So-called ‘downvoting’ is haunting Hollywood marketers online — but a new Armenian genocide film has a strategy to ‘fight fire with fire’
It had taken years — and the passionate support of Kirk Kerkorian, who financed the film’s $100 million budget without expecting to ever make a profit — for The Promise, a historical romance set against the backdrop of the Armenian genocide and starring Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac, to reach the screen. Producers always knew it would be controversial: Descendants of the 1.5 million Armenians killed by the Ottoman Empire shortly after the onset of World War I have long pressed for the episode to be recognized as a genocide despite the Turkish government’s insistence the deaths were not a premeditated extermination. The Promise, which opens April 21, finally would bring the untold saga to a mass audience. But at the Toronto Film Festival premiere in September, producer Mike Medavoy watched the late billionaire’s carefully laid plans upended by a digital swarm that appeared out of nowhere.
This story is from the April 13, 2017 edition of The Hollywood Reporter.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 13, 2017 edition of The Hollywood Reporter.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Michael Ovitz, Me And The Truce That Never Was
As a new book puts the focus back on CAA’s origins, Kim Masters recalls how the agent’s fit at The Palm and her follow-up kicked off one of Hollywood’s prickliest pas de deux.
Songs Of Innocence And Experience
How 5 writers found the music to convey their films’ tragedy, injustice, patriotism and loveA Wonderful Example of ‘What the World Loves About America’
Execs Can Boycott The Press Tour — But Not The Pressing Questions
With top programmers passing on January’s TV Critics Association panels, THR poses (and answers) the five toughest quandaries of the unfolding season
Making Of Kubo And The Two Strings
Old-fashioned stop-motion meets new-fashioned 3D printing in this directorial debut by the head of Portland, Ore.-based Laika studios — and THR was on the set.
A World Of Pioneering Talents
Along with best picture contender Elle these 13 films may have the momentum to make the Oscar shortlist (still to be announced as this issue went to press)
Iain Canning & Emile Sherman
The Brit-Aussie team behind Lion talk winning an Oscar for The King’s Speech, working with Harvey Weinstein and the upcoming biblical epic Mary Magdalene
Producer Of The Year Charles Roven
He reveals what really happened between George Clooney and David O. Russell, witnessed Richard Pryor behave (very) badly in church and fired an actor for repeatedly shouting ‘cut’ on a set. All in a day’s work for a Hollywood slugger with $2B in 2016 box office.
No Happy Endings Required
The death of satire, when to kill a scene and how to write a Trump movie (‘Let’s hope it’s not a tragedy’).
Don't Stop, Won't Stop Believing
Hulu’s The Path centers on a fringe religious movement, Meyerism, with Emmy winner Aaron Paul as a disruptive doubter — but during a visit from THR, cast, crew and showrunners all seem in perfect harmony.
Ryan Murphy: American Success Story
The prolific producer opens up about the future of American Horror Story, his plans for more Broadway and the real reason an American Crime Story season centered on Hurricane Katrina won’t be quite as depressing as it sounds.
