New Line now a unit of WB, Bob Shaye steps down, starts Unique Films

[Gringo Loco]

I read this on IMDB and thought I would share.

http://www.imdb.com/news/sb/2008-01-22/
Golden Parachutes for New Line Founders?

Following a planned meeting this week with new Time Warner Chairman Jeff Bewkes, New Line Cinema founders Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne are expected to be terminated and New Line's projects, including The Hobbit, folded into Warner Bros., L.A. Weekly columnist Nikki Finke reported on her Deadline Hollywood Daily blog Monday, citing no sources. With the exception of last year's Hairspray, New Line has had a nearly uninterrupted string of financial failures since its Lord of the Rings franchise ran out.

[Cody]

Finke has been rooting for Shaye to get the boot for quite a while, here's her report (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/sources-bob-shayes-new-line-contract-wont-be-renewed-by-bewkes/) -

EXCLUSIVE: I'm told that New Line Cinema founders Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne are meeting with Jeff Bewkes this week to talk about their contracts which expire this year. Sources say it's virtually certain that the studio pair will be shown the door. I hear this isn't coming as a surprise to Shaye or Lynne, either: they're expecting the new Time Warner chief to end their tenure at the studio they founded in 1967, sold to Ted Turner's Turner Broadcasting System in 1994, and brought under Time Warner's control in 1996 (when the Big Media conglomerate merged with the Atlanta company). While fellow Turner-owned studio Castle Rock eventually became absorbed into Warner Bros, New Line was kept a separate entity where Shaye/Lynne had considerable autonomy. This was always a sore point inside the media giant, less so when New Line was making gobs of money with its Austin Powers and Lord Of The Rings film franchises, more so in recent years because of a steady stream of budget busters and box office losers (including 2007's bomb The Last Mimzy which Shaye foolishly directed himself and costly over-marketed).

I can't pinpoint just when the formal announcement of Shaye's and Lynne's departures will come, but it's a safe bet that New Line will be folded into Warner Bros as a result, moving such premium projects as the long anticipated back-to-back feature films of that beloved book The Hobbit. Well, it's about time! Kudos to Bewkes for having the brass balls to make this bold move. I've found Bastard Bob's behavior over this past year to be abhorrent, from his studio's legal shenanigans with Peter Jackson to his own "Lord Of The Rants" attacks on director after director who's made money for New Line. Good thing Shaye will be leaving sooner rather than later: I was running out of pejoratives (like "prick" and "idiot") to describe him.

[Gringo Loco]

I don't really follow Nikki Finke. Is she ever wrong with her info?

[Esten]

New Line without Shaye? New Line merging with Warner? Oh, that would be a very dark day.


FUCK?

THE

WHAT

[Cody]

I don't really follow Nikki Finke. Is she ever wrong with her info?

Her article/blog is controversial, as you can imagine from the language and sentiments in the sample above, but I think her news is pretty reliable. I've only been reading it the last couple months for strike information.

[DRE]

This will be the end of New Line as we know it (Actually, just before LOTR was the true end of New Line as we knew it), and there will be no Englund cheerleader for Elm Street left.

I can't imagine an Elm Street from any other company but New Line, and I now hope Paramount will retake the Friday franchise. I love Warners, but I can't trust that they would exploit the horror franchises the way New Line use to.

[Cody]

I love Warners, but I can't trust that they would exploit the horror franchises the way New Line use to.

That's what I've been thinking, seems to me that if New Line just dissolved into WB it would be a near death blow for their horror franchises.

Any WB F13s would probably go DTV, like the Raw Feed productions and (probably, despite Feldman's theatrical hopes) Lost Boys 2.

[DRE]

Hopefully the Friday remake would rescue it from that fate. But you can bet the farm that a WB Nightmare on Elm Street film will be the remake most of us dread.

[Esten]

Most likely. Then the property will either fizzle away until someone picks up the pieces a decade after, or the franchise is relegated to DTV hackjobs.

[WesReviews]

This is horrible news. New Line has had a bad past few years, though. So I guess this isn't really all that shocking. But yeah, New Line without Shaye cannot exist, so it is better for it to be absolved all together. :(

[DRE]

I love Lord of the Rings greatly and Bob Shaye as well, but it was the worst thing to happen to him and New Line Cinema. The oscars went to Bob's head, and he now wanted to always best the Weinstein's and Miramax. When the company went respectable is when they lost all their fun and edge.

It was a great run Bobby, and I thank you for all the great and not so great entertainment you've given us from the 80's till 2003.

[The Tall Man]

I'd love it if somehow Bob wrested the Nightmare rights away and took 'em with him. That is his baby after all. Perhaps he can start Old Line Cinema?

T.M.

[Just Jeans]

When The Shaye Company rises from New Line's ashes, its first film will be A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Remake, thus continuing the great circle of life.

[Grizzlyman]

I have been reading about New Line Cinema over the past several months, and it seems as though some of the issues are with Time Warner's corporate management over New Line and Warner Bros. A few months prior, Time Warner CEO Richard Parsons resigned and stayed on as a member on its board of directors, and was replaced by Jeff Bewkes. The issue I see with New Line Cinema is that they had indeed grown into a major independent production/distribution company, and managed to grow and prosper, but over the recent years, its revenues have diminished. I seriously doubt that New Line Cinema will collapse, since it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, but rather find changes with its corporate management, or bringing in a film production management company to turn the company back to profitability. It does have good assets such as the Elm Street franchise and the Austin Powers films, but face the facts, if New Line Cinema is operating in the red, it will be required for its assets to be liquidated to bring the company back on its feet.

The Golden Parachute contract is specifically designed to protect its head chief executives in case the company is to become acquired or essentially taken over my new management. In the case of Bob Shaye, he could very well avoid a termination, and simply resign his remaining posts associated with New Line. Remember, corporate businesses have shareholders, which elect the board of directors to govern the company. Since CEO's often serve as Chairman of the Board, Shaye's and Lynne's positions as the "Co-CEO's" could be terminated, but they could remain on the board, and as the company's founders, they are the largest shareholders of the company, but the votes of the other shareholders can still out win. I would imagine that the shareholders of New Line Cinema are convinced that the company has experience an increase in financial decline and are withholding their votes to re-elect Shaye and Lynne back to their positions.

The Tall Man, you make a good point. Something similar happened back in the 1980's with The Cannon Film Group. When Cannon was experiencing financial issues in 1987 and bankruptcy, with its inability to pay debts from the failure of Superman IV The Quest for Peace and the acquisition of Thorn EMI, it was taken over by Giancarlo Parretti and Pathe Communications. Cannon's chief executives and founders, Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus were given golden parachute contracts, and Golan himself was forced to resign entirely from Cannon. As apart of his severance package from Parretti and Pathe, Golan was granted the rights to Spiderman which at that time was owned by Cannon Films, and also Parretti even gave him access to the now defunct production studio, 21st Century Film Corporation. He took Spiderman and 21st Century Films on his own, following his departure as the CEO of Cannon. Of course he eventually lost the rights to Spiderman in 1992 after a foray with Carolco Pictures.

I believe that Bob Shaye can hopefully be granted a severance package and rights to some of New Line's assets, the difference between Cannon and New Line, was despite both being major independent production company's, Cannon was solely independent, with New Line under governance of Time Warner.

[Deathscythe]

First Heath Ledger, now New Line might be going? Today just hasn't been a good day. :(

[Chex]

I'd love it if somehow Bob wrested the Nightmare rights away and took 'em with him. That is his baby after all. Perhaps he can start Old Line Cinema?

That's exactly what I was wondering. Of course if he did, I wouldn't be surprised to see the film be a remake as it would have a higher chance of success and if certain changes were made, it could jumpstart a whole new series and franchise which would help 'Old Line' be built from.

[Esten]

Old Line Cinema: The House That Freddie Built?

[Chex]

Old New Line Cinema: The House that Kreddy and Freddy built.

[Just Jeans]

I don't think Shaye would have to fight very hard to take the Nightmare on Elm Street rights with him. After all, it's not like Warner Brothers is going to capitalize on the property. Although maybe a Wolfman vs. Freddy film wouldn't be out of the question?

I'm more curious to know where this will leave Friday the 13th and the reboot film? If New Line folds into Warner Brothers, will Warner Brothers abandon their end of production? Wouldn't it be all sorts of ironic if Friday the 13th ended up back in Paramount's greasy hands?

[DRE]

It would be poetic even.

Jason has played in Krueger's sandbox long enough, it's time for him to return home to the Mount.

[Chex]

Wouldn't it be all sorts of ironic if Friday the 13th ended up back in Paramount's greasy hands?

You know what really would interesting to me is if Paramount did get their hands back on the F13 film, go ahead with the remake, and decide to follow it up with a new F13 series all the while Shaye is over at 'Old New Line' with his new Freddy series.

[Just Jeans]

...it's time for him to return home to the Mount.

The Mount sold him off like an unwanted stepchild nearly twenty years ago. I can't imagine they'd treat him much better if he found his way home. :shifty:

You know what really would interesting to me is if Paramount did get their hands back on the F13 film, go ahead with the remake, and decide to follow it up with a new F13 series all the while Shaye is over at 'Old New Line' with his new Freddy series.

That's just what we need -- Nightmare and Friday stuck in some kind of metaphorical time loop! :eek:

[DRE]

Brad Grey and his new YOUNG regime at The Mount are into franchises now, bringing back Indy and resurrecting Star Trek. Do you know what's missing from their franchise table? A viable Horror series. If they look back at their past to see what their most viable horror franchise was then, do you know what they will find? Friday the 13th. The fact that they even became involved in the remake tells that they want a piece of the horror market again.

[Cody]

I can't imagine Paramount taking much advantage of a horror franchise these days, either.

I don't know, I just don't trust these big guys to exploit it as much as I'd like them to.

[Gringo Loco]

I bet one of the reasons Paramount wanted nothing to do with Jason in the 90's is because the MPAA was hacking all the new Fridays up to bits (pun) and they saw no reason to continue making them if there was nothing to show the audience. So if the MPAA is being more lenient these days, which according to movies like Saw and Hostel have showed, they are, then maybe Paramount can get back into it.

