Actor Amrish Puri passed away
Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - Gilles V
MSN India reported the very sad news that actor Amrish Puri passed away in Mumbai this morning after suffering a brain hemorrhage. He was 72-years-old. Puri is most famous for his role as Mogambo in the Bollywood film Mr India.
 But the film that won him worldwide acclaim was Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in which he played the unforgettable villain character Mola Ram! The picture of the high priest with his horned headgear, surrounded by skulls, is imprinted in many minds.
Interestingly, Puri almost didn't do the prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark because the film's plot, he felt after reading the script, was no different from that of any regular Hindi movie and didn't offer him any challenge.
It was Sir Richard Attenborough who convinced him to do the film, pointing out that it was Spielberg's technique that made his films special. Puri also played a small role in Attenborough's critically acclaimed film Gandhi.
Amrish Puri's death is a great loss for Bollywood and Indiana Jones fans worldwide!
Thanks to 'sttngfan1701d' from The Raven for the news.
Raiders: Adaptation screening in San Francisco
Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - Gilles V
Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation creators Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala and Jayson Lamb will be in San Francisco to screen their legendary film at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival next month.
The screening will take place at The Women's Building Auditorium on Friday February 4th at 4:30 pm and on Saturday February 5th at 12 pm.
Visit the official SFIndie IndieFest website for more information.
And thanks to Chris, Eric and Jayson for letting me know!
Indiana Jones unlockable in LucasArts' Mercenaries
Saturday, January 22, 2005 - Gilles V
The latest LucasArts action game for the Xbox and PlayStation 2 called Mercenaries has two unlockable classic Lucasfilm characters to play with. They are Han Solo and Indiana Jones!
 By accomplishing certain tasks, players can unlock and play as either Indiana Jones or Han Solo, both characters were played by Harrison Ford as you will certainly know.
To unlock Indy in the PS2 version and Han Solo in the Xbox version you must collect 20 "national treasures," which are bonus items hidden in the game. You can then select the two characters using the in-game PDA interface.
However, for PS2 users to unlock Solo and for Xbox users to unlock Indy, you must probably perform a different task.
Go to GameSpot and TeamXbox for more information and screenshots.
Thanks to Mike and Aaron for the news.
Indiana Jones in Mercenaries footage online
Saturday, February 5, 2005 - Gilles V
The official IndianaJones.com has posted an article dedicated to Indiana Jones' appearance in LucasArts' latest action game Mercenaries. With the article comes a great video clip showing Indy in action, wielding an AK-47 instead of his bullwhip.
 "The Mercenaries team are all huge fans of Indy and wanted to pay tribute to his adventurous legacy by adding an Indy character skin," Shara Miller, LucasArts Producer for Mercenaries says. "Between the exotic locale, factions with dubious characters all competing for control, and the completely destructible environment, it's a world that we could very much imagine Indy feeling 'at home' in."
Click here to read the full article and to view the video clip.
Raiders: Adaptation screening in Mississippi
Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - Gilles V
Chris Strompolos has let me know that he will be at The Magnolia Film Festival in Mississippi on Saturday, February 19th for a special screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation.
Head over to The Magnolia Film Festival site for more information.
Indiana Jones fansites update
Wednesday, February 16, 2005 - Gilles V
IndyEsp.Net, the Spanish Fan Community of Indiana Jones, has been completely remodeled to celebrate its 5th birthday. Happy birthday Robert, and good luck with your next 5 years of IndyEsp.Net!
And the MSN Indyfan Community named Indiana Jones and the Sacred Community, brought to us from the Adventure Outpost at the Disney/MGM Studios in Florida, has found a new home & design at www.indianajonesandthesacredcommunity.com. Be sure to pay it a visit as it also contains a new Indy message board!
Indy has one of the most popular jobs
Friday, March 4, 2005 - Gilles V
"Which movie character's job would you want?" That's the interesting question CareerBuilder.com recently asked 1,202 people. It might not be a big surprise, for us Indyfans, but Indiana Jones is one of the top 10 most wanted! Indy is number 6 to be exactly, and so beats James Bond who landed on the 007th position.
Indiana Jones - archaeologist and adventurer, Raiders of the Lost Ark:
Indiana Jones' missions send him darting through caves, searching for treasures and barely escaping a giant rolling boulder. But the real life of an archaeologist isn't nearly so exciting.
Archaeologists study past human cultures by recovering and examining material evidence like ruins. Still interesting work, but if you're looking for dangerous submarine rides, be warned: according to the Princeton Review, you're more likely to "... carefully dust a fragment of a Mayan temple with a toothbrush or measure and examine thousands of tiny, nearly identical chipped stone axes."
Head over to CNN.com to view the top 7 most wanted film character's jobs.
A look back at Indiana Jones Adventure's opening
Friday, March 4, 2005 - Gilles V
The Disney site MousePlanet.com has published a great article about the grand opening of the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye ride, which celebrated its 10th anniversary yesterday!
The interesting article is written by Frank Anzalone who was present at the official opening as a press photographer for Disney magazine in 1995. Here follows a part of Anzalone's article:
After a little more exploring, I ran into a gentleman who seemed to know much about this attraction. It was Skip Lange, the Indiana Jones attraction Show Director from Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI). He explained a few interesting details WDI did to give "credibility" to the story. On the room with the artifacts—the exterior walls are made of 1-inch-by-6-inch wood planks. Some of these pieces of wood have (stenciled) markings on them. One says, "Top Secret" and another has the ID number "9906763." These are the same markings found on the crate that they used to box up the "ark" at the end of the first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Another stencil marking on the wood wall was the name of the sea vessel that was in the second Indiana Jones movie.
Click here to read the full article.
Thanks to Aaron H at The Raven for pointing me to this article.
3 more Raiders: The Adaptation screenings
Friday, March 4, 2005 - Gilles V
Chris Strompolos, one of the creators of Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation, has let me know that there are 3 more screenings of his film coming. Here follows the upcoming screening schedule:
- Palm Beach International Film Festival - Palm Beach, Florida
Afternoon on Sat. April 16th (2005)
7:30 pm on Mon. April 18th (2005)
Info: www.pbifilmfest.org
- Sprockets: Toronto International Film Festival for Children
Wednesday May 4th - EVENING Screening / Public Presentation
Thursday May 5, 2005 - 10 a.m.
