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This topic comprises 4 pages: 1 2 3 4
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Author
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Topic: Austin Powers ad removal
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Jason Black
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1723
From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-26-2002 01:57 PM
Hey guys, In the event you haven't been told, NLC has sent (via Fed-Ex overnight) a memo DEMANDING that all trailers and one sheets for the upcoming AP-3 bee removed immediately. Please read as quoted from the NLC memo:
"Dear Exhibitor:
We are writing to demand that you immediately cease any use of promotional materials related to the film currently entitled "Austin Powers in Goldmember". Failure to do so will result in prohibition of exihibtion of this film in your theatres. We appreciate your anticipated cooperation. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions." Signed by Sonya Thompson Halsey / Business Affairs Administration WTF? They DEMAND? How cocky is that? I, for one, think they much be renaming the print, ala. Star Wars Revenge of the Jedi. Anyone else care to quess as to what is going on here? ------------------
The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!
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Bob Healey
Film Handler
Posts: 93
From: Milford, CT
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 01-26-2002 04:47 PM
Article on yahoo:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/eo/20020125/en/007_dis_gold_members_austin_powers_1.html Friday January 25 08:36 PM EST 007 Dis(Gold)members Austin Powers Forget Dr. Evil and Mini-Me, it's apparently James Bond that poses the biggest threat to Austin
Powers. The International Man of Mystery has been shaken, stirred and otherwise dismembered by 007. Or
make that dis-Goldmember-ed. MGM and Danjaq, the British company that controls the Bond film license, have obtained a
cease-and-desist order against New Line Cinema that prohibits New Line from calling the latest
installment of Mike Myers' shagadelic spy series Austin Powers in Goldmember. Apparently, the 007 folks weren't too keen on the double entendre of Goldmember--a takeoff on the
1964 Bond classic, Goldfinger--and released the legal hounds to force the name change. "MGM/UA and Danjaq have a zero-tolerance policy towards anyone who tries to trade in on the
James Bond franchise without authorization," says an MGM spokesperson. Over the past 24 hours, New Line has begun frantically recalling all promotional materials--posters,
trailers, photos and anything else that bears the name Goldmember--from movie theaters, TV stations,
Websites and other media outlets. "We are currently in the arbitration process and trying to resolve this matter under the MPAA
guidelines," the studio says in a statement. "Until that time, we will be referring to the film as the third
installment of Austin Powers." The suddenly untitled flick, which began shooting late last year, could require some serious tweaking if
New Line can't get the Bond folks to budge. In addition to playing Powers, Dr. Evil and Fat Bastard,
Myers was reportedly going to add a new character to his repertoire. The name? Goldmember. One of the most anticipated films of 2002, the latest Austin Powers misadventure will costar Michael
Caine as Austin's dad and Destiny Child's Beyoncé Knowles as the love interest. Returning cast
members include Michael York, Robert Wagner, Seth Green, Mindy Sterling and Verne Troyer. Jay
Roach once again mans the director's seat. New Line is banking on the film's success. The first installment Austin Powers: International Man of
Mystery grossed $88 million worldwide and its sequel, The Spy Who Shagged Me more than tripled
that sum, earning $310 million, making it the highest grossing film in New Line's history. Myers
reportedly netted $25 million for the third episode. MGM and Danjaq have been fiercely protective of their multibillion-dollar Bond cash cow over the
years. They successfully sued Sony in 1997 after the studio tried to lauch its own 007 film. The next Bond film, starring Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry and tentatively titled Bond 20, began
shooting in England this month for a holiday release.
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Jerry Chase
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1068
From: Margate, FL, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-26-2002 06:12 PM
The question is whether this is a parody a la "Airplane" and the parody of "Airport" or a lifting of the plot and treating it in a humorous fashion, but in a manner that could be confused with the Bond franchise and characters.IMO, the suit is dumb. If the film is made, it won't have a negative impact on the Bond products as much as drive people to rent "Goldfinger" again and see other Bond films to compare films. There is little possibility of people confusing the Bond films and a parody, which would be the underpinning of any legit suit. Sometimes you just have to stand back on the sidelines and admire the testosterone driven chutspa of executives and lawyers that start a pissing match standing downwind of their opponent. I guess they have hopes of scaring a few unearned bucks out of them. Myers needs to keep notes and do a film on the executives and their shenanigans.
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