[Rick]

Paramount sold the rights because of continually falling box office profits, the MPAA had always given F13th a hard time.
I was wondering about the fate of Jason as well, even beyond the reboot.
Will it effect the film since it has yet to start production? What does that do to the distribution rights for further films if Cunningham wants to make more? Does WB simply gain all rights that New Line held or will the distribution rights get shopped around again? I guess that would depend on the specific contract that was made with New Line regarding distribution.

[Just Jeans]

The fact that they even became involved in the remake tells that they want a piece of the horror market again.

Or that they just wanted a slice of free pie. Either way.

(Are they even involved creatively, or are they just collecting their pay check, John Carpenter-style?)

[Gringo Loco]

Paramount sold the rights because of continually falling box office profits, the MPAA had always given F13th a hard time.


I know at the end of the day, the reason Paramount sold the rights was because of the lack of profits being made on the films. But what I am saying is that maybe the lack of profits were because of the lack of gore/effects being shown. And the MPAA has a record of giving the Friday films a hard time, but you have to admit this is shown more noticeably in Part 7 and 8.

[Just Jeans]

But what I am saying is that maybe the lack of profits were because of the lack of gore/effects being shown.

I think it was more a case of over-saturating the market. The decreasing gore might have been an issue, but Paramount was releasing these films at nearly one per year, and eventually you're going to start seeing diminishing returns (I expect if the SAW franchise keeps doing one a year until they reach eight or nine films, they're going to start seeing a decline in ticket sales, too. It is possible to have too much of a good thing, after all.)

[Gringo Loco]

Eh, it might have been oversaturation. All I can say is I was in heaven, hehe. But then again I didn't jump into the horror game until 86-87. Kinda late.

[Cody]

What does that do to the distribution rights for further films if Cunningham wants to make more? Does WB simply gain all rights that New Line held or will the distribution rights get shopped around again? I guess that would depend on the specific contract that was made with New Line regarding distribution.

I suppose it is possible that if New Line were to dissolve, Cunningham could just pack up the "first refusal" distribution rights and take them to a so far unmentioned in this thread elsewhere.

(Are they even involved creatively, or are they just collecting their pay check, John Carpenter-style?)

I think they must be doing some kind of work, for them to bring their MTV Films division into it.

[DRE]

Well, one of the execs at Paramount sure was happy to include the remake on their pre-strike roster when reporting to Variety, so that tells me that they are at least "claiming" to have a hand in it.

I think the times and views have changed since Friday left Paramount. No one from that past regime is with the company anymore, and money talks, horror remakes are the hot thing now. They would snatch the rights back without a second thought.

[Just Jeans]

Well, one of the execs at Paramount sure was happy to include the remake on their pre-strike roster...

That could be an important piece of the puzzle right there. With a strike looming that might last for God knows how long, they'll be glad to have their thumb in just about any pie (another pie metaphor... and it's making me hungry).

It's going to take a lot more than Paramount throwing a bit of weight behind a co-production to convince me they really give a crap about this franchise again.

[DRE]

It's not the franchises they care about, it's the money. If they release a new Friday the 13th film and it makes enough dough for them, they will want to exploit it again and again, just like the good old days.

[Just Jeans]

I'm with Cody on this one -- even if the film comes out and does well, I don't expect them to exploit the property like they used to. That would be just too perfect. I think those days are well behind us.

[DRE]

That may be true as well. But I'm willing to bet that we'd see sequels every two years with Paramount as opposed to New Line's every nine years.

[Chex]

That's just what we need -- Nightmare and Friday stuck in some kind of metaphorical time loop!

Welcome to the '80's part II

[Esten]

That may be true as well. But I'm willing to bet that we'd see sequels every two years with Paramount as opposed to New Line's every nine years.

Yes, but the kicker these days is... they may not be theatrical.

[Deathscythe]

Welcome to the '80's part II

Well we do have a new Rambo and Indiana Jones this year. And a bunch of other franchies that I can't be bothered to name.

[Jigsaw]

I personally still have hope that Lion's Gate will acquire the rights to F13. Hopefully they will after this, and maybe even acquire the rights to NOES in the process. I'd trust them with both sagas.

[Jason's Storm]

So does Shaye have any rights to the Friday series, like he does to the Nightmare series? Or does Cunningham, have a majority of rights to it? Maybe Shaye, could take everything to Dimension. Then they could produce the big three horror icons. Although, its now part of MGM. Hopefully this could be dragged out long enough for the new Friday, to be shot and wrapped. Then that would be a guarantee, that it will get distributed.

~JS

[The Tall Man]

JS... Have you seen Halloweens 6-8? Or Hellraiser 4? Or hell, anything Dimension did? ;)

T.M.

[Deathscythe]

Please, no Freddy vs. Michael vs. Jason.

[Spade]

I think Shayes termination and New Line's end, is going to make things more interesting. So many possibilities out there.

[Chex]

JS... Have you seen Halloweens 6-8? Or Hellraiser 4? Or hell, anything Dimension did?


While I agree, I wouldn't want anything crossing over to Dimension, but I thought a majority of the problems were due to the Weinsteins?

[Jigsaw]

I hope Dimension doesn't get ahold of F13 and NOES :X

[Esten]

Keep in mind this whole situation is still up in the air, guys.

[Deathscythe]

I hope Dimension doesn't get ahold of F13 and NOES :X

I hope Fox doesn't either.

Alien vs. Freddy vs. Predator vs. Jason.:mad:

[Jigsaw]

I wouldn't mind an FVJVAVP movie, but Fox isn't the best choice and I too hope they don't get the rights.

:pray: Please Lion's Gate, get the rights for F13 and NOES :pray:

[Grizzlyman]

If Bob Shaye has any intelligence, which I believe he does, he will stay as far away from Dimension Films as he can. If I were in Shaye's shoes, I would rather drive up into the wilderness, strip bare ass naked, cover myself in honey, tie myself to a tree and let a hurd of grizzly bears maul me to death, before I would take any offer from Dimension Films.

It is just bad enough that Dimension acquired the Halloween franchise in the 1990's, and the Hellraiser films after New World Pictures diminished, and taking Nightmare on Elm Street would change the future of horror films, but not for the better. Do I also need to mention that the 80 year old studio legend Leo the Lion of Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) has a five year domestic distribution contract with Dimension Films...
ADDED:
So does Shaye have any rights to the Friday series, like he does to the Nightmare series? Or does Cunningham, have a majority of rights to it? Maybe Shaye, could take everything to Dimension. Then they could produce the big three horror icons. Although, its now part of MGM. Hopefully this could be dragged out long enough for the new Friday, to be shot and wrapped. Then that would be a guarantee, that it will get distributed.

~JS

Dimension Films is not apart of MGM. Metro Goldwyn Mayer has experienced major financial issues for so many years, mainly due to its halted productions throughout the 1980's, its assets sold to Ted Turner and then nearly going bankrupt with Giancarlo Parretti as the CEO in the early 1990's, and they are just now beginning to show a rebound to turn back into a full fledge theatrical distribution company. They signed a contract to 'co-distribute' films domestically and worldwide with Dimension to improve their profitability.

[Brett H.]

I'm a natural pessimist, I can picture myself looking at that New Line logo in the way we look at the Media or New World logos currently. Something from a better time.

I'd love for Shaye to go back to his roots and make horror flicks and all that as much as the next guy, most importantly new NOES flicks, but I just don't see it happening. I wonder if he saw this coming and used Mimzy as his swan song, to direct a big budget movie before it all ended. I just had no idea that Shaye didn't own New Line to begin with. Really, it's so weird a F vs. J 2 wasn't made, guaranteed money maker.

I just hope the shit doesn't go DTV. It always confused me how Hellraiser got stuck in DTV hell in the latter entries.

[Grizzlyman]

I'm a natural pessimist, I can picture myself looking at that New Line logo in the way we look at the Media or New World logos currently. Something from a better time.

I'd love for Shaye to go back to his roots and make horror flicks and all that as much as the next guy, most importantly new NOES flicks, but I just don't see it happening. I wonder if he saw this coming and used Mimzy as his swan song, to direct a big budget movie before it all ended. I just had no idea that Shaye didn't own New Line to begin with. Really, it's so weird a F vs. J 2 wasn't made, guaranteed money maker.

I just hope the shit doesn't go DTV. It always confused me how Hellraiser got stuck in DTV hell in the latter entries.

I sometimes find myself thinking the exact same thing with the present Hellraiser films currently being subjected to the DTV market. While Hellraiser was not necessary a highly "profitable" horror series, or at least the first two films released by New World Pictures, the films itself eventually made it into modern horror just as Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween and Friday the 13th series. When Dimension Films bought the rights, I believe they simply did a poor job at picking out the scripts for at least an adequate Hellraiser film. Let's fact it, the 1996 theatrical release of Hellraiser: Bloodline, was not too hot, and since then every Hellraiser sequel that Dimension has distributed has gone directly to video. On the other hand, the same year, Halloween Curse of Michael Myers was released and was successful given its orgins.

As for Shaye, when the time comes, I really find himself going on to form a new production and distribution company. The problem is, if indeed he does, will he be able to have his new company self support itself. Too many times in the past, have independent film chief executives made crucial mistakes: Menahem Golan's 21st Century Films went bankrupt a few years after he resigned from Cannon Films; Mario Kassar's Carolco Pictures collapsed, and he has since formed C-2 Pictures, which has not released very many films recently. In some cases, chief executives can be offered positions in more major studios, such as Harry Sloane the former CEO of New World Pictures. Presently, he is the CEO of Metro Goldwyn Mayer. Shaye has potential, and he has changed the scope of independent filmmaking and I hope his future will offer more potential.

[French Friday]

I hope Fox doesn't either.

Alien vs. Freddy vs. Predator vs. Jason.:mad:

My forever dream !

Especially Jason vs Aliens at Crystal Lake... Way better than Freddy vs Jason !

Add a Predator AVPR-like in the mix and I can die happy just after.


Now, this end of New Line could be one of the reasons for the non-making of MEG. Too much money when they knew the end was near... Too many risks.

I wouldn't mind if Warner takes F13, after all, they released the original in Europe... uncut.

But Paramount would be great, especially for the kikiki mamama with the Paramount logo, for the opening of the 2009 remake...

[Cody]

But Paramount would be great, especially for the kikiki mamama with the Paramount logo, for the opening of the 2009 remake...

The Paramount logo will probably be on it anyway.

As for Shaye, when the time comes, I really find himself going on to form a new production and distribution company.