Info: www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/sprockets/
There are a few more Raiders: The Adaptation screenings, but they aren't confirmed yet. Chris and I will let you know as soon they are set in stone, so stay tuned!
Courage & Stupidity, a film worth seeing!
Monday, March 14, 2005 - Jawad Mir
Every year, there are 1000s of short films made across the world but only few of them have a great script, high production values and ability to reach masses.
 One of those films is Darin Beckstead' Courage & Stupidity. A comedy inspired by The Making of Jaws tells the story of Steven struggling to finish his feature "Shark Movie" (Jaws) through the help of his friend George.
With numerous references to Spielberg films, characters and a great script, this film will click with everyone. Especially those who are familiar with Spielberg career and history behind Jaws will appreciate it more.
Catch the first eight minutes of Courage and Stupidity on iFilm!
Be sure to visit the official Courage and Stupidity website where you can view the trailer of the film and more great stuff!
And you can also read my review of this film at DreamWorks SKG Fansite.
Raiders: Adaptation screening in Chicago!
Sunday, March 27, 2005 - Gilles V
Our friend Chris Strompolos has let me know that his Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation is getting a screening at The Chicago Future Filmmakers Festival on Friday May 13th, 2005.
The Raiders: Adaptation screening will be held on the campus of Columbia College Chicago.
Visit the official Chicago Future Filmmakers Festival site for more information.
Thanks for the news Chris!
Udoiana Raunes returns with a new adventure
Monday, March 28, 2005 - Gilles V
Great news, Dr. Udoiana Raunes will be back with another adventure! Here follows the message I got from him:
I decided to return for a public interest mission bigger than my life.
One last time - after more than 8 years without Udoiana Raunes games.
I didn't change, I'm the same rough-pixeled man.
Up to now I can't tell you, what I will do. But the creators will
release the game very soon and perhaps you will understand
what it is about when you see this:
http://www.raunes.com/preview.htm
Sincerely,
Dr. U. Raunes
The latest Udoiana Raunes game will be free and downloadable at the official Udoiana Raunes site next month.
Indiana Jones Adventure Attack!?
Monday, April 4, 2005 - Gilles V
Here's an interesting little story. Someone claimed he had been attacked during his visit to the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye ride at Disneyland.
Here follows what Mouseplanet.com reported:
David Koenig reports that waits have been longer than usual on the Indiana Jones Adventure due to its temporarily diminished capacity. An Indy cast member explains, "This spring break has proven to be a difficult one for our attraction because we are constantly operating at 11 to 12 vehicles, rather than 15 as we are capable of having. There have been various issues with the vehicles that we are unable to use. Facilities seems to be content with us staying '105' all day long, but it makes for long lines that really are unnecessary. So much for a rehab, right?"
Worse, on Friday, March 25 the entire attraction was shut down for about two hours due to a mysterious guest attack. At approximately 3:45p.m., a passenger exiting his jeep approached a ride operator and complained that during the ride he had been stabbed in the back of the head. The 39-year-old guest from the San Fernando Valley was holding the weapon, which cast members claim was a syringe.
"The ride was immediately evacuated, and the in-park Anaheim P.D. was called, along with paramedics and every suit that was in the park that day," an employee reported.
According to Anaheim Sgt. Rick Martinez, the victim "said he was poked in the head behind his left ear by a thin, sharp object. Our officer initially couldn't see anything. There was no blood."
Nonetheless, the guest was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Orange. According to Martinez, doctors were not able to locate a wound, but admitted that one could be present yet undetectable if it were under the hairline.
Police took the object, inspected the vehicle, and interviewed the victim and the riders seated next to and behind him. Curiously, the man was sitting in a middle seat in the middle row and, except for the women seated directly in front of him, the other passengers in the vehicle were all friends or family members. The victim reportedly suspects the object was thrown, although some cast members are skeptical.
The case has been classified as a "guest-on-guest assault." Yet one week later, the police report had yet to be filed. "We will continue to investigate," vowed Martinez, cautioning that the case "may be a very difficult one to solve."
Thanks to Indy from Indiana Jones and the Sacred Community for letting me know.
First 5 min. of Treasure of the Templars online!
Sunday, April 10, 2005 - Gilles V
Kenneth Gawn and his crew are proud to present a special preview of their Indiana Jones and the Treasure of the Templars fan film. The 5 minute preview is now available for download at their official Treasure of the Templars website.
 Be sure to check out this Treasure of the Templars fan film preview as it looks very impressive! Fantastic detail and cinematography on a level that we haven't experienced before with an Indy fanfilm!
Note: This 5 min. preview is a rough cut of the opening sequence to Treasure of the Templars. The music used is not the final score, but the opening theme to The Mummy Returns.
Visit the official TreasureoftheTemplars.com or TheRaider.net's Fan Films Theatre for more information about this film.
The Canadians talk about Raiders: The Adaptation
Tuesday, April 12, 2005 - Gilles V
The Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail featured an article entitled Backyard remakers of the Lost Ark yesterday.
The article tells the story of the making of Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation with quotes from co-creator Chris Strompolos. It also mentions the plans for a the motion picture based on the experiences Chris and his partners Eric Zala and Jayson Lamb had on the making their cult film!
Here follows a part of the article:
A few months ago, the Hollywood producer Scott Rudin (The Manchurian Candidate (2004), School of Rock) bought the rights to the story of the three filmmakers, who are now all in their mid-30s. Paramount Pictures is going to make this boyhood tale into a major motion picture, with the script written by Daniel Clowes (Ghost World).
Strompolos, who lives in Los Angeles, says he still pinches himself at the madcap turn of events. But given the subject -- his hero Indy -- he is not surprised that audiences are lapping it up...
Click here to read the full article.
And thanks to Chris Strompolos for showing me the way to the article.
Udoiana Raunes 3 game title revealed!
Saturday, April 16, 2005 - Gilles V
Stefan Zwanzger and Thomas Wagner, the creators of Udoiana Raunes 3, have informed me that their adventure game is close to completion. And the official title of their game is Udoiana Raunes in search for Indiana Jones IV!!
