Blackbeard Adventure Continues -- 6/29/08
I love seeing in my inbox an email from David Franzoni. As the writer for our movie script on Blackbeard, he controls the pace of the project. So when comments or queries are sent my way, I know the creative genius is busily penning Blackbeard’s 1718 bloody adventure.
Here’s a brief example of questions Franzoni (he likes to be called by his last name) has tossed my way:
What is the list of New World characters that would cross Blackbeard’s path – governors, naval personalities, victims?
What are the names and descriptions of important ships in our tale?
What are the types and descriptions of warships the British would use besides Man-O-Wars and their ordinance?
What are the specifics of pirate weaponry, especially used in boarding prizes?
I remember just prior to my meeting with Franzoni in Barry Josephson’s office on the Fox lot over a year ago, Barry forewarned me that this guy is very creative and loves the preciseness in historical details within his period pieces like Gladiator and Amistad. So be prepared!
Bring it on Mate!
With my extensive and extremely rare pirate library dating back to a first edition of Esquemelin’s Bucaniers of America (1684) to the celebrated buccaneer William Dampier’s 4-volume set (1697) to Captain Johnson’s two-volume set of A General History of the Pyrates (1726) – which includes the first vivid account of Blackbeard’s exploits – to research compiled by some of the world’s best pirate authorities, it’s fairly easy for me to research Franzoni’s specific requirements. But I what I couldn’t find in any of those treasured books was how Franzoni planned to incorporate genuine history with his Oscar-winning grey matter.
It wouldn’t take long.
I discovered that before a script is written, the studio must approve the movie’s outline. DreamWorks wanted to ensure that the writer and producers are on the right path – the same path as they perceive. I can understand their reasoning. They don’t want to invest big bucks in the creation of a movie script to discover that it strayed from what they believe to be a blockbuster.
Franzoni had forwarded his first draft of the Blackbeard outline to Barry and me last week for our notes, questions, and suggestions. The outline began with 11 pages and contained 57 numbered paragraphs describing the scenes (beats) that constitute the arc (flow) of the story. It ended with 12 pages and 61 paragraphs.
I wanted more blood!
Seriously, it was a great read! I could picture the movie in my mind. The characters, scenery, and drama felt real and very threatening at times. And the tone was exactly what we had pitched to the studios – similar to Gladiator, Braveheart, and Last of the Mohicans.
Over a series of telephone calls and emails, Barry and I shared our thoughts and notes with Franzoni to hone the outline to the satisfaction of us all before Barry presented it to DreamWorks’ production gurus, Adam Goodman and Mark Sourian, on the promised day.
Today!
Spielberg Bought It! -- 5/18/08
It was around 10:00 on Tuesday night and I was returning to my car from a dinner meeting at Flemings in Radnor, Pennsylvania. I had spent an enjoyable time in a private dining room with the partners and fellow advisors of NewSpring Capital. The wine was wonderful, the food delicious, and the conversation informative and humorous which elevated my normally ebullient disposition to the next level.
But what happened next spiked my mood to a NBA Finals Game 1 win-like level!
As I was exiting the restaurant I habitually checked my Blackberry for any messages. I noticed both the orange envelop email icon and the smiley face instant message icon at the header notifying me that my workday had not yet ended. I first clicked on the text messaging service – where only a few individuals have access to me – to appease my curiosity.
I read the name Barry with the message: Call me. Good news. I had been hoping, wishing, and praying that I’d receive some correspondence from Barry Josephson relative to our movie pitches to the Hollywood studios the previous week. (See: Blackbeard Pitch)
Immediately, I stopped in my tracks and dialed Barry’s office number. It was only 7:00 in LA and I knew that the Josephson Entertainment crew usually burned the midnight oil. By the way, Barry has a cool little building on the Fox lot directly next to Shirley Temple’s old mansion. I always enjoy walking through the studio acreage to get to his offices while I gaze at the monster-size portraits of faded movie stars, fake facades, and dozens of passionate people engaged in the production of Hollywood fantasies.
After a subdued “hello” all I heard Barry say was, “Spielberg bought it!” Then my phone left my ear as I struck a Rocky pose with both fists punched high into the air accompanied by my vocal chords involuntarily letting loose a scream of “Yes!” The valets in the restaurant parking lot turned to see who won the lottery.
Need I describe to you the pleasure I’m feeling knowing that the movie maker who’s magical touch brought us ET, The Color Purple, Gladiator, Amistad, Saving Private Ryan, and Schindler’s List among dozens of other great movies will have a hand in making my dream movie come true.
I think Steven will be surprised when he discovers in this movie that there’s a stowaway in the hold of Blackbeard’s ship…with a goatee and sunglasses!
Blackbeard Movie -- 5/12/08
I could say the week of May 5th, 2008 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 Grumman’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 stared 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 laid upon the ears of this dreamer: “This is great. I want Steven to hear it.”
Pirate Pic Sets Sail at Dreamworks – Variety 5/18/08
Inqlings: Croce’s ‘arrrrh rated’ Movie Deal – Philadelphia Inquirer 5/18/08
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