Uli Edels Film “Der Baader Meinhoff Komplex” ist immer noch in den deutschen Kinotheatern zu sehen und natürlich ist der Film für Fernsehsender sehr interessant. Viele Zuschauer sind vor den Bildschirmen zu erwarten.

Doch zu einem Wettbieten der TV-Sender um die Ausstrahlungsrechte kam es nicht. Auch wenn sich folgende Überschrift in der Branchenpresse zu interpretieren lässt:

• ARD kauft Baader Meinhoff Komplex ein (werben & verkaufen am 17. Oktober 2008)

Während der Programmvorstellung für das Sendejahr 2009 war die Bekanntmachung eines Sendetermins im Herbstd des nächsten Jahres eine von vielen. Wiederholt versprachen die Verantwortlichen des öffentlich-rechtlichen Senders, interessante Inhalte für jüngere Zuschauer anzubieten. Auch wurde der Stellenwert der Fußball-Bundesliga-Berichterstattung hervorgehoben.

Ohne Zweifel ist die Bernd Eichinger-Produktion ein aktuelles deutsches Filmhighlight und die ARD dürfte sich glücklich schätzen, die Ausstrahlungsrechte ergattert zu haben. Doch ist der Film von folgenden 3. Programmen co-produziert worden:

• Norddeutscher Rundfunkt (NDR)
• Bayrischer Rundfunk (BR)
• Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
• Als Finanzier zwar keine Rundfunkanstalt, doch darf Degeto Film als ARD-Einkaufsgemeinschaft nicht vergessen werden.

Wer verkaufte wohl der ARD die Rechte an dem Film? Es kann nur ihre eigene Tochterfirma gewesen sein. Warum sonst sollten sich drei regionale Rundfunkanstalten und die eigene Filmrechtefirma an der Produktion beteiligt haben. Denn für die finanzielle Beteiligung wurden den Sendern die Fernsehrechte abgetreten. Der Stern schrieb in der Vorberichterstattung zur Constantin Film-Produktion schon:

Als Sender ist die ARD Degeto an dem Projekt maßgeblich beteiligt.

Als Rechteverwerter ist die Degeto nicht daran gebunden, nur die eigenen Sender und Anteilseigner mit Filmen und Fernsehserien zu beliefern. 1996 erwarb eine andere Tochterdes BR; MDR und SWR, die in München anssässige Telepool, alle Rechte des damals neugegründeten Filmstudios Dreamworks SGK. Aber nur 40 Prozent des Output-Deals landeten bei der ARD. Der Haupteil wurde an den Fernsehsender Pro Sieben weiter verkauft.

Nun sich mit dem Einkauf eines eigenen Films zu brüsten, stört vor allem, weil es nicht berichtenswert ist. Die beteiligten Firmen und Sender sind lange schon bekannt und dass sich die ARD-Chefs nicht darüber freuen, wenn ihr co-produzierter Film auf einem anderen Sender seine Free-TV-Erstausstrahlung erfahren würde, wäre abzusehen. Warum produziert man denn einen Film, wenn man diesen dann nicht ausstrahlen möchte? Auch die Vorberichterstattung in der ARD zum Kinostart wäre dann uneigennützig, weil nur andere davon profitieren würden.

PROJECTS ANNOUNCED

In a preemptive spec deal, Dimension Films has acquired “Janky Promoters,” the first script that Ice Cube has written since the final installment of his “Friday” series. Cube will star in the film and produce with Cube Vision partner Matt Alvarez. Cube took less money upfront but will partner with Dimension on the proceeds after recoupment on a budget likely to be about $10 million. “Janky Promoters” sets Cube and another actor as music promoters who get the chance to book a top-tier hip-hop artist into a midsized California venue. The pair are ill equipped for such a task and everything goes wrong. A director is expected to be named soon, with casting to begin immediately. Dimension topper Bob Weinstein said he is determined to land a big-name rapper to star as himself. “This feels a lot like ‘Uptown Saturday Night’ to me, a caper film where you have these music promoters who are slightly shady but are good enough guys that you root for them,” Weinstein told Daily Variety. “This is going to be R-rated, and it appeals right to the core of Cube’s audience.” On the deal specifics, Weinstein said: “He’s producing the movie, sharing in the funding, so it’s more complicated than previous deals we’ve made with Cube. He’s a brand, like Tyler Perry, and that’s the direction he’s headed in. We’re happy to assist him in that because we believe in him.” Weinstein is already working out the details for an early summer start date that will factor in Cube’s promotion schedule for “The Long Shots,” the Fred Durst-directed Dimension film that Cube just wrapped as star and producer. The Weinstein Co. can set a June start date because it is non-signatory and eligible for the guaranteed completion contracts that SAG has pledged for indies if an actors strike takes place. Cube has a first-look Dimension deal and is also developing “Welcome Back, Kotter” as a starring vehicle. Ice Cube is repped by WMA, The Firm and attorney Matt Johnson.

