GO HERE to read Gawker’s coverage of the ongoing Sony Hack involving the Cleopatra film, with emails from Angelina Jolie, Scott Rudin and Amy Pascal. We will just be discussing some highlights from that massive Gawker post.
Last night, I read through Gawker’s latest Angie/Cleo Sony Hack story three times. I was trying to make sure that my initial instinct was right, which was “Wow, Angelina doesn’t sound bad at all in email form.” She keeps her emails about the Cleopatra project – which she, Amy Pascal and Scott Rudin were trying to put together since late last year – brief, professional and… sort of sweet. You can tell at several points that if Angelina is going to take on Cleopatra, she wants a big say in how the script is developed, she wants to have a say in directors, and she really cares about the details of playing Cleopatra, like whether Cleo should be bald, or have a shaved head, or a “fade” (as Rudin suggests at one point).
Meanwhile, Scott Rudin comes off like the villain. Maybe that’s my Angelina-love talking, but this is Angelina Jolie we’re talking about – of course she’s going to want a say in how the script is developed and which director is chosen. She’s been like that for years. As the emails move into 2014, you can feel how passionate she is about the project and she really wants to get it right. She also wants to do a Cleopatra movie ABOUT Cleo and her power, not about Cleo’s love life. If I was emailing with Angie about Cleo, I would make the argument that a great deal of Cleo’s power is her sexual power and her ability to manipulate powerful men to do her biding and that needs to be shown. But no one ever makes that point to Angelina. Instead, Rudin and Pascal email each other about manipulating Angelina into making Cleo into a straight-up love story between Cleo and Marc Antony.
Angelina believes/d in the project so much, she takes it on herself to meet with directors separately from Pascal and Rudin, which leads to Rudin having multiple hissy fits. Jolie meets with David Fincher separately (Rudin is pissed) and Martin Scorsese and she makes contact with Ridley Scott, Steve McQueen and more. Rudin is clearly trying to push Jolie away from the idea of getting Fincher to direct because Rudin wants Fincher for the Steve Jobs movie. Another thing that sort of bugs: where is Fincher in these email chain? I kind of have my doubts that Fincher even wanted to do the Steve Jobs film. Wouldn’t it be “been there, done that” after The Social Network? And I think it bothered Rudin that Fincher was actually showing some interest in directing Cleopatra.
By June, Angelina isn’t happy with the director situation, and she’s still trying to make a Cleo bio-pic that focuses on Cleo rather than the love story. Rudin emails her about directors and Angie emails back “I’m studying a few more films to be sure. Let’s talk next week. xx.” Rudin forwards the email to Pascal with the message “Beyond belief. She’s studying films. Kill me please. Immediately.”
In July, Pascal and Rudin email each other about trying to convince Angelina to just scrap the existing Cleo project in favor of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra. Rudin emails to Pascal: “So obviously the best idea. We ought to make this with her and Fassbender or Hardy or Cumberbatch and go home. And feel very smart.” Fassbender as Antony? God, I could totally see that. It would be SO HOT. With Tom Hardy too. Not so much with Cumberbatch, sorry.
So, Rudin sends Jolie a lengthy email trying to convince her to do Shakespeare and Jolie refuses, emailing a concise assessment of where she sees the current project: basically, that there are still script issues but they can be worked on with a good script editor and that she still wants to make a movie about Cleo as a strong female leader, not a romantic vessel or whatever. Jolie suggests that their efforts for Cleo need to be “streamlined” – she sounds very focused and analytic here. Rudin forwards the response to Pascal with the message “She’s seriously out of her mind.” Pascal tries to play moderator, writing: “I think we need an in person long conversation the three of us.” Rudin replies: “Nooooooo noooooo noooooo please! Not a meeting!”
So… yeah. My opinion, for what it’s worth: Angelina sounds professional, polite and passionate. I would even be interested in seeing her version of Cleopatra. And just my opinion: Scott Rudin sounds like such a massive backstabbing bitch.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
So is this all really over a stupid Rogen and Franco movie? Grow up N. Korea.
The North Korea thing is just speculation at this point.
No it’s not – it’s a page one story on the New York Times. They’ve got high level sources on this and a lot of detail. It’s North Korea FOR SURE.
Nope. It’s confirmed.
I don’t get why they are not opening in a few theaters and get protection from the police. This opens the door to others who want to make a point publicly.
I’m not usually the skittish type but I would have some reservations about going to see this, especially if it was a limited release, if there are direct threats. Plus I watched the trailer and it looks like such sh!t. Like seriously one of the worst things I’ve seen. I can’t believe the fuss.
I think it was a few things first off the big theater chains refused to show it. Second they are calling it a total loss not releasing it on VOD so they can collect insurance. Third if it were a brilliant film (it’s at 50% on Rotten Tomatoes) they might take the risk and stand behind it but because it’s so bad they are just saying F-it.
There aren’t direct threats. Whoever made the threats doesn’t speak a lick of English and simply ran their statement through the truly reprehensible Google Translate. If you find it online, you’ll see what I mean. It’s funny more than anything.
If a fanatical group is saying they will target movie theatres showing this film than that is direct enough for some people. The terrorists win of course but it’s a direct enough threat that nobody will show it. I’m sure it’s quite laughable but there is always the “what if”.
Hey, it worked!
Funny how shining a light on things SONY execs said THEMSELVES is causing the company so much grief!
I’m still astonished that North Korea is capable of pulling off this sort of thing. I mean, have you seen their official government website???
I heard that they actually have the greatest concentration of hackers in the world- which surprised me because I don’t think their public has internet access…? So all the hackers must be in government.
Emily: the talented NK hackers are carefully nurtured, equipped and harbored by the Chinese government. The internet facilities are actually located on Chinese territory, right across the NK border. I’m not aware of their autonomy level, but China has been using them as a useful nuisance for more than a decade.
in the last email, where she’s talking about a director friend of hers, she went out of her way to sort of cover over who the person is and use gender neutral pronouns. i have a feeling she’s talking about a woman director? but tried to conceal it, because…. why?
she knew Pascal and Rudin might not like the idea?
or because she wants to keep the person a secret so The Sony & Friends don’t blow another gasket?
and why is the Cleo thing still alive? even during Unbroken press rounds she still champions passionately for it. i just can’t see it going to be a good idea of a movie.
AJ ideas for Cleopatra actually sound very interesting & exciting. Doing yet another version of Caesar & Cleopatra or Anthony & Cleopatra would be a bore, but her ideas are far more original. One can totally see how AJ would be able to carry off the gravitas, power, sexiness & steely determination that saw the Queen of Egypt through all her difficulties. Certainly a lot more interesting & exciting than seeing Christian Bale doing Moses zzzzzzzzzzz yawn.
Jolie’s real-life idea of power IS all about being a manipulative seductress; at the expense of all others involved. No wonder she wants this project. She can totally relate. She could do this movie in her sleep.
@Jen
So you’re saying that the power that she has today–which is being able to get tons of interesting directors and producers interested in working with her, WITHOUT any representation i.e. agent, PR agent, manager (for the most part)–is because she got with Brad, and became a power couple with him, had six kids, yada yada yada……
Seriously? Just because Ashley Greene is photographed coming out of a gym every day, doesn’t mean she has any power. For better or worse, Angelina is someone that they pay attention to. Because if Rudin REALLY didn’t need/want her for the Cleopatra project, instead of disagreeing, and talking trash about her behind her back for months, he would’ve told her, right when they started clashing over ideas that he wanted a different actress for the part, and had them go their separate ways, professionally.
What a long con Jolie is playing to seduce Pitt and adopt all those children while staying so connected to her humanitarian work. You’re not fooling anyone you succubus! Every move you’ve made has been to manipulate men.
Good Grief that comment was transparent.
And this is funny how these high powered Sony employees turn into whiny children because Jolie wants to use a director they also want. Like the director can’t make up their own adult mind.
@Virgilia Coriolanus, who wrote: “Because if Rudin REALLY didn’t need/want her for the Cleopatra project, instead of disagreeing, and talking trash about her behind her back for months, he would’ve told her, right when they started clashing over ideas that he wanted a different actress for the part, and had them go their separate ways, professionally.”
Well said … and you’re right. I didn’t consider this before, but a Producer like Rudin would have ‘absolutely’ done what you’ve suggested if Angie didn’t have true mettle and gravitas in the Industry. Angie and Brad are on their way to becoming a formidable force in Hollywood … he with Plan B and she with her Industry savvy. I ‘really’ hope “Unbroken” does well.
