March
3
Digging Into New Line, Past and Future
Indie maverick Bob Shaye never fit comfortably inside the Warner House. There was always an aura of dysfunctional family around New Line. And the company's track record, year in and year out, was always spotty. While the distrib excelled for decades inside low-budget indie horror, action, comedy and urban niches, New Line often fell down in the realm of higher-budget pictures best left to the big studio--with the notable exception of the great trilogy The Lord of the Rings, which extended Shaye and New York-co-chairman Michael Lynne's autonomous run for a period of time. But even on Lord of the Rings, Shaye publicly wrangled with various talent connected with the pics over who got what share of the loot. Only recently did New Line finally come to terms with Peter Jackson so that the Hobbit prequel could go forward.
Portfolio.com's Fred Schruers looks into the volatile New Line situation. And here's Variety's latest report. UPDATE: And the NYT on New Line as a casualty of the dearth of hits these days.
New Line did not fare as well after the 2003 departure of Michael DeLuca, Shaye's brilliant alter-ego, surrogate son and often, bad boy who finally acted out too much to be allowed to stay on. But talent loved him. And he knew how to make movies.
When Wedding Crashers became a smash hit in 2005, Toby Emmerich was solidified as DeLuca's replacement as production chief. But Emmerich never commanded the same level of respect inside the film community. New Line's fate was sealed when the company sold off foreign territories on its would-be new fantasy franchise, The Golden Compass, which proceeded to disappoint domestically--and kick ass overseas. Warners wasn't going to let that money walk out the door again.
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New Line was a magical place when I worked there. I was hired during a low point (TOWN AND COUNTRY and LITTLE NICKY anyone?) And then weathered 'Black Friday', when Michael DeLuca and 25% of the staff was let go. But then came THE LORD OF THE RINGS. I left the studio shortly after they won the best picture Oscar (tm) for the third installment, and boy, was it exciting. I mean, this was the kind of place where the head of office administration walked around the building with the Oscar in hand, and would let you hold it (and of course, make your own lame speech). Yes it was dysfunctional, but we were a family. And I brought my dog to work every Friday! Where else could that happen? RIP, New Line. I'll always have fond memories.
Carrie Love
Posted by: Carrie Love | March 07, 2008 at 10:20 AM