[ergogroup]Venerable Studio Reborn an an Indie

[roni@ergoentertainment.com]

article in today's Times about Bingham Ray taking over United Artists. i just highlighted an interesting paragraph on UA's view of documentaries (and probable competition in the documentary category at upcoming festivals). link to full article below.

...At the Cannes International Film Festival in May, his purchase of Michael Moore's comic documentary about gun control, "Bowling for Columbine," was seen as a statement that the company intended to be aggressive in going after films it likes. And if Mr. Ray paid as much as rumors had it — the most common guesses in the indie world are $1.5 million to $3 million — he is taking a clear gamble.

Few documentaries have done well at the box office, among them Wim Wenders's "Buena Vista Social Club," which earned $7 million in 1999, and Mr. Moore's "Roger & Me," which earned $6.7 million in 1989.

Mr. Ray said he was convinced that "Bowling for Columbine," which he intends to take on the fall festival circuit before releasing it this year, will not only be a rare breakout hit but a trend-setter as well.

"I think it's a movie that's going to really reinvent what nonfiction films can do at the box office," he said...


http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/31/movies/31INDI.html