Oh please Jen, it sounds like you’re writing tabloid headlines in 2005. A lot has changed since then, catch up.
1) I think AJs ideas are actually very refreshing. I love that she rejected the romance angle. All that does is turn the woman into an extention of the man.
2) I’m with Rudin if the intention is to make it very Cleo-centric. A true epic should develop other characters sufficiently (but NOT romantic interests please). A movie of that scale cannot be focused on one character or you’ll end up with a very camp mess.
3) I wish she would drop the lead and focus on producing or even directing this. Even consider playing the mother/older female mentor or rival. THIS is not the role for you Angelina. It just isnt.
OMG, you guys! Jen Aniston is commenting on Celebitchy! Hi @Jen! 🙂 Haha
These emails have just made Angelina more impressive, IMO.
She sounds like someone who is knows her power and her worth and won’t settle. I love that.
These studio people Seem more bothered that she has thoughts and ideas that she voices and they seem bothered by her self-assurance
I am very impressed with Angelina , after reading these emails.
actually it is all very simple – if rudin didnt want her or more importantly need aj in this movie that he may want to produce etc why wd he bother to keep harping on her all the time. surely if aj was so ‘bad’ etc there wd be other actresses he cd approach for any movies he wants to produce right? the very fact that he was listening to what she was saying over time shows that in his little mind that aj can do what she wants and who she wants to work with. it is a pity that instead of scott rudin and amy pascal who basically dissed everyone in hw how aj is getting the brunt of all this enmity – what abt his comments about leo or fassbender or gc or denzel etc- why only single out aj or bp?
He doesn’t like that he has to deal with her directly. He probably wants a filter middleman to relay his opinion.
That said, kill the Cleopatra thing.
I’m totally dressing up as Cleopatra for your surprise birthday party and GoOdNames is coming as Marc McBongauhey.
“GoOdnames” will drink too much Kahlua and cry about beige booty shorts. No one needs that kind of scene at my super-duper pajama party kitty tea event. It might draw attention away from my jerking dance moves.
Hahahaha! I’m totally crashing the party MIMIF. What drinks should I bring?
@truthSF, bring gin, lots and lots of gin (it makes people cry).
@KidoO, you are seriously out of your mind.
Summoning all my dignity and taking a swig of my Kahlua coffee, I’ll have you know that I will be proud to attend your party, in spite of a strong feeling that I was just disinvited, as Marc whoever, WEARING beige booty shorts, and will sit quietly in the corner applauding your jerky dance moves at every opportunity. Ok, casting aside the dignity…Please let me come, please, to the super-duper pajama party kitty tea, please. I’ll be nice. I won’t be bossy or (very) drunk. I won’t cry. Because I’ve used up all my tears already since I learned that you don’t want me at your party….
Runs and dives on bed, kicking feet like a swimmer and your old roommate, thrashes around screaming YOU HATE ME AND YOU HATE MY KAHLUA!!
GoodNamesAllTaken, *dead*.
@mimif, buttuck fudduck.
I’m bringing Sangria…..:)
Well in my town the blow-dry bar has a Mimosa hairdo so I thought of you mimif, and I would like to wear that to the party, it is very curly, and I don’t drink too, too much aside from the occasional… ok, nevermind, but I do read palms and Angelina’s tells quite a story so, in between jerky dance moves…
PS I love shots of celebrities with their hands up like that. It is more rare than you’d think.
I think you are so right. To him the very thought that she is emailing him directly and telling him how to do his job is galling. There’s definitely sexism involved but not just sexism.
it sounds like a combination of sexism and “who is this mere actor telling me what to do” – arrogance in that he thinks he’s above someone because of his/her profession.
My bro-in-law is a producer; he knows Rudin and refused to work with him. He says Rudin is a *total* a$$wipe.
it strikes me that Hollywood just keeps remaking corny crap like, Robin Hood, Snow-white, Hobbit, Cleopatra, Cinderella for f-ks sake! Or Noi – an illustraion of the saying “talentless people always tend to epic stories”
I understand its a money-making machine, but still, seems so lazy.
Why not take something strong and interesting?? Like, something from Edgar Poe? it could be so fresh and blood-chilling. Or something from Mark Twain.
Yes. An original thought is nowhere to be found.
Have all the thinking thoughts been thunk?
Actually, I just got done watching the French series Les Revenants, which was based on a movie. ‘Twas outstanding, but perhaps French is the operating word here.
Ohhhhh I’ve seen one episode of les revenants and have been meaning to watch the rest… looks really good!
@mimif – but they are taking too long for series 2 of Les Revenants! And, whatever you do, do not watch the US remake of this. It’s truly dreadful. Has the uptight doctor from House in it.
I’ve read some of the Sony complain leaks and it’s hilarious – they keep questioning why Sony keep doing remakes. “Why can’t we be doing something original. Like the Hunger Games?” I’m guessing, therefore, in Hollywood only films count. If it was anything other than a film, it doesn’t exist and therefore we can use it.
actually the movie that aj wants to do in cleopatra is a different approach to the movie with liz taylor a more personal and political approach –
Both Rudin and Sorkin really come off as macho a**holes in all of this don’t they?
I didn’t know who they were before this mess, but I do now and unfortunately not for anything good!
agree. Plus why is Amy all over the news as being potentially fired and not Rudin? did I miss something about Amy that’s making her the only target?
TOTALLY! He’s the one that comes off really badly here – just a total brat.
I’m obviously missing something when it comes to hollywood politics because it seems to me that the smackdown should cover more than just Amy
Amy is the head of the studio and Rudin is an independent producer that has contract with Sony. Her last email that was released, Amy instructed her people to get rid of Rudin and pay him off but keep Cleopatra and the dragon series.
Although I strongly believe Rudin is the main villian I think people are forgetting a few things.
First off no one can fire Rudin he works project by project with different studios. He owns rights to his projects and has a lot more power because of it. He also has been infamously difficult for years no one is really surprised by it in Hollywood.
On the other hand Pascal is a head of a studio. She has to answer to a board and to stockholders etc.
ah gotcha. Didn’t realise that. So basically, people need to stop hiring Rudin
thanks for the info!
@Luca76 – thank you. I was trying to figure out why Rudin was sticking around – why didn’t AJ just go somewhere else?! But then, he probably owns the rights. To what, I’m not sure.
Dear god… Hollywood is essentially Game of Thrones.
I would LOVE to see a Cleopatra movie where her power and her intelligence and yes, even her failures were the focus, instead of the fact that she was Julius Caesar’s and then Marc Antony’s lover. I mean, there was so much more to her than that, but that’s all people remember. (Stacy Schiff’s bio is a must-read, IMHO.)
And yes, Rudin sound like suuuuch a tool.
Me too. Angelina’s ideas for this one are not half bad. Rudin is a tool. His upset with her is that she is not deferring to him and trying to make it happen on her own. Can we please look for other actors outside of Fassbender, Hardy and Cumberbatch? I swear there are than these three, Hollywood.
I could actually see Tom Hardy as Marc Antony, he has that brawny, muscle-man look. Cumby and Fassy…not so much (and I say this as a huge Fassbender fan).
Just get some British guy. Any British guy. One of those British guys. Whoever they are.
@LadyMTL
Tom Hardy in a toga…..
*drools*
@Virgilia Coriolanus …
I know you’re not talking about ‘my’ man, Tom. He and every ‘inch’ of that Toga are all mine, Miss Ma’am! You keep dreaming. 🙂
i think the daniel day lewis wd be interesting to play opposite angelina jolie – as mark antony
I have been on the fence about Cleo. I like the focus she has and the idea of a more empowered feminist script. However I really can’t see that kind of movie being made by that team . Angelina has lofty goals but she’s a renegade and bites more off then she can chew, Rudin is a back stabbing, sexist baby , with no love for the concept but no desire to let it go(couldn’t he just sell his rights?) , and Amy P has no backbone.
I agree. I like the concept that Angelina’s going for, but I honestly just HATE epic films like that. Anything to do with any ancient civilizations…they just fall flat 99% of the time, and they’re a huge waste of money.
I think it would be cool/better to go for a miniseries with HBO or something. Lol, she should write, produce, and direct.
That being said I would totally go see Angelina in a Cleopatra movie. But because I’m a fan. I’ve watched most all of her movies.