Or, at age 69 and after 40 years of New Line, he might decide that it's time to just sit back and spend the rest of his days chillaxing with a bottle of Vodka.

[Grizzlyman]

The Paramount logo will probably be on it anyway.



Or, at age 69 and after 40 years of New Line, he might decide that it's time to just sit back and spend the rest of his days chillaxing with a bottle of Vodka.


Jesus! I had forgotten how old he is, you may very well be right about that since he is in the age of retirement.

[Just Jeans]

Shaye does not retire. Shaye spawns to fight another day.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x124/f13thtribute/shayejeans.jpg

[Esten]

With each clone getting progressively bigger than the original. Soon we'll have....

SHAYEZILLA

[Just Jeans]

You've just spoiled Shaye's plans for domination, Esten. :shifty: You can be expecting a visit from CLOVERSHAYE any day now.

[The Tall Man]

:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:

Grizzly, Hellraiser 4 actually underwent the same crap from Dimension that Halloween 6 did... so far that director Kevin Yagher took his name off the movie.

T.M.

[Deathscythe]

I thought Demension was dead now anyway.

[francesco]

oh no, guys, are u kidding right?????????? Oh no it could be the worst news ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If New Line will die we won't see freddy and jason again. that's for sure. oh no. tell me it's a joke!

[Esten]

"Book Of Love" was on Comedy Central today, so I hope that's a good omen for ol' Bobby.

[Rich]

I don't know what to think or what that means for either movie series. In a way it actually could be a good thing. I mean, lets face it, the best Friday movies are behind us anyway. As long as Paramount holds onto their movies and they can always make box sets of the classics (assuming they will one day make a better one) them I am okay with what is going on.

[The Dream Master]

I'm a natural pessimist, I can picture myself looking at that New Line logo in the way we look at the Media or New World logos currently. Something from a better time.

That's quite a beautiful, poetic thought, as sad as it is. :cry:

Christ, my internet goes down for three days, and this happens? Jesus.

As for Shaye taking the NOES rights with him, I doubt he'd be able to do it without a fight. Hell, look at the problems Coscarelli has had with Universal and fucking Phantasm II for all these years. As quality as the Phantasm series is, it still isn't as big as NOES and Freddy. I'm positive that WB would just take it and put it in their pocket as an asset that could always be exploited. Even though we haven't seen any activity from the franchise since FvJ, it's still got the potential to be profitable, and WB isn't going to just let it go with Shaye, unfortunately.

[Voo-doo]

great. so if this happens we can get Freddy vs Daffy.

[El Rooto]

I'd watch it.

[Cody]

Terry Semel Looks At New Line (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/sources-semel-looking-at-new-line/)

I'm told that Terry Semel wants back in the movie biz in a big way. His pals know he's been working on something big behind the scenes. "I'm looking at everything," Semel is saying privately. But now I can report that the former Warner Bros co-chairman who failed at Yahoo! is actively considering two possibilities for a Hollywood re-entry via New Line Cinema or MGM. I've heard that Semel is seriously kicking the tires at New Line and has already had a confab with Time Warner about it. (One source told me Semel may partner with Arnon Milchan on it.)

Meanwhile, New Line's co-founders and current toppers Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne had that meeting on Wednesday with Jeff Bewkes I reported about last week. Hollywood is eagerly anticipating the announcement that the embattled pair's been pink-slipped since Bewkes has wisely decided not to renew their contracts expiring this year.

As for MGM, you may remember that Semel was seriously thinking of heading that beleaguered studio back in 1995 when Ron Perelman was thinking of making a run at it. Look, Semel already has lots of money, so this isn't about that. (Not only was his Warner Bros executive compensation package so full of generous stock options that he was raking in a lot more than Jerry Levin, the head of parent company Time Warner at the time. But also Semel's Yahoo! shares and option gains made his six years at the helm worth $528 million.) His friends just think Semel now wants to show that there are second acts for Hollywood moguls.

Meanwhile, I'd be surprised if Bewkes jettisons New Line since there are some profitable upcoming projects, especially The Hobbit 1 and The Hobbit 2 produced by Lord Of the Rings-meister Peter Jackson. On the other hand, if Time Warner can get as much as $2 billion for the studio, well, anything's possible.

[Sean [The Wildcard]]

Shaye will prevail.

Just have a round table and some Vodka, and this will all be settled.

:D

[francesco]

but i'm wondering if warner won't reneview the contract what will happen to NL?

[Patrick]

Will be interesting to see what happens in the next few weeks/months.

[Jigsaw]

Hopefully New Line will remain after this, if not, I hope Lion's Gate gets the rights to F13 and NOES.

[The Dream Master]

It won't happen very cheaply. WB won't let two franchises like that go very easily.

[Jigsaw]

Probably not, but in the event NLC parts ways, hopefully F13 and NOES will be up for bidding first so Lion's Gate can get the rights to them.

[The Dream Master]

They probably won't go up for bidding though. All of NLC's assets will probably just be folded into WB.

[Patrick]

Yea I can't see WB getting rid of anything profitable.....or anything at all. Especially with this "format war" going on. Well, what's left of it anyway....

[Jigsaw]

I'm not sure if I'd be comfortable with WB owning F13 and NOES, but if they do indeed acquire NLC, I can only hope they're not interested in owning them and instead give the rights to someone else.

[Patrick]

I hope NLC just keeps them. But, if worse comes to worse, and WB does dissolve NLC and decides that Elm Street and Friday aren't worth the bother, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I wouldn't really mind if Paramount re-acquired Friday the 13th. What would really be the kicker is if Paramount had Nightmare also....LOL.

But all of this is a little too far fetched to me. I honestly do not believe Warner Brothers is going to let go of anything at all. Why would they? They already hold a large share percentage of the home video market. There's no reason for them to give ANY of that up. None.

[The Dream Master]

Rest assured they won't give anything up. Whoever wants that shit would have to pay the price if they were selling.

[Jigsaw]

Above all, I hope NLC doesn't get merged with WB and NLC keeps both F13 and NOES. I wouldn't feel comfortable with Paramount getting F13 back and having NOES as well, given their vile treatment of F13 over the years, despite the money it's made them.

[The Tall Man]

I wouldn't feel comfortable with Lion's Gate having the rights to Nightmare. I don't want anyone associated with The Blair Witch (didn't Lion's Gate do that?) and Saw anywhere close to Freddy.

T.M.

[Just Jeans]

The Blair Witch Project was a negative pickup, wasn't it?

[ChoKo]

I don't want anyone associated with The Blair Witch (didn't Lion's Gate do that?) and Saw anywhere close to Freddy.

T.M.

Lionsgate didn't make the film, but they picked up the rights to the original and the sequel when they acquired Artisan, if I'm not mistaken.

[Jigsaw]

One company I definitely don't want owning any NLC properties is Dimension. Good God, no :X

[Patrick]

Rest assured they won't give anything up. Whoever wants that shit would have to pay the price if they were selling.

Well that's what I meant..sell it. But why would they anyway? There's no reason for them to. Assuming all of this even happens.

[francesco]

they've put on development all those movies 'cause they are in truble. Hobbit 1 & 2, nightmare , friday, final destination. They know that they are very attractive now. and WB don't let them go.

[Dead Cell]

*salutes A Nightmare on Elm Street*

*salutes Tank Girl*

*salutes all those good, stupid fun flicks from days gone by*

Just won't be the same.

[Cody]

New Line Changes (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/tws-bewkes-confirms-new-line-changes/)

In a conference call with analysts today, CEO Jeff Bewkes said Time Warner plans companywide cost cuts and specifically mentioned that its New Line Cinema movie studio is ripe for expense reductions. News reports said Bewkes stated that changes in the film industry leave less purpose for New Line. I reported last month that sources told me New Line co-founders Bob Shaye's and Michael Lynne's contracts wouldn't be renewed by Bewkes and that the studio would either be folded into Warner Bros or sold altogether to someone like Terry Semel.

My latest info is that when Bewkes met with the New Line pair to deliver the bad news, the twosome pushed back and told Bewkes they would put together a plan for reorganization that would save the company a lot of money in exchange for a contract extension that leaves them as co-heads of the studio. But Bewkes isn't interested in that scenario.

[Just Jeans]

I wonder what this means for all the projects New Line has got on the table? I suppose they might just fold into WB and go ahead as usual.

[Esten]

My latest info is that when Bewkes met with the New Line pair to deliver the bad news, the twosome pushed back and told Bewkes they would put together a plan for reorganization that would save the company a lot of money in exchange for a contract extension that leaves them as co-heads of the studio.

Told you guys.

If Bob woulda kicked Lynne, Emmerich and Stokely in balls years ago, every bit of this could've been avoided. New Line forgot where they came from.

Un-Fucking-Believable, eh?

[Just Jeans]

New Line forgot where they came from.

On the plus side, The Lord of the Rings made them very, very rich.

[The Tall Man]

I'd gladly live in a world without The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

T.M.

[Deathscythe]

Me too...even through I did like the films.

[Jigsaw]

Lynne, Emmerich and Chaffin should never work in the film industry again.

[DRE]

New Line could have rode the success of LOTR as well as continuing their horror, comedy and urban film projects that made them in the first place.

I don't feel sorry for Shaye and Lynne, they did it to themselves by trying to be like Bob and Harvey.

[Jigsaw]

NLC had some of their biggest successes this decade with films like the LOTR Trilogy and FVJ, but they chose not to capitalize on the success.

[DedKid]

Can't really cast any predictions on the Elm St. remake, but the F13 reboot has the Platinum Dunes umbrella, so I doubt any shake ups with New Line would derail Michael Bay & Company from doing what they're doing.....

Of course, if Shaye goes bye-bye & takes Freddy with him, it'll probably be another 15 years before we see FvsJ Round 2 - - the late 80's/early 90's all over again! :p

[francesco]

sound scarry! oh my God.


so what do u think they'll do? i mean New lIne will be sold to another company or it will be sucked in WB?

dunno what to think! I mean maybe it's better it will be bought by a big company that be outside alone.

[The Dream Master]

My latest info is that when Bewkes met with the New Line pair to deliver the bad news, the twosome pushed back and told Bewkes they would put together a plan for reorganization that would save the company a lot of money in exchange for a contract extension that leaves them as co-heads of the studio. But Bewkes isn't interested in that scenario.

