HBO whacks 'Sopranos' filming

BravoFan · 03-15-2003, 11:33 AM

From CnnMoney.com

Quote:

Network suspends March 24 shooting, saying it made Gandolfini an offer he can't refuse.

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - HBO has suspended shooting for its hit series "The Sopranos" due to a contract dispute with James Gandolfini, who portrays mob boss Tony Soprano.

HBO sent a note to about 300 staff members telling them not to report to work on March 24, the first scheduled day of taping for the series' fifth season, a spokesman for the cable network told CNNfn Thursday.

The dispute with Gandolfini has grown bitter and increasingly public. Published reports have indicated that HBO offered to double the star's current salary, which is $400,000 an episode, but that Gandolfini is demanding $1 million per show.

An HBO spokesman said the two sides were not in touch Wednesday and that no progress has been made in the ongoing contract dispute.

HBO made the decision to suspend production because there was no clear indication from Gandolfini that he would report to work on March 24.

"Gandolfini's agent is playing coy," the HBO spokesman said.

His reasoning, according to HBO, is that if he shows up to work on the 24th, it would negate his pending lawsuit in California court and tie him into the full production.

After the actor filed a lawsuit claiming breach of contract, HBO sued in a Los Angeles court seeking $100 million in damages.

"Jimmy purports to care about the other actors, his crew," an HBO source told New York's Daily News. "Well, he's about to put them out of work because he's a greedy pig."

Dan Klores, a spokesman for Gandolfini, said the two-time Emmy Award-winning actor feels stronger than ever, especially now since HBO has sued him in court.

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Ilikai · 03-15-2003, 01:14 PM

another actor all full of himself that is going to end up cutting his own throat.

***John*** · 03-15-2003, 01:43 PM

See, I'm torn on this. Originally, Sopranos was supposed to be a 4-year arc. At the last minute last season, they decided they'd squeeze in a fifth season, since it was so profitable for HBO.

They've also more than doubled the pay of most of the other players on the show for this season, but JG has remained the same.

They obviously can't do the show justice without Tony, so it's not like it's truly an ensemble show. It centers around Tony, and he deserves to get his cut too. The show made HBO an estimated $36 million in its first season, for 13 episodes. That's pretty hefty for a cable company with no advertising. In addition, those are mostly long-term dollars - people subscribed to HBO to see the show, and remained HBO customers.

***John*** · 03-15-2003, 01:45 PM

It also bugs me that James G is saying "the Wall Street Journal reported on the 17th that HBO had extended the season officially" but that David Chase and HBO are saying that you can't go by THAT date, even though WJS reported it. In my opinion, you'd have to go by an even earlier date, for it to appear in the newspaper, right?

BravoFan · 03-15-2003, 05:03 PM

I don't know...I'm kind of torn on this one too.

I feel that most actors are overpaid, so why not him too?

Or better yet...just have more good reality-tv shows and forget about the actors

TAR896 anyone?

***John*** · 03-18-2003, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Gandolfini Withdraws Suit Over 'Sopranos' -Sources

Mon Mar 17, 8:49 PM ET
By Gina Keating

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor James Gandolfini has moved to dismiss his lawsuit against HBO so that he can hold talks with the cable network over his salary demands for a fifth season of the mob drama, "The Sopranos," sources close to the negotiations said on Monday.

HBO officials said they, too, were ready to step back from the $100 million countersuit the network filed against Gandolfini earlier this month after he refused to return for another turn as America's favorite mob boss unless his salary was hiked to $16 million for the 13-episode season.

"The only thing I can say ... is that temperatures are taken down and there is an optimism in the air," Gandolfini's spokesman Dan Klores said early on Monday.

Bert Fields, an attorney for HBO, said the cable network was awaiting formal notice from a Los Angeles court that Gandolfini had withdrawn his lawsuit.

"I have not gotten formal notice yet," Fields told Reuters. "My understanding was that Mr. Gandolfini was going to dismiss the suit ... today."

Sources close to the negotiations said Gandolfini also would be required to sign a sworn statement affirming the terms of his original contract before new salary negotiations could resume.