The mission:
bring Steven, George and Harrison finally together to do it
The rooms:
Skywalker Ranch, Harrison's Wyoming Home, Script Dungeon, London and many more...
"If it won't happen with Raunes, it will never happen."
Stafan, Thomas and Dr. U. Raunes are now looking for beta-testers. Beta-Test will start in the next couple of days! If you're interested you can apply to udoiana@raunes.com
You can find more information on Udoiana Raunes in search for Indiana Jones IV at one of the following new websites: www.indy4.com - www.indy4.net - www.indy4.de
New Raiders: Adaptation press coverage!
Friday, April 29, 2005 - Gilles V
Two new Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation stories have been released onto the internet.
The first is a great video story from BBC News hosted by Tom Brook. Go to BBC.co.uk and look for the box for the story on the lower right hand side of the screen and you can watch the streaming video.
The second is a wonderful Indy Spirit "photo essay" by done on Chris, Eric and Jayson about their Raiders: The Adaptation experience. This essay is written by Katrina Onstad from CBC.ca for Raiders: The Adaptation's Canadian premiere at Sprockets: Toronto International Film Festival for Children.
A big thanks to Chris Strompolos for letting us know!
The New Udoiana Raunes game is online!
Monday, May 2, 2005 - Gilles V
Udoiana Raunes creators Stefan, Thomas and Udoiana himself have let me know that their latest adventure game, Udoiana Raunes in search for Indiana Jones 4, is now online and ready for download!
 In this third chapter of Udoiana Raunes you need to help Dr. Raunes on a quest to find the long lost Indiana Jones IV script and bring Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford back together to turn the script into a film. You can download this free game from Dr. Raunes' official websites www.raunes.com and www.indy4.com.
A big congratulations and thanks to Stefan Zwanzger and Thomas Wagner for creating this very entertaining classic adventure game. They really made a game that no Indy fan should miss!
Raiders: Adaptation screening in Chicago!
Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - Gilles V
Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation will be screened at the Chicago International Film Festival's 2005 Future Filmmakers Festivalthis Friday!
I have already reported this news on TheRaider.net before but Aint It Cool News has published a cool news article on this Chicago screening today. Here follows an except:
Capone in Chicago here with big, big, big news for everyone (at least those of you in my fair city) who has been desperate to catch the biggest movie event in all of history. No, not the one with Sith in the title. I'm referring, of course, to the glorious shot-for-shot remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark that those ingenious teenagers spent seven years of their lives during the 1980s putting together with only a home video camera and a dream. I was one of the blessed who caught about the first hour or so of this at BNAT 4 during the breakfast break, and I was among the loudest of those who booed with much fervor when the film was stopped in order to play whatever far-inferior film was next on Harry's playlist for the day.
The Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation Chicago screening is taking place this Friday, May 13, at 8:30 p.m., at Columbia College's Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash, 8th Floor. Raiders: The Adaptation creators Chris Strompolos and Erik Zala will be in attendance!
Tickets are $20 - $10 with a student ID. You can order your tickets in advance at the Chicago Future Filmmaking Festival website.
Two new Raiders of the Lost Ark screenings
Monday, May 16, 2005 - Gilles V
There are 2 new Raiders of the Lost Ark screenings planned! The first screening is for next weekend in Ottawa, Canada and the second screening will take place in Chicago, IL during the first weekend of June.
- On May 21st-22nd, there is a Canada Summit in Ottawa for Indy Fans:
This Summit takes place at the Mayfair Theater in Ottawa, Canada for a special private Raiders of the Lost Ark screening on May 22nd. The screening is open to all fans who wish to attend the screening.
The event will start at 11:30AM and admission will be a donation of a non-perishable food item for the Food Bank.
There will be a Costume Contest for those who wish to attend the Canada Summit in Gear, with a prize for the winner!
You can contact host Rob Gater for more information.
- On June 3 & 4 at 12:00 Midnight, Raiders of the Lost Ark will be shown on the big screen at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago, IL.
Visit their official site for more information.
These are not screenings of Raiders: The Adaptation but of the original Raiders of the Lost Ark!
A big thanks to Rob Gater and Drew Godzik for the information.
Raiders of the Lost Ark screening in NY today!
Saturday, May 21, 2005 - Gilles V
The George Eastman House in Rochester, New York will be screening Raiders of the Lost Ark today at 8:00 PM in the Dryden Theatre! Special guest to this screening is Indiana Jones' costume designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis:
Visiting Artist Deborah Nadoolman Landis presents Raiders Of The Lost Ark (Steven Spielberg, US 1981, 115 min.) The first - and best - adventure of the globetrotting archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) finds our hero on a quest to recover the Ark of the Covenant, where the original Ten Commandments tablets rest. In a post-film discussion, Deborah N. Landis, president of the Costume Designers Guild - and the designer of Indy's ubiquitous hat and leather jacket - will discuss her work and the work of her colleagues in an invaluable but often under-appreciated aspect of the movie industry.
Screening tickets are $6 for general public, $5 for students, and $4 for the museum members. Visit the George Eastman House website for more information.
Raiders of the Lost Ark screening at Star Theatres
Friday, May 27, 2005 - Gilles V
Josh Levey of Star Theatres has informed me that Star Southfield (25333 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48034) will be showing Raiders of the Lost Ark this weekend (May 27th, 28th and 29th) as part of their new summer midnight movie series. Tickets are only $5.
Thanks to Josh Levey for the information.
Epic Stunt Spectacular will NOT be replaced
Saturday, May 28, 2005 - Gilles V
A rumor has been floating on the internet that Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney MGM Studio's in Florida will be replaced by an other Indiana Jones Adventure ride. This rumor is already at least 3 months old.
Earlier this month I have received the good news from a firm source within the Disney MGM Studio's that Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is not going anywhere for at least a couple more years. And certainly not now it's certain that Indy IV is coming.
So whatever other websites are saying about this rumor, the Epic Stunt Spectacular stays at Disney MGM Studios!
Thanks to CJ and his Sacred Community.
Ben Burtt leaves Lucasfilm for Pixar
Thursday, June 2, 2005 - Gilles V
Ben Burtt, the man responsible for the sound effects editing on all 6 Star Wars films and the Indiana Jones trilogy, has decided to leave Lucasfilm after almost 30 years and move to Pixar Animation.
