Weinsteins Developing Urban Entertainment
Filed under: Deals, The Weinstein Co.
This news reminds me that I really hate the term "urban entertainment" (and variations). Whenever I read the term, I get that Jerry Seinfeld voice in my head saying, "Why do they call it urban? Is other entertainment rural? Does it have to come from or be about cities?" Anyway, I don't know a better term for it, and I can't easily define what it means, so I'll just go along with everyone else and continue calling it that.
The Weinstein Co., which has yet to deliver a big hit (Clerks II might end up their first) since its founders, Bob and Harvey Weinstein, separated from Disney, is partnering with Robert L. Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television (which would be probably be called Urban Entertainment Television if founded today), on a new company called Our Stories Films, which will produce low-cost urban movies. This is a brilliant move since the urban market is huge right now. Between all the rapper-starred movies to Tyler Perry to this week's release Little Man (the Wayans actually owe Bob Weinstein for part of their current success), there is definitely consistent money to be made there. And the Weinsteins are certainly smart to be working with Johnson, who will run Our Stories and will controll all decisions to produce, acquire and and finance its films, instead of letting a bunch of suits try to figure out what is hot for the genre.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-13-2006 @ 8:45PM
Rightclick said...
I really like your blog and you got a nice take on stuff but if you think Clerks II will be a hit, you're joking. (I'm calling anything less than $50 mill box office domestic not a hit for that movie).
Reply
7-13-2006 @ 9:03PM
Christopher Campbell said...
Eh, maybe you're right. I forget that Jay and Silent Bob made only about $30 million. Kevin Smith just seems more popular in my head, because I hear about him so damn much.
Reply
7-13-2006 @ 11:49PM
chimpster said...
urban entertainment? why don't they just call it Modern Minstral Shows Ltd.
Reply
7-14-2006 @ 7:48AM
marty said...
I was really excited when the Weinsteins left Disney and formed their own company. I thought they were going to go back and do edgy arthouse films that made their name in the first place. They seem to be raising all this massive capital from merchant bankers but their acquisitions have been tepid, at best. They're not distingushing themselves from their competitors. They're just another "me-too" at the moment. I hope things will change.
Reply