Rodriguez UPDATE
Just wanted to throw you're attention, in relation to the prior post about Robert Rodriguez labor situation, to some excellent analysis with some choice additional news from Variety as reported by Garth Franklin and his "Dark Horizons" website:
http://www.darkhorizons.com/news04/040408c.php
If you're a Movie Geek or even just a junky for industry news, I encourage you to check out Garth's site CONSTANTLY. Based in Australia, FAR removed from the bustle of Hollywood, he provides consistently some of the best no-nonsense material and buzz you'll find.
Not really a lot of good news here, sadly and, whats more, frankly it's RODRIGUEZ who so far is looking like the "bad guy" in this mess.
I'll probably catch heck in the comments for saying so, but I'm sorry, even at this early juncture it sounds as though the problem (recap: RR dropped from the DGA in order to complete "Sin City," and can't make "Princess of Mars" for Paramount unless he signs back up) would be solved swiftly and completely if Rodriguez simply re-ups with the Guild after "Sin" wraps. So far, he seems unwilling to do so. Most-disheartening quote from the Variety article:
"Insiders close to Rodriguez insist he is unwilling to rejoin the DGA just to direct the $100+ million CG-extensive "Princess of Mars" which Paramount hopes will become its equivalent of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy."
Okay, so, what's going on here is Rodriguez seems to be looking to thumb his nose permanently at the DGA. The emotion is understandable, but if he's thinking he'll affect some kind of change in the union with this he's got another thing coming: The LAST major director to tell the DGA where to get off was George Lucas and they STILL never caved (and he never fully re-joined.) Meanwhile, "Princess of Mars" apparently is one-step-closer to either sinking back into oblivion or, worse, being made by a lesser filmmaker if Rodriguez forces himself out.
SLIGHTLY less-doom-and-gloom quote IGN.com got from RR's wife and producing partner: "As of today, we are not dropping out. We are still very much making that movie".
Okay, getting better, but that "as of today.." is a big red-market-highlighted concern on my end.
If I could talk to Rodriguez, I'd be asking him to SERIOUSLY reconsider his position here. His annoyance at the restrictions of the DGA rules are justifiable, but by torpedoing his chance to make "Princess" in order to make a "statement" about his annoyance (if that is indeed whats going on, sure seems like it could be the case) he has nothing to gain and a lot to lose.
Mr. Rodriguez, if you can hear me, one hardcore film geek to another... think this one through: Is the satisfaction to be derived from telling the Guild to take a hike really worth losing the chance to make a MAJOR kickass film and, still worse, to see that same film likely fall into the hands of a hack and wind up awful?
This is NOT turning into a good story, folks...
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