Burtt admits, "The last few years have been frustrating, so I was at a point of change. But I had no official plan."
Yet, the time had come for a new challenge and Pixar came calling. He terms it "the most attractive" of his offers. One reason, Burtt chose Pixar was its Bay Area location. The filmmaker has long been a resident of Northern California not far from Lucas' headquarters at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County and its allied operations. Burtt had no desire to pack up for Hollywood.
More significantly, the sound designer and film editor knew many of the Pixar folks. He recalls that many of the Pixar honchos had been Lucas employees when it was a small division of Lucasfilm.
Ben Burtt has won four Oscars for sound design to date. One for his work on Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and a Special Achievement Award during the 1982 Academy Awards for Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Besides designing the sounds on all the Indiana Jones films, Ben Burtt has also edited four chapters of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and directed Young Indiana Jones and the Attack of the Hawkmen.
Head over to Syracuse.com to read the extended news article.
Spielberg named best director of all time
Thursday, June 2, 2005 - Jawad M
Empire Magazine has named Steven Spielberg the greatest movie director of all time.
British director Alfred Hitchcock came second on the list of all-time greats, for thrillers like Psycho and Rear Window. Martin Scorsese, the director behind The Aviator and Goodfellas, is third, followed by Stanley Kubrick.
Talents such as Star Wars director George Lucas, Charlie Chaplin, and Tim Burton, did not make the top 20, topped by the E.T., Schindler's List and Jaws director.
Gladiator director Sir Ridley Scott, the second Briton in the list, is in fifth place in the poll. Big names like Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson and Kill Bill's Quentin Tarantino, are further down in seventh and eighth place.
But they beat Citizen Kane director Orson Welles, who comes ninth, and New Yorker Woody Allen, who is tenth.
Pick up the most recent issue of Empire Magazine for details.
Courage and Stupidity sweepstake
Tuesday, June 7, 2005 - Gilles V
Our partner site, DreamWorks SKG Fansite, is doing an online sweepstake of the renowned film Courage and Stupidity. Be one of five lucky people to win the Autographed Copy signed by the director Darin Beckstead.
Courage & Stupidity is a comedy inspired by The Making of Jaws. The film tells the story of Steven struggling to finish his feature "Shark Movie" (Jaws) through the help of his friend George.
The contest closes on July 1st. Winners will be announced on July 5th at DreamWorks SKG Fansite.
Visit the official Courage and Stupidity website where you can view the trailer of the film and more great stuff!
Lucas vs. Spielberg article
Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - Gilles V
A quote by Steven Spielberg - "I gotta be careful because if I tell you that he might take over directing Indy IV himself. And I won't have a job." - from two days ago got some people at The Raven forums arguing about the relationship between Spielberg and his best friend, George Lucas.
Yesterday Slate.com published an article by Tom shone on this unique friendship between Spielberg and Lucas. Here follows an except:
It's not the first time that George Lucas and Steven Spielberg have released movies in the same year, but it is the first time they've launched summer blockbusters into each other's airspace, and so similarly bellicose of theme—Lucas' Revenge of the Sith opened on May 18, while Spielberg's War of the Worlds arrives in time for July 4.
It is a battle that, in terms of the box office, Spielberg is expected to lose—Revenge of the Sith has already taken in $400 million in just over three weeks, while War of the Worlds' top projections stop short of $300 million. But the two box-office titans have nonetheless been busy perfecting their impression of two pals helping each other out in the backyard.
This article entitled Lucas vs. Spielberg - The worst best friends in Hollywood is a must read for every fan! The article also mentions their strong co-operation on Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Source: DreamWorks SKG Fansite
Indy's Last Crusade jacket up for auction
Thursday, July 7, 2005 - Gilles V
Beverly Hills auctioneer Profiles in History will auction treasures from the archive of filmmaker Gary Kurtz on Friday, July 29. Kurtz was the producer of Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, as well as American Graffiti, Return to Oz and Dark Crystal. Working closely with George Lucas from 1973-1981 as vice president of Lucasfilm, Kurtz was instrumental in developing the Star Wars trilogy.
Throughout his lengthy career, he has amassed a huge personal archive of film memorabilia. To help fund the restoration and conservation of artifacts in the Kurtz Archive, over 75 Star Wars related pieces, including Harrison Ford's leather jacket from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, have been selected for de-accession.
Auction highlights include:
- Harrison Ford signature leather jacket from Indiana Jones and the Last
Crusade. (Paramount, 1989) Est: $40,000-50,000.
- Luke Skywalker hero light saber from Star Wars. (TCF, 1977) Estimate:
$60,000-80,000.
- Luke's X-Wing flight suit from Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back.
(TCF, 1977&1980) Estimate: $60,000-80,000.
- Darth Vader hero light saber from The Empire Strikes Back.
(TCF, 1980) Estimate: $40,000-60,000.
- Original screen-used Stormtrooper blaster from Star Wars. (TCF, 1977)
Estimate: $25,000-30,000.
- Original Derelict Ship set piece from the first two Alien films.
(TCF, 1979 & 1986, resp.) Est: $40,000-$60,000.
- Burgess Meredith "Penguin" tuxedo shirt from Batman. (ABC-TV,
1966-68) Est: $20,000-25,000.
- Frank Gorshin suit worn as "The Riddler" in the very first Batman
episode. (ABC-TV, 1966-68) Est: $15,000-20,000.
- Tom Hanks complete costume from Saving Private Ryan. (Paramount,
1998) Est: $12,000-15,000.
- Capt. Nemo's skiff from 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. (Walt Disney,
1954) Est: $12,000-15,000.
- Miniature Batmobile from the first Batman film. (Warner Bros., 1989)
Est: $12,000-15,000.
- Original 4077th hometown mileage signpost from M*A*S*H. (CBS-TV,
1972-83) Est: $10,000-12,000.
- Robin William's electronic hero costume from Bicentennial Man.
(Columbia, 1999) Est: $10,000-12,000.
- Vintage coffeepot radio from Hogan's Heroes. (CBS-TV, 1965-71) Est:
$10,000-12,000.
- John Wayne utility jacket from The Sands of Iowa Jima. (Republic,
1949) Est: $8,000-10,000.
