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No story about independent film marketing, performance or production is complete without a reference to Miramax and the same is true for coverage of the AFM. Even though the company's slice of the domestic box office pie was smaller last year than in previous years, its international sales skyrocketed. President Rick Sands, as a panelist during the "Distributing the Independent Vision" seminar on day seven of the nine-day market, proclaimed that "domestic release is helpful but not essential to the success of a film." Though it is often used to "test the success of a film" in other markets "it's not a real indicator" of performance, Sands said, citing Wayne Wang's Smoke as an example of an eight million dollar domestic box office that gave no indication of the film's eventual $30 million take internationally. Sands, as well as other Miramax execs, are quick to emphasize that Co-chairmen Harvey and Bob Weinstein created an incredible marketing and distribution company whose efforts are paying off in the international marketplace. Sands claims 75% of all revenues are generated from streams outside of the United States, with television experiencing explosive growth in Germany and all of Europe and with new delivery systems coming into existence at an alarming rate. While there is current conflict between rights holders seeking to capitalize on the new markets by claiming their portion of the bundle of rights a film represents covers the new delivery systems, the markets themselves continue to grow. Sands has no doubt that "software will drive capital investors" and put production companies and distributors who know how to market films in a great position. This international hunger for product is what keeps Miramax selling 12 months out of the year. Sands says the company has relationships with two (or three) distributors in each territory who are kept abreast of the slate of Miramax acquisitions and projects in development. Sands repeats the company mantra "we plan our work and work our plan" in every arm of the company.
Cedric Jeanson, V.P. of International Sales, appreciates the great cache of the Miramax name but stresses that the invisible credibility account between the company and every one of its buyers must be maintained by nurturing personal relationships at every opportunity. These relationships are at the heart of competition and Jeanson believes that Harvey and Bob Weinstein simply do it better than everyone else. According to Jeanson, whatever "it" is, the Co-chairs "have it" and, when combined with a sales force committed to getting the product before its buyers, "it" proves time and again that other companies -- even those who spend more money on a particular campaign -- can't beat Miramax. Jeanson says the company is busy building new relationships and maintaining old ones with foreign distributors who are also producers, who deliver what they promise. By mid-market, it was reported that Miramax is either discussing or has finalized co-production deals with a number of such distributors for projects in the $10 to $20 million range. The companies and territories include Spain's Lauren Films, possibly Senator Films or Kinovelt in Germany, Cecchi Gori Group in Italy, Hachette-Premiere in France and Shochiku in Japan.
Miramax has a total of 25 films for sale at the AFM, including five sold under the separate Dimension banner such as The Crow: City of Angels, From Dusk Till Dawn, and Children of the Corn IV. Recent domestic releases being sold by Miramax International include Ted Demme's Beautiful Girls, the Paris Barclay directed Wayans brothers vehicle Don' Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, and the Sundance 1996 favorite Meet Ruth Stoops now called Citizen Ruth, starring Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz and Burt Reynolds.
Big names on tap for upcoming releases being sold at the AFM include:
Other big names appearing shortly at a theater near you thanks to Miramax include:
More information on each of these films will also be posted on the Miramax website, an entertainment lounge whose many bells and whistles (and downloadable jpeg's) can keen any webhead's attention for at least 30 minutes worth of clicking and waiting at http://www.miramax.com.