And why would Bewkes be interested in that scenario when he can just take all the properties that Shaye developled/acquired over the years and simply remake them? :X

[Esten]

And why would Bewkes be interested in that scenario when he can just take all the properties that Shaye developled/acquired over the years and simply remake them? :X

That rat bastard better leave Critters the hell alone. Friggin classic right dere.

[The Dream Master]

That rat bastard better leave Critters the hell alone. Friggin classic right dere.

I can just see him going into Shaye's office and saying "we're here for the Crites." :(

[Esten]

And in Shaye's final farewell, and to give his poor and soon to be unemployed secretary a break - he jumps up, exclaims "DA FUCK YOU WILL!" and throws Bewkes out the window.

For that brief moment, Shaye is greater than God.

[Deathscythe]

Lynne, Emmerich and Chaffin should never work in the film industry again.

We need to send someone to sneak in New Line and eliminate all the evil there.

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/twentieth_century_fox/die_hard_2__die_harder/bruce_willis/diehard.jpg

Yippie-ki-yay, New Line.

[Jigsaw]

Hell yes :cool:

[The Dream Master]

I don't know, I get the feeling the regime at New Line would look at McClane and try to figure out how they could negotiate with Fox for the rights to remake and recast him, too. :X

[Deathscythe]

I don't know, I get the feeling the regime at New Line would look at McClane and try to figure out how they could negotiate with Fox for the rights to remake and recast him, too. :X

Well thats pretty obivous, as Willis said he'll never work with Michael Bay again. ;)

[The Dream Master]

Of course, you don't need McClane if you have this:

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/5342/shayehardih8.png

[Deathscythe]

And who needs Carl Winslow when he has Robert Englund?

Edit: Actually, forget Englund, replace him with Renny Harlin. Explode that shit.

[The Tall Man]

:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao: Classic.

T.M.

[Esten]

Edit: Actually, forget Englund, replace him with Renny Harlin. Explode that shit.


http://hometown.aol.com/Mdurbantke/SHAYEHARD2FINAL.jpg

[Deathscythe]

Oh yeah, I forgot that Harlin directed Die Hard 2.

[The Dream Master]

Aw man, Shaye Hard 2: Shaye Harder is going to be mad doep, yo.

[Deathscythe]

Shaye Hard with a Vengeance
Drink Vodka or Shaye Hard

[francesco]

i've found this today on variety about the SAG strike.

they talked about new line situation


There's also speculation that Warner Bros. could begin distributing films for sister company New Line, which Time Warner topper Jeff Bewkes wants pared down.

[Cody]

BusinessWeek's suggestion (http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/feb2008/db2008024_252949.htm)

Well, here's another idea for Jeff, who clearly isn't asking for my advice. It's time to bring New Line Cinema into the fold. The one-time independent studio has operated as its own Time Warner principality since Ted Turner bought it in 1994. Not that New Line, which produced the three Lord of the Rings flicks, is stinking up the place. It made the recent hits Rush Hour 3 and Hairspray.

But the studio also churned out some major league losers, including last year's bomb, The Golden Compass, which cost $180 million to make and only grossed $68 million. (Yes, it sold more than $315 million worldwide, but New Line sold off the foreign rights to others, which means there is a big time write-off coming for Time Warner.)

It's more than just one bad flick. New Line Cinema, the studio that gave the U.S. Nightmare on Elm Street and basked in its independence for much of its 40 years, needs a change. Co-founders Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, both in their late 60s, still run the place. Their contracts are up at the end of the year and the buzz in Hollywood is they will be gone soon. Hollywood online columnist extraordinaire Nikke Finke wrote, "It's virtually certain that the studio pair will be shown the door."

I'm not sure that's necessary. The two can still attract the A-list players to put together flicks. And Bewkes, who used to oversee the HBO production budget when he ran the pay channel, knows the value of star magnetism. But after years of operating as their own country—Shaye cut a deal with Turner, honored by other Time Warner CEOs, that he answer only to the top guy—it is time for New Line to join the rest of the company. The cost savings alone should justify the move. After all, this is Hollywood. The savings from shuttering New Line's marketing, distribution, and other operations, would be more than pocket change.

The numbers tell the tale. New Line's 17 films last year grossed an average box office of $28.6 million, and the year before its 13 averaged $19.3 million, according to Box Office Mojo, a Web site that tracks the movie business. Compare that with Warner Brothers, which hovers around the $40 million level. Simply put, Warner Brothers would do a better job of marketing and distributing the flicks. And maybe Shaye and Lynne could use a little help. Take one of their big hits last year, Rush Hour 3. It grossed a nifty $140 million, but that's a little more than half the $226 million grossed by the 2001 installment, Rush Hour 2.

Meanwhile, the cost of making the meandering Jackie Chan-Chris Tucker action comedy jumped to $140 million from $90 million. If anyone knows something about nurturing franchises, it's Warner Brothers, which still earns a fortune from its Harry Potter series, and last year rejuvenated the Batman franchise.

Warner Brothers folks are said to be pushing for just this change. Their executives wouldn't comment. Neither would Shaye and Lynne nor Time Warner. But one of the sorry things that Jeff Bewkes inherits is a corporate culture at Time Warner that all too often creates silos in which opposing camps don't work well together. Warner Brothers distributes some of New Lines' films overseas but it should do more. Folding in New Line would save money and probably improve cash flow and the films. It's not the Wall Street-shaking move that an AOL spin-off might be, but it would show folks that Jeff Bewkes is ready to give the audience what it wants.

[Cody]

Worse News For New Line: Tolkien Sues (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/more-bad-news-for-new-line-tolkien-sues/)

News reports say the estate of Lord of the Rings creator J.R.R. Tolkien is suing New Line Cinema, claiming the company failed to pay a cut of gross profits for the movies based on Tolkien's books. The news comes just as the future of New Line is in real turmoil at Time Warner. The Tolkien Trust and original Lord of the Rings publisher HarperCollins (owned by News Corp which runs rival Fox Studios) filed the lawsuit against New Line today in Los Angeles Superior Court. It claims New Line was required to pay 7.5% of gross receipts from the films to Tolkien's estate and the other plaintiffs. The lawsuit estimates the films have reaped nearly $6 billion combined. New Line already is paying a legal settlement to Lord Of The Rings trilogy director Peter Jackson who is still auditing the company about his profit participation. The lawsuit is being brought by Bonnie Eskenazi of Greenberg Glusker.

[The Dream Master]

Man, New Line must have enganged in some creative accounting with those flicks because this is the second time this has happened.

[Jigsaw]

This isn't looking good :misery:

[Deathscythe]

I thought the LoTR author was dead.:eek:

[El Rooto]

It said his estate is suing.

[Deathscythe]

Ah ok, I was starting to think Tolkien came to life to sue. :/ Maybe theres a curse at New Line.

[El Rooto]

Zombie Tolkien wants his money!

[Deathscythe]

When theres no more money in Hell, the dead will sue the Earth.

[Esten]

Yikes. 7.5% of $6 Billion is $450 Million. That's a assfuckload of cash.

[francesco]

oh nooooooooo. hope this won't affect friday.

[sCabbOy]

That lawsuit may be the nail in the coffin.

[Jigsaw]

No kidding. The money the estate is asking for is damned near uneconomical to pay off.

[DRE]

I don't why they'd wait nearly a decade later to sue. It's kind of a dumbass move they didn't ask for the money when the films were making massive bank.

[Cody]

Decision Day Fast Approaching (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/decision-day-fast-approaching-for-bob-shaye-michael-lynne-and-new-line/)

Sources tell me that Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne could officially find out as soon as this week what will happen to New Line Cinema and their expiring employment contracts at the movie studio they co-founded 40 years ago. "This is the week Bob gets told what the decision from Warner Bros will be," an insider confirmed to me. BusinessWeek has already urged Time Warner Chief Jeff Bewkes to move New Line into the parent company's Warner Bros fold. After that, in a conference call with analysts on February 6th, Bewkes specifically mentioned that New Line Cinema is ripe for expense reductions, then noted that changes in the film industry leave less purpose for the studio.

I reported on January 21st that, according to my sources, Shaye's and Lynne's contracts wouldn't be renewed by Bewkes and that the studio would either be folded into Warner Bros (most likely) or sold altogether (least likely). Then I was told that, when Bewkes met with the New Line pair to deliver the bad news, the twosome wanted to put together a reorganization plan that would save the company a lot of money in exchange for a contract extension that leaves them as co-heads of the studio. But Bewkes hasn't seemed interested in that scenario, insiders tell me. And, this week, he's supposed to let Shaye and Lynne know his final decision.

The timing is bad since it comes on the heels of the estate of Lord of the Rings creator J.R.R. Tolkien suing New Line Cinema, claiming the company failed to pay a cut of gross profits for the movies based on Tolkien's books. (Shaye's studio is already paying a legal settlement to LOTR trilogy director Peter Jackson who is still auditing New Line about his profit participation.) Oh, and New Line is releasing on Friday the Will Ferrell basketball comedy Semi-Pro helmed by first-time director Kent Alterman, who to do the pic stepped down from his post as the studio's Executive VP of Production working for Shaye and Lynne.

[Just Jeans]

Bye bye, Birdseye.

[WesReviews]

This is horrible. Shaye could be let go the week before his birthday. :(

[Esten]

*Prays for a miracle, or at least a stroke of luck*

[francesco]

I just wondering what will happen to friday the 13th??? i know that everything is going ahead so...i hope paramount could take care about it.

[Scarecrow]

A Nightmare on Elm Street remake comes to light... and New Line looks set to fall. What Freddy builds he shall taketh away. Truly this is a sign of the apocalypse.


- Scarecrow

[francesco]

and what about friday. i don't know anything about rights, but can Platinum dunes go ahead with it?

[DRE]

Everything slated to go ahead before Shaye and Lynne are out the door will go as planned.

[francesco]

that's good! so the only one that could risk is Nightmare remake?

[DRE]

No, that's a project commissioned before the termination, it should go forward as well.

[francesco]

thanks DRE u made my day!

[DRE]

I do think The Hobbit is done for, until they pay the Tolkien estate.

[francesco]

I'm pretty curious how WB will treat both franchise. The first Friday the 13th came out under WB here in Europe.

[DRE]

I don't know. If I were Warners, I'd keep New Line Cinema as the genre arm and only release Horror and Fantasy films through them.