Virginia, I do have to agree with you…I think Angelina’s version of Cleopatra would make a great limited run cable series. They could touch on depths of her story that a movie could not do.
” Anything to do with any ancient civilizations…they just fall flat 99% of the time, and they’re a huge waste of money. ”
Yes this. And as much as I am salivating at the idea of Hardy in a toga, I truly think he’s too good for this.
Not to box Angie in, but I love that she’s gone after her passion projects that seem to fall in line with her international interests in humanitarian work, I just kind of wish she would let the Cleo thing go and work on something more in line with her previous films.
Oh well.
YES. I think a tv show would be a lot better–an HBO show. That would be cool.
I sort of understand why she wants to do it now–before I was imagining her sexy version of Cleo, that’s been played out a million times, but I think it’s interesting to see her as a strategist. I can tell you all of the men she slept with, had great romances with, but the only thing I can tell you about her victories, quite honestly, is she overthrew her brother, and then killed herself so she wouldn’t have been executed by Rome.
But I hope, if Unbroken, and By The Sea turn out well, that she does more female-centric films. I think it would be cool if she produced a few diverse tv shows–I really like The Fosters.
Did anyone see HBO’s Rome? It’s brilliant (although the part with Cleopatra is a weaker point).
Ladies … there already ‘was’ an HBO show like that featuring the principle cast of characters we’re discussing. It was called “Rome” … an extremely violent yet true to life explicit and addicting 2-year series.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0384766/?ref_=nv_sr_2
That’s what propelled Kevin McKidd (Grey’s Anatomy) into prominent light.
I like AJ’s approach about the focus being more on Cleo as a person. And defo – it would be far better as a TV show. AJ needs to just high-tail it over to HBO stat.
Ruddin’s approach?? Did Hollywood learn nothing from the last Cleopatra?!!
Rudin really is an a-hole. And Pascal is a disheveled doormat.
Christ, it sounds like Scott never left high school.
Grow the f*ck up, man, and have a civil conversation like an adult.
Most of Hollywood acts this way. Sad, but true.
Yes, I read the whole exchange last night and that’s exactly what I thought. He’s so embarrassingly immature. And what a dumb idea to suddenly decide to use the play instead of the book as the source, he clearly doesn’t care about the product as long as it makes money.
But…but… “I’m tempted to throw that look in somewhere but I don’t think I can beat you can beat that kid n play look possibly with lots of pearls.” Angelina with a kid n play fade is possibly the best. idea. ever.
I know that I would be far more interested in seeing Angelina’s version of Cleopatra. Like we need another romance.
I agree, but think she’s aged out of the part. Why not focus on the strong vision and produce?
Totally agree. I’m interested in seeing a Cleo movie as outlined by AJ, but not interested in seeing her play it. But if she directed and hired a young woman of color to play the part of a strong female leader? I would go see that. I’d bring my mom!
I read through the gawker piece during a bout of insomnia in the wee hours and didn’t know if it was my sleep deprived brain or not but AJ came off looking pretty good. She writes in sentences and mostly uses punctuation. She is direct and professional and yes, sweet. I got a kick out of how she signed her emails “xxx” as my MIL always does that.
Rudin is an ahole but it seems more like it’s accepted and expected and nobody takes it seriously. Just some crotchety old man whose soup has gone cold.
Yes, I think AJ is looking pretty good in this situation and I like her ideas. She really seems interested in making this the best version that she can and seems open to the input of others. But this Rudin, man o man, I really hope he will get dropped by people over the things he says in these conversations that are now coming out. He really doesn’t seem to be very mature.
She’s the consummate professional.
+1
I think the tone of her emails just reflect two things
1) she isnt tight with these people. Pascal and Rudin dont bother with formalities with each other, They type emails as if they were conversations that were just picking up where they left off. The even squabble like bffs. Its probably the reason Rudin can bitch so much to Pascal about a soon-to-be employee. They’ve made afew films together, they have an intimacy.
2) she has had alot of experience with eaves droppers. Its never occured to Pascal that her emails could have an unintended audience. Angelina has been there, done that and got the Tshirt. Shes guarded. She cant even trust the people she is emailing not to forward the emails to every colleague on the Lot.
I think Rudin is incredibly nasty here and I dont know whats up his bonnet. But I also think Angelina isnt very clever in how she handles these Hollywood types. She has created a reputation for being stand offish and too-good-for-us type of thing and Rudin could be partly reacting to that. It wouldnt hurt her to learn to cultivate relationships, we all have to do it for work. Its often not enough to just be cordial with your colleagues. Attend the occassional dinner party, show up for a few bday parties, randomly complement afew colleagues in interviews. We ALL have to do it to some degree at our work places. Likeability will take you far! Would Jennifers film be getting so much attention if it werent for many of those relationships shes grown over the years? I just read about Arianna Huffington and company throwing a viewing party for Cake incidentally.
I’m sure she doesn’t have a close personal relationship with Rudin but her and Pascal seem tight, saying they love each other etc. Sure it’s that fake hollywood love but they still seem to like each other.
And I love that AJ is “standoffish” with the schmoozing. I wouldn’t be able to stomach that. And she’s managed to be pretty successful anyway.
Probably, but the reality is that AJ has much more in her plate than to be catering to HW people.
She has a large family and she tends to them a lot. They (BP and Jolie) seem to be sociable, but mostly stay within their family and close friends and the job relationships they have are kept there.
Others in HW are men who do not “have to” be around their children, or are childless, like Ellen and her wife. They socialize a lot with other HW people. I bet many like Reese WS do too, but she has less children and probably has nannies too to care for her little boy.
If AJ were working the HW party circuit, she would be called on it, as if she is not criticised already.
i think the point pple need to remember is that aj and bp are very tight with very few trusted pple and frankly i can’t blame them at all – with all the fakers around in hw at least they have pple they can trust – if aj does pr she gets blamed – it seems once again there is a double standard of what she can do and what others who are less deserving and talented can do – so as what she said she approaches pple directly andmakes sure there is no problem and maybe that is an approach that hw pple dont like – they want to be flattered etc
Oh Please don’t compare AJ to Aniston, she is party animal in HW and kiss-asses everyone in HW. Thats how she survives in the industry and mind you, she has all the time in the world to do that with only dogs to take care of. Thats why she goes and throw parties all the time, even just a tree-trimming party. She goes and invite all powerful people to her parties and as we all know, most of them are no-shows. Like Ellen spilled the beans that once she was invited to Aniston’s party but didnt show up because it was not that important like a wedding.
These emails show the real “brat” is Scott Rudin.
Angelina came across very well to me. Intelligent as always, even in private emails.
Thank you for this analysis Kaiser!
I hadn’t been following the recent developments closely. I would be interested in seeing her version of Cleopatra too! What La Jolie is saying is not unreasonable. Rudin resents that a “lowly actress” is pushing back on his uninspired views for the film.
sounds like she really believes in herself – but truth be told, she has not proven that she’s worthy
I think she is over estimating her ability
not a great actress, not great insight and the powers that be in HW know that.
Yeah that’s why she has two new directorial movies out with the big powers in Hollywood. And also managed to pull together a team like Scorsese, Daniel D Lewis and possible Leo D for this movie. The real powerful within the industry clearly believes in her talent, abilities and are supporting her.
Are You AJ gate keeper?
I am big fan of Angelina as a human, i liked few of her films and restored my love to her in movies after salt but she wined me back totally in maleficent. I loved her subtle emotions in that film . i think she is evolving. honestly before maleficent i could not imagine her Cleo but after maleficent..yes i do. she carried the movie on her back and she won her targeted audience.
Well, people obviously want to work with her and think she is good enough to let her be pulling the strings. Celebrity power will only get you so far, if she didn’t have talent she would not be offered so much money and high profile roles.
Agreed. People get blinded by celebrity status. As much as I can’t stand Rudin now, I think he’s right about Jolie not being the genius she thinks she is. She has made some decent movies and all but she isn’t on the level of great female producers/directors.
Rudin attacked her for having ideas that are way more original than anything he put forward in these mails. Also, AJ seems to be really interested in getting a director with a strong view for this movie, so I don’t get the feeling she was planning to do it all on her own.
“Jolie meets with David Fincher (Rudin is pissed), Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, Steve McQueen and more.”