Tobey Maguire is attached to produce “Afterburn,” a comicbook adaptation that Neal Moritz’s Original Films is producing. Relativity is in talks to board to the post-Apocalyptic project, based on Red 5 comic. Story begins one year after a solar flare burns half of the planet, when treasure hunters go back the scorched portion to retrieve valuable artifacts. Paul Ens and Scott Chitwood wrote the comic.

Montecito Pictures has fallen for “Underage,” buying the romantic comedy spec by the writing team of Scott Neustadter and Mike Weber (“Pink Panther 2″) for mid- against high-six figures. DreamWorks-based Montecito, which is fast-tracking the project, purchased the script late Tuesday out of its discretionary fund. The shingle plans to use its Cold Spring Picture financing vehicle, under which Montecito and the studio share production costs and ownership of films. Story is centered on a man in his mid- to late 20s who goes home with a young woman he’s met in a bar. Later, he discovers she’s only 17 — a fact that allows her to blackmail him into being her boyfriend for the next six months.

Michael Dougherty has teamed with Walt Disney Pictures and Robert Zemeckis’ ImageMovers on “Calling All Robots,” an animated sci-fi adventure the scribe plans to direct using the same type of performance capture technology recently deployed to produce “Beowulf.” Dougherty will pen the project with Breehn Burns and Simeon Wilkins, who will serve as artists and visual designers on the project. The trio conceived the idea together. Details of the project are being kept under wraps, but it uses performance capture to “tell a story that’s a throwback to old Godzilla movies,” Dougherty said. “I grew up watching Godzilla movies. This film is very much rooted in those movies.” ImageMovers’ Zemeckis, Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey will produce.

U.K. production companies Aria Films and Full Circle Films are combining with post-production facility Axis3D to make “The Mortician,” a thriller in 3-D. The redemption tale in which kindness triumphs over cruelty falls within the urban noir, contemporary fairy tale and psychological thriller genres. Full Circle Films’ principal Gareth Maxwell Roberts penned the script and is set to direct, with Aria topper Carlo Dusi producing. Dusi produced Roberts’ 2006 debut feature “Kill Kill Faster Faster.” Casting is under way on the pic, which is skedded to shoot in early 2009 and will be delivered in regular format as well as 3-D. Axis3D will provide all equipment required to shoot the film in 3-D. All post-production for the feature will be completed using the Axis3D suite at Concrete in London’s Soho.

The life of a Thai female convict who became a boxing champion is to be turned into a movie by L.A.-based Thai director Naruemol Sriyanont. The president of Women in Focus Prods. is in Bangkok with American producer Tim Zajaros to announce her plan to make a feature based on the life of Samson Sor Siriporn, who won the World Boxing Council’s women’s light-flyweight championship while behind bars in 2007. Samson was sentenced to 10 years for drug dealing. She was released in June, three years ahead of her term. “Her life is an example of a woman who’s made mistakes and is ready to turn around and make amends,” said Sriyanont, whose past works included documentaries on HIV-infected women. Sriyanont is researching and writing the script. Sor Siriporn will defend her title in Pnom Penh on April 26. Her challenger is Japan’s Koyoko Ebata.

PROJECT UPDATES

Director Oliver Stone has set James Cromwell to play George Herbert Walker Bush and Ellen Burstyn to play former first lady Barbara Bush in “W,” a drama about the formative years of their son, President George W. Bush. Josh Brolin is playing the title character, and Elizabeth Banks will play first lady Laura Bush. Stone will direct from a script by his “Wall Street” co-writer Stanley Weiser. Moritz Borman is producing with Bill Block and Jon Kilik. Block’s QED International is financing the film, which will begin shooting Shreveport, La., at the end of April.

ACQUISITIONS/ FESTIVAL NEWS

IFC has acquired domestic rights to Israeli filmmaker Eran Riklis’ drama “Lemon Tree.” IFC prexy Jonathan Sehring praised Riklis’ ability to convey “more about the state of the Middle East than most newspaper headlines.” Pic, inspired by true events, follows the story of a Palestinian widow who defends her trees against the Israeli defense minister, who wants to raze them in the name of security, and ends up finding a bond with the defense minister’s wife. Riklis is best known for directing 2004’s “The Syrian Bride.” Both pics were co-written with Suha Arraf. “Lemon” stars Hiam Abbass and Ali Suliman. Film was co-produced by Bettina Brokemper, Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre, Michael Eckelt and Riklis.

