Boxoffice-August.1989

I onipany
1 ipcoming
HOLLYWOOD UPDATES
PRODUCTION NOTES
Hemdale Film Corp., the production
responsible tor such triumphs
,is "The Terminator," "Platoon" and "The
Last Emperor," has announced an eighthlm
production slate for the next year.
titles for the company, which
ii-cently launched its own distribution
aim, include "High Rise," a futuristic
ilrama to be directed by Bruce Robinson,
"Don't Cry for Me," a drama about Britain's
involvement in the Falklands War;
,ind "Vicious Houdini," a fact-based
drama about England's most infamous
hank robber.
Independent production company
MCEG, which was responsible for the
well-reviewed British comedy "Getting It
Right," has announced a new 10-picture
production slate which is said to be valued
at S97 million. Among those films scheduled
to go into production over the next
year are "Chains of Gold," an actiondrama
starring John Travolta and Marilu
lenner; "Convicts," a drama starring
Robert Duvall and James Earl Jones, with
"The Trip to Bountiful" duo of Horton
Foote and Peter Masterson writing and
directing; ""Without You I'm Nothing,"
an adaptation of the off-Broadway play
starring Sandra Bemhard; and "The Uncle
Bob Show," a black comedy directed
by Keith Gordon, who also helmed
MCEG's "The Chocolate War." MCEG
may seek outside distribution for some of
the more high-profile projects,
Skouras Pictures and Academy Entertainment
have joined forces in a deal
which will see Skouras handling the theatrical
releases of all upcoming Skouras
projects, and Academy taking over the
;ubsequent video releases. The first reease
under the joint deal was "To Die
For," the vampire thriller which opened
in May. Future releases include "Apartment
Zero," a sexual thriller about the
obsessive relationship between a theatre
owner and his mysterious Ainerican tenant;
and "Ginger Ale Afternoon," about
the friction betweefi a nine-months-pregnant
woman and her deadbeat husband.
Following months of legal haggling and
battles with competing companies, Carolco
Pictures has finally secured its deal
to purchase the bankrupt De Laurentiis
Entertainment Group. Under the terms
of the S25 million deal, Carolco will create
a new subsidiary, which will be merged
into what remains of DECi. Contrary to
rumors, DEC will not be rejuvenated as a
s(!paratc production distribution imit.
Director .John Badham and producer
Rob Coh»-n, who r.-( ,-ntly signed a proion
pact with Universal Pictures,
ha\c annoimced their upcoming production
slate- In the immediate future are
"Bird on a Wire," a comedy starring Mel
Ciibson and Goldie Hawn, and "The Hard
Way," which pairs Jatncs Woods and
Michael J. Fox as a cop and the actor \\lio
studies him to prepare for a role.
Sandollar, the production company
(cmtim.cd p 12)