- Archive of 52 binders with hundreds of Gone With The Wind publicity
stills. (MGM, 1939) Est: $8,000-10,000.
- Kirk Douglas gladiator armor from Spartacus. (UIP, 1960) Est:
$8,000-10,000.
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer amulet. (UPN&WB-TV, 1997-2003) Est:
$6,000-8,000.
The auction will take place at the Beverly Hills auctioneer Profiles in History on Friday, July 29, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. PDT. Collectors may bid in person, live on the Internet at www.ebayliveauctions.com, by phone or fax.
Visit Profiles in History on the web at www.profilesinhistory.com. Profiles in History is located at 110 N. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.
Source: Yahoo.com
A big thanks to E. Serrano for letting me know.
Raiders DVD delivered by Harrison Ford himself
Friday, July 8, 2005 - Gilles V
Amazon.com will be celebrating its 10th anniversary next week. As special thanks for supporting Amazon.com's work, over 20 actors, musicians, athletes and authors will each personally make a delivery directly to a customer's doorstep between July 7 and July 16.
Someone will open his or her door to find Harrison Ford with Raiders of the Lost Ark! Some other people joining the celebration action are Moby with his recently released CD Hotel and Jason Alexander with a Seinfeld DVD.
Go to Amazon.com for more information.
Thanks to Kefka-X for the news.
Hollywood Memorabilia auction update
Monday, July 11, 2005 - Gilles V
We have an update on the upcoming Hollywood Memorabilia auction by Beverly Hills auctioneer Profiles in History. They will not only auction Harrison Ford's leather jacket from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade but also a prop machete and a collection of 3 Thuggee whips from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
The catalog of the Hollywood Memorabilia auction contains the following info on their 3 Indiana Jones items:
 241. Harrison Ford signature brown leather jacket from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. (Paramount, 1989) Studio-distressed brown high-quality leather jacket with zipper front closure, lined in light brown cotton. Originally acquired from Bermans & Nathans, the jacket has a Bermans & Nathans label in the collar handwritten "Indy III 3402 Ford". Worn by Harrison Ford in perhaps his most famous role - as the sleuthing archaeologist Indiana Jones - this jacket spawned a fashion craze during the 1980s, and is arguably one of the most recognizable leather jackets ever filmed for the silver screen! $40,000 - $50,000
 242. Prop machete from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. (Paramount, 1984) This prop machete was used in the film just prior to the famous Rope Bridge sequence, with rope hoop around the handle and silver reflective tape on the blade. The shape and style of this machete perfectly matches one wielded by a Thuggee who confronts Indy just before he crosses the Rope Bridge. Several variations of machete were used for this sequence, all of which are easy to identify on-screen. In fact, there is a major continuity error in this scene: Indy whips a machete from the hand of one Thuggee, and it flies off into the distance. In the next shot, we see Indy holding what is supposed to be the very same machete! Originally acquired from the film's property master, this is one of the most important and identifiable machetes from the trilogy to have survived. $3,000 - $4,000
 243. Collection of Three Thuggee whips from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. (Paramount, 1984) This group of three distinctive styles of whip, intended for use by the Thuggies, consists of a short ‘cat-of-nine-tails', a black whip with red tasseled end and an elaborate long handled whip with ‘platted' three ‘tails'. The black whip has snapped at the handle, otherwise all are in fine condition. The long handled whip is strikingly similar to the ‘hero' Giant Thuggie Whip, featured prominently in the film. Originally acquired from the film's prop master. $1,000 - $1,500
You can view the full 204 page catalog online at www.profilesinhistory.com.
The auction will take place at the Beverly Hills auctioneer Profiles in History on Friday, July 29, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. PDT. Profiles in History is located at 110 N. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.
Raiders: Adaptation screening this Thursday
Tuesday, July 12, 2005 - Gilles V
Raiders: The Adaptation director Eric Zala has let me know that they're having a screening of their film this Thursday, July 14th at 7pm, at the California Film Institute, 1118 4th St, San Rafael, CA, USA.
Eric Zala, Chris Strompolos and Jayson Lamb will be present for a discussion with the audience.
More info to be found on the California Film Institute website.
Harrison Ford delivers Star Wars
Friday, July 15, 2005 - Gilles V
To celebrate Amazon.com's 10th anniversary Harrison Ford has personally delivered a copy of the Star Wars Trilogy DVD's yesterday. You can watch the video clip of him delivering the DVD's to a surprised customer in Wyoming here at Amazon.com.
Thanks to Shipwreck for letting me know.
Raiders: Adaptation event in Mississippi report
Monday, July 18, 2005 - Gilles V
The Gulf Coast Writers Association recently held a Raiders of the Lost Ark themed fund-raising event at Biloxi's Silver Screen movie theater. Present at this event were Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala as their Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation was shown to the public.
 There was also a Raiders costume contest held that same evening. The contest was won by the 6 year young Dominic Sellers, dressed up as Indiana Jones of course.
"He (Dominic) looks better than I did," Strompolos said to the crowd. "Now, Dominic wants to make a movie."
David Delk of Gulfport won the raffle for a "real" Indy hat. And the GCWA provided the crowds with Gummi snakes, centipedes and tarantulas.
The Raiders of the Lost Ark themed fund-raising event was a success, selling out the theater to screen the locally produced remake of the original movie.
You can find photos and more info on this event at GCWriters.org and The Sun Herald.
2 Raiders of the Lost Ark screenings today!
Friday, July 22, 2005 - Gilles V
The Alamo Drafthouse is hosting a special screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark this evening! The sceening takes place in Round Rock, Texas at the Old Settlers Park today at 8PM (with a pre-show at 7PM). Visit OriginalAlamo.com for more info.
To celebrate Pioneer Day Cedar Hills, in Utah County, will be hosting a screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark today, July 22nd at dusk. Visit Deseretnews.com for more info.
Raiders: Adaptation screening in Arkansas
Friday, July 29, 2005 - Gilles V
Chris Strompolos has just let me know that their Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation is showing again this weekend!
The screening takes place this Saturday, July 30th, as part of the T Tauri Film Festival at Locust Grove, Arkansas. The screening starts at 3:30 PM.
