05-08-2004, 04:48 PM
No se si sean buenas noticias o malas....
May 6, 2004 -- Walt Disney chief Michael Eisner has indicated recently that he may be willing to negotiate a deal to sell Miramax back to its founder Harvey Weinstein, The Post has learned.
While Eisner and Weinstein have had a long-running feud, the latest episode - in which Disney blocked the distribution of left-winger Michael Moore's Miramax-backed film - may have been the last straw for the troubled partnership.
Sources say Eisner and Disney Chairman George Mitchell refused to view the movie before deciding to block its distribution. Instead, Disney motion picture executive Brad Epstein viewed the film and reported back to Eisner.
The matter was even brought up at Disney's recent board meeting, and directors agreed with Eisner and Mitchell that Disney should not distribute the film, sources say.
A few months ago, representatives for Weinstein approached Disney about entering negotiations, but were rebuffed, sources say, with Eisner refusing to even bring the matter to the board.
More recently, however, Eisner has relaxed his earlier position that Disney would be unwilling to sell Miramax under any circumstances, according to a source.
Because of Weinstein's success at producing hit films at Miramax, he would have no shortage of potential financial backers, media sources indicate.
"The whole world would be lined up to back Harvey and Bob," Weinstein's brother and business partner, said one source.
A Miramax spokesman said of the latest film controversy, "We're discussing the issue with Disney. We're looking at all of our options and look forward to resolving this amicably."
In a statement, Disney said, "In May 2003, The Walt Disney Company communicated to Miramax and Mr. Moore's representatives that Miramax would not be the distributor of his film. Contrary to his assertions, Mr. Moore has had and continues to have every opportunity to either find another distributor or distribute the film himself."
Miramax picked up financing for the film after Mel Gibson backed out - a move that prompted the threat of a legal fight between Moore and Gibson, sources say.
"While [Weinstein] may be hated by some in Hollywood, many grudgingly admire him because he stepped up to make this movie," said one Hollywood source.
The decision to halt distribution of Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," which focuses on the Bush administration's handing of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, could turn out to be another bad financial decision by Eisner. Moore's last film, "Bowling for Columbine," was highly profitable - it cost $3 million to produce, yet raked in $120 million in worldwide box office receipts.
"Fahrenheit 9/11" cost about $6 million to produce, most of it Miramax money.
If the film goes on to be a box office hit, it wouldn't the first time that a decision by Eisner to meddle in Miramax affairs turned into a disaster.
Miramax once had the rights to the lucrative "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, but Eisner prevented Miramax from producing it - a decision that has cost Disney more than $1 billion in revenue.
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Me pregunto si M. Eisner podrá dormir despues de que LOTR ganó miles de millones de dólares y sabe cuantos oscares
May 6, 2004 -- Walt Disney chief Michael Eisner has indicated recently that he may be willing to negotiate a deal to sell Miramax back to its founder Harvey Weinstein, The Post has learned.
While Eisner and Weinstein have had a long-running feud, the latest episode - in which Disney blocked the distribution of left-winger Michael Moore's Miramax-backed film - may have been the last straw for the troubled partnership.
Sources say Eisner and Disney Chairman George Mitchell refused to view the movie before deciding to block its distribution. Instead, Disney motion picture executive Brad Epstein viewed the film and reported back to Eisner.
The matter was even brought up at Disney's recent board meeting, and directors agreed with Eisner and Mitchell that Disney should not distribute the film, sources say.
A few months ago, representatives for Weinstein approached Disney about entering negotiations, but were rebuffed, sources say, with Eisner refusing to even bring the matter to the board.
More recently, however, Eisner has relaxed his earlier position that Disney would be unwilling to sell Miramax under any circumstances, according to a source.
Because of Weinstein's success at producing hit films at Miramax, he would have no shortage of potential financial backers, media sources indicate.
"The whole world would be lined up to back Harvey and Bob," Weinstein's brother and business partner, said one source.
A Miramax spokesman said of the latest film controversy, "We're discussing the issue with Disney. We're looking at all of our options and look forward to resolving this amicably."
In a statement, Disney said, "In May 2003, The Walt Disney Company communicated to Miramax and Mr. Moore's representatives that Miramax would not be the distributor of his film. Contrary to his assertions, Mr. Moore has had and continues to have every opportunity to either find another distributor or distribute the film himself."
Miramax picked up financing for the film after Mel Gibson backed out - a move that prompted the threat of a legal fight between Moore and Gibson, sources say.
"While [Weinstein] may be hated by some in Hollywood, many grudgingly admire him because he stepped up to make this movie," said one Hollywood source.
The decision to halt distribution of Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," which focuses on the Bush administration's handing of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, could turn out to be another bad financial decision by Eisner. Moore's last film, "Bowling for Columbine," was highly profitable - it cost $3 million to produce, yet raked in $120 million in worldwide box office receipts.
"Fahrenheit 9/11" cost about $6 million to produce, most of it Miramax money.
If the film goes on to be a box office hit, it wouldn't the first time that a decision by Eisner to meddle in Miramax affairs turned into a disaster.
Miramax once had the rights to the lucrative "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, but Eisner prevented Miramax from producing it - a decision that has cost Disney more than $1 billion in revenue.
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Me pregunto si M. Eisner podrá dormir despues de que LOTR ganó miles de millones de dólares y sabe cuantos oscares
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