[francesco]

i can't remember if WB loves horror. I can only remember Red Stop and Invasion!

[Cody]

Shaye, Lynne out at New Line (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i0055cabe5256398a2a6b27688d9e0365)

New Line Cinema co-chairmen and co-CEOs Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne will leave the studio as part of a consolidation of Time Warner's film operations unveiled Thursday afternoon.

They are, however, "in discussions about possible future business relationships with the company," TW said.

As expected, the conglomerate announced the consolidation of its filmed entertainment businesses, Warner Bros. Entertainment and New Line, with the latter being operated as a unit of Warner Bros.

New Line will maintain separate development, production, marketing, distribution and business affairs operations. However, it will "closely integrate and coordinate those functions with Warner Bros. to maximize film performance and operating efficiencies, achieve significant cost savings, and improve margins," TW said.


"We are moving quickly to improve our business performance and financial returns," TW CEO Jeff Bewkes said. "Given the trend toward fewer movie releases, New Line and Warner Bros. will now have more complementary release slates, with New Line focusing on genres that have been its strength.

"New Line has been our respective life's work as well as our second family," Shaye and Lynne said. "While we're sad to be leaving, we're enormously proud to have overseen its extraordinary growth." They added that they "will now focus our efforts on exploring new entrepreneurial opportunities."

New Line will now report to Warner Bros. Entertainment chairman and CEO Barry Meyer and president and COO Alan Horn, with Jeff Robinov, president Warner Bros. Pictures Group, also set to play a key role in ensuring NL's success.

Bewkes told The Hollywood Reporter in a telephone conversation that the NL executive setup is still being worked out. He also said that Shaye and Lynne could end up with an arrangement that sees them produce films for NL and WB.

While details of layoffs and cost savings at NL are still being worked out, sources believe Thursday's restructuring could over time allow NL to double its earnings.

Time Warner didn't detail the likely future of Picturehouse. "We are proud of Picturehouse," Bewkes told The Hollywood Reporter. He said the company would find the best solution for its future and act accordingly.

"Given trends in the industry toward fewer movie releases, the importance of a coordinated strategy for the international and digital distribution of filmed entertainment, and the need to continue to make sure that we're running our businesses as efficiently as possible, it made sense for us to combine our studios' infrastructures," Bewkes explained in a memo to Time Warner employees, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.

The NL decision "was also, in part, driven by the fact that the worldwide movie business is rapidly changing on a daily basis, and we need to constantly refine our business model to remain competitive," Meyer and Horn said in a separate memo to Warners staff.

Interoffice Memos (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/urgent-new-line-folded-into-warner-bros/)

To: New Line Colleagues
From: Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne
Subject: Our Company

This afternoon, Time Warner is announcing that New Line will become a unit of Warner Bros. This is, of course, a very difficult and emotional time for all of us who have worked at New Line. While there is not much we can say that can lessen the impact of this announcement, we did want you to know about the decision before you read about it in the press.

New Line will maintain its own identity and will continue to produce, market, and distribute movies. But New Line will now do so as part of Warner Bros. and will probably be a much smaller operation than in the past. Time Warner hopes that operating New Line as a unit of Warner Bros. will allow New Line to focus on the creative side of movie-making, while reducing costs and taking advantage of Warner Bros.' distribution systems. The company will be holding group meeting with New Line employees tomorrow in Los Angeles and New York to discuss this announcement, and is committed to letting employees know as soon as possible about how this change affects them individually.

For our part, we will be stepping down as Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOS of New Line. This was a painful decision, because we love New Line and the people who work here have been like our second families. But we will be leaving the company with enormous pride in what all of us at New Line have accomplished together. From its humble beginnings 40 years ago, our studio has created some of the most popular and successful movies of all time. Those movies are a tribute to the amazing creative energy and entrepreneurial abilities of the talented people at New Line. They are a legacy that will endure forever.

Although we are stepping out of New Line, we intend to remain actively involved in the industry in an entrepreneurial capacity, and will keep you advised of developments.

We thank all of you who have worked so hard to make New Line such a success. We are very proud of every one of you.

Bob & Michael

[The Dream Master]

:cry:

'Tis the end of an era. I'll drink a few in Shaye's honor.

However, now no one is there to stop the Dunes from remaking Freddy.

[Esten]

Want to know the fucked up thing? Dream Warriors turned 21 yesterday.

[The Dream Master]

If I were Bobby, I'd be throwing secretaries out of windows left and right at this point.

[Deathscythe]

R.I.P Freddy and New Line. We should all watch NoES in Shaye's honor.

[The Dream Master]

Don't forget the Smirnoff, Deathscythe.

"Smirn-off? Smirn-on!" :sniffle:

[Deathscythe]

Don't forget the Smirnoff, DC.

"Smirn-off? Smirn-on!" :sniffle:

Actually, I think I remember seeing James Bond drinking Smirnoff in Casino Royale, could have just been me through.

Bob Shaye...secret owner of MGM?

[Just Jeans]

However, now no one is there to stop the Dunes from remaking Freddy.

Wouldn't it have been Shaye who green lit the thing in the first place? The film was announced before he was deposed, after all.

[The Dream Master]

We'll never know, but I'd like to think that isn't the case.

[Just Jeans]

I reckon it was one of the last -- if not the last -- things that Shaye green lit before he was deposed.

Kind of a romantic notion in a way -- A Nightmare on Elm Street is the film that made New Line, and a new version is the last film green lit by New Line's daddy before WB went Oscorp on him.

[DRE]

They did exactly as I suggested they would, use the New Line brand as a genre arm.

It's been a great time with Shaye and the original New Line, and I bid him a fond farewell. I regret that Bob let Lynne and Emmerich get to his head about New Line's direction after LOTRs, and that, in the end, was his downfall.

[The Dream Master]

I reckon it was one of the last -- if not the last -- things that Shaye green lit before he was deposed.


I have no idea what Shaye's role at NLC was during the last few months, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone else green-lit it (after all, I think you really only need a producer to greenlight things). Shaye might not have done anything about it because he was already seeing the writing on the wall anyway. In the end, nobody really knows, and it's not that important because it's pretty much a done deal that the Nightmare remake his happening now.

[Just Jeans]

You're really desperate to believe Shaye simply couldn't have done it, aren't you Brett? :err:

[Esten]

God, this is starting to sound like exactly what happened when Vince McMahon bought WCW.

Who wants to bet New Line will be completely absolved into WB in 3 years time? Not even the name will exist in present tense any more. Watch.

[Deathscythe]

God, this is starting to sound like exactly what happened when Vince McMahon bought WCW.

Who wants to bet New Line will be completely absolved into WB in 3 years time? Not even the name will exist in present tense any more. Watch.

Weren't New Line the people that released the wCw film anyway?

[The Dream Master]

You're really desperate to believe Shaye simply couldn't have done it, aren't you Brett? :err:

No, I'm just reserving judgment because I don't have a clue about the situation. I'm not going blaming someone where it might not be warranted.

[Esten]

Weren't New Line the people that released the wCw film anyway?

No, it was Warner Brothers.

[Deathscythe]

No, it was Warner Brothers.

Oh, well, uh....:batman: Hey look its Batman!

But seriously, you remember David Arquette winning the title because of that film? That was crazy shit right there.

[Cody]

As for who got the NOES remake going, the way AICN (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/35777)'s Quint heard it

Bob Shaye was desperately trying to keep his position at New Line these last few months. He cleared up his spat with Peter Jackson and got THE HOBBIT moving again, he was a central figure pushing for a remake/reinvigoration of one of New Line's other successful franches, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET... all to show that he still has what it takes to run the studio.

They did exactly as I suggested they would, use the New Line brand as a genre arm.

Which should be good news for the horror franchises, they'll be a priority so WB can get the New Line unit rolling and re-established.

[The Dream Master]

Bob Shaye was desperately trying to keep his position at New Line these last few months. He cleared up his spat with Peter Jackson and got THE HOBBIT moving again, he was a central figure pushing for a remake/reinvigoration of one of New Line's other successful franches, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET... all to show that he still has what it takes to run the studio.

Well there you go. I hate to say it, but Esten, you told me so. :(

[DRE]

Which should be good news for the horror franchises, they'll be a priority so WB can get the New Line unit rolling and re-established.


Exactly. I see nothing but positives from this, most will not see it that way because of the remakes, but this goes beyond the franchises. New Line will start releasing other horror films again.

[Just Jeans]

...he was a central figure pushing for a remake/reinvigoration of one of New Line's other successful franches, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET... all to show that he still has what it takes to run the studio.

Pretty much syncs up with what I've been thinking all along -- that the Nightmare remake was part of a bid to keep the studio's head above water (thus securing his position within the company).

[Sean [The Wildcard]]

We should all do a Vodka salute in remembrance of New Line and all Shaye did for us.

:sniffle:

[Esten]

I'm not a drinking man, but I'll proudly touch myself to his scene in Freddy's Revenge.


Pretty much syncs up with what I've been thinking all along -- that the Nightmare remake was part of a bid to keep the studio's head above water (thus securing his position within the company).

I knew it was coming ever since I heard Shaye's position was in jeopardy.

Well there you go. I hate to say it, but Esten, you told me so.

I usually love it when I'm right, but this is most definitely a case where I wish I weren't. :/

[ChoKo]

Right now, I imagine Bob is walking the halls at NLC, drunk, in nothing but boxer shorts, and singing "Thanks for the Memories."

[The Dream Master]

Psh. If anything, everyone else should be serenading Shaye with that shit. No one at NLC would be employed there if not for him.

[The Tall Man]

They're gonna need a backhoe to get rid of the secretaries outside NLC tomorrow morning. :`(

T.M.

[WesReviews]

Right now, I imagine Bob is walking the halls at NLC, drunk, in nothing but boxer shorts, and singing "Thanks for the Memories."

