The golf movie is back on the links, the running movie is nearer the end of its marathon journey, the baseball movie is awaiting a turn at bat. At the least, you could call Charlotte producer Rick Eldridge a sport.
The head of the Film Foundry re-released "Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius" Friday at Ballantyne Village. The 2004 biography of Bobby Jones, which stars Jim Caviezel as the magnificent golfer, has come out again because the Wachovia Championship comes to Quail Hollow next week.
Eldridge, who became a co-founder of the Independent Producers Alliance in 2006, hopes to gauge the appeal for a 2010 national tour of "Bobby Jones." It would kick off around the 75th anniversary of The Masters in Augusta, Ga., then play in certain cities hosting PGA events.
"We're showing the old cut of the film here, though we'll have a new cut for the tour: We'll add some scenes and carve about 10 minutes from the film," he said.
"Right now, we're doing a market promotion in a single city, something we've never done, to see what the reaction is with minimal marketing. We'll show the movie nightly at 8 p.m. and learn from the responses we get."
Eldridge also spoke about projects in the works, present and future. Here's what he said:
`Running the Sahara'
The project: Documentary about three men running across northern Africa, partly to raise money for new sources of fresh water. Matt Damon narrates.Its status: "It should be released at a yet-to-be-determined date this summer, probably August. We're taking it to Cannes in May, and the international distributor (Porchlight Entertainment) will be there. ...
"We took it to Toronto last fall and decided not to take a studio offer that would put it on a few screens to see what happened, a `throw it up against the wall and see if it sticks' mentality."
`The Perfect Game'
The project: In 1957, boys from Monterrey, Mexico, beco9me the first non-U.S. team to win the Little League World Series
Its status: As of this week, we have an answer print. (That's the first version printed to film, after color is corrected and sound properly synced.) "We've screened it for multiple studios. We have a letter of intent, providing they like the final cut, but we're looking at all our options. We'd love to release this around the Little League World Series in August."
`The Dog Days of Summer'
The project: Charlotte native Mark Freiburger directed this drama about an interloper in a seemingly idyllic coastal town, shooting it three summers ago.Its status: "We had a deal with a studio for a DVD release, but the final agreement came back and was heavy-handed, so I felt it was better not to take it. (Eldridge was executive producer.)
"I told Mark, `I know you want to get this out there, but you'll be kicking yourself forever for signing away your first baby.' Now we have two groups that are interested; we're waiting on offers."
`The Scopes Monkey Trial'
The project: Based on the real 1925 case in which a Tennessee man was jailed for teaching evolutionary theory in high school.
Its status: "We're in (pre-production), talking about shooting in the Carolinas -- mostly in South Carolina. It's a dramatic story around the historical elements of the trial with a fictional love story added, in the vein of `Titanic' or `Pearl Harbor.'
"It's interesting to have an African American woman, Charlie Jordan ("Something to Sing About"), directing a film about eugenics and prejudice and religious debate. (We hope to) shoot this summer, though (there's) a potential Screen Actors Guild strike June 30. We could continue if we got a variance, but there is no guarantee an actor wouldn't get up and go, and we have no insurance coverage for a strike."
`Hope's Wish'
The project: Drama about Weddington's Hope Stout, who died of cancer in 2004. Make-A-Wish Foundation asked her for a last wish, and she bequeathed hers jointly to all 155 kids on the waiting list. All got their wishes.
Its status: "We are working with (local producer) Bert Hesse to put a deal together; if we do, I would produce it. The original deal was for David Ward to write and direct, and he was taking a major chunk of the budget.
"My caution to Bert was, if he directs, he's going to hire veteran actors, and we won't have the money. I thought (Ward's salary) was too big a number for the budget we were working on. But he may be passionate about the project, so he's still our first bet."