This is power. And they call her minimally talented? How many women can get these directors interested? We know it all about Cleopatra and her love life. It would be interesting to focus more on everything else.
Notice how these people ruin films. These are the people that sell cliches, and sex, and stuff they think we want to see. The racist people who don’t want black stars.
I like Angelina, but putting that aside for a minute, come on… She’s not in the wrong here. Rudin’s a dick.
There are few women outside of her with this kind of power. And I think that is what is pissing Rudin off. With other actors he gets his say and they do what he wants them to do. She is different. He has to deal with the actress. And he wants everything to be done the way he wants it. He is the brat and sounds such. Also so overbearing. I wonder why so many woman don’t make it past the actress stage. nor get power. I have tried to avoid this a lot. Mainly because of how Some women were so quick to trash Angie and so quickly to get behind Rudin and his attack on her. Not ever questioning his behavior or giving it a pass because he said what they wanted him to say about her. Reading the emails shows exactly how two faced he is. If she was so untalented then he should have broken the association and gone to another actress. Instead he show what a back talker he is then he goes and talks about how perfect she is and such a STAR. Angie has a lot of power in Hollywood. And I said at the beginning there are not many if maybe 2 that have that kind of pull; to pick her roles, get the director, have a say in marketing, script approval. That is HUGE and should be celebrated. Instead we see other women pounce and do what unfortunately women do.. Bash another woman for being able to play on the same playing field as men. But because it is Angelina it is more importantly to bring the bitchiness and jump behind the Powerful man and applaud what he is saying despite the context and what he later says.
I appreciate that Angie is as her fans have seen Professional and direct. These new emails show who the Brat was and it was not Angelina at all
Excellently said Lisa!
@Lisa2 +1000000000000 to your comment!
Eloquently stated as always 🙂 !
+1, Lisa
Very well put!
Lisa2
Nailed it!
I agree with you as well lisa2.
Good Lord. I just can’t anymore with all these “Angie is perfect” posts. Scott Rudin owns the rights to the book on which the movie was to be based. He is producing it – i.e – hiring director, approving script AND hiring the actress. He wanted to hire Angie AS THE ACTRESS in this movie. That is all. She is not a producer – so should not be going behind the the producer’s (the people with the $$$) back to solicit directors. The producers were being very generous in giving her so much say – but she was clearly taking advantage. Since when was she a screen writer? She’s “helping” with the script? She’s making a fool of herself with her high opinions of her abilities. They were too polite to tell her to her face – and VERY catty behind her back – but Rudin was not wrong to be impatient with her constant meddling in this movie. He could hire any other actress and not have to deal with this. So please stop with the “Angie’s version of this movie.” There is no “Angie’s version.” Rudin owns the rights and secured the financing and IS THE PRODUCER. And as he said – “she is an actress for hire” for this project nothing more.
AJ is not just an actress for hire, she is an actress with clout on the same level in the business as an actor with clout who would be doing the exact same thing (albeit less politely) and who wouldn’t be told they are “making a fool of themselves”. This is the problem: she is considered bratty and egomaniacal but Brad pitt would be considered powerful and in control when he does the same thing. And so many women just seem to want her to sit down and know her place rather than rallying behind her.
@ Amcn – In this project, she is exactly an actress for hire. She is not the director, the producer, screen writer, etc… On this movie – she works for Rudin and Sony – they are her bosses. Not many bosses appreciate it when someone who works for them, goes behind their back and tries to do the bosses’ job. You are correct – she has the same level or even more clout than most big name actors in the business. But on this project – she is not the boss. She is considered a “brat” here because she is acting like the boss (some would say a diva) by running around trying wrangle directors, manage the script, etc… yet she has no skin ($$$$$) in the game. She will get paid her acting fee and walk away. If the project crashes and burns because of all her delays – Rudin and Sony lose money – not her.
Obviously, Unbroken was a completely different story. But it is exasperating to read all these comment on Cleopatra as if this is HER movie. It is not.
screen writer on two films now: in the land of blood and honey, and by the sea.
@Mia, who wrote: “In this project, she is exactly an actress for hire. She is not the director, the producer, screen writer, etc… She works for Rudin and Sony.”
No, she works for Sony Studios. It very much reads like Angie came to this project through Sony Studios, not Rudin … which might explain why he’s b$itchy and whiny at Amy Pascal to “Just tell her no! Will you let ‘me’ tell her?” It reads to me like Rudin pitched his idea to Amy Pascal to make a film based upon the book he’s obtained the rights for, but Sony only ‘green lighted’ the film if Angelina Jolie was attached to the project. Here’s a description of a Producer’s role:
“The producer and screenwriter prepare a film pitch, or treatment, and present it to potential financiers. They will also pitch the film to actors and directors (especially so-called bankable stars) in order to “attach” them to the project (that is, obtain a binding promise to work on the film if financing is ever secured).”
It sounds to me like Angie might be one of the Producers/financial backers for the Cleopatra film as she’s negotiating with potential directors/actors to attach them to the project. She was Executive Producer on “Maleficent” and seems to have some experience in this end of things.
If the star is big enough or happens to be in a profitable film series (like Matt Damon was in the “Bourne” series) the Studio will grant certain concessions to the actor such as script and Director approval. I used Matt Damon as example because Universal Studios gave him script and director approval for a 4th “Bourne” film … which is why it is only happening now, because he didn’t like the scripts they came up with and when Paul Greengrass walked, Matt Damon did too. He refused to work with any other director on the Bourne franchise except Paul Greengrass.
@Mia
I disagree because like so many posts have already said, that is not what you get when you hire AJ. Like someone else said if that is what they want j Biel will be happy to take the part. AJ has been having creative input in films for a long time. Mal, she made a lot of changes in Salt and Wanted and I believe suggested the director for the Tourist. I think it’s fair to say it is a part of the package when working with her. Because she will catch the flack for a bad movie, Rudin and Sony will lose money but she will lose face. Anyway, this behaviour is expected from her I think.
BP has said recently how he has turned down roles because he is choosy about his directors. And he obviously had issues with changes made to Fury, as per leaked emails. I don’t think her level of involvement is much different than most of the men. I just think that rudin’s bottom line is make money with minimal effort and her objective is to make “art” that has some meaning. And that is one reason he is exasperated with her.
And I think her level of involvement will eventually lead her to take an executive producer role here, as she has before. I think her big problem is the fact that she cares most about the output and Rudin is not interested in the “art” but just the money. She would do better working with someone who has a bit more of an open mind where that is concerned.
I also wonder if maybe she is already under contract and they have to pay her if they kill the project and maybe that gives Rudin pause from hastily abandoning it.
I’m not an Angie-hater by any means. I just think all the inaccurate info undermines any argument in her favor.
@ Emma – Here are a few facts about the movie –
This written in 2010 – “Rudin acquired rights to Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra back in 2006 after reading a ten-page proposal…. Oscar winner Angelina Jolie is attached to star in the “Cleopatra” movie that Oscar-winning producer Scott Rudin has been developing since 2006.”
Rudin on Cleopatra character — “She’s not a sex kitten, she’s a politician, strategist, warrior. In the Joseph Mankiewicz movie, Elizabeth Taylor is a seductress, but the histories of Cleopatra have been written by men. This is the first to be written by a woman. It felt like such a blow-the-doors-off-the-hinges idea of how to tell it, impossible to resist. We’re pretty close. A lot of directors want to do it, but there is only a handful we’ll make it with.”
On THIS film – Rudin and Sony are her bosses – as expected, her emails to them are polite and enthusiastic – they are her bosses—ON THIS MOVIE.
Rudin is the one to secure the financing on the many Oscar nominated films and Tony nominated Broadway shows he’s produced. Angie is not producing, directing or screenwriting on this film.
@K says – After only 2 scripts under her belt (one no one has seen yet) – she doesn’t compare to screenwriters with 20-30+ scripts on their credits that is needed for this caliber movie.
And she’s hardly the first big name actress Rudin worked with – he’s produced films starring Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Helen Mirren, Frances McDurmand, Kate Winslett, Julia Roberts, Judi Dench, Viola Davis to name a few. Most of them have worked with him on numerous occasions – I don’t recall any them causing the delays and drama this film has endured. Maybe that’s why Angie was called a brat.
To be sure, Rudin is a loud mouth and has a reputation for being rude – but he also has a rep for producing movies with strong, intelligent, talented actresses that are usually nominated for Oscars. That’s why SHE wanted to work with HIM.