Somebody needs to make a picture of this ASAFP.
ADDED:
New Line hasn't really been the New Line of old in a long time. The last project that Bob put his name on...other than his own directorial feature, The Last Mimzy...was Freddy vs. Jason in 2003. Before that, Lord of the Rings. If he had a presence at New Line the last several years, you sure couldn't feel it. Even New Line's movies looked different. Most of New Line's films through the 90s all had a very similar look to them...Nightmare, In the Mouth of Madness, House Party, Austin Powers, Loaded Weapon 1, The Mangler, Dumb & Dumber, The Mask, Friday, Man's Best Friend, etc...Then, it's like the last few years, none of their films looked like New Line films. It's really hard to describe what I mean, but if you look at most of the films Paramount shot in the 80's, they all resemble one another, as far as the look of the film. You can tell that they were Paramount films in the 80s. Anyway, New Line's been on auto pilot for too long, and though he was probably sidetracked for a number of years by the Jackson lawsuit, Shaye hasn't really done anything visible to save the company until now. I'm afraid, it's too little too late. I still admire the hell out of the man, but it's probably best he step aside and let New Line die, as it has been destined for years.

Cheers, Bob. It's been one hell of a ride. :sniffle:

[DRE]

Somebody needs to make a picture of this ASAFP.
ADDED:
New Line hasn't really been the New Line of old in a long time. The last project that Bob put his name on...other than his own directorial feature, The Last Mimzy...was Freddy vs. Jason in 2003. Before that, Lord of the Rings. If he had a presence at New Line the last several years, you sure couldn't feel it. Even New Line's movies looked different. Most of New Line's films through the 90s all had a very similar look to them...Nightmare, In the Mouth of Madness, House Party, Austin Powers, Loaded Weapon 1, The Mangler, Dumb & Dumber, The Mask, Friday, Man's Best Friend, etc...Then, it's like the last few years, none of their films looked like New Line films. It's really hard to describe what I mean, but if you look at most of the films Paramount shot in the 80's, they all resemble one another, as far as the look of the film. You can tell that they were Paramount films in the 80s. Anyway, New Line's been on auto pilot for too long, and though he was probably sidetracked for a number of years by the Jackson lawsuit, Shaye hasn't really done anything visible to save the company until now. I'm afraid, it's too little too late. I still admire the hell out of the man, but it's probably best he step aside and let New Line die, as it has been destined for years.

Cheers, Bob. It's been one hell of a ride. :sniffle:

This man knows the score.

Wes, I know exactly what you mean about that certain look that New Line (and Paramount, and Warner Bros action films) had, and I agree it has been missing. I also agree that the New Line that we knew had died long ago, and was entirely buried with the success of Lord of the Rings.

[Just Jeans]

This one's for you, Shaye:

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x124/f13thtribute/Personal%20Avatars/shaye_face.gif

[Esten]

Man, I feel exactly the same way now as I do when a family member dies. Is that crazy? :(

[DRE]

Not at all Esten. For all intents and purposes, a family member HAS died today.

[Esten]

Yeah, apart of a person's life for over 20 years, and it certainly is part of the family. Gonna miss that old boy.



New Line Cinema: The House That Freddy Built. The House That Frodo Destroyed.

Rest In Peace.

[Jenosis]

Well that sucks... Nothing else to say really.

Ps. Hi everyone!! :)

[The Tall Man]

New Line Cinema: The House That Freddy Built. The House That Frodo Destroyed.
That, my friends, should be chisled into stone and put on New Line's headstone. Cause that is from God's mouth to S-10's ears.

T.M.

[Scarecrow]

RIP New Line.

And nwo I'm imagining a grudge match smack down between Freddy and Frodo. Thanks, that ones gonna stay with me...


- Scarecrow

[francesco]

As for who got the NOES remake going, the way AICN (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/35777)'s Quint heard it





Which should be good news for the horror franchises, they'll be a priority so WB can get the New Line unit rolling and re-established.


so we'll finally get this two movies, friday the 13th and nightmare!

[ChoKo]

Somebody needs to make a picture of this ASAFP.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f282/ShivChoko/Shaye2.jpg

[francesco]

Emmerich is the real responsable. he hate horror. and he could be still there at the top. Damn!!!

[Brett H.]

New Line Cinema: The House That Freddy Built. The House That Frodo Destroyed.


You always have the best words in these threads.

Freddy vs. Frodo. Shit, Kreddy could pwn Frodo.

[francesco]

i've got words from ryan rotten about the status of the next friday!!!

he said about new line....
This is something that has been rumored about for a while. No plans have changed. Talked to the PD boys today. Friday is still very much on track.

[WesReviews]

I just hope Shaye is listed as a producer somewhere on the Nightmare remake.

A Nightmare remake without Englund OR Shaye involved is just...

[The Dream Master]

If it turns out to be shitty, I'll be glad neither Shaye nor Englund had their fingerprints on it.

[Just Jeans]

If it turns out to be shitty, I'll be glad neither Shaye nor Englund had their fingerprints on it.

Shaye championed it. Regardless of whether he's there when the party ends, his keys are still swirling about in the punch bowl.

[DRE]

You always have the best words in these threads.

Freddy vs. Frodo. Shit, Kreddy could pwn Frodo.


Freddy is friendly with the Hobbitses. Freddy and Frodo discuss where to find the best boots in Middle Earth, and we ain't talking about shoes.


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/DreWorld/untitled.jpg

Wood did a good impression of Freddy and The Shape in Sin City, and has a non threatening demeanor in the same way Master Englund did....Frodo as Freddy maybe?

[Just Jeans]

I could see it, Dre. He's got a similar jaw line to Englund, and he's not much shorter.

[Scarecrow]

He's Freddy Junior! :p

- Scarecrow

[WesReviews]

They'll probably cast some tall, lumbering figure, unfortunately. :(

[Cody]

Andrew Bryniarski, best Freddy ever! Metal (finger blades) up your ass.

:nervous:

[Esten]

They'll probably cast some tall, lumbering figure, unfortunately. :(

Mitch Pileggi?

o snap

[DRE]

Andrew Bryniarski, best Freddy ever! Metal (finger blades) up your ass.

:nervous:


"I was born to wear the glove....what film is this again?" - Andrew Bryniarski, after a chronic hit.

[Brett H.]

Andrew Bryniarski, best Freddy ever! Metal (finger blades) up your ass.

:nervous:

Fucking Bernerski. IF YOU CANT READ THE BOOK,TAKE THE MILKSHAKE OUT OF YER ASS.twat.

[Cody]

Don't deny The 'Arski. I like milkshakes in my ass...

Just kidding. (About Bryniarski as Freddy, not about the ass-shakes.)

[WesReviews]

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f282/ShivChoko/Shaye2.jpg
I just now saw this one. Beautiful, man. Just beautiful. :sniffle:

[Brett H.]

Wes, you gotta get your "For Those About to Rock... Shaye salutes you! avatar rolling.

[WesReviews]

Wes, you gotta get your "For Those About to Rock... Shaye salutes you! avatar rolling.
My old Shaye raising his fist avatar was an unfortunate victim of the last forum crash. I don't even remember who made it for me. :(

[Brett H.]

http://www.musik.net.ru/covers/a/AC-DC%20-%20For%20Those%20About%20To%20Rock%20We%20Salute%2 0You%20(1981).jpg

http://rock.samaratoday.ru/images/artists/brian_johnson693.jpg
"FIRE!!!"


http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5022/shayeavdv1.gif

[Grizzlyman]

As of course we have already heard, but this was the latest Studio Briefing from IMDb.com's News Page:

New Line Bites the Dust


New Line Cinema has reached the end of the line. Time Warner announced Thursday that it will merge the studio into Warner Bros. and lay off hundreds of employees, including Co-Chairmen and -CEOs Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne. The company's plans were originally reported last month by L.A. Weekly columnist Nikki Finke but were strenuously denied at the time by a New Line spokeswoman. Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes indicated that the New Line banner will continue to exist but that it will no longer greenlight, market or distribute its films. "Between the cost savings and the revenue enhancements, we believe we can at least double the earnings of New Line," Bewkes told the Los Angeles Times. In an email to New Line staffers, Shaye called his departure "painful" but added that he was proud to have been a part of creating "some of the most popular and successful movies of all time." He said that he and Lynne "intend to remain actively involved in the industry in an entrepreneurial capacity" but otherwise gave no hint of their future plans.

[DRE]

Bye-Bye Stokely Chaffin, leave the business baby and do something else. I hear painting houses is a nice trade.

[Esten]

Bye-Bye Stokely Chaffin, leave the business baby and do something else. I hear painting houses is a nice trade.


Sad thing is.... I hear she started her own production company some time ago. @_@

[Dave Dunwoody]

End of an era...let's just hope some good comes of it.

[Jigsaw]

Bye-Bye Stokely Chaffin, leave the business baby and do something else. I hear painting houses is a nice trade.


Good to hear she's not there anymore. She's pretty much solely responsible for FVJ turning out the way it did.

[Sean [The Wildcard]]

http://www.musik.net.ru/covers/a/AC-DC%20-%20For%20Those%20About%20To%20Rock%20We%20Salute%2 0You%20(1981).jpg

http://rock.samaratoday.ru/images/artists/brian_johnson693.jpg
"FIRE!!!"


http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5022/shayeavdv1.gif

HOLY CRAP!!!

I remember making that Shaye avatar for Jeans back in the day...when times were much...simpler.:sniffle:

[The Dream Master]

Shaye championed it. Regardless of whether he's there when the party ends, his keys are still swirling about in the punch bowl.

I get it. Shaye is responsible for getting the ball rolling on the Nightmare remake. Being reminded about it isn't going to make it any more true.

[Just Jeans]

Being reminded about it isn't going to make it any more true.

And pretending that Shaye (http://www.f13-community.co.uk/board/showpost.php?p=123768&postcount=185) has nothing to do with bringing this beast to life isn't going to make that pill any less bitter.

[The Dream Master]

Just because he got it started doesn't mean he'll affect the quality. You know, because he's not around. Unless I'm imagining this whole thing about Shaye stepping down. :confused:

[WesReviews]

It's back! Yes, Reaper666, how could I have forgotten your name? The classic Shaye/fist avatar was great work.

Thank you for finding the avatar, Boo! I thought it had been lost forever, but I forgot about the secret Shaye stash. Good times. :sniffle:

[Sean [The Wildcard]]

It's back! Yes, Reaper666, how could I have forgotten your name? The classic Shaye/fist avatar was great work.

Thank you for finding the avatar, Boo! I thought it had been lost forever, but I forgot about the secret Shaye stash. Good times. :sniffle:

Oh wow...it's good to see that avatar being put to good use again.

:sniffle:

[francesco]

they are talking to cut 75% of people! wow. Sex and the city could be delaied! Uhm...sounds scarry!

