

so you shouldn't have a hard time finding another job within the week.   Just keep those one-sided political blinders firmly in place against your head and continue to hum 'Happy days are here again' as you are chauffeured to the local unemployment center.

 

Um, she isn't unemployed. If you'd actually read the reports, you'd know that she hasn't left Sony, only stepped down as co-chairman. She's opening up a  production company within Sony that will launch in May 2015, Sony will fund her production company for at least the next four years, and it will retain distribution rights to what she produces - hardly the need to find a new job.

[x007AceOfSpades]

Do I see this as the end between Sony and MGM or rather EON? Not necessarily. Bond is expensive, as evident by Spectre's plot, but it's also a huge revenue. I wouldn't be surprised to hear about the two renewing contracts or such. If not, I'm sure there's plenty of other studios out there who would be interested in wanted a stake in co-financing and the distribution of a Bond film.

Over at MI6, there's no shortage of people who've read the leaked emails and somehow conclude that this is Daniel Craig's final Bond film based on the above misunderstandings and Bond's ambiguously controversial final eight words in the two most recent shooting scripts.

I think I just figured out those eight words...

[SecretAgentFan]

 

so you shouldn't have a hard time finding another job within the week.   Just keep those one-sided political blinders firmly in place against your head and continue to hum 'Happy days are here again' as you are chauffeured to the local unemployment center.

 

Um, she isn't unemployed. If you'd actually read the reports, you'd know that she hasn't left Sony, only stepped down as co-chairman. She's opening up a  production company within Sony that will launch in May 2015, Sony will fund her production company for at least the next four years, and it will retain distribution rights to what she produces - hardly the need to find a new job.

 

 

Maybe - but just to clear this up: these "producing deals" often don´t amount to much.  I guess this is just one of these "how to save face for everyone"-solutions.  But I would be surprised if Sony actually green lights any projects produced by Pascal in the near future.  Pascal knows this and has certainly given these sorts of deals to others.  It´s a consolation price, not more.

[x007AceOfSpades]

Maybe - but just to clear this up: these "producing deals" often don´t amount to much.  I guess this is just one of these "how to save face for everyone"-solutions.  But I would be surprised if Sony actually green lights any projects produced by Pascal in the near future.  Pascal knows this and has certainly given these sorts of deals to others.  It´s a consolation price, not more.

Exactly. Just because she has a deal with for a production company, doesn't mean they have to distribute  or green light them.

[larrythefatcat]

I doubt this restructuring will affect Bond too much, if at all, and I'm interested to see what will change in the aftermath.

 

The only thing that may be altered would be regarding 'Spectre' itself: I remember hearing Sony doubting plot specifics to 'Spectre' (which I won't discuss hear) because they wanted MAJOR rewrites, especially regarding the last "reel" of the film!

 

I'm more intrigued to see if Sony's stance will change when it comes to sharing/handing over Spider-Man to Marvel now that Sony's top management is having a "Chinese fire drill."

[tdalton]

If we're going to discuss the ending of SPECTRE, especially from reports detailing stolen information from EON, could we at least do it in the SPOILER section?

[Jim]

Or not at all. I am sure this fascinating news about the bureaucracy of film studios can be discussed without any reference to any such matters.

[tdalton]

Or not at all.

 

That would certainly be my preference.

 

Seems like discussion of the stolen information works its way into many different threads, even when there's no reason for it to be there.

[Dustin]

Really, it's an enormous nuisance when people - some of whom go to great lengths not to learn about spoilers - get info stuffed down their throats that doesn't belong here. I understand seldom before could fans learn so much about a Bond film - or think they learn at any rate - and it's probably exceedingly difficult to understand how other fans prefer to avoid such info. Nonetheless, we appeal to all members to remain considerate and not spoil the fun for others. It really cannot be so hard to keep a secret, can it?

[glidrose]

Do I see this as the end between Sony and MGM or rather EON? Not necessarily. Bond is expensive, as evident by Spectre's plot, but it's also a huge revenue. I wouldn't be surprised to hear about the two renewing contracts or such. If not, I'm sure there's plenty of other studios out there who would be interested in wanted a stake in co-financing and the distribution of a Bond film.

Over at MI6, there's no shortage of people who've read the leaked emails and somehow conclude that this is Daniel Craig's final Bond film based on the above misunderstandings and Bond's ambiguously controversial final eight words in the two most recent shooting scripts.

I think I just figured out those eight words...

Spoiler

Sod this. I'm too old. Get Pierce Brosnan.

 

Maybe - but just to clear this up: these "producing deals" often don´t amount to much. I guess this is just one of these "how to save face for everyone"-solutions. But I would be surprised if Sony actually green lights any projects produced by Pascal in the near future. Pascal knows this and has certainly given these sorts of deals to others. It´s a consolation price, not more.

My thoughts exactly, tho' you never know.


 

Or not at all. I am sure this fascinating news about the bureaucracy of film studios can be discussed without any reference to any such matters.

Can it be discussed without somebody throwing a fit and ruining everybody's fun because they don't like the story? Absolutely! Shame on Double Naught spy for going off on a ranting tangent that had *nothing* to do with the topic at hand. Especially as I intentionally put in my post "I know our mods don't want us discussing the leaked emails". But I saw no other way to correct what I believed to be misinformation about the Sony-MGM-EON-Daniel Craig relationship.


 

Really, it's an enormous nuisance when people - some of whom go to great lengths not to learn about spoilers - get info stuffed down their throats that doesn't belong here. I understand seldom before could fans learn so much about a Bond film - or think they learn at any rate - and it's probably exceedingly difficult to understand how other fans prefer to avoid such info. Nonetheless, we appeal to all members to remain considerate and not spoil the fun for others. It really cannot be so hard to keep a secret, can it?

Amen!

[x007AceOfSpades]

Spoiler

Sod this. I'm too old. Get Pierce Brosnan.

[larrythefatcat]

If anyone is referring to comments like mine when talking about "spoilers" and such, they just need to grow up and get over it. There is one potential spoiler referenced in this thread and, since I haven't cracked the code, I imagine it takes a fair bit of serious thought to suss it out!

 

The Sony leak is definitely something that seems to have a close connection to this topic, so I don't see why it wouldn't be brought up by at least every third poster in this thread. I agree that spoilers are, however, unacceptable.

 

I would also like to point out that my prediction was true regarding Spider-Man: I couldn't really have hit the nail any harder on the head than I did considering today's MCU news.

[Dustin]

This was not directed at you specifically, larrythefatcat. Just take it as a general reminder to our policy and simple rules of basic civility and conduct towards fellow fans and members.