They make books into movies. They make TV shows into movies too. And comic books. And plays. So why not turn a painting in to a movie?
That’s exactly what Lionsgate and the Firm are teaming up to do. Together, the two companies will adapt Thomas Kinkade’s painting The Christmas Cottage into a feature, with a holiday release planned. This is but one project in the deal Lionsgate has made with the artist to produce film and TV projects based on his work, which Variety describes as “paintings with glowing highlights in idealistic settings, such as country cottages and streams.”
Kinkade’s company has apparently sold approximately $1.7 billion worth of artwork over the past 15 years along with $2.4 billion in licensed product sales (greeting cards, calendars, etc.) in the past 10 years. That means his art can be found in one out of every 10 homes in the U.S.
The film will shoot next month with Michael Campus directing and Ken LaZebnick (Prairie Home Companion) writing. The picture will be partially biographical, “based on how Kinkade was motivated to begin his career as an artist after discovering his mother was in danger of losing the family home.” And if that’s really how Kinkade got his start as a painter, you’ve got to hand it to him. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to get a real job that pays if you’re trying to save the family home? But he persevered as a starving artist instead, apparently.
Lionsgate’s Michael Paseornek says that the company was interested in Kinkade in part because of his “massive mailing list” — an e-mail address in one of 10 homes! Who can blame them?
Here is one of the paintings
Just imagine what horror will be unleashed.
Speaking of unleashed, the Burger King King will also get his own movie.
By now everyone’s seen those bizarrely creepy Burger King commercials in which the massive-headed mascot appears in the most weirdly unlikely of places. Apparently this ad campaign has been something special for the BK corporation — it even spawned a series of Xbox video games that some of my friends call “addictively awful.” (I played the one called Sneak King … for about 3.3 minutes.) But now comes word that the King of Burgers is about to make the leap to the silver screen. Yes, that’s right: A feature film centered around a corporate mascot.
According to MSN, Burger King already has a studio and a distribution deal in place for Burger King: The Movie* — and they’re threatening to have the movie finished by the end of this year! The head marketing guru for the fast food franchise indicates that the flick will be an “origin story,” although I doubt it will be a re-enactment of the character’s true origins. Who’d want to watch a movie about a mid-70’s marketing meeting, anyway? (“Hey, I know! We’re called Burger King, so let’s use an actual burger king!”) It’s a horrible idea to make a Burger King movie, obviously, but at least the company is being honest about it. I distinctly remember a few movies that felt like feature-length McDonald’s commercials, only they were advertised as actual films.
* This is not the confirmed title, but I bet it’s the one they go with.
But some possible good news, Disney is making hand-drawn films again, complete with the first black princess!
Disney shows first black princess
Disney’s next animated fairy tale, The Frog Princess, will feature the studio’s first black princess.
Maddy is an African-American girl living amid the faded grandeur of New Orleans’ French quarter.
The movie will also see a return to the hand-drawn animation process, instead of using computer animation that has become the industry standard.
The film will be made by John Musker and Ron Clements, the team behind The Little Mermaid and Aladdin.
Cajun charm
Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook said: “The film’s New Orleans setting and strong princess character give the film lots of excitement and texture.”
Composer and singer Randy Newman will provide music for the film, which promised an “unforgettable tale of love, enchantment and discovery with a soulful singing crocodile, voodoo spells and Cajun charm,” a Disney spokesman said.
The studio said its new princess will be added to its collection of animated princesses used at the company’s theme parks and on consumer products.
The film is set for release in 2009.
The princess. Is she really black, or just a white woman with dark skin? Rumor is Alicia Keys will voice, but then it could be anyone.