I could say this past week was the realization of an idea I initiated about 16 months ago – although the original dream was stimulated about 46 years ago – but, candidly, I won’t be content until I’m walking with Diane down the red carpet of Grauman’s Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard for the premier. With that said, the week was certainly a colossal step closer to the climax of a childhood dream.
In early December 2006 I sent my good buddy Barry Josephson a 4-page movie treatment that I believed could be made into a Hollywood blockbuster – and also redefine the perception of the pirate genre. I’m not talking about Johnny Depp in the cartoonish Pirates of the Caribbean or Gina Davis in that shitty flick Cutthroat Island. In fact, I don’t believe there’s been a good pirate movie since Errol Flynn starred in Captain Blood back in 1935. I remember the thrill of a kid watching Blood’s crew board a prize and the dreams of wearing the sash and sword. I still marvel at that old movie and now I’m pursuing that old dream! (By the way, Captain Blood’s jacket is part of my piratical collection.)
Barry responded positively to my concept. Yes!
I trust Barry’s instincts and I know he’s brutally honest when it comes to his professional passion. He is currently the head of Josephson Entertainment with the recent Disney hit Enchanted to his long list of production credits. He was formerly President of Worldwide Production for Columbia Pictures where he was responsible for such smash hits as Men in Black, Air Force One, In the Line of Fire, and Bad Boys to name just a few. So a green light from my man was a good sign.
Barry suggested that I work with his VP of Development, Danika Radovanov, to further develop my treatment prior to him attaching a great screenwriter to the project. We did and then he did. He recruited a writer named David Franzoni.
If you’ve never heard of David Franzoni, neither had I. But there’s a good chance you’ve witnessed his brilliant work. David is an Oscar Award-winning screenwriter with credits on movies such as King Arthur, Amistad, and one of my favorite flicks of all time, Gladiator. I remember during our first meeting over a year ago, David said, “I see Blackbeard as Maximus gone bad.”
Yes! He got it. I had found my piratical soulmate!
So here we are - after a Writers Guild strike, David working on his indie film project, Barry producing a movie in New Zealand, and my crazy ass schedule – to finally take our Blackbeard pitch on the road. You can’t imagine how excited I was to visit the legendary Hollywood lots of DreamWorks, Universal, MGM, Fox, Paramount, Sony, and CBS Films to share our unique story.
Barry expertly began each pitch with introductions, the genesis of our friendship, and the back-story of our movie concept. He then presented the executive(s) with my book Pirate Soul to demonstrate my passion and pirate credentials. I supported Barry’s claim by pouring several genuine pieces of eight (circa 1678) onto open palms. Like these artifacts our movie was the real deal.
Next, I delicately opened a petite container directly below their noses to reveal six very tiny nuggets of gold. Blackbeard’s gold!
My Pirate Soul Museum in Key West has a close relationship with the North Carolina Maritime Museum – which houses the excavated artifacts from Blackbeard’s warship Queen Anne’s Revenge. So two weeks ago I contacted the Executive Director, David Nateman, with an unusual request. And as long as I insured the contents, my friend had a priceless package delivered to my office.
An interactive pirate book, pieces of eight, and gold were a sparkling touch to preface our pitch, but they were quickly forgotten once David began the telling of his Blackbeard tale. He was amazing. You could visualize his characters, scenery, and conflict. I added some color, historical notes, a heaping helping of passion throughout the presentation, but it was David who left the audience in awe. He had me mesmerized all eight times.
We visited seven studios but Mark Sourian, the executive vice president of production at DreamWorks, invited us to return the following day for a second pitch to his production president. And Adam Goodman said the sweetest words to the ears of this dreamer: “This is great. I want Steven to hear it.”
Danica, David, Barry, and me on Paramount’s lot.
The team flying around the FOX lot.
This entry was posted
on Monday, May 12th, 2008 at 8:12 am by Pat Croce
Leave a Reply
May 13th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Love it, Pat, love it! I love Franzoni and Gladiator is one of my all-time favorites as well. As I recall, it took him about 10 years to get Gladiator up on the silver screen, and Stephen was the one who made it happen for him (if memory serves).
The nuggets of Blackbeard’s gold - great touch.
I need more, Pat! I need the rest of your amazing pitch story.
Thanks,
Joe Ayella
Wayne, PA
May 13th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Joe,
Thanks for the compliment; I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Wish me luck!
May 14th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
You got it, Pat: luck!
When do you pitch Steven? Isn’t he at Cannes? Are you en route?
Thanks,
Joe