Mia, THIS!
It’s a little bit like having great architectural plans done for a house (the book) and then hiring a builder (Angie) who goes on to completely ignore them because she doesn’t like how “your house” is going to look, even though you’re the one paying for it and have to live in it. Your vision was modern and minimalistic but when you go to check on the progress, you’ve got an over-budget roccocco nightmare on your hands that looks nothing like the plans you had drawn up. Maybe the builder is studying architecture at night school, but that’s NOT what you hired them to do. Most people who could afford to do so would a) fire the builder, b) have all of the unauthorized modifications ripped out, c) never work with that builder again and d) tell all of your friends who have construction projects in mind to not use them either.
As to the comments about AJ maybe being an executive producer, I’d say that the comment made by Rudin about wanting a “studio partner” and not a “co-producer” makes it pretty clear she wasn’t.
@alice
I get what you’re saying but really from AJ’s emails she is the one keeping in line with Rudin’s original description, which is the idea that got her attached to the project in the first place. It was Rudin that is changing things up and ditching the political leader part in place of romance. So what she is really pushing for is the idea that he pitched in the first place, not rewriting the entire concept.
@Amon: possibly, but since I haven’t read the book and none of us have read the Roth script, it’s hard to say with any certainty. The comments made by Pascal about how Angie will like the new script because it’s more Cleo-centric and makes everything look like she made it happen would lead me to believe that maybe not.
@Mia, who wrote: “Rudin acquired rights to Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra back in 2006 after reading a ten-page proposal…. Oscar winner Angelina Jolie is attached to star in the “Cleopatra” movie that Oscar-winning producer Scott Rudin has been developing since 2006.”
It doesn’t say that Rudin brought Angelina in to the project. Trust, after what we’ve read, if ‘he’ had brought her in there’s no way he’d whine to Amy Pascal about what to say to Angie or for that matter even (or so it seemed) asking permission to say something to Angie. This is a man who is used to having his way and has gone through 100 assistants in a short period of time. He would just fire her from the project. The fact that he hasn’t and is even participating in dialogues with her about the project–and mainly b$tching about her behind her back–indicates that he doesn’t have the outright authority to cut her from the project.
“With one phone call, she’s off”. Yes, he probably DOES have the authority.
And he’s still the producer of this film, but no longer with Sony. I’d say that Jolie is out actually.
Hear, hear. I don’t get how people find it difficult to comprehend that Rudin owns the rights to the version that Jolie was attached to. ‘Was’, because he clearly doesn’t appear to want her in it anymore.
She is a vanity screenwriter, she has no related educational background in writing or film direction, but it seems that some actors think it is so easy, just because they act.
@ Emma – He did bring her in – google it. But back in 2010. He was doing his best not to fire her because she wanted to be involved with the project so badly. They are already considering moving on with a younger actress. the fact he’s not participating w/ her in dialogue about the movie – that’s not his job. It was Pascal’s job to handle Angie and all her drama – that’s why Rudin kept telling Pascal to handle Angie. EVERYONE was ready to move on from Angie as the lead (read the emails), but Angie was desperate to hold on to it even though she had completely aged out of the role.
Emma – please do a little research before responding. Everything I have posted is fact and readily available on many sites. Also – in the entertainment industry, assistants are barely twenty year olds, some are likely still in college and interns. He is tough, but across the industry, assistants come and go quickly.
@Mia, who wrote: “Emma – please do a little research before responding. Everything I have posted is fact and readily available on many sites. Also – in the entertainment industry, assistants are barely twenty year olds, some are likely still in college and interns. He is tough, but across the industry, assistants come and go quickly.”
(Smiling at you telling me to do a little research) Just considered this: If Scott Rudin is Angelina Jolie’s boss and can fire her at any time from the “Cleopatra” project, why hasn’t he? For that matter, why hasn’t Pascal?
By taking his projects over to Universal, Rudin effectively “fired” Sony, Pascal and Jolie actually.
Hallelujah- finally people can see the true and real picture here.
The only one who has lost his mind is the disgusting, racist and male chauvinist Rudin. He clearly is intimidated by Angelina and her power and is frustrated that he cannot bend her his way. The more I read about it the more it is crystal clear that Rudin is a waste of space and needs to be fired. Even the Sony people wanted to buy or blackmail him out of the project (email sent end of November).
You can clearly see Angelina is trying her best to show a different Cleopatra instead of the cliched love stuck one. Cleopatra was a very clever and cunningly strong women. Not someone who fell apart after love affairs.
And also this whole thing also clearly shows that Angelina is the one with true power and respect within the industry. She is the one who is making the efford to see the great directors and see if they are interested. She is the one who pitched the movie to Scorsese and he is now willing to negotiate a deal. Infact Angelina has put together a very talented, exciting team of people for Cleopatra – Scorsese, Daniel Day Lewis and even Leo D is in the talks.
You can’t fire Rudin he’s an independent creative entity. He buys rights to books or develops his own scripts and works with studios project by project. He can be as crappy as he wants and has been infamous for years but he’s also incredibly talented and has a zillion Oscars.
Maybe Rudin just managed to get in the right production teams though.
Well his talent and zillon Oscars is it right.. so again he can be ass and racist and liar and so many other things..
Wow.. that is once again good to know.. Maybe in my lifetime I will see a women acting the way he is and other women run to defend it because she is “talented” and has a “zillion oscars”
@lisa2 I agree he is a racist sexist bastard but to think this is going to actually affect him is naive. He is not a public personality so bad press won’t matter to him and he doesn’t have to answer to a board or shareholders. I doubt he will work with Sony again but I don’t think any of his other projects will be jeopardized.
They sound like they are in middle school,like those 3 way phones calls in Mean Girls.
Ahahaha, love that reference!
LOL, I can totally picture that. SNL should do it as a sketch.
Wow took a break from CB for two weeks and I already missed a lot
If being a ‘spoiled brat’ means being a strong
willed, single-minded woman then all hail
the”spoiled brats”. Just because she isn’t someone
the studios can control easily she gets labelled as having a hugo ego, minimally talented and a spoilt brat.
Judging from those emails it’s Rudin & Pascal who
need an attitude adjustment. She does things her
way, she fights for what she believes in and that’s
not to be chastised but admired.
Rudin is whiner (I don’t care how talented a producer he is). The fact that he cuts AJ from the email in other to bad mouth her with pascal and even when pascal says they should meet and straighten things out(which he refuses) says a lot.. He can’t say shit to her face!
One more thing if he doesn’t like her that much why not tell her he doesn’t want her for the role of cleopatra? As Zoe Saldana said on twitter Rudin’s attitude depicts how female actresses are treated in hollywood. Good for AJ for fighting for what she wants and not just being an oh yes member…
And yes I agree with your take on this completely kaiser. Angie writes well and speaks well….. Say what you want about but there is no denying that she does have power!!!!
You can he is not used to people not rolling over for him when he said “she is just an actress for hire” yet, he could never say it to her face. Meanwhile, La Jolie has no PR person, no manager and no agency behind her and yet you have women here shitting on her when she is clearly creating a new paradigm for actors and actresses, no wonder the knives always come out for her.
Evreything you said!
+100000000000
Where are all those people who had their knives out for her last week.
She is setting the pace for others to follow!
go Angie!!!!
She has a manager and agent http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/angelina-jolie-signs-uta-655700.She only has no RP but uses the RP of the studios when a movie is released
Don’t kill me I’m French, the Hollywood reporter just released an interview with Angelina. HWR says she only has an agent for directing and she just split from her longtime manager last year. So now she’s basically on her own as an actress.
She doesn’t have a manager (they recently split) and her agent is not for acting; it’s for directing/writing, which makes sense, as she’s still a newbie in that area. She has a lawyer, personal assistant, and studio PR when promoting a movie.
I work in music and some of the big names do this. After a while, you don’t need to share %% with so many people as you have the connections, power, and money to do what you want to do.
The problem is, and what Rudin has issues with, is that because AJ likes to deal directly, there’s no middleman (or woman) to air your complaint to. No one likes to give negative feedback to artists directly, because it becomes more personal.
Ridiculous. AJ comes off sounding just fine. These people are the ones that are out of their minds.
They all let the power go to their heads and deemed Jolie not good enough to have an opinion, So they trash her like school kids at lunch time. Talking behind her back, but not once to her face. If so much of this is true they wouldn’t fear telling her this. This is all so awful and at the same time funny. But still awful.
