PLATINUM, GOLD CIRCLE, $200 MILLION, 10 FILM DEAL

[MattBrady]

Platinum Studios, Gold Circle Films, and $200 million. Yes - $200. Million.

Today, breaking both in The Hollywood Reporter and The Wall Street Journal, it was announced that Platinum Studios and Gold Circle Films (firs domestic release - My Big Fat Greek Wedding) have signed a development deal for 10 movies based on characters from Platinum’s library for $200 million. According to Platinum, this is the largest deal in history between studios, financiers and comic book producers.

Platinum’s release reads:

"What's unique about Platinum is not just access to a large library, but also their awareness of the complexities and tax needs of combining financing from around the world. They truly understand the financial model", noted Paul Brooks, President of Gold Circle Films.

Gold Circle's production executive Zak Kadison brought the Platinum Studios deal into the company, where it will be administrated by himself and Brooks. The first four projects to be born from this deal are "Seen," a thriller about a photographer who finds himself stalked after accidentally photographing a crime, "Casting Shadows," a psychological thriller about a group of friends whose seemingly harmless magical games turn serious when one of them turns up dead, "Book of Mercury," based on the comic book stories by Alan Moore about a magical book with the power to rewrite the future, and "In Law and Order," an action-comedy about an FBI agent forced to team up with his tough cop dad and his mother-in-law, a fiery liberal judge. These four projects will begin production as early as 2005 with Brooks and Platinumís Chairman, Scott Mitchell Rosenberg producing and Norm Waitt executive producing.

"With this $200 million fund from Gold Circle, there are no layers. We find a project and talent and can be in production within a year. Merchandising and marketing partners will have easy, digital access to creative elements for sales and cross promotion.," said Rosenberg. "From a financial standpoint, we participate at every level in a real way - GC has crafted a very forward thinking deal, and the first one of its kind that weíve accepted, even though weíve been approached with others."

Founded by Rosenberg in 1997, Platinum Studios is known for comic-to-film adaptations and currently has motion pictures in development with leading studios such as Sony Pictures, Walt Disney Studios, Miramax Films, Dream Works, and Rosenberg's Malibu Comics has the "Men in Black" franchise at Sony.

Gold Circle Films, which is backed by Gateway Computers billionaire Norm Waitt, previously released "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," the highest grossing romantic comedy of all time. The company recently signed a first-look distribution arrangement with Universal Pictures with their first releases from this deal being the highly-anticipated thriller, "White Noise," starring Michael Keaton, opening nationwide January 7th and the Debra Messing romantic comedy, "The Wedding Date," in theatres February 4th.

According to Platinum sources, they are actively searching for the remaining six films to fill out the deal, and are open to submissions via their websiteat www.platinumstudios.com/submissions

[Vyper]

Good for Platinum. Wasn't the "Book of Mercury" the central point of the "Judgement Day" story that Alan Moore did for Liefeld's Maximum Press/Awesome Comics back in '97?

[Mr. !]

Originally posted by Vyper
Good for Platinum. Wasn't the "Book of Mercury" the central point of the "Judgement Day" story that Alan Moore did for Liefeld's Maximum Press/Awesome Comics back in '97?

Sounds a lot like it. I just don't remember it being called "Book of Mercury." There were several characters from Judgment Day who took possession of the book at one time or another, but I can't see any of it being made into a movie. Taking the concept and creating a new story about it, I can see. However, there would be very little of the original Alan Moore story left in it.

That must be it then, since there was practically nothing of the original story in From Hell or LXG movie adaptations.

[Aaron Weisbrod]

Good news for Platinum!

I'm curious, though... have they released any actual comicbooks yet? Or have any release dates been set?

I'm not trying to be a jerk... I'm just generally curious. I see that they've accumulated a lot of *PROPERTIES*... and after all of the hype I'd like to get a chance to start checking out some of their books.

Hoping to get some,
Aaron Weisbrod

[Danny Donovan]

Congrats to Scott, Lee, Aaron and the gang at PS.

Good News all around.

[gredenko]

Wow, so "understand(ing) the financial model" is the key to making good movies. Who knew?

[dollman]

Ok...maybe I miss something here. Other than an Alan Moore project, what notable comic properties does Platinum Studios own? I've never heard of Platinum until now.

[Posco]

What exactly does the developement deal consists of? Clearly the 200 Million USD are not payed just for the rights to the concepts / stories.

Christian

[El Dandy]

The way I understand Platinum Studios, is that they buy or make deals with comic writers for their scripts, solely on the properties ability to sell as a movie. And they probably are taking scripts from unknown writers and from books that haven't been released as a comic so far. That's probably why most of the properties listed are unknown to anyone outside their studio. I don't know if this has been their business plan from day one, because they have released some books that don't say "movie deal" to me. But you can read what they ask for in a script/property on their submissions page.

You can look at their site here - http://platinumstudios.com/titles/index.php

El Dandy

[scott rosenberg]

Hi Vyper. Danny and everyone else -- some answers:
you said: Good for Platinum. Wasn't the "Book of Mercury" the central point of the "Judgement Day" story that Alan Moore did for Liefeld's Maximum Press/Awesome Comics back in '97?


And the answer is:::: YES on everything you said! We love what Alan Moore created, and pulled from the comic, his scripts, and his bible materials all the Book of Mercury info and backstory.

We're staying true to his backstory and description of the book -- but figuring out new stories for the film.

El Dandy and Dollman: We work with comic properties from both known and unknown talent. Remember, when I had Malibu Comics, and MIB came out, it was from a first time writer. We're working on projects from Top Cow, new guys, and concepts and creations from established talent. Feel free to check out platinumstudios.com

Releases: some of the comics have been releases (see site for Awesome, Top Cow, Dark Fringe and others), and many are starting summer '05 as graphic novels and mini-series.


Posco: the $200 million is a production fund to pay for the movies.