Raiders: Adaptation director, Eric Zala will be in attendance to take questions from the audience.
Click here for more information.
Raiders won poll with most memorable action scene
Saturday, July 30, 2005 - Gilles V
Sony Ericsson recently asked 1.200 film fans which scenes stayed with them the most. A scene from Dirty Dancing, the one where Patrick Swayze lifts Jennifer Gray from water, has been chosen as most memorable of all.
But on the second spot stood a scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harrison Ford's uninterested shooting of an expert swordsman. This same scene was also chosen as the 1st most memorable action scene!
You can view the full list of most memorable film scene here.
Lucasfilm hires new head of marketing
Thursday, August 11, 2005 - Gilles V
Variety reported that Lucasfilm has hired a new man as head of their marketing. Joshua Katz, an exec with experience in numerous cable network rebranding campaigns, will carry the title of vice president at Lucasfilm and report to senior VP Jim Ward.
He will head all global marketing initiatives, including the still-anticipated Indiana Jones IV, and the 30th anniversaries of ILM and Star Wars in 2007. But Katz confirmed that his appointment is part of the company's ongoing shift toward TV production (Daily Variety, Aug. 2).
Katz said that while he expects there will still be Lucasfilm features, including Indy IV and Lucas' future projects, "We have to stop being just a movie studio and have to move to being a television and movie studio."
Head over to Variety to read the full story.
Raiders: The Adaptation screening schedule update
Monday, August 15, 2005 - Gilles V
Eric Zala has forwarded me a list of all upcoming confirmed screenings of their film Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation for the rest of 2005 and beginning of 2006:
-
Seattle, Northwest Film Forum (Oct. 24, 2005)
In attendance: Eric Zala
www.nwfilmforum.org
(As of 8/15, website not updated to reflect screening yet)
- Worcester, MA (Nov. 8-9, 2005)
In attendance: Chris Strompolos & Eric Zala
www.massbayfilmproject.org
(As of 8/15, website not updated to reflect screening yet)
- Sydney, Australia (Nov. 23-28, 2005)
In attendance: Chris Strompolos
www.popcorntaxi.com.au
(As of 8/15, website not updated to reflect screening yet)
- Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio (Dec. 2-3, 2005)
In attendance: Chris Strompolos & Eric Zala
www.wexarts.org
(As of 8/15, website not updated to reflect screening yet)
- Barrie Film Festival, Ontario (Feb. 15, 2006)
In attendance: Chris Strompolos & Eric Zala
www.barriefilmfestival.ca
(As of 8/15, website not updated to reflect screening yet)
Visit our new Raiders: The Adaptation pages for more information on this cult film.
There may be a few festivals that are tentative now that may become confirmed. So Stay tuned!
Special thanks to Eric Zala for the news!
Karen Allen guest at Collectormania 8
Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - Gilles V
Actress Karen Allen, also known as Marion Ravenwood in Raiders of the Lost Ark, has been confirmed as a guest at the upcoming Collectormania 8.
The eighth Collectormania convention will take place from Friday, September 30th, to Sunday, October 2nd, in Buckinghamshire, UK.
Visit the official Collectormania 8 website for more information.
Thanks to 'Skylover' for letting us know.
Lost Raiders scene revealed at IndianaJones.com
Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - Gilles V
The official Indiana Jones site has been updated with a fantastic new feature that shows the lost Shanghai sequence originally scripted for Raiders of the Lost Ark in storyboard form. These storyboards have never been published before, and offer a rare glimpse into how this scene was shaping up for the cameras before ultimately being cut from the script.
Most Indy fans can easily tell you how the second film in the series, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, opens... What many fans may not know, however, is that a sequence very similar to this was originally scripted for Doom's predecessor, Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Click here to read the lost screenplay pages and view all 90 storyboards. The official IndianaJones.com has really outdone itself this time!
Spielberg to produce When Worlds Collide
Monday, August 29, 2005 - Gilles V
Ain't It Cool News reported today that Steven Spielberg has taken over as producer for a remake of the classic '50s When Worlds Collide film for Paramount Pictures. According to Variety, Spielberg is replacing Stephen Sommers who left the project in order to do a film called A Night at the Museum about a museum full of ancient critters that come to life and wreck havoc upon a big city.
Spielberg is only producing When Worlds Collide. He's not the director, though it's unknown at the moment who will direct the film. Personally, I see no danger for Spielberg's upcoming Indiana Jones IV, also for Paramount Pictures.
Head over to AICN for more information.
Thanks to Brett Hopkins for the news.
Actor Michael Sheard has passed away
Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - Gilles V
Scottish born actor Michael Sheard has died at the age of 65. His agent said he had cancer and died at home on the Isle of Wight.
 You will probably remember Michael Sheard best as the actor who played Admiral Ozzel in The Empire Strikes Back. He can also be seen in Raiders of the Lost Ark but will be best remembered to the Indyfans as the actor who played Adolf Hitler in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The people in the UK will also know Sheard well from his role as teacher Mr Bronson in the long-running children's TV drama Grange Hill in the 1980s.
You can read more on Michael Sheard's life and death at MSN News and BBC News. TheRaider.net also had an interview with Mr. Sheard two years ago which you can still read here. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
Thanks to Eric Rothn Brett Hopkins and Bill Roberts for letting me know.
Young Indy making rare appearance in London
Tuesday, September 6, 2005 - Gilles V
Actor Sean Patrick Flanery, better known as Young Indy from The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles tv-series, will be making a rare event appearance in London this November. Other official announced guests are Michael Shanks, David Nykl and Michael Welch.
This exclusive event will take place at the Thistle Hotel in Heathrow, London from 4 till 6 November 2005. More information can be found here.
A big thanks to 'Skylover' for letting us know.
Ford's longtime manager has passed away
Friday, September 9, 2005 - Gilles V
Patricia McQueeney, Harrison Ford's longtime talent manager and a former personality on NBC's Today, has died.
McQueeney died Sunday at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica after a brief illness. She was 77. McQueeney was Harrison Ford's manager for more than 30 years, until the time of her death. My thoughts are with her family and friends.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Thanks to Christopher and 'cinemalad5' for letting us know.
Karen Allen guest at Chiller Theatre Expo next month
Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - Gilles V
Actress Karen Allen has been announced as guest at the upcoming Chiller Theatre Expo next month.