Yeah, at the risk of being branded a Brangeloonie, I just can’t see where Angelina was the one who came off looking bad in those emails. God forbid she have a strong vision of what she wants the movie to be like and be willing to argue (politely) for it. Rudin really was the inspiration for Les Grossman, wasn’t he?
And the one part of that article that really made me choke on my coffee was the bit about Rudin and Pascal wanting Jolie to star in a “Little House on the Prairie” movie. WTF!? Who’s the crazy one supposed to be again?
star in it? as who, though.
anyway, i admit i skimmed through the whole thing and i maybe read it wrongly as produce/direct Prairie. that’s why i just skipped through it.
but act in it? um. maybe they have a vision of it that i don’t. that’s why they’re the successful one and i’m the sheep at the cinemas.
If she was 20 years younger, she could’ve played Mary. If I’m remembering right, Laura sort of idealized her as the most beautiful big sister ever, and always felt plain next to her.
I think it would be interesting to do a movie with Mary, and how she lived her life as an adult who was blind. I googled her, and it seems like after her parents died, she moved in with her younger sister (Carrie, I think). Lol, people should hire ME.
Angelina wants to retire from acting and she wants to go out with a bang. This movie sounds like a disaster, but she’s too obsessed with it to see. It definitely is a vanity project, but it’s Hollywood, what isn’t about vanity? I wish she would find something else, a kind of Girl Interrupted role, she’s really good at those. That would be going out with a bang in my opinion. From the emails she comes off very respectful and nice. Also she can write like an educated adult, unlike Rudin.
I will loath her as Cleopatra. I can already imagine her acting the role. Jolie, you are not a good actress, maybe not anymore. All the best w directing
She’s not a horrible actress, she just doesn’t have range. She’s was good in roles like Gia, Girl Interrupted.
No to another whitewashed Cleopatra/Egyptian movie. The casting in these types of Hollywood movies is always so off. I am happy that Ridley Scott’s Exodus turned out to be a flop after all the controversy surrounding Christian Bale saying that Egyptians were White -_-
Yes, that’s what I’m saying! I’m interested in AJ’s vision, but not with her playing another whitewashed character. I would see for sure this if AJ directed it and championed an up and coming actress of color for the part.
I thought Bale said they were north-african/ middle-eastern ( he never talked on caucasian types)
Ramses II was rumored to be red-haired and his father Sethi was from berber peoples.There were some nubians pharaons and also north-african pharaons
To say the Egyptians were black or white is inaccurate http://lenversdelacaverne.e.l.f.unblog.fr/files/2011/07/bas-relief-tombeau-de-Sethi-1er.jpg
If you go to visit Egypt,the guide will talk you about this pic of Sethi’s tomb
Yes, there’s evidence of Celtic genetics and cultural influence in ancient Egypt, as well.
People got around then, just as they do now….travelers, immigrants, wanderers, empire builders and the like….
Anyway, people often want racial diversity in film casting, but then also want historical accuracy in casting. It’s a bit of a double standard at the moment, it seems.
I mean, period pieces in england-people are celebrating having a POC cast, but not historically accurate? Speaking as far as the exodus issue here-but maybe if it wasn’t fully white cast, but diverse, it would be more palatable if not historically accurate.
As far as AJ, it’s all been said. Rudin’s hilarious in how skittish he is. A live wire, that one [or live cannon is more like it. lol]
I soooo agree with the opinions that this would make a great HBO series. And people would probably watch it. Not sure if the theater seats will fill for an epic waaaay too long film [usually those things are 3 hours]. But, AJ does sell and I think that’s part of why people consider working with her as well. She is influential and has an audience for sure.
And apparently the only story they know… If they want a strong, Egipcian, empire ruling woman, then they should try with Queen Hatshepsut, who, by the way, had more power and is a more interesting character than Cleopatra.
Cleopatra was Greek, so Angie’s looks would be fine…not all Greeks are stocky with moustaches- I’m not. If Angie is involved, there wouldn’t be a plethora of Swedish looking Egyptians. Both she & Brad have a pretty good track record in this area. It’s funny- Brad has shown that he’s as picky & detailed oriented as she is when acting in a role (you get more than just a doll/pawn that talks when you hire either one– for better or worse), but it’s Angie who is a brat. Brad is polite, but Angie is even politer- go figure. Yet Scott won’t hire a talking doll- why? So he has someone to mock and hate on or because the marketplace has proven her value and, despite being the uncompromising artist and deep soul that he is, he is willing to kindly let Angie work- what a big heart he has!
Greeks of that time were more blonde with blue eyes. It wasn’t until the Turkish invasion that their dom brown eyes and hair took over.
I think Technically speaking Jolie is too pretty to be Cleo. Cleo was a strong woman, but wasn’t seen as a beauty. Her presence and intelligence helped make her so attractive and desired.
True- I think it was mostly her brain/charisma, but much of the attraction was also the (presumed) strategic importance of her kingdom at that time. As far as Angie or any other actress being too pretty, that is nearly ALWAYS the case when playing “real” people. same for men, too. Such is the way of cinema past, present, and very likely, future.
That occured to me after I wrote it. That characters cannot be told a translate as well to the public. When they hear of a strong woman that was very desired they need to see a gorgeous lady to believe it in the context of the story. Her intelligence can still play a role, but always secondary to her looks.
And you’re right! To align yourself with Cleo was great strategy.
Although, there are some actors on tv that are known for not getting roles for their looks. And when they play powerful characters I see the attraction. It might be a double standard thing.
@ Greek says! – your comment is an insult to the smart, successful, talented actresses that have starred/costarred in Rudin’s many Oscar nominated films: Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Helen Mirren, Frances McDurmand, Kate Winslett, Julia Roberts, Judi Dench, Viola Davis. These women are hardly dolls/pawns.
I’m a Brad/Angie fan, but the lack of fact based info in some of these comments is simply galling. Angie’s not the one with the upper hand here – that’s why she’s bing so solicitous and polite. Unfortunately, as an actress approaching 40, she doesn’t have the market value you touted in your post. THAT’s why she’s trying to reinvent herself as a director – smart move on her part because there are very few acting roles for a woman her age. Sad, but true- as voiced by much more successful actresses than her. THAT’s also why she’s holding on to this Cleopatra role for dear life – as an actress in the movie and nothing more. So EVERYONE please stop saying she’s producing, directing, writing, raising Cleopatra from the dead, etc…. for this movie. Sheeeesh!
Mia
I have no idea how you took away what you did from that comment.
And Jolie is polite because she has no upper hand? Really? She couldn’t just be polite for the sake of it? Are good manners really only motivated by secret desires for control and power?
Also, There are many roles for a woman her age. Actresses don’t stop working after their mid 30’s. And she’s made a point to say she’s transitioning to behind the camera. And she’s backed that up with actually doing that.
Your thoughts on this are fine if opinions, but there’s no fact here and it’s all just very wrong and misguided.
Also, there are other actresses holding on to claims of doing more and future movie projects that are total disasters and never actually to be followed through on. Would you attack them as well based on your argument here?
I bet all those people that were high fiving Scott Rudin last week will not come out today and say they were wrong. Angelina as always, time shows that the initial headlines are usually off the mark.
For those of us that have chosen to ignore the tabloid narrative and see her for the smart, straight shooter that she is with all her faults, we are always in an I told you so position.
She certainly comes across better than her detractors and that is why she keeps winning at life and they keep waiting for her to stumble so they snicker.
No they won’t.. but what their new spin will be is she is not good and they are “whitewashing the film” that is what I see them doing now.
And of course they have had too many films about Cleo.. NOT true. 50 years is not many films. And not counting TV.. They never go on and on about all the Super Hero films. All the different recasting to keep them going. NO. But when it come to an Angie film they all of a sudden become so Racially aware. The movie has not been done and they are trying to trash it before it happens. That kind of **** is something I don’t get.
Angie has shown who she is and how she operates in a business way. The others have shown who they are as well. Why she is the one hung out is difficult to understand. The people wanting so much for her to fail. hmmm.. I think when all is said and done she will as usual come out on the top.
This is why I never get too bothered when she has a bit of bad press. She ignores it and in a week or two the tide turns back. Trying to fight the hatefulness only leads to more hatefulness, the best revenge really is living well.
If Angie is out of her mind, I’d love to have her mind. Sign me up!
