Scorsese's Paramount Deal
Variety.com Grey parlays Scorsese as drawing card By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK, PAMELA MCCLINTOCK Brad Grey was a producer on Martin Scorsese's 'The Departed,' starring Matt Damon. Wooed by Brad Grey and enjoying the biggest commercial success of his career, Martin Scorsese has inked a four-year first-look deal with Paramount Pictures to direct and produce films, TV, direct-to-DVD pics and digital content. One unique twist: Par has the option to own half of any film the filmmaker directs elsewhere, as well as to co-distribute. Deal marks the first time in years that Scorsese has aligned himself with a studio; among directors, only Steven Spielberg has a producing deal of relative heft. Despite all the recent talk of studios trimming costs by refusing to support the upper reaches of the star caste system, Scorsese deal signals that studios still care a great deal about working with top talent -- and hiring the director who can lure that talent. For Scorsese's first Paramount feature, idea is for him to direct a larger-scale commercial film like "The Departed." Of the more than 40 films Scorsese's helmed, Warner Bros.' "Departed" has turned into his best B.O. performer. Pic has grossed more than $150 million worldwide since its bow five weeks ago and is considered an awards contender. Under the terms of the pact, Scorsese will work on films for both Paramount proper and John Lesher's Par Vantage. Lesher was Scorsese's agent before Grey hired him to run the studio's specialty arm. First-look deal was revealed just days after Paramount announced it would distribute Scorsese's untitled Rolling Stones doc, which he is currently filming. Otherwise, the studio wouldn't disclose what specific projects will be first up under the deal. The addition of Scorsese to the Par family comes not long after the studio opted not to reup its production deal with Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner in a very public break, saying Cruise was simply too expensive. Deal with Scorsese shows that Paramount is certainly willing to pull out the checkbook and pay for overhead when the talent is right. Scorsese and his Sikelia Prods. will remain based in Gotham. "I have had a great personal relationship with Brad Grey for several years now and am looking forward to working with him at Paramount, a studio rich in cinematic history and responsible for making some of my favorite films -- 'Sunset Boulevard,' 'Shane' and 'The Heiress,' among others," Scorsese said. Grey, a producer on "Departed," has said from the outset of his tenure at Paramount that he would use his existing relationships to bring in a stable of what he deems to be the best directors and talent. "Departed" marked the first time Scorsese and Grey worked together. At that time, Grey -- in addition to his duties at Brillstein-Grey -- was part of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's Warners-based Plan B, which helped producedthe Scorsese film. (When Grey was named Paramount topper, Plan B left Warners for Par, sans Aniston). Grey also helped Scorsese on the filmmaker's 2005 docu "No Direction Home: Bob Dylan." "I wanted to create a home here for Marty. I believe that talent attracts talent, and we're honored to have him here," Grey said. "For the last year and a half, my priority has been to attract the best talent we can, both in front of and behind the camera." To that end, Par bought DreamWorks and inked deals with Pitt's Plan B, Cameron Crowe and J.J. Abrams, among others. One directing project Scorsese already had set up at Par is "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt." Other projects in the pipeline at Sikelia Prods. include period piece "Silence" and a proposed docu on the late filmmaker Elia Kazan.

One directing project Scorsese already had set up at Par is "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt." Other projects in the pipeline at Sikelia Prods. include period piece "Silence" and a proposed docu on the late filmmaker Elia Kazan. Any def. word on which project is Scorsese's next?

Thanks StormyTeacup for the news :) If Silence is next (it's supposed to start next Summer), would it be co-distributed by Warner and Paramount, or has the deal already been signed with just Warner?

Since the new deal only lasts for 4 years, that's just enough time for two directorial projects. So I figure that Warners was looking for a Silence co-distributor before the Paramount deal was struck.

I was just looking up Scorsese to see if there was any further news about him coming to NZ to film 'Silence' but found this interesting snippet instead... His blonde leading ladies are usually seen through the eyes of the protagonist as angelic and ethereal; they always wear white in their first scene Can anyone recall what Vera wears in her first scene? Is she wearing a white blouse perhaps? The film finally opens here next week and then I can quit bugging you all for the details :roll: :lol:

Her first scene is the elevator scene with Colin and she's wearing a gray pinstriped suit. However, she has on a white blouse during the therapy scene with Billy. Two Scorsese blonde leading ladies who come to mind and are introduced wearing white and in slow motion (which is ethereal) are Betsy in Taxi Driver and Ginger in Casino.

Stormy Teacup - I wore my TD hoodie into the cinema complex in Invercargill last week. The manager wanted to know how come I was wearing the hoodie when he wasn't showing the film for a week or so. I explained and told him he had a really great film coming! I hope you enjoy and get to see the film a few times. Our daughter in Chch is counting the days.

Thanks for the fashion watch Arnzilla, I thought you might recall what Vera wore over her thong :lol: :lol: Margot sounds like the hoodie is getting lots of use :D :D and yes... I'm counting the days too :roll: :roll:

More Scorsese blonde leading ladies introduced in slo-mo: Vicky in Raging Bull (don't remember the color of her bathing suit) and Paulette in Life Lessons (she's wearing dark colors).

The Hollywood Reporter's story mentions a possible budget for "Silence." According to Grey, the filmmaker will be able to set up projects at Paramount, DreamWorks or Vantage, where the director would have the option to "make some films at a lower price point," Grey said. "He knows I want to be supportive of what he wants to do creatively." Scorsese said recently that he is interested in directing lower-budget films. Vantage's new co-president, Nick Meyer, will be involved in selling Scorsese titles overseas. Lesher already is developing projects with the filmmaker, and Scorsese is pushing hard for a green light on his 15-year passion project "Silence," a period film adapted by Jay Cocks from the Shusaku Endo novel set in the warring states of 16th century Japan. The budget, which has been estimated to be as high as $65 million, would exceed Vantage's budget caps. Graham King would produce.