[Dave Dunwoody]

they are talking to cut 75% of people! wow. Sex and the city could be delaied! Uhm...sounds scarry!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Esten]

wow. Sex and the city could be delaied! Uhm...sounds scarry!

Those heartless bastards.

[Cody]

Warner Bros. shape shifts (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117981857.html?categoryid=13&cs=1)

While Time Warner topper Jeff Bewkes made the call to fold New Line Cinema into the Warner Bros. studio, it's up to Warner prexy Jeff Robinov, with guidance from his bosses Barry Meyer and Alan Horn, to figure out how to put the pieces of the new studio paradigm together.
Warners will release the streamlined New Line's slate throughout the world, but many questions remain unanswered. Who will stay, and who will go? What pictures will ultimately make it to the slate, and when will they be released? Who will run what?

One Warners exec simply asked, "What is it, and how big is it?"

This week, Robinov rolled up his sleeves and started to do his homework. On Tuesday, Robinov and his team screened the comedy sequel "Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo," which is scheduled to open April 28, and they will soon see the "Sex and the City" movie, which is set to bow on May 30. New Line's next release after that is "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D," currently slotted for July 11.

Also on Robinov's agenda Tuesday was a preliminary meeting with Picturehouse chief Bob Berney. Studio specialty division Warner Independent Pictures and Picturehouse, which is co-owned by New Line and HBO Films, are likely to merge.

Based in Burbank, WIP has not scored any hits since May 2006, when Warner hotshot production exec Polly Cohen replaced outgoing topper Mark Gill, who sought more autonomy from Robinov.

While New York-based Picturehouse had a rough run at the 2007 box office, and HBO Films withdrew from the partnership after "Rocket Science" flopped, Berney is an experienced indie distributor with many hits behind him, from Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" and the sleeper comedy "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" to "Y tu mama tambien" and the Oscar-winning "Monster" and "Pan's Labyrinth." On Feb. 24, Berney's company notched two more Oscar wins, for the French-language hit "La Vie en rose."

Whatever Robinov chooses to do, it will be up to Cohen and Berney to decide if they can live with it.

Speculation is rife about who will run the cut-back version of New Line. In the short term, Robinov may want to hang on to New Line production prexy Emmerich, with whom he will meet this week, if only to help Robinov get a handle on what's in the development and production pipeline. But many in Hollywood expect Emmerich to exit eventually.

Speculation on replacement candidates centers on New Line chief operating officer Richard Brener and rising Robinov acolyte Greg Silverman.

Needless to say, producers, filmmakers, screenwriters and talent and agents connected with New Line projects are on tenterhooks as they wait to hear the fate of their films. "It's sad for everybody," said one former New Line production executive now at another studio. "It's bad for the town. It's one less buyer, 50% of the output and one less indie voice in a marketplace that doesn't have a lot of them," the exec added.

"The guillotine has been falling for two years," said ICM literary agent Ron Bernstein, who has two projects at New Line. "It's not a surprise to anyone; they're looking to cut costs. But the reality of it is surprising. Everybody is terrified."

[Rich]

The only thing that sucks about this is that New Line made way better dvd special editions then Warner does. Other then that I really don't care. It isn't like I'm looking very foward to Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street remakes anyway, especially Nightmare. That I am really not looking foward to despite it's potential to be better then the suckuels.

[The Tall Man]

Anybody named "Emmerich" should be shown the door from Hollywood. Or movies in general.

T.M.

[Just Jeans]

Warners plots New Line 'Escape' (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ic073882b8f49872b5e13b5cf4f00f606)

Two weeks after being absorbed by Warner Bros. Pictures, the new New Line is beginning to take shape.

Warner Bros. is moving in quickly to take over distribution of New Line movies, starting with the April release of "Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay." Also, "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D" will keep its July 11 slot, after being temporarily in release-date limbo. After New Line's downsizing, announced Feb. 28, "Journey" moved into purgatory state with talk within corporate circles of it being moved to October or even next year.

New Line president of theatrical distribution David Tuckerman introduced "Journey" on Wednesday during a presentation at ShoWest, saying "Warner Bros. will release it" on its original date.

There was concern that releasing the movie July 11 would conflict with Warner Bros.' July 18 release of "The Dark Knight," though after screenings, it became clear that the high-testing "Journey" skews young and would not cannibalize the same audience.

The news about "Journey" came as speculation continued about the fate of New Line production chief Toby Emmerich.

After a number of days spent weighing his future with the company, Emmerich was said to have concluded that he would like to stay on as head of the newly integrated New Line. The Time Warner division is expected to convert mainly to a production entity, and under one scenario, Emmerich would run the division.

An agreement is far from reached, however, and it's expected that Emmerich and Warner Bros. execs would need to come to terms on issues like the unit's autonomy before Emmerich would assume the top spot. A good number of executives are expected to stay in that scenario. The fate of COO and senior executive vp Richard Brener -- who sources said has been fielding offers from other studios -- remains unclear.

Distribution and marketing operations are expected to be severely curtailed.

Meanwhile, another New Line movie could be moving in the opposite direction of "Journey." The producers behind Gavin O'Connor's police drama "Pride and Glory" were said to be considering their options at other studios as the New Line integration continued. The movie, which stars Ed Norton and Colin Farrell, is on New Line's 2009 slate.

Like "Journey," however, other bigger-budgeted movies are expected to be absorbed by Warners and released through the studio, with the Reese Witherspoon-Vince Vaughn comedy "Four Christmases," the ensemble Western "Appaloosa," and Plan B's time-travel romance "The Time Traveler's Wife" among the potential candidates for a Warners release.

Speculation also continues about the fate of Warner Independent Pictures and Picturehouse, with many in the industry expecting the two to merge and Picturehouse's Bob Berney to assume an executive role at the combined company.

[WesReviews]

From today's Variety...

WB courts Emmerich for New Line

Studio eyes production head for film unit

By MICHAEL FLEMING

WB is in talks with New Line production president Toby Emmerich to preside over 'The Hobbit.'

As Warner Bros. figures out how to fold New Line Cinema’s operations into the larger studio, insiders have been surprised to find WB brass aggressively courting New Line production prexy Toby Emmerich to run a scaled-down version of New Line.
WB is in talks with Emmerich to preside over a reconstituted New Line that would make six to eight pictures per year with budgets below $50 million. However, planned New Line pics "The Hobbit" and proposed sequels to "Wedding Crashers" and "Austin Powers" would exceed the $50 budget guideline. An existing exec staff of 15 will likely be pared to as few as four.

Observers believe Emmerich is likely to take the job. If so, he would steer a much tinier ship. Staffers have until late June to sign up for settlement packages that, among other things, provide up to three weeks’ pay for each year of employment (capped at 52 weeks).

WB wants to keep some execs who are being tempted to jump. Outgoing New Line toppers Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne have approached a few about coming with them to start a new company. Shaye and Lynne are still planning their next move.

Considering that producers with comparatively thin track records have been able to raise funds, the two toppers responsible for birthing "The Lord of the Rings" and many other hits will likely be able to secure financing.

While Emmerich presided over a couple of lean years at New Line and co-wrote the script for the Shaye-directed flop "The Last Mimzy," WB execs recognize the value of Emmerich’s strong relationships and feel he would provide a level of comfort to talent with films in the can or in production.

He has a built-in cushion due to a pre-negotiated producing deal that’s part of his employment contract. The multiyear, first-dollar-gross pact is similar in structure to the one offered to his predecessor, Michael De Luca -- who turned it down after he was fired in early 2001.

--------------------

"WB wants to keep some execs who are being tempted to jump. Outgoing New Line toppers Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne have approached a few about coming with them to start a new company. Shaye and Lynne are still planning their next move."

Fucking-A!!! :D :D :D

[francesco]

this is from variety!


The rest of New Line's current slate won't be heading out through Warner Intl. in most territories, either. Most of New Line's 2008 releases and productions -- from "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D" and "Sex and the City" to "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," "Final Destination 4" and "My Sister's Keeper" -- are already presold via the output deals, which effectively run to the end of 2009.


I'm curious to know who will release friday the 13th remake worldwide!

[Cody]

Emmerich Named New Line President & COO (http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=5264)

Toby Emmerich has been named President & COO, New Line Cinema and will lead its reorganization to become a stand-alone production entity as part of Warner Bros. Entertainment, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, and Alan Horn, President & COO, Warner Bros.

New Line will continue to maintain its own development, creative and production teams. In addition, New Line's marketing, publicity, distribution, business and legal affairs and physical production will report to Emmerich, but will closely coordinate with their Warner Bros. counterparts.

Emmerich will report directly to Horn. He will also work closely with Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, as New Line will utilize WBPG's existing infrastructure to reduce costs and take advantage of Warner Bros.' industry-leading scale.

"There isn't a better person than Toby to help us keep New Line vibrant, relevant and a key asset for Warner Bros.," said Meyer. "We are thrilled that he and New Line are now part of our family."

"Toby has played a major part in New Line's success over the last decade and helped define the company's taste and style in movies," said Horn. "Quite simply, he's a great film executive. He's highly respected, and he has solid relationships across the industry. Toby and New Line are both great additions to our Studio."

"I'm very excited to lead the next chapter in New Line's history and am looking forward to the new challenges that lie ahead," said Emmerich. "This change is bittersweet, as so much of the company I've worked at for the past 16 years is being reconceived, but I'm committed to maintaining New Line's corporate DNA as a creative, aggressive entity. I plan to continue New Line's long and productive history as a company that can create hits in new niches—whether it's expanding the horror genre with films like 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' and 'Freddy vs. Jason,' or turning an R-rated comedy like 'Wedding Crashers' into a blockbuster. I want to thank Bob [Shaye] and Michael [Lynne] for the opportunities and support they generously provided through the years, and I'd also like to thank Barry, Alan and Jeff for their collaboration and already making me feel welcome."

"Toby has a great track record, terrific instincts and is one of those people who really gets the film business," said Robinov. "He's a great new voice for our film group, and New Line's slate is a perfect complement to our existing lineup."

New Line's upcoming films include Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (being released April 25), Sex and the City (May 30), Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D (July 11) and Four Christmases (November 26).

New Line's recent hits include the R-rated comedy Wedding Crashers in 2005. The company is also known for the iconic Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. (It was recently announced that Michael Bay will produce a re-imagining of this classic.) Under Emmerich's leadership, New Line released the successful Freddy vs. Jason, has begun production on Final Destination 4 in digital 3D and has reunited The Texas Chainsaw Massacre team to recreate the original Friday the 13th.

