[Nettime-bold] Media delays of entertainment programs and movies

[cisler <cisler@pobox.com>]

Since the 9.11 attacks our television, film, and radio industries here in
the U.S. have put a lot of programs on hold or changed the content of
others. In the immediate aftermath, comedians were off the air or became
serious. The Onion web site had innocuous re-runs of old satire. Numerous
television pilot program or opening episodes were delayed or changed.  The
opening season for new television series was due to start here at the end of
this month. Included were three different series about the Central
Intelligence Agency:  "24", "The Agency", and "Alias" most of which dealt
with terrorists or some exciting thread with visual possibilities.  They
won't be the tales of "cratologists" in the CIA (the people who analyze
satellite photos of shipping crates to determine what weapons or planes
country X is buying from country Y). All of them were meant to boost the
image of the agency which has been criticized yet given more money in the
wake of the intelligence failures this month.

A number of movies are being re-shot, according to the New York Film
Commission, in light of the attacks.  One film/movie/blockbuster is being
withdrawn:  Arnold Swarzenegger's "Collateral Damage"   I took an extensive
look at the genesis of this movie, what fans thought about it, and the
recent withdrawal. It was due to open (after many delays) October 5 here in
the U.S.  That means the prints were made, but not distributed. The web site
has been pulled, but Google archived enough material to help me with this
posting.

Arnold: "I'll be back!" Swarzenegger (September 24)

"For the last, you know, 50 years, action movies have been in and if they
are well-made people will go in to see it," he said. "I mean, I don't think
that - if there's any indication that this terrorist attack happened because
of some of the terrorist movies that were made, then that's one thing, but
that's definitely not the case."   -Arnold Swarzenegger

OFFICIAL Warner Brothers STATEMENT ON "Collateral Damage"!

Wednesday, September 12, 2001
WB has released their official statement minutes ago:

WB Studios, BURBANK, CA, September 12, 2001 - In light of yesterday's tragic
events and out of respect for the victims and their families, Warner Bros.
Pictures has postponed the October 5th release of the political action
thriller "Collateral Damage." A new release date for "Collateral Damage" has
not yet been scheduled.

Warner Bros. Pictures is making an immediate and complete effort to retrieve
all outdoor advertising; to pull the website and all in-theater advertising,
including trailers and posters; and cancel all radio and television
advertising and promotions for this film.

On behalf of director Andrew Davis, producers Steven Reuther and David
Foster, the film's star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Warner Bros. Pictures,
we extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of those who lost
their lives in Tuesday's terrorist attacks and join the nation in focusing
our hope on the continuing rescue efforts.

THE FANS SPEAK OUT

Akim Bischoff, who runs TheArnoldFan.com wrote an editorial about the delay:

...Unfortunately, and ironically, Schwarzenegger's upcoming film "Collateral
Damage" has become a victim of exactly what its title suggests. After
charting the progress of "Collateral Damage" for over a year now, with our
anticipation growing each day, Warner Bros. has understandably pulled the
plug on its theatrical release with only 3 weeks until its debut. It seems
almost like a cruel joke, but it was the right thing to do in consideration
of the thousands of people across the world who lost friends and family in
Tuesday's tragedy.

So what will become of "Collateral Damage?" Warner Bros. has not publicly
announced as of yet, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to assess the
studio's actions and determine (for the most part) the film's fate. Here is
what can be assessed:

THE RELEASE DATE: When Warner Bros. pulled the official Collateral Damage
website off-line, this offered a clear indication that Arnold's terrorist
thriller would not be released in the next 6 months, in concern of the
nation's newfound sensitivity towards terrorism. If Warner Bros. had any
intention in releasing "Collateral Damage" in the next 6 months, they would
leave the website running and just postpone advertising.

Some people may suggest that the studio just wants to retool the film's
website and promotion minus any terroristic themes, and they will re-launch
it in the next few months, but that is impossible. Terrorism is what the
film "Collateral Damage" is all about. There is no way to repackage it.
(Anyone who has read the script knows exactly what I mean.)