This toy, model and film expo will take place from Friday, October 28th, to Sunday, October 30th, in Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel, E. Rutherford, NJ.
Visit the official Chiller Theatre site for more information.
Thanks to Matthew Gooley for letting me know.
Harrison Ford gets involved in a Manhunt
Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - Gilles V
Variety reported that, Walden Media picked up Harrison Ford for their Civil War thriller Manhunt. Harrison Ford is set to play war hero Col. Everton Conger, leader of the search for Abraham Lincoln's assassin.
Manhunt will focus on the tense days after Lincoln's assassination in 1865 and follow the New York Cavalry as it solves the mystery that eventually leads to John Wilkes Booth, a conspirer behind a plot that threatens to plunge the nation back into war. Col. Everton Conger was in command of the troops when they tracked down Booth to a Virginia barn 12 days after Lincoln was shot.
The film will be produced by Lawrence Bender with Mike Rich (Finding Forrester) writing the screenplay. No news on when Manhunt will start production yet.
This film will be based on James L. Swanson's upcoming book Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, an hour-by-hour account of the search for Booth, to be published by William Morrow in February.
Fun fact is that Steven Spielberg is planning to make a film based on Abraham Lincoln's life, with Liam Neeson playing the legendary president.
Thanks to Brett Hopkins for the news.
IndianaJones.com introduces Marshall College
Saturday, October 1, 2005 - Gilles V
The official Indiana Jones site has opened the doors to their Marshall College. At the new Marshall College you can follow classes about the world of Indiana Jones. The courses you can follow at this moment are:
- Characters:
Biographies of Indiana Jones, Marion Ravenwood, Willie Scott and Short Round.
- Historical Figures:
Biographies of Adolf Hitler and Nurhachi.
- Artifacts:
The history of the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy Grail and the Sankara stones.
- Locations:
A look at Marion Ravenwood's The Raven bar.
- Events:
A study of the Mexican Revolution.
Be sure to check out Marshall College as all these courses are very interesting. And I expect that we will get more courses in the near future so a big "thank you" for all the people who make IndianaJones.com.
Indy's gear and Ark prop on display in Pittsburgh
Saturday, October 8, 2005 - Gilles V
Carnegie Science Center has a new exhibit entitled Action! An Adventure in Moviemaking. This exhibit about movies includes original props from several famous films like the actual Ark of the Covenant and Indiana Jones gear from Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Other outfits on display are Kate Winslet's boarding suit from Titanic , Keira Knightly's dress from Pirates of the Caribbean, Tobey Maguire's superhero costume from Spider-Man , Russell Crowe's armor from Gladiator and much more.
Action! An Adventure in Moviemaking can be visited in Pittsburgh at the Museum of Science and Industry till April 2006. Additional information about this exhibit can be found at the Carnegie Science Center site.
Indiana Jones and the Staff of Ra fan film online!
Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - Gilles V
Tony Garmon's fan film Indiana Jones and the Staff of Ra is finished and can be viewed on his official Staff of Ra website.
This fan film is set in 1926 when Abner Ravenwood and his student Indiana Jones go on an adventure to find the headpiece to the Staff of Ra.
So this is a fan made prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark in which we find out that Abner has died and left his daughter, Marion Ravenwood, behind in charge of a bar in Nepal.
Be sure to visit the Staff of Ra site where you can view the full 30 min. fan film as well as some extra's. You can also find a page dedicated to Indiana Jones and the Staff of Ra in our own Fan Films Theater.
Actor William Hootkins has passed away
Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - Gilles V
American stage and screen actor William Hootkins has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Hootkins died on Sunday (October 23rd) at St Johns Hospital in Santa Monica near his Californian home. He was 58.
 You will remember William Hootkins as the actor who played Major Eatin in Raiders of the Lost Ark. But his first film role was in 1977, playing Jedi fighter Jek Porkins (Red Six) in George Lucas' original Star Wars: A New Hope.
You can read more on William Hootkins' career at Whatsonstage.com. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
Thanks to 'Pale Horse' from The Raven for letting me know.
Sean P. Flannery's visit to London has been cancelled
Thursday, November 3, 2005 - Gilles V
I've been informed that Sean Patrick Flannery has had to drop out of the SG10 event in London this weekend, 4-6th November, as he is working this week in LA.
Here is a short message from Sean:
"I won't be able to make it this trip to London because of a professional commitment. Please relay my apologies to the fans. See y'all next time."
Visit the Wolf Events site for more information.
A big thanks to Richard for the update.
Indiana Jones attractions news
Monday, November 7, 2005 - Gilles V
This year began with a rumor that the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney MGM Studio's in Florida will be replaced by an other Indiana Jones Adventure ride. It was already announced that this rumor was false in May. Then why do I mention this again today?
Because Chris from Indy's Sacret Community had the chance to sit down with Theron, one of the head supervisors for the show aspect of attractions at the Disney/MGM Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida. Chris took the opportunity to ask Theron about the Epic Stunt Spectacular rumor.
Chris: What is the situation with the rumor of Epic closing and bringing in the Adventure ride from California or some version of it?
Theron: "Epic is staying. Period. There are no plans to take out Epic and place an Indy ride in it's place. While the Adventure ride is my favorite ride of all Disney rides, it's just not happening. Epic is, to me, the classic of the Studios. It has stood the test of time and even after sixteen years of the show being the exact same thing with the same stunts, performed the same way it still draws in a full house every single time no matter what time of year it is."
Chris: Now from your stand point, how was this handled in the way of deciding on keeping the two?
Theron: "We were talking about this situation with Epic and Lights! Motors! Action! being two stunt shows in the same park but one is heavy on car stunts while one is heavy on fighting, fast paced foot work. We saw no reason to get rid of one because of another stunt show coming in. Adding to that, we just rehabbed Epic a few years back so there was simply no way, even if we had plans to take out Epic for the ride, it wouldn't happen for at least another five to seven years."
Chris: With Indy 4 finally coming to life, are there any plans to tie the movie into the show such as a way to show the trailers for the movie, short "making of" featurettes about the movie, ect.?
