Hues Pay-Off

Hollywood has been given a black eye as "Straight Outta Compton' collects over $110 million at the boxoffice in less than two weeks becoming the unsung hero of summer 2015.

The making of and getting 'Straight Outta Compton' into cinemaplexes around the United States is reminiscent of 1976.  Last week, TVOne's brilliant docu-series 'Usung Hollywood' presented the back story on the groundbreaking film 'Car Wash.'  Today 'Car Wash' is a cult classic film throughout the American landscape; however, as the story goes, Hollywood suits at the time, 1976, claimed not know how to market the film, unfold the story, cast the actors, edit the final film or deal with the movie. "It's a black film!, Hollywood players declared.

At Cannes, the Jury wanted to award 'Car Wash' its highest honor, the Palme d'Or; however, the two American jurors strictly forbid this.  In retaliation and fully recognizing its importance and true value, the other jurors created two special awards for 'Car Wash' recognizing its importance to international cinema, when the Americans were reluctantly to see the bigger picture and the future of global filmmaking.

It is unfortunate Hollywoodteurs continue do not want to understand, see, proper and create a rich legacy from inclusive cinema.  Like 'Car Wash,' through 'Straight Outta Compton' Hollywood has another opportunity to change, update, and modernize the rules of its way too exclusive game.

Johnny Depp Gives Disney Edge

Did you know actor Johnny Depp had a production company? Given his anti-Hollywoodteur behavior, most may find such movie mogul business affairs a bit out of sync with Depp. But not really, the thespian is one of the most financially and critically successful cinema products ever. And he does possess a French significant other, unmarried (but not single) status, children and a French chateau.

So word is. . . .Johnny Depp's production company, Infinitum Nihil, is teaming up with ultimate Hollywoodteur branding operative Disney on a feature film version of the '70s TV movie The Night Stalker. First seen in the 1972 telepic, The Night Stalker featured tabloid styled reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) hunting a serial killer who was draining the blood of beautiful girls on the Las Vegas strip. At its time, Stalker was pretty scary stuff for television (no cable peeps). Depp is the potential star and he and his Infinitum Nihil partner Christi Dembrowski will produce with David Kennedy executive producing.

Dembrowski and Depp expressed glowing memories of the ABC telepic and series Kolchak: The Night Stalker and pitched Disney's Rich Ross and Sean Bailey the Chicago based investigative escapades of Kolchak, a trouble magnet for supernatural situations requiring his inventive skills to destroy vampires, werewolves, zombies and other unearthly creatures, of which, Kolchak has to convince his skeptical editor the stories were not products of his active imagination.
Depp and Dombrowski, whose Infinitum Nihil has a production deal with GK Films are busy boys with The Rum Diary written and directed by Bruce Robinson and starring Depp released by FilmDistrict coming in October and the Martin Scorsese directed 3D Hugo Cabret hitting screens on November 23rd. Currently they are now shooting the TV series transfer, Dark Shadows, at Warner Bros, with Depp starring and Tim Burton directing.

Who better than the edgy international unmarried family man Johnny Depp to push the boundaries of the Disney family film formula. Disney, under Ross and Bailey's tutelage, has also taking on one time FBI filed west coast gangster rap artist Ice Cube (N.W.A.) with his feature directed Chrome and Paint.

What next - a Minnie and Mickey Mouse 3-D anime romp tape?