My prediction is "Collateral Damage" will not see the light of day until at
least one year from now, after the anniversary of this horrible tragedy.
While this realization is very frustrating, 1 year is certainly better than
what has faired for similar films in this situation, like the infamous "O"
which was delayed for a couple years after the Columbine shooting.

THE TITLE: In my opinion, once this film is re-released, "Collateral Damage"
will not be the title.

Tuesday's tragedy has changed the course of history. America has declared a
"War on Terrorism" and it is a foregone conclusion that the U.S.A. will
enact a long military campaign in the days to come. With all military
strikes, once again focused in the middle east, there will always be
'collateral damage' (the taking of innocent lives) in the next few years.
Simultaneously, the term "collateral damage" will increase dramatically
among news journalists across the world. With that said, Warner Bros. will
try to avoid this stigma and change the film's title upon re-release (maybe
focusing on the word "justice.")

THE CONTENT: This is what concerns me the most. There is a fear among film
lovers that Warner Bros. may feel the need to tone down ''Collateral Damage"
and remove a great portion of graphic violence especially during the scenes
that depict terrorist destruction. This decision would definitely be
disastrous. It would not only butcher Andrew Davis' original vision but it
would be an insult to the audiences everywhere.

Would it make sense to soften the violence of a World War 2 film to appease
the surviving veterans of the World War 2? Would it make sense to depict the
war as a tame event (and not the gruesome horror that it truly was?) Of
course not! War veterans everywhere would be extremely insulted, and I
wouldn't blame them. Well the same standard should be applied here.

Any effort to actually soften the depiction of a terrorist act on film would
ruin any sense of realism in "Collateral Damage." We all have learned that
terrorist acts are brutal. Many of us will be able to relate to Arnold's
character when this film hits theaters someday. Let's not make a joke out of
it. Now more than ever, the audience should never be fooled. They should
always be reminded how horrible terrorist destruction can be.
--

SO,  WHAT'S THE STORY?

In June, some writing under the name of Harry Caul (Gene Hackman's character
in "The Conversation") posted a history of the screenplay for "Collateral
Damage."   What's interesting is the number of screenwriters and how the
backstory for the main character changes during the frequent re-writes. It
begins as a tale of revenge by a man whose wife and child have been killed
by a terrorist's bomb, changes to a basketball coach whose son and wife are
killed when a terrorist blows up a tower in Manhatten, and ends with Arnold
as a fireman going after a Colombian drug lord.  For more details about the
script changes read on.

Script Comment: COLLATERAL DAMAGE

By Harry Caul 

(6/14/01)

DISCUSSION BOARD: Click Here.

Hey gang, Chris here. Harry checks in with some thoughts on the upcoming
COLLATERAL DAMAGE film to be released in October, and may indeed be pushed
back even further. There was a review of an older draft up on the web, but
it's gone. We've done some checking and have this report for you.

Hey Chris, your pal Harry here. I've got a saying, a proverb, a maxim, for
you: The greater the number of screenwriters involved with the film, the
greater the odds it will suck.

Due to be released in October (maybe) is Arnold Schwarzenegger's latest
attempt at regaining his blockbuster form, COLLATERAL DAMAGE. THE 6TH DAY
and END OF DAYS nearly resulting in about the sixth time Arnold has faced
the end of his days as a major Hollywood movie star, or at least one who is
considered capable of carrying a film by himself. His last legit hit was
TRUE LIES way back in 1994.

COLLATERAL DAMAGE is a script originally penned by Ronald Roose, revised by
Nicholad Meyer (STAR TREK 6), then by the Griffiths (David and Peter), and
again by Mike Werb and Michael Colleary, the writers behind John Woo's
FACE/OFF. And if that's not enough for you, Terry George (THE DEVIL'S OWN)
and Channing Gibson (RED PLANET) also got stabs at the script as did Frank
Darabont (THE GREEN MILE). I was unable to discover final screenwriting
credits as the WGA will most likely have to decide. I believe only three
screenwriters can receive credit, there might be an exception if a
screenwriting team is involved where by four screenwriters would be
credited. I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong. (Pop quiz: what is
the highest total for screenwriters working on a single project?)

