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| Han,
SND mired in 'Touch'-y spat over Yeoh movie |
| May 20, 2002 - The
Hollywood Reporter |
By Blake Murdoch and Charles Masters
CANNES -- A potential battle is
brewing between recently established Hong Kong
production/distribution company Han Entertainment and French
distributor SND about French rights to Michelle Yeoh's latest
film, "The Touch," with Han claiming that SND is in
breach of contract.
A year ago, SND was the first
international investor to pony up a minimum guarantee for the
$20 million martial arts film, alongside Taiwanese group
Pandasia. Miramax was the next major player to come aboard the
feature, to be released July 25 throughout Asia.
Han managing director Thomas
Chung said SND has been trying to reduce the minimum guarantee
-- which he said represents a "not insignificant"
portion of the film's budget -- because of dissatisfaction with
the casting of the film's male lead, Ben Chaplin.
Chung said following months of
discussion, the companies agreed to reduce the minimum guarantee
by 12.5%, but following talks at February's American Film
Market, there has been no further communication from SND. In the
absence of a payment being made, Han has been advised by its
lawyers to proceed with selling "Touch" to France.
"As far as I'm concerned,
France is available," Chung said.
Chung said as a result of SND's
withdrawal, Han was forced make up the shortfall with its own
resources.
"If we suffer any loss due
to this mistreatment, we'll put the matter through our
lawyers," he said. "I'll be damned if I'm going to
bend and sway if that's the way they choose to deal with
me."
SND managing director Thierry
Desmichelle said his company simply sought to reduce its minimum
guarantee in line with a change in "Touch's" budget,
but that as far as SND is concerned, it still has a contract --
and Han should not be selling the film for France. "but I
don't want to inflame the situation," he said.
SND is a subsidiary of French
commercial television net M6.
Chung said he is meeting with
Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein this week in Cannes to
discuss "Touch's" U.S. release. |
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