Variety.com - Mouse draws on toon titan

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http://www.variety.com/story.asp?l=story&a=VR1117872334&c=13

Variety.com <http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=front_page>  

Posted: Wed., Sep. 4, 2002, 10:00pm PT
 
Mouse draws on toon titan
 
Pact pumps Disney pipeline
 
By CLAUDE BRODESSER
<http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=bio&peopleID=1352> ,  CATHY
DUNKLEY <http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=bio&peopleID=1635> 

 
In a move as surprising for its scope as for its address, John Williams,
producer of DreamWorks' mega-hit "Shrek," has partnered with rival Walt
Disney Studios in a multi-project animated film output agreement.
Williams' Vanguard Films, which has just produced Jackie Chan actioner
"The Tuxedo" for DreamWorks Pictures, will form a strategic partnership
to produce a slate of computer-animated feature films budgeted at
between $35 million and $40 million.
Deal critically adds a second established turnkey supplier to Disney's
animation pipeline, alongside Pixar, which most recently delivered the
box office smash "Monsters, Inc." under its ongoing pact with the Mouse
House.
Disney will handle North American theatrical and DVD and homevideo
distribution rights on pics, with more than 50% of the financing to be
raised via pre-sales through Ralph Kemp's London-based foreign sales
outfit, Odyssey Entertainment. Mouse House also has worldwide licensing
and merchandising rights to pics under the pact.
The first film to go into production will be "Valiant," a comedy penned
by George Webster and George Melrod, followed by an anticipated slate of
three more CG-animated films.
While set in WWII, "Valiant" is described by insiders as more "Private
Benjamin" than "Private Ryan," following a lonely and comically misfit
pigeon through boot camp at the Royal Pigeon Service. Vastly unqualified
for the job, Valiant squeaks his way through RAF training and is
abruptly sent on the most important mission of the war, charged with
carrying key dispatches from the French Resistance to Allies regarding
the D-Day landing in Normandy.
At the Vanguard
Pact for "Valiant" will mark the launch of a new venture, Vanguard
Animation, which will expand Vanguard from an independent production
company into a fully financed digital animation studio with the
capability to internally develop and finance its own projects.
Williams will act as CEO of the new company, while a recent Vanguard
addition, Neil Braun, will serve as prexy of Vanguard Animation.
"We are thrilled to join forces with John, Neil and their incredible
team of top animators in this extraordinary production partnership,"
said Dick Cook, chairman of Walt Disney Studios. " 'Valiant' is a
terrific story that will live up to the highest standards of animation,
and Vanguard's exciting development slate promises great entertainment
that will certainly appeal to all audiences," he added.
"We have set up a unique approach to funding and making these movies,"
said Williams. "We will make these films for under $40 million each, and
they will be delivered within two years of their start date. We will
deliver 'Toy Story'-to-'Dinosaur'-to-'Shrek'-level animation. We came to
Disney with confirmed financing, completed scripts, completed budgets,
multiple CG tests for each film, advanced character designs and
production design concepts."
Feeding a lean Mouse
Disney recently slashed staff and overhead in its animation unit in an
attempt to contain costs, spending a relatively lean $85 million on its
inhouse-produced "Lilo and Stitch" after watching profitability erode on
high-cost pictures such as "Tarzan." Deal with Vanguard also gives
Disney access to additional animation talent it no longer has inhouse.
"Valiant" will start pre-production this month in Los Angeles, then move
to Ealing Studios in London for production. Pic will be released in fall
2004. Eric M. Bennett, president of production for Vanguard Animation,
will co-produce the film along with Barnaby Thompson, a producer/partner
of Fragile Films and Ealing Studios.
"Our objective is to make animated films that are great comedies, great
adventures and great entertainment and which are suitable for a broad
family audience," said Williams. "With the success of 'Ice Age' and
'Shrek' overseas, there was a real appetite in major foreign territories
for mainstream CG fare."
As the newly formed alliances move forward, Williams will continue in
his first-look, live-action deal with DreamWorks Pictures, ongoing since
1995.
Aggressive fund-raising
Braun, a former prexy of the NBC television network who recently joined
the company, has pursued a very aggressive and successful round of
financing for Vanguard Animation as the company looks to scale up
operations. Braun, along with Vanguard animation directors Roy Furman
and Tom Lewyn, was instrumental in pulling together the new company. He
was also previously chairman and CEO of Viacom Entertainment and
president of Imagine Entertainment.
Curtis Augspurger and Buckley Collum of Menace FX will oversee the
building of Vanguard's physical animation studio. Menace has joined
forces with Vanguard Animation in a joint venture to oversee the
establishment of its substantial CG operation.
Augspurger and Collum, who have worked extensively on digital production
with companies including Warner Bros., Disney and Electronic Arts, will
also co-produce "Valiant." 

 

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