By day's end, court officials could not confirm that the paperwork had been filed but said it may have been stuck in a clerical office.

Brad Grey, one of the show's producers, helped break the deadlock between the 41-year-old actor and HBO officials during weekend talks at Grey's Los Angeles home, Fields said.

If Gandolfini withdraws his suit "it certainly is going to help clear the air and make quite a different feeling on the part of HBO," Fields said. He declined to elaborate on whether that meant that the cable company would consider Gandolfini's demand for more money.

Last week, HBO called off filming, set to begin next Monday for cable TV's most popular drama, citing Gandolfini's refusal to return to work unless his salary was renegotiated upward from the $400,000 per episode he now receives.

The actor reportedly wants the cable company to more than double his salary to $16 million per season, to bring his earnings more in line with what stars on top-rated broadcast network shows earn.

Gandolfini filed suit against HBO on March 6, seeking to be released from his contract and claiming producers had not informed him in a timely manner that his acting services would be required for a fifth season of the award-winning show.

HBO, which described the actor's lawsuit as a negotiating ploy, countersued the actor a few days later for breach of contract and contended he would be liable for losses of $100 million if he failed to show up for work on March 24.

HBO is owned by AOL Time Warner Inc.

BravoFan · 03-18-2003, 09:36 AM

Big surprise, huh?

***John*** · 03-18-2003, 09:39 AM

Yep, maybe I should file this under "Headlines that make you say 'duh'"

03-15-2003, 01:14 PM	#2
Ilikai Swinging in the hammock Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Taking a long vacation in the tropics Posts: 6,539	another actor all full of himself that is going to end up cutting his own throat. __________________ Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" -- Steve Parker Help feed a dog or cat http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/c...s/CTDSites.woa

03-15-2003, 05:03 PM	#5
BravoFan COMBAT MISSIONS junkie! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: At the FORT Posts: 12,971	I don't know...I'm kind of torn on this one too. I feel that most actors are overpaid, so why not him too? Or better yet...just have more good reality-tv shows and forget about the actors TAR896 anyone? __________________ "They can only edit what you give them. They cannot manufacture a fictional character out of thin air." (Bill Rancic - 4/04) Regarding editing reality TV: "You can't edit IN a bad personality." ("Cali"-11/02) BB8 - A "conveyor belt of human garbage." ("Pono" - 9/07)

03-18-2003, 09:36 AM	#7
BravoFan COMBAT MISSIONS junkie! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: At the FORT Posts: 12,971	Big surprise, huh? __________________ "They can only edit what you give them. They cannot manufacture a fictional character out of thin air." (Bill Rancic - 4/04) Regarding editing reality TV: "You can't edit IN a bad personality." ("Cali"-11/02) BB8 - A "conveyor belt of human garbage." ("Pono" - 9/07)

03-15-2003, 01:43 PM	#3
*John* The race is back! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: On the mat Age: 39 Posts: 40,432	See, I'm torn on this. Originally, Sopranos was supposed to be a 4-year arc. At the last minute last season, they decided they'd squeeze in a fifth season, since it was so profitable for HBO. They've also more than doubled the pay of most of the other players on the show for this season, but JG has remained the same. They obviously can't do the show justice without Tony, so it's not like it's truly an ensemble show. It centers around Tony, and he deserves to get his cut too. The show made HBO an estimated $36 million in its first season, for 13 episodes. That's pretty hefty for a cable company with no advertising. In addition, those are mostly long-term dollars - people subscribed to HBO to see the show, and remained HBO customers.

03-15-2003, 01:45 PM	#4
*John* The race is back! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: On the mat Age: 39 Posts: 40,432	It also bugs me that James G is saying "the Wall Street Journal reported on the 17th that HBO had extended the season officially" but that David Chase and HBO are saying that you can't go by THAT date, even though WJS reported it. In my opinion, you'd have to go by an even earlier date, for it to appear in the newspaper, right?

03-18-2003, 09:39 AM	#8
*John* The race is back! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: On the mat Age: 39 Posts: 40,432	Yep, maybe I should file this under "Headlines that make you say 'duh'"