Reel News
Director’s illness
suspends ‘Bounce’ shootThe Warner Bros. film "The Big Bounce" that's being filming on Oahu has suspended production because of director George Armitage's illness. He was struck by a intestinal ailment last week and has returned to Los Angeles for treatment, a production official said.
"The Big Bounce" had been scheduled to complete filming Dec. 31. That date has been pushed up to Jan. 6.
About 50 Hawaii crew members are working on the film. They were notified early yesterday of the shutdown ...
DreamWorks recently asked for redos on remake deals for the "Hawaii Five-0" film, but rights holder and producer George Litto is so determined to have it his way that he secured a credit line from JP Morgan for the film's $100 million budget. DreamWorks refused to give the gross position Litto wanted, as well as creative controls that, sources said, are comparable to those held by the Broccoli family on the James Bond franchise.
Litto hopes DreamWorks still comes back as the pic's domestic distributor, but he has personally financed films before and had a previous credit line with the same lender. Litto knows there's a greater potential to make a lot more money if one is both producer and financier.
Litto's real concern, however, is not giving up rights if Dreamworks does pony up. In recent negotiations, he refused to waive his rights to be part of the decisions on script, choice of director and what actor will play Steve McGarrett. The producer strongly believes if this first feature is "done right, it has the franchise potential of James Bond or 'Mission: Impossible.' But do it wrong the first time and it's over." ...
Life after "Baywatch Hawaii:" Jason Momoa will appear with Virginia Madsen ("American Dreams") and Lainie Kazan ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding") in the Lifetime original movie "Returning Lily." It's the story of Emma Madsen, a busy Boston paralegal, wife and mother of two who is forced to re-examine her life after hearing the devastating news that a close family friend, Lily, has died.
Determined to fulfill Lily's last wish, Emma travels to Hawaii to put her ashes to rest. Emma finds herself involved with "a handsome local" (Momoa) who awakens a passion in her she thought was lost forever. No production dates have been announced ...
Joe Blanco, ex-Gov. Ben Cayetano's chief policy advisor for technology, took issue with a "Reel News" item a couple weeks ago. He believes his departure was erroneously linked to being subpoenaed by former production liaison and buddy April Masini over her lawsuit with the Honolulu law firm Cades Schutte Fleming and Wright relating to the film "Blue Crush." For the record, Blanco, who is not being sued, left the governor's office "with the governor" Dec. 2 and had "no intention or desire to work for the next administration." Blanco and the state's film commissioners were all required to provide a variety of records in separate depositions.
Reel News unspools every Wednesday.
Contact Tim Ryan at tryan@starbulletin.com.