Shanghai auds will be treated to a showcase of the past year’s French films from April 15-19. Pics include “Asterix at the Olympic Games,” “Towards Zero,” “Hunting and Gathering,” “Dragon Hunters” and “Go West! A Lucky Luke Adventure.” The fifth French Film Panorama will screen at four Shanghai cinemas. Event is co-hosted by Unifrance, the French Consulate in Shanghai and the Shanghai Film Festival. All pics will be presented in their original language with Chinese subtitles. A delegation headed by Pathe CEO Jerome Seydoux and including veteran French filmmakers and producers will talk to audiences about the pics.

BUSINESS NEWS

In what NBC Universal calls “a groundbreaking deal,” cabler FX will pony up more than $100 million to buy 15 Universal theatrical movies, the bulk of which are prebuys of titles to be released throughout the year, including “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.” Frances Manfredi, executive VP and general sales manager of NBC U Domestic TV Distribution, said FX made “a preemptive bid” as part of its “aggressive film acquisitions strategy.” Chuck Saftler, exec veep of FX, said he has embarked on a forceful movie strategy because fresh primetime theatricals are big draws in the coveted 18-49 demo. Although FX finished 11th in total viewers last year among ad-supported cable networks, it wound up fifth overall in adults 18-49. It’s impossible to put a precise license fee on the Universal/FX deal because the final number is directly tied to each picture’s domestic box office performance. FX will pay an average of 11% of the gross U.S. revenue of the movies for a four-year license term, which takes effect about 18 months after the pictures make their debut on HBO in the exclusive pay TV window. FX will allow Universal to sell a run or two of the titles to a broadcast network within FX’s four-year window. Universal has given FX free video-on-demand rights to the movies for a portion of its license term.

Canuck distrib Entertainment One will handle ThinkFilm pics in Canada via its Seville Pictures through 2010. The formerly Canadian-owned ThinkFilm had to find a local distributor after it was purchased by Los Angeles entrepreneur David Bergstein’s CapCo Group in October 2006. Under Canadian law, a foreign-owned company can’t distribute pics in the country. The only exceptions are the Hollywood majors, who operate under a grandfather clause. “This (deal) has taken longer than we thought it would,” said ThinkFilm CEO Jeff Sackman. “Timing in life is everything, and had we done this a year ago, there wouldn’t have been an Entertainment One to make a deal with.” Entertainment One morphed from a DVD distributor into a theatrical distrib last summer. Sackman said the deal will change little for his company because 90% of its business is in the U.S.

Reliance Entertainment, the largest player in Indian film, is making an ambitious play in the U.S. exhib sector. Company, part of billionaire Anil Dhirubhai Ambani’s Reliance ADAG conglom, has quietly bought up cinemas across the U.S. and is poised to launch next month as a coast-to-coast mini-chain. Reliance, in which billionaire George Soros recently paid $100 million for a 5% stake, has 250 screens at 28 North American locations. These include sites in New York, New Jersey, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, San Jose, Los Angeles, Washington State and one at Union Station in Washington, D.C.
Group is rebranding most of its Indian entertainment businesses with the moniker Big and will rename the U.S. sites Big Cinemas as their renovations are completed. Both refurbishments and acquisitions will continue in coming months. Reliance Entertainment, which runs cinemas in India through its stock market-listed Adlabs subsidiary, also bought into Knoxville, Tennessee-based management company Phoenix Theaters, which will operate the U.S. chain and has set up a distribution company to license rights where that is useful. Phoenix Theaters is headed by former Regal exec Phil Zacheretti. Arjun says most of the sites are close to centers of ex-pat Indian and Asian populations. Company’s objective is not to force the pace of crossover by Bollywood movies but to play popular movies from a wider range of sources.

Munich-based licensing company Telepool has sold 400 episodes of the RTL Television hit soap “What Really Matters” to French broadcasting group M6 in the run-up to this year’s Mip TV programming mart in Cannes. M6, which, like RTL Television, is owned by pan-European broadcasting conglom RTL Group, will air the series as “Le reve de Diana” beginning Monday in back-to-back double episodes Monday through Friday at 5 p.m. The hugely successful soap revolves around aspiring figure skater Diana Sommer and the wealthy Steinkamp family, whose ownership of a fitness empire has led to their entanglement in intrigue and countless scandals. Produced by Germany’s Grundy UFA TV Prods. for RTL, “What Really Matters” garners an average 17.3% market share among viewers age 14-49 in its 7 p.m. slot. The series kicks off its third season in May.