Theron: "Anything is possible. We are looking into additions to tie the two together. Either way, it'll start happening when the fourth movie is near completion, if it gets that far. Let's face it, while I love Harrison Ford, he's not going to be able to do his own stunts when he's old enough and needs a wheelchair to get around."
I've also received news from the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril ride at Disneyland Paris, France.
Jared has let me know that the Indiana Jones ride was changed from a backwards rollercoaster to a forwards facing one. Another change is that now, just like when it opened, each mine car holds only four people.
Thanks to Jared Prestenbach for the and Chris from Indy's Sacret Community for the news.
Trailer for Harrison Ford's Firewall online
Tuesday, November 15, 2005 - Gilles V
The trailer for Firewall, Harrison Ford's new action-thriller, has been released online. You can view the trailer via this link. Firewall will be released in the USA on February 10, 2006.
Firewall is about a thief (Paul Bettany) who kidnaps bank security expert Jack Stanfield's (Harrison Ford) wife and children, forcing Jack to rob his own bank for millions of dollars.
The trailer of Steven Spielberg's latest Munich is also online. You can view that trailer at the official Munichmovie.com site. Munich will be released on December 20th.
A Closer Look at Pankot Palace Cuisine
Saturday, November 26, 2005 - Gilles V
The official IndianaJones.com has been updated with a new feature article related to the upcoming Thanksgiving feast.
Their A Closer Look at Pankot Palace Cuisine article gives us closer look at not only the Thuggee cult their unsavory meal (Snake Surprise, Beetle Appetizer, Chilled Monkey Brains, etc.), but also the backstories of each unique dish which can still be found in some faraway restaurants today.
A very nice and original article. Certainly worth checking out if you are looking for inspiration to an unforgettable Thanksgiving meal.
Treasure of the Templars trailer online!
Sunday, December 11, 2005 - Gilles V
A trailer of Indiana Jones and the Treasure of the Templars, the most professional looking Indy fan film to date, has been released online. You can find the trailer plus more info on the fan film at the official treasureofthetemplars.com and our own Treasure of the Templars info page.
Paramount Acquires DreamWorks
Sunday, December 11, 2005 - Jawad M
Moving swiftly after negotiations bogged down with a rival, Viacom Inc. closed a deal on Friday to pay $1.6 billion for DreamWorks SKG, the Hollywood studio founded by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen, according to an executives involved in the negotiations.
Viacom and its studio division, Paramount Pictures, sealed the acquisition at a meeting on Friday between Mr. Geffen, Mr. Spielberg, Tom Freston, Viacom's chief executive, and Brad Grey, Paramount's chairman. More than half of the money will come from private equity investors, the executives involved in the talks said, and the price includes the assumption of about $400 million in DreamWorks' debt.
DreamWorks had been in advanced talks with General Electric's NBC-Universal, but told Universal on Friday that if it could not meet Viacom's price, DreamWorks would break off negotiations, according to an executive close to those discussions. Shortly thereafter DreamWorks confirmed the purchase by Viacom.
For Paramount, the move is a logical one. Mr. Grey recently took charge of the studio and it still has a relatively thin production slate of 11 films for next year. DreamWorks has nine completed films for release next year, among them Flags of Our Fathers, directed by Clint Eastwood, though one of those includes a film co-financed with Paramount, the musical, Dreamgirls."
The Paramount purchase also provides a new home for Mr. Spielberg, one of the most powerful and prolific directors in Hollywood, whose Amblin Productions is located on the Universal lot. Mr. Spielberg is not required to make his movies at DreamWorks, but he has generally made DreamWorks a partner on his projects. These included the recent War of the Worlds and the coming Munich, about the hunt to assassinate the Palestinian killers of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics in 1972. His presence at Paramount would lend the studio his great prestige.
Paramount and Universal recently dissolved the international distribution company, UIP, that they owned jointly, which distributed films by DreamWorks and DreamWorks Animation, the animation division recently spun off as a public company. Until each company can build separate international distribution companies, Paramount and Universal have divided up various countries for distribution of DreamWorks films, but the prospect of losing this distribution income made DreamWorks an enticing purchase for either company.
The board of Viacom on Thursday approved the purchase of DreamWorks. Last fall, the board rejected a request by Paramount executives to open negotiations with DreamWorks. The difference this time was that private investors would share the risk of the purchase, said several people close to the company.
The final private equity partners have not yet been determined, said an executive at Paramount, added that several firms were interested. The Quadrangle Group, an investment firm that specializes in media, is a likely contender. Quadrangle declined to comment.
The executive close to the talks said that private equity investors would put up $800 million to $1 billion, while Viacom would put up $600 million to $700 million.
This offer trumps a previous bid by NBC-Universal, which had been in serious negotiations with DreamWorks since mid-October. But Universal had been offering far less for DreamWorks, $700 million plus an assumption of an estimated debt of $400 million, according to an executive close to those talks.
For months Universal had been the only suitor wooing DreamWorks, which many in Hollywood and on Wall Street considered a logical fit. Universal co-financed movies with DreamWorks and had a lucrative agreement to distribute all of DreamWorks' DVD's and theatrical movies worldwide, which added millions of dollars to Universal's bottom line.
Source: NYTimes
FOXNews.com published the following "theory" about Paramount buying DreamWorks and the upcoming fourth Indiana Jones film.
But Universal may have guessed the obvious: Spielberg's next movie, Indiana Jones 4, certain to be a mega blockbuster, is parked at Paramount — something not lost, I am certain, on the Paramount/Viacom execs. By buying Dreamworks, Paramount secures Spielberg and reaps all benefits of working with him. If Indy 4 is made, and is indeed a $500 million hit, the Dreamworks price tag won't look so bad.
I am not sure what's going to happen with the name DreamWorks, whether it will stay or go away. We will have to wait and see for that.
Indiana Jones Trilogy screening at Aero Theatre
Thursday, December 29, 2005 - Gilles V
The American Cinematheque will be screening the Indiana Jones trilogy at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, CA, next month.
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
Saturday, January 14 - 7:30 PM
With an introduction by Raiders' Visual Effect Supervisor Richard Edlund.
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
& Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Sunday, January 15 - 7:30 PM
Including a discussion between films with Visual Effects Supervisor, Mike McAlister.
Visit the American Cinematheque website for more information.
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