Whatever happened to these Spokane movies…
This version of “Whatever Happened To” might better be titled, “Where in the Pipeline?” As in, movie pipeline. We sat down with Rich Cowan of North by Northwest to find out the status of the last four movies that the Spokane production company has filmed here:
“”The Golden Door,” starring Joseph Cross, Snoop Dogg, Rachael Leigh Cook, Sara Roemer, Annette O’Toole, Mimi Rogers and Joe Pantoliano – Filming of this romantic comedy just finished a month ago. The music and sound and effects have not even been completed.
Yet it has already been sold in several film “territories” (countries or regions) around the world, based on a brief trailer.
Cowan said selling the rights before the film has been finished is unusual, but worldwide movie buyers liked what they saw and already are snapping it up.
The bigger markets – the U.S. and Germany, for instance – will wait until the picture is screened at Cannes in April.
“The goal is to get in a bidding war with some studios,” said Cowan.
North by Northwest won’t know until then whether the movie will have a theatrical run or a straight-to-DVD path.
Cowan said “straight-to-DVD” is not an insult.
“It could be actually very successful going straight to DVD, because going to the theaters is expensive and risky,” he said.
“The movies we make typically have budgets of from $1 million to $5 million, occasionally in the $10 million range. Usually with that budget level you don’t have the major star power of a $50 to $100 million dollar movie. It may be a better revenue path to go straight to DVD.”
Still, Cowan thinks “The Golden Door” could easily become a fall theatrical release. He called it a “real cute film.”
“”Diamond Dog Caper,” starring French Stewart, Garrett Morris, Kevin P. Farley, John Farley, Cameron Monaghan and Brittany Curran – This family caper comedy features a dog, kids and bumbling criminals. It was filmed in summer and will be screened for the studios in January.
North by Northwest’s Hollywood representative is “extremely optimistic” that it will get a theatrical deal, said Cowan. He described it as “Home Alone” with a dog.
“We’ll see what happens,” said Cowan. “But if it doesn’t go to theaters it will be a fairly big DVD release, with plenty of advertising.”
“”The Family Holiday,” starring Dave Coulier and Christina Pickles – This family holiday movie, featuring dogs and orphans, was filmed specifically for the Lifetime Channel.
It has aired twice, on Dec. 22 and on Christmas Day, and will repeat Monday at 5 p.m. on the Lifetime Movie Network (cable channel 504 in Spokane, 163 in Coeur d’Alene).
It’s also available on DVD, so you can buy or rent it and see plenty of Spokane scenes. The movie’s opening shot is of the Maple Street Bridge.
The setting is specified as Spokane, by the way.
“ “A Thousand Years of Good Prayers,” starring Henry O, Faye Yu and Pasha Lychnikoff – This film about a young Chinese immigrant woman and her father, made in fall of 2006 by well-known director Wayne Wang, is almost guaranteed a 2008 theatrical run.
It has already been screened at the Telluride Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival, and it won Best Film at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain, one of the top European film festivals. Henry O, playing the father, won the Best Actor award.
The Hollywood Reporter called it a “finely observed portrait of a father/daughter relationship that will resonate deeply for many viewers.”
“It’s going out to theaters in May,” said Cowan. “It’s an art-house release. It’s the kind of movie you’ll see at the Magic Lantern or the AMC Select.”
Once again, Spokane plays Spokane.