Take-Two Interactive said no to Electronic Arts again on Wednesday but is throwing the door open to interested parties in a month. Vidgame publisher officially recommended that shareholders reject EA’s $2 billion bid but said it will begin discussions on April 30, the day after “Grand Theft Auto IV” is released, with several potential suitors who have been in touch since the EA bid went public. “We will commence formal discussions on April 30 and, if appropriate, negotiations because we think we will be in the best positions from a timing perspective and value creation perspective,” executive chairman Strauss Zelnick said in a presentation to analysts. Though he didn’t name names, Zelnick confirmed that Take-Two has had “expressions of interest from numerous parties” and later indicated that they include both other vidgame publishers and traditional media companies. Zelnick reiterated that he thinks EA’s bid undervalues his company compared to similar acquisitions and that Take-Two needs to focus its energies on the “GTA IV” release. However, he also claimed that Take-Two is not yet fully valued for the turnaround his management team has implemented since taking over a year ago or for the pending success of “GTA IV.”

Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp has struck a multimillion dollar equity financing deal with Gallic bank BNP Paribas for the upcoming second part of its “Arthur” saga, “Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard,” to be directed by Besson himself. With the accord, BNP Paribas becomes the exclusive bank-insurance sector partner on “Revenge,” one of the biggest-budgeted productions in Europe this year. BNP Paribas put up Euros 4.5 million ($6.9 million) for the first part of the franchise, “Arthur and the Invisibles.” Given that the budget for “Revenge” is 15% higher — $96 million to $84.6 million for “Minimoys” — and “Minimoys” turned a profit for investors, BNP Paribas’ finance for “Revenge” will most probably come in somewhat above its shell-out for the first installment.

Swedish production company Yellow Bird has secured finance to produce a further 13 films featuring Swedish author Henning Mankell’s fictional detective Kurt Wallander. Mankell has written the storylines for the new films, with other writers completing the scripts. Yellow Bird, which is owned by Zodiak Television, will produce the films with Swedish pubcaster TV4, Film i Skane and Germany’s ARD/Degeto. The budget for the 13 films is $33 million. The first of the features is to get a theatrical release, while the other 12 will go straight to DVD, distributed by giant distrib Svensk, and with TV4 and pay TV channel Canal Plus waiting further up the road. Yellow Bird has already produced 13 Wallander features for theatrical and DVD release, all starring actor Krister Henriksson. He will reprise the role in the new pics. No other cast have been named, nor the helmers.

INDUSTRY MOVES

In her first creative hire since becoming head of MGM’s worldwide motion picture group, Mary Parent has brought in New Line Cinema executive Cale Boyter as exec veep of production — a move which casts a shadow over the future of chief operating officer Rick Sands. Boyter’s hire begins the makeover of MGM under Parent, who has a mandate from chairman-CEO Harry Sloan to build a creative staff that will generate a homegrown slate of feature films. Sloan and Parent are expected to do so without Sands, whose role was usurped by Parent’s appointment earlier this month (Daily Variety, March 14).

CBS Films, continuing to ramp up operations, has tapped Warner Bros. marketing vet Debbie Miller as exec VP of worldwide marketing. Miller will oversee advertising, promotions, publicity, media, research and digital marketing initiatives. She will report to Amy Baer, prexy-CEO of the Eye’s film wing.

TECHNOLOGY/ MULTI- PLATFORM CONTENT

Fuji TV will bow Fuji On-Demand, a new Internet service, on April 1. The new service will start beaming to mobile devices on April 7. Fuji TV has offered webcasts in co-operation with Internet providers since 2005 but started its own service to better respond to changing viewer needs. In addition to the 30 programs it is providing to PC viewers, including pro-baseball and horse racing, Fuji will beam six new shows on Fuji On-Demand, including episodes of “24,” original yakker “Shopan” and “Skullman,” a toon based on a classic comic by Shotaro Ishinomori. Some shows will be free, while others will be PPV or require a monthly fee.

Pubcaster NHK has announced details of its plans to offer its programs on the Internet starting in December. In co-operation with Jupiter Telecom, which operates Japan’s largest cable network, and leading Internet sites, NHK will beam 20 new shows, including popular dramas, on the Web for ten days after their initial broadcast on a pay TV basis, as well as offer 1,000 older shows. A revision in Japan’s broadcasting law, effective this April, allows NHK to enter the webcasting biz. The pubcaster will be the first among major Japanese broadcasters to beam its programming to viewers’ PCs.