“Angelina sounds professional, polite and passionate…”
Completely agree, which took me by surprise! I didn’t expect her to sound so earnest. I was expecting a more childish tone. Rudin is the one who seems to take pleasure in pissing on actors like it’s the 19th Century and they’re all prostitutes.
Agreed! Rudin sounds like a nasty, spoiled baby….Angie sounds very polite and seems to know exactly how she wants this movie to be made and is looking for a great director for this project. I think (and hope) that Rudin is out on his ass after all these emails have shown him to be a racist, mysoginistc, egotistical, a$$hole….
I also like the fact that Angie doesn’t have a manager,agent or publicist speaking for her.No middle man,the buck stops with her.She is in control.
Agreed. And I don’t think that makes her a control freak, just intelligent and capable. She does actually work at her career instead of doing the spa all day. It’s refreshing.
I don’t agree with the general opinion. I would totally watch a Cleopatra movie with her, she is totally the only person I can see portraying her. Being who she is I believe she will fight even harder to do this project now an d prove all this people wrong. You go Angelina!
I was thinking Lupita would make a great Cleopatra! With Angelina directing or co directing. Also, I love how Lupita is a one word celebrity name now…We all know who she is.
I just saw and interview and she was asked why she wanted to play her or what would be the role she could see herself walking away after.
She said that after reading the book she could see that there had never been a story of Cleo about her strength and her power. It was all about the romances. That many say it is the people that didn’t like her that wrote her Biography. That she wanted to focus on the strength of the woman and how she really came to Power. Rudin is stuck on the old story and that is what he wants.
regarding Lupita.. trust if she was casted there would be a different outcry. People love to talk about what they want to see on film. But they don’t support it when it is there.
I think it would be successful as well. When was the last time she had a movie that didn’t make money? She has a huge pull in international markets. Although critics hated the Tourist it still did very well, as did Salt. Of course this is one of the reasons she has so much power. It’s rare for an actress to be such an international celebrity.
And what’s funny to me is that everyone I know LOVED The Tourist. And I’m even talking about the crazy, evangelical fundamentalist types as well. One couple I know–she barely is on Facebook (in terms of playing games and things), but she has THREE movies on FB as her favorites–one of them is The Tourist.
Same with Lone Star (was that what it was called??? Johnny Depp as Tonto…). Everyone I know who watched it, loved it.
And yes, The Tourist was not very good, but it made nearly three times its budget back.
VC
I enjoyed Salt and only liked the tourist. I had to watch the lone ranger on a cross country flight. The plane actually all agreed we couldn’t finish the movie. Half way through we were all talking openly at how bad it was. They switched to several episodes of raising hope and monster university. That was actualy a good group to fly with…. But you get my point. That movie was terrible.
She certainly comes off more professional and well spoken then the two of them.
In no way am I defending Rudin’s attitude or name calling, but…if I’m not mistaken, he bought the rights to the material and is the one who brought it to Sony. His vision of it is obviously very different then Angelina’s, and while it’s admirable that she was so interested that she really worked on the project, I can see where, as the owner and producer of the material, he was frustrated by this and felt his toes being stepped on. If she was not hired as a producer herself, it sounds like she may have overstepped her role a bit due to her excitement about the project.
That said, he should have dealt with it like an adult. If he didn’t like the direction she was trying to take it, he should have met with her in person and said so. If they couldn’t find common ground, part ways on the project, and tell her to go develop her own or buy the rights of this one from him. Ditto for Pascal, who I get the impression just tells both sides what they want to hear and doesn’t actually make any hard decisions. She’s the head of the studio, she should certainly be able to tell an actor no.
When the project was announced, he said he bought the right to Stacy Shiff’s book with Jolie in mind, funny that Jolie’s idea is much closer to the authors than Rudin.
The price you pay for being a woman and having strong opinion, the sad part is that it was women who rejoiced more when they thought she was being humiliated. As always, she keeps classy and professional.
I thought she WAS the producer considering how many demands she has. Actors don’t have that much say in how a movie is being made, i think she was overstepping her boundaries. Still they could have handled it better, they seem like mean high school girls, especially Rudin. They treat actresses badly, like O’Russell abusing Amy Adams. It’s really upsetting.
When the movie tanks, is it not the actor or actress that suffer for it? How many producers have you seen raked over the coals because their movie failed, so why should more actresses try to get the best people to work in their movie if they can.
I didn’t say they shouldn’t be collaborators, but actors/actresses don’t have that kind of power, it’s not how it works. Unless it’s established from the beginning, that they’re going to create the movie together, hired actors don’t really have a say. He was clearly annoyed with her for “putting her nose were it doesn’t belong” so to speak. He was just an assh*le about it, instead of telling her, this is what i want and this is how it’s gonna happen, he went behind her back to ridicule her and trying to sabotage her, because he’s too much of a coward to say it to her face.
I would think that that’s the deal with Angelina, when you work with her. I don’t think she gets her way about everything (I remember her sort of hinting that she didn’t like the director’s take with Maleficent), but she is pretty famous in Hollywood for handling her own press, taking her own meetings, being face to face with people, and being very involved in her projects. This is stuff that we peasants know about. And I’m sure that in Hollywood, they all talk smack about each other–so there’s NO WAY that he didn’t know that she would be involved to that extent.
And it’s not like she just started emailing him, bugging him about ideas, etc—it was part of an ongoing conversation, for months, between the three of them. So I think he was just mad that she wasn’t thinking his ideas were brilliant, and was challenging them–trying to create something better. Or at least attempting to.
I said previously that AJ didn’t come off looking so great and that Cleopatra sounded like an ego-bath for her (still does in some sense). But it’s obvious that she was sticking to her guns about minimizing the love story and keeping a complicated fully developed female role. Kudos to her on that.
Rudin has an established history of producing good films. I can see why he would be annoyed that a project he brought to the table would get so much input from someone he also thought would be perfect for the lead role. He’s legendary for being this tantrumy and bratty when things don’t go his way. LEGENDARY. The fresher take on Cleopatra was also pretty well established before this so that’s not as new as people think. Rudin even encourages a bald or shaved head. AJ was adding her perspective which is always a positive imo. (for the record I don’t care if she is too old to play cleo she should. no one says anything when we age down historical roles. Play Cleo if you want AJ you are not too old).
These people (with the exception of Jolie) lack professionalism. I’m in 100% agreement that if he felt this strongly he should have talked to her about it in a professional way, not thrown a tantrum.
I have not read the book, but it seems like at the end he scrapped the book (and the rights he bought) and pretended to go over with a Shakespeare version. Who know what the script issues were, but it seems that it is about the money, maybe he decided that a romance would sell more than a more female power centric approach. Funny, isn’t it? No wonder Sorkin says there are not that many good roles for women, they cannot see the light of day.
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One more thing, I have not followed AJ for too long, but I know that Brad is like this, if he doesn’t “feel” the project is right, he bails, as he did with The Fountain, at the cost of having to make up for the losses he caused and had to star in other films. I think Brad has her back, and maybe even helps her.
He said himself that his company is out to do some films that otherwise would not be made/produced, like Moneyball was.
What I don’t get is that if he owns the material, and he honestly thinks that she IS ‘minimally talented’, and they’re disagreeing over how the movie should go, then why can’t he just tell her that he doesn’t think it’s working out, and go with someone else who will follow his lead.
I doubt Angelina JUST decided that she was going to change everything about the project, or decided that because she would be the star, she could approve all of the major decisions–obviously he either sold her the idea of a more political story, not a love story, and agreed that they’d be discussing the finer details of the project together. Why not just go to Angelina, a celebrity who is probably NOTORIOUS in studios for not having her own PR, to going ahead and discussing things face to face, and tell her “I’ve got this project. I want you to do it, BUT with the general storyline, I want x,y, z and that’s how it’s going to be. If it changes, that’s my decision, and mine only. In or out?”
I didn’t like the first set of emails (beyond him talking trash about an actress HE wanted to hire, and had the power to choose EXACTLY who he wanted), because he used the word ‘brat’. I mean, sometimes I use the word ‘brat’ to describe someone. But I’m 20. And when I use it, it’s because they’re CLEARLY acting childish. I think that if it had been a man who was doing what Angelina had been doing (basically trying to get his movie together and going forward with production), then he’d be called a lot of names, but he wouldn’t have been called a brat for doing what every other man in the industry has done, and will continue to do.
