Bob and Doug Scrambling for Cash | |
Bob and Doug McKenzie | July 22, 1999 @7:36pm EDT |
Shooting of the McKenzie brothers movie sequel, Home Brew, has been delayed indefinitely after a financing deal set up by the company founded by actor Dave Thomas fell through. |
|
From: William Denton Newsgroups: alt.tv.sctv Subject: _Home Brew_ won't film: "Bob and Doug scrambling for cash" Date: 21 Jul 1999 23:36:52 GMT Organization: Miskatonic University Press Lines: 84 Message-ID: <7n5lik$f4u$1@news.interlog.com> X-Val-Dodge: Sorry, but whoever told you I had an X-Header was lying. Xref: rQdQ alt.tv.sctv:9788 From today's Financial Post (of Toronto): ---------- BOB AND DOUG SCRAMBLING FOR CASH Brenda Bouw Financial Post Shooting of the McKenzie brothers movie sequel, Home Brew, has been delayed indefinitely after a financing deal set up by the company founded by actor Dave Thomas -- a.k.a. Doug McKenzie -- fell through. Home Brew, a $15-million (US) sequel to the 1983 cult classic Strange Brew, written by Rick Moranis -- Bob McKenzie -- and Mr. Thomas, was to begin filming in Toronto this week. It was scheduled for release in theatres early in the New Year. But a financing deal arranged between Maple Palm Productions, a movie company founded in 1997 by Mr. Thomas, and Toronto-based MEG Media Group, fell through late last week, causing cast and crew to postpone plans until a new deal can be arranged. Sources say part of the financing involving insurance on the deal was not carried out. Maple Palm refused to comment on the financing troubles yesterday. Mr. Thomas, who was in Toronto last week finishing the script for the film, has returned to his office in Santa Monica to try to work out a new deal. He is said to be devastated by the delay. Iliana Arapis, a spokesperson for MEG, said the two sides are still talking about working out a deal that could put the film back on track. "It is still in negotiations at this time. The industry is so haphazard, it changes from moment to moment," Ms. Arapis said. "We cannot confirm the details of the production schedule until these discussions have concluded." Earlier this month, MEG Media Group signed a $50-million (all figures in U.S. dollars) deal with Maple Palm to finance up to eight films ranging in price from $4-million to $15-million. Both MEG and Maple Palm would have a 50% ownership stake in the productions. Funding for the films was to come from U.S. banks, private equity raised through a merchant bank and venture capital funds. Home Brew was to be the first film produced under the deal, followed by Out of Order. "We are quite pleased to align ourselves with an equity partner that allows us to essentially green-light our own films," Mr. Thomas told The Hollywood Reporter. As of late yesterday it was unclear whether Maple Palm and MEG could salvage the financing deal, or if a new investor would have to be found to complete Home Brew. Maple Palm is said to have been in talks with Labatt Brewing Co. and other companies to help market the film to its keenly interested Canadian audience. MEG has been involved in Canadian film financing and production since 1997, including such productions as the TV series Daring and Grace and the animation series Monster by Mistake. Sources say Home Brew will not be cancelled and when the film is finished it will again star Messrs. Thomas and Moranis in the roles of beer-guzzling Canadian brothers. The plot involves the McKenzies believing Bob's home-made beer is good enough to start their own brewery and is meant to poke fun at get-rich-quick schemes started by entrepreneurs seeking the success of such investors as Warren Buffet. ---------- The original is at http://www.nationalpost.com/financialpost.asp?f=990721/33827 Bill -- -- William Denton : Toronto, Canada : http://www.miskatonic.org/ : Caveat lector. |
|
Back to News | |
The contents of this page are likely copyrighted by the respective author(s)