50 Cent may not be getting a movie sequel, but he’s living on in the vidgame world. Vivendi Games’ Sierra label will release “50 Cent: Blood on the Sand,” this fall. It’s a follow-up to 2005 release “50 Cent: Bulletproof,” which was tied to the hip hop artists starring role in the film “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.” Pic only grossed $31 m illion domestically, but the vidgame sold a solid 2 million units worldwide, despite a critical drubbing. Sierra’s deal with 50 Cent for the first game gave it an option to greenlight a sequel. Artist has been consulting on the follow-up, which unlike the first title won’t exclusively take place in an inner-city environment. Players will control 50 Cent and, in a co-op option for those who want to play together, other members of his crew. Rapper and G Unit members Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and DJ Whoo Kid are all doing voiceover work and providing likeness rights. “Blood in the Sand” will have some new music from 50 Cent and G Unit, as well as existing tracks. Kim noted that it likely won’t have as big a library as “Bulletproof” since 50 Cent has only recorded one new album in the past two years. Game will likely be released by Activision, which is in the process of merging with Vivendi and will handle all Sierra games once the deal is complete. However Vivendi is not allowed to talk to Activision until the merger is finalized, which is expected to happen by June. Meanwhile, Sierra is proceeding with planning for the rest of its 2008 releases, which also include an adaptation of “Ghostbusters,” “The Bourne Conspiracy” based on the Robert Ludlum spy books, and new action game “Saboteur.”

WEBSITES TO WATCH

http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html?node=163856011

Amazon’s DRM-free music sales outlet Amazon MP3 overtook eMusic as the #2 online music outlet and is now second only to iTunes just 6 months after launching, reports USA Today. Amazon has deals in place with Warner Music, Sony/BMG and Universal, offering a catalog of about 4.5 million DRM free songs. Apple, which still controls 80% of the digital download market, offers about 2 million DRM free tracks, including EMI and indie labels, according to the article. eMusic CEO David Pakman disputes the findings in his company’s blog, 17dots.

http://www.characterarcade.com/

USA is expanding its Character Arcade casual gaming site launched with Glow Interactive in November, adding 20+ new games with improved ad options and additional community features. A new affinity program will allow users to earn points for playing that can be redeemed to purchase coupons, advertisers’ products or USA merchandise.

http://current.com/topics/88797981_current_rocks_silverdocs;jsessionid=CBB6BC3004BB5668DB30BBDB456DF02D

Current TV is accepting 3-10 minute non-fiction shorts to screen at the SILVERDOCS Film Festival, taking place June 16-23, 2008 in Washington D.C. A total of 5 films will be chosen for a theatrical screening. Deadline for entries is May 5. Contact Sarah Evershed at severshed @currentmedia .com or go to www.current.com/silverdocs for more info.

http://www.answerology.com/

Relationship advice Q&A site Answerology.com was acquired by Heart Magazines. Site founder Matthew Milner will joint Heart’s digital media group as VP/Community and Social Media.

http://trendrr.com/

Trendrr.com is a new web service from digital marketing agency Wiredset designed to track and compare online data trends. The sites APIs can be set to track anything from the number of Twitter friends a user has to the number of people who used a specific Facebook widget.

http://www.mercedes-benz.tv/

Mercedes launched another new web show on its Mercedes-Benz.tv entertainment portal. The half-hour Mixed Tape Music magazine features videos, album reviews and profiles of “modern vintage” newcomers and established artists. Mercedes also partnered with private select social network A Small World this month to query potential well-heeled customers on what they’d like to see in its line of cars.

http://www.diamondlounge.com/

Not all social networks are out to recruit millions of users. The UK-based Diamond Lounge is an exclusive online gated community of the well-to-do which only selects members who can bring “something special” to the club. (If you have to ask what that is, then perhaps you’re not suitable). A perusal of the members turned up investment bankers, socialites, models and high-level execs who use the service to network, flirt and hobnob with the right kind of people. Diamond Lounge founder Arya Marafie may be onto something – the latest Wealth Survey from The Luxury Institute found that the wealthy’s participation in social networks increased to 60% in 2008 from 27% last year. Anyone is free to apply. But remember what Groucho Marx said; “I don’t want to belong to any club that would accept me as member.”

SOURCES:

www.Variety.com

www.Cynopsis.com