Mark Damon, Chairman and CEO of MDP Worldwide, is expected to make a number of major announcements in the coming month related to talent attached to MDP's new production slate. The confirmation of who exactly is involved in the projects could be made during the AFM or shortly after, depending on how long it takes for the contracts to be signed and agreed on. “I hope to make an announcement during the market,” Damon said prior to the AFM. “Three or more of the projects are coming together and are at a very advanced stage but I would rather wait and make an announcement when they are fully packaged.”
MDP's production slate is up from two projects -- at the time of Mifed -- to twelve today, most of which are expected to have taken shape by Cannes which already promises to be an exceptionally busy market for MDP. “We are becoming more of a production entity,” Damon says, “than a foreign sales company, although our own productions will be complimented by major acquisitions. The thrust of the company is auture driven, medium budget productions of between $5 and $10 million that are different from the main stream. We want to work with bright, talented young directors who can attract their own cast. Directors such as Alex Cox, who is making The Winner for us with Rebecca DeMornay; Erin Dignam ,who has assembled a cast of William Hurt, Robin Wright, Joanna Cassidy and Amy Madigan for the courtroom drama, Loved; and Abel Ferrara who has Christopher Walken, Annabella Sciorra, Chris Penn and Isabella Rosellini in for The Funeral.”
Of new projects known to be on the MDP slate are a sequel to the companies successful live action Jungle Book, to be called Mowgli and Baloo - Jungle Book 2. Bayard Johnson is working on the screenplay and Raju Patel will produce. MDP also have plans for a live action version of the Prince Charming tale, which Steve Barron of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fame is expected to direct, and Tom Thumb. All three pictures which are firmly targeted at family audiences, are expected by Damon to be bigger studio pictures based on the world-wide box office returns from Jungle Book. Also on the slate is what is billed as a classic western, Restless Gun, a vehicle for Frank Stallone which might possible attract his older brother, Sylvester.
As far as MDP's previous alliance with the Canadian company Alliance is concerned, Damon explains that just prior to Mifed both parties mutually agreed to drop the formalisation once it became clear that there were little or no benefits from being formally bound together under the legislation of two countries -- the US and Canada -- rather than each operating independently. “We have, and continue to discuss, areas of co-operation,” Damon says. “Today, going into the AFM, the two companies are as close, if not closer, than they were before. It is a relationship which is informal rather than formal.” Damon cites the company's stylish erotic drama, Crash, now in post-production, as an example of the ongoing relationship MDP enjoy with Alliance. Crash, which is being handled by MDP and will be distributed in the US theatrically by Fine Line, is an Alliance Production in association with Jeremy Thomas' Recorded Picture Company. Crash is directed by David Cronenberg and stars James Spader, Holly Hunter, and Rosanna Arquette.