Emmerich most recently served as President of Production for New Line Cinema. He was named to that post in January 2001 and oversaw production during the most successful period in the company's history, which included the release of such hits as the Academy Award-winning blockbuster The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Wedding Crashers (2005's highest-grossing comedy), Monster-in-Law, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Elf, The Notebook, Hairspray and About Schmidt, which starred Jack Nicholson in a Golden Globe-winning performance.

Emmerich joined the company in 1992 as a dual development and music executive. In his position as President of Music, he oversaw the development of Platinum and Gold-selling soundtracks such as Elf, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Boogie Nights, Love & Basketball, The Mask, Don Juan DeMarco, Friday, Dumb and Dumber, Now and Then, Mortal Kombat, I Am Sam and Seven, among others.

He attended the Calhoun School and Wesleyan University, from which he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1985, with honors in English and concentrations in classics and film.

[The Tall Man]

"There isn't a better person than Toby to help us keep New Line vibrant, relevant and a key asset for Warner Bros.,"
"Quite simply, he's a great film executive. He's highly respected, and he has solid relationships across the industry.
"Toby has ... terrific instincts and is one of those people who really gets the film business,"
Those are liar-liar-pants-on-fire situations... one and all.

T.M.

[DRE]

Well, at least he mentioned the horror hits so maybe he will keep the tradition strong, and hopefully he has learned his lesson that steering away from what made the company a success in the first place is foolhardy.

[Grizzlyman]

I am not overly familiar with Toby Emmerich's executive duties in the film industry, but I will not be suprised if Warner Bros. Chief Executives Barry Meyer and Alan Horn easily manipulate Emmerich over control of New Line Cinema and its reorganization. Although New Line reneged on the net proceeds paid over The Lord of the Rings fiasco, Warner Bros. had a similar issue last year, over accounting policies when Warner Bros. apparently cheated Alan Ladd Jr., the former CEO of Metro Goldwyn Mayer, and the film productions he had produced. Ladd recieved $3.2. million for the claim.

[Jigsaw]

Well, at least he mentioned the horror hits so maybe he will keep the tradition strong, and hopefully he has learned his lesson that steering away from what made the company a success in the first place is foolhardy.


I hope so, too, and if New Line's next Horror films are a success, hopefully they'll be able to be their own company again.

[Deathscythe]

Those heartless bastards.

Now that Esten, is a real nightmare.

[Cody]

New Line taps Richard Brener (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117983210.html?categoryid=13&cs=1)

New Line's Richard Brener is staying on as Toby Emmerich's right-hand man and has been promoted to president of production.

Move comes two weeks after Emmerich was appointed president and chief operating officer of the scaled-down mini-major.

The 35-year-old Brener joined the company in 1995 as a temp and rose through the ranks to story editor and senior VP. He's been serving as New Line's No. 2 production exec after a promotion to senior exec VP-COO in early 2007.

Brener's well-regarded within Hollywood, particular in development of comedies and genre pics, so the appointment will be seen as a signal that New Line's emphasizing its core strengths.

He's managed New Line's relationships with key talent such as Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Jennifer Lopez and Vince Vaughn, and he is best known for having overseen the 2005 hit "Wedding Crashers" and the "Final Destination" franchise. He's also supervised on "Monster in Law," "Austin Powers in Goldmember," "The Wedding Singer" and New Line's next two releases: "Harold and Kumar: Escape From Guantanamo Bay," opening late this month, and "Sex and the City: The Movie," bowing in late May.

Warner Bros. plans to eliminate most of the 600 jobs at New Line, but the mini-major will maintain its own development, creative and production teams as well as its own marketing, publicity and business affairs staff. Warners is taking over distribution of completed New Line pics.

Time Warner announced Feb. 28 that it was folding New Line into Warner Bros. as part of a move designed to save $50 million annually, with New Line to make six to eight pics per year. Emmerich has indicated that New Line will focus on creating niche films in the vein of "Wedding Crashers" and "Freddy vs. Jason" along with occasional tentpoles such as "The Hobbit."

"Richard has a keen sense for material in different genres and a fantastic track record," said Emmerich. "He also has excellent talent and filmmaker relationships, as well as the utmost respect of the New Line staff."

[skuppy]

Nice to hear they aren't ditching their horror franchises.

[kramerfan]

So does that mean a jason vs freddy 2?

[The Dream Master]

So does that mean a jason vs freddy 2?

Seriously doubtful at this point, what with both franchises getting remakes.

Also, I don't understand how people like Emmerich and Brener are practically getting promotions when they have been the ones in charge of NLC for the past couple of years anyway. :confused:

[Darth Sinister]

All this means is that the status quo will pretty much remain the same, regarding film developments, only the influence of Warner Brothers will be felt more. And Shaye won't be there.

[The Dream Master]

I know that, and that's my point. Nothing is changing at all; I don't understand why Shaye was forced out when others that are just as responsible for NLC's demise still have their jobs.

[skuppy]

I think some of the folks at WB didn't like Shaye, so this was their way of getting rid of him.

[The Tall Man]

Seriously doubtful at this point, what with both franchises getting remakes.
Also considering there was never a Jason vs. Freddy 1. ;)

T.M.

[Deathscythe]

Haha yeah, Freddy gets top billing rights.:p

But I actually watched that Hairspray 07 not too long ago. When I saw the New Line logo, first thing that came to my head "Bob Shaye's final succesful baby". :(

[kramerfan]

I just like to say it lik jasn vs freddy since i love jason more.lol

[francesco]

i don't like emmerich. I'm scared about it!!!!!

[Darth Sinister]

I think some of the folks at WB didn't like Shaye, so this was their way of getting rid of him.

That's probably one of the factors. There's probably more we're not in the know on, right now.

[Apocalypto]

Haha yeah, Freddy gets top billing rights.:p

It wasn't top, it was side by side.:)

[The Dream Master]

Well, Freddy got first billing rights then. And rightfully so.

[Grizzlyman]

I know that, and that's my point. Nothing is changing at all; I don't understand why Shaye was forced out when others that are just as responsible for NLC's demise still have their jobs.

It is standard procedure in any corporate business which has stockholders and a board of directors, that if the board makes the recommendation and approval for the company to be merged or acquired by another company, the President or Chief Executive Officer are to be fired, or in this case it is most commonly referred to as a "forced resignation". This is usually what happens in 97% of all company takeovers, in which the new company, (in this case being Warner Bros.) has the right to hire their own CEO. I imagine that Warner Bros. was looking for someone that had previous experience and knowledge of New Line, which is why they probably picked Toby Emmerich. In other cases, the new company will usually lay off all the employees, or in some cases, just relocate their positions and focus on attrition.

[Esten]

And as often the case, they wanted younger guys to head the company.

[Grizzlyman]

And as often the case, they wanted younger guys to head the company.

True, sometimes younger Chief Executives can bring something fresh to the conference table and have a company operate at a more entreprenurial level. Other times, they can easily be manipulated by more experience industry professionals... most likely the case I gather with the "new" New Line-Warner Bros. situation.

Hey after all, I am 22 and an becoming an entreprenuer into the film business!

[The Dream Master]

It is standard procedure in any corporate business which has stockholders and a board of directors, that if the board makes the recommendation and approval for the company to be merged or acquired by another company, the President or Chief Executive Officer are to be fired, or in this case it is most commonly referred to as a "forced resignation". This is usually what happens in 97% of all company takeovers, in which the new company, (in this case being Warner Bros.) has the right to hire their own CEO. I imagine that Warner Bros. was looking for someone that had previous experience and knowledge of New Line, which is why they probably picked Toby Emmerich. In other cases, the new company will usually lay off all the employees, or in some cases, just relocate their positions and focus on attrition.

Yeah, I realize that. I'm just pointing out that it's bullshit. :) I mean, what is Warner's going to do when Emmerich keeps doing the same things that put NLC in trouble in the first place? I mean, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't Emmerich been heavily involved with New Line's operations during the past couple of years when shit has been going bad for them? Hell, Shaye was hospitalized for a long period of time, so we can hardly blame everything on him, I would think.

[Apocalypto]

Well, Freddy got first billing rights then. And rightfully so.

I don't think it really matters if it's Freddy vs. Jason or Jason vs. Freddy...the billing is equal either way.

[Grizzlyman]

Yeah, I realize that. I'm just pointing out that it's bullshit. :) I mean, what is Warner's going to do when Emmerich keeps doing the same things that put NLC in trouble in the first place? I mean, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't Emmerich been heavily involved with New Line's operations during the past couple of years when shit has been going bad for them? Hell, Shaye was hospitalized for a long period of time, so we can hardly blame everything on him, I would think.

Ah yes, good points Dream Master, and obviously something I did not think about. Emmerich was the Chief Operations Officer at New Line Cinema, so technically speaking most of the levels of how the company functioned on a day to day basis was in his hands. Now that you brought this up, I just now have become somewhat baffled. It would seem more ideal for Warner Bros. to hire someone new with at least the experience, knowledge and inititive to carry out the duties as a Chief Executive Officer, and implement a strategic plan for the company's future, instead of basically appointing a former executive of the company before it was merged into Warner Bros.

[The Dream Master]

I don't think it really matters if it's Freddy vs. Jason or Jason vs. Freddy...the billing is equal either way.

I was joking, but I stand by the assertion that Freddy > Jason. :)

[Deathscythe]

I was joking, but I stand by the assertion that Freddy > Jason. :)

New Line agrees. 8 [Freddy films] is greater than 3 [Jason films].:D

[Apocalypto]

Of course, they've also had Freddy for his entire run...and technically Jason beat him in their movie;)

I love them equally.

[Deathscythe]

Yeah I'm just messing around, I love Jason as well. Same with Myers, never cared for Leatherface through.

[The Tall Man]

I don't think it really matters if it's Freddy vs. Jason or Jason vs. Freddy...the billing is equal either way.
I was joking
I'm not joking actually. The movie's title is "Freddy vs. Jason". Get it right. Stop being dislexic. You don't see me calling Da Vinci's painting "Lisa Mona" because I like the name Lisa better.

and technically Jason beat him in their movie
No technicality about it at all. Hell, New Line even said so: Jason won. Sounds pretty definite to me.

T.M.