I've read two old drafts, and both are absolutely worthless in terms of a
review as the vision Ronald Roose had for this story has long since been
destroyed. Now, I'm not saying that Roose's original script was a
masterpiece. The original story dealt with a guy whose wife and child are
blow up buy a terrorist's bomb, and then he seeks revenge. By the time the
script was on its fourth draft (after revisions by David and Peter Griffiths
draft) the story dealt with a high school basketball coach (and ex-player at
U. of North Carolina) who's son and wife are killed when a terrorist blows
up Mason Tower in Manhattan.

At this point in 1998 Arnold could not have been involved as no one in their
right mind would have him playing a basketball coach -- especially since
that draft shows his character doing basketball drills. Could have made for
some humor actually.

Another knock against the story at that point, the Oklahoma city bombing. No
one wanted to make a movie about a terrorist who blows up a building where
hundreds are killed and injured. Who can blame them.

Eventually Mike Werb and Michael Colleary (FACE/OFF) are brought in
(sometime in January of 2000) and do an almost complete overhaul of the
story as far as I can tell. Not long after their work Arnold Schwarzenegger
was quoted as saying (commenting on the story to Empire Magazine) "Colombian
guerrillas attack a motorcade in Los Angeles that has the Colombian
ambassador inside. They blow up the motorcade and at the same time my family
gets killed, which is called collateral damage, it¹s a military term. I go
to Colombia to try and find who was responsible and it becomes find myself
in a big mess with death squads, the right-wing military, guerrillas,
terrorists and drug-lords."

The story moves from Arab terrorists to drug lords in Colombia, which fits
right in today's latest go-around in cliché ridden films. Right now the
fashionable thing to do is make your bad guys drug dealers. So if you're
finishing up that spec script and your bad guys are Arab terrorists, change
it to Mexican or Colombian bad guys ;)

I believe there was some more "tweaking" done to the script until we have
this description some months ago on the movie's official web site:
"Collateral Damage tells the story of family man and firefighter Gordon
Brewer (Arnold Schwarzenegger), who is plunged into the complex and
dangerous world of international terrorism after he loses his wife and child
in a bombing credited to Claudio "The Wolf" Perrini (Curtis). Frustrated
with the official investigation and haunted by the thought that the man
responsible for murdering his family might never be brought to justice,
Brewer takes matters into his own hands and tracks his quarry ultimately to
Colombia."

The fourth draft to the script, October 23, 1998, could be described the
exact same way (funny ain't it?), the only major changes are the main
character going from basketball coach to fireman (better suited for someone
the size of Arnold), and it's now set in Colombia not the Middle East. The
script is sometimes engaging, but most of the time surprisingly bad.

Gordy Pitt, now Gordon Brewer (to be played by Arnold S.), plays a
basketball coach in the old draft, one who takes matters into his own hands
and somehow gets to Libya and hunts down a man, called "The Wolf." A known
terrorist and the guy who is credited with the attack that killed his
family. This story requires that you suspend your disbelief to an almost
unacceptable limit.

By moving the story south of the border you the audience member will have an
easier time believing a fireman could actually find a terrorist down there.
At least this way he's not going half-way around the world. But still, there
will undoubtedly be some serious suspension of disbelief in order for this
story to work. 

The early drafts have a nice twist in them, and since I suspect it could
still hold true for the final script that was shot, I will withhold it.

Overall, I don't think we can expect much from this film. Countless
rewrites, polishes and tweaks have most likely created a convoluted,
compromising and inventless script. We already know Arnold likes things to
be written a certain way in his movies. This will be no exception.

The film wrapped months ago and is awaiting release. It is directed by
Andrew Davis (THE FUGITIVE, A PERFECT MURDER, UNDER SIEGE) and also stars
John Leguizamo (Felix Ramirez), Francesca Neri (Selena Perrini), Elias
Koteas (CIA Agent Peter Brandt), John Turturro (Sean Armstrong), Cliff
Curtis (Claudio "The Wolf" Perrini), Lindsay Frost, Jsu Garcia, and Tyler
Posey.

-- Harry Caul 
www.screenwritersutopia.com/script_reviews/collateral_damage.html


Steve Cisler


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