He’s a mouth warrior. He doesn’t have the guts to say any of it in her face.
That’s exactly what I’m saying – if he holds the rights and wants to do the movie his way, fine – but be an adult and say so! Her take sounds a bit more interesting than him reducing it to a love story, but it’s his project. But I’m just amazed at the backhanded way they work. Be upfront, be honest in your opinion, and if you firmly believe in it, put your foot down and say this is the way it’s going to be. And I still can’t believe how wishy washy Pascal is on the whole thing, like she wants to be buddy buddy with Rudin but keep stringing Angelina along as well. A studio head should be able to make a decision and stick to it.
@lucy2
Exactly. And what’s also ironic is that they’re communicating by EMAIL. It is so much easier to air your grievances over email, than it is face to face–at least for me. I’m a lot more articulate when I’m typing, over when I’m talking. I have more time to think things through, and sort my thoughts.
It would’ve been 10x easier for him to just tell her his vision of the movie, take it or leave it, and throw an internet peace sign. Instead he was talking trash and stringing Angelina along for months.
I just find it SO funny that he considers her SO untalented and a “camp event” that he a) wants to hire her, and was in fact trying to make her stay on the project–his way, and b) calls HER a camp event, when he wants to make another cliched version of Cleopatra that we’ve seen in every remake. But she’s a camp event. And he’s supposed to be the brilliant producer.
@VC I’m sure he knows her box office pull and he thought she was good for the part before he started working with her. Brad and AJ are powerful people and Rudin seems pretty aware of that. I don’t think he’s the only one like this at all. I think most people in hollywood are probably that phony. Actors, writers, producers, and directors alike. It’s toxic up in there.
Cleopatra became a queen at the age of 21. Angelina is too old for the role.
Artistic license
I like her version of Cleopatra, to be frank, I’m tired of Cleo films being based solely on love stories.
She’s being extremely professional and concise in her points.
That being said, I’m tired of Egyptian films with WHITE people. Why not a Nefertiti movie or Hatshepsut?
I understand her passion for this film but it’s a sad day when the most accurate depiction of Egypt can only be found in a cartoon 😒
Now we know who is the “spoiled brat”, Scott Rubin. Angle came off as very professional and very focused on what she sees in her version of Cleo. I would go to see Angie’s version. I hope she gets to make it. Btw, I a big fan of Angie and Brad.
OR Queen Sheba. Then again, I don’t care if it’s white or not, even Maria Antoinette would be interesting. Just more films centered around women and their roles in history, that are complex and layered. Though, movies don’t seem to do that anymore=have depth and subtlety. Remember how adored Blanchett’s Elizabeth was? Great role, great actor and there was definitely an audience for this kind of period piece essentially, that did not revolve around *only* swords and fighting OR love life.
i just finished reading about Wu Zhetian. like Hatshepsut, her legacy has to contend with a lot of misogynist historians. 😀
i wouldn’t mind her life being put on film.
other queens i’d be interested to watch: Queen Tamar or Queen Nzinga Bande.
oh speaking of women in history.
you know every year Hollywood churns out all these WWII movies? why don’t they concentrate on the women for once. make big budget epic movies of women war heroes. there’s no shortage of them. Nancy Wake who sadly just passed away, or another tank movie? Maria Oktabriskaya–the tank widow.
how about we do less pirates of the caribbean and more Grace O’Malley?
or a Wild West movie about Stagecoach Mary?
i loved Cate Blanchett when she did Veronica Guerrin. someone should make another such movie about Marie Colvin, the woman journalist with an eyepatch!
there are no shortage of interesting female characters to cater to the war-movie goers.
Sigh. Life and movies would be lots more interesting if you gals were in charge. It does seem like rudin pulled a bait and switch with the Cleo concept. Like “it’ll be about a woman and her worth in the political arena, as a power player that men need on their side.” Oh wait , no it’s gonna be about the hackneyed love story that has been done to death. Then he got pissy when she tried to right the ship, projecting bratitude on her that HE clearly owned.
This. I’ve just mentioned Hatshepsut on a previous comment. In my opinion, she would be super interesting as a movie character
I would love love love a movie about Nefertiti. Seriously, one the most intriguing periods of Egyptian history. Less incensed about Hatshepsut, we know so little about her.
Rudin comes across as a rude, immature jerk who lacks the guts to face AJ and have a grown up convo about the fact that they have two different visions for the movie. Pascal obviously tries to play both parties and keep the peace by being stuck in the middle without the guts to make a decision or express an opinion either way. You can’t even properly tell who she agrees with. Hate people like that, boot lickers in your face and back stabbing you as soon as you’re not watching them.
IMHO Angie comes off just fine, the only one who is mature, articulate, passionate and has done her homework. You may disagree about the need for a Cleo movie, but if one were to be made I would prefer to see her version rather than the pap Rudin is envisioning.
I will make it a point personally to boycott any Rudin movie from now on. I will never accept that talent/success should be an excuse to tolerate a lack of manners and integrity, not to mention a huge ego and his blatant sexism. Would any of the CB female readers here want to work with him or for him? I know I wouldn’t.
Is Angelina Jolie one of the producers or even an executive producer of the movie? Cleopatra looks like a vanity movie for her
Rudin’s bitchy little emails are cracking me up.
I’m surprised there are so many jackholes in Hollywood. Oh, wait…
Angie is not obsessed with this project.If she was she wouldn’t have done Unbroken,By the Sea,and about to do Africa project.She wouldn’t be looking at other projects.
BTW Happy Birthday to Brad
“of course she’s going to want a say in how the script is developed and which director is chosen. She’s been like that for years.” That’s the problem. She is an actress. An actress. She was the star of few spectacular flops so she is not that brilliant. No wonder Rudin thinks she should know her place and let other people do their job. It’s all about the power.
I agree – it’s not really her place. I can see how high maintenance and off the rocker some of her demands are / esp. going around the studio to talk directly to directors – not really an actor’s role.
Is Angelina Jolie one of the executive producers?
If Jolie was one of the producers,she would be in her role
It wouldn’t surprise me if she was going to help produce it–she has her own company now, Jolie Pas. But I think Rudin knew that she took all meetings, didn’t work with an agent or a PR person, and was interested in the entire process–she notorious for that. So he’s just upset because she didn’t think his ideas were all that great.
And to be honest, I can see why Hollywood is churning out all of these remakes/unoriginal ideas. All of the remakes of Cleopatra hinged on her sexuality. I can’t tell you who she defeated, but I can tell you who she slept with and why. I think Angelina’s version is a fresher take on the story, and breathes life into it. Yet he doesn’t want to make that, or have her shave her head, because it won’t make money, in his eyes.
I don’t think she is one of the producers. And if she’s not, it’s quite outside her place to have meetings with directors without the actual producers present. The producers are the ones who hire directors, not the actors. And even if she was one of the producers, she should be having meetings with the directors with the other producers, not completely leaving them out of the loop. I would think if she was a producer she would be having these conversations with Rudin.
She was an executive producer on Maleficent so I could see her taking a similar role here.
Nah first off both Fincher (who is a close friend and attended the Pitt &Jolie wedding), and Scorsese expressed interest in working with Angelina both publicly and from accounts in the leaked emails so meeting with them would only help the project along.
That is what pissed off Rudin-that Fincher might have more interest in this than the Jobs film.
Second it’s not unusual for actors or actresses at that level to get involved with development. A great example is Portman in Black Swan. A lot of actors or actresses bring in directors they like or will only agree to a certain level of director and have script approval. Rudin is pissed that he has to listen to her but she has the clout to make demands. This is why he doesn’t have bravery to talk to her himself he doesn’t want to piss her off. Whether you like her work or not she’s got one of the best box office records in Hollywood and is one of the few people that could carry a film like this.
He could have just told her that directly if it was the case, no?
She’s not just an actress, she’s a superstar. The project’s ‘inception’ (hehe) was dependent on her presence. She’d bring enormous added value to the final product and that gives her leverage. How else do you think those big name directors would even consider the project?
I personally don’t mind her throwing her weight around, esp. if it derails from the soapy love story terminated by asps direction. Unlike others, I don’t see Angelina as the fountain of all things kind, so I don’t mind her being ruthless, even if it makes Rudin mad.
@cibele says – no offense, but your comment totally cracks me up! Google Scott Rudin and check out his IMDB – this project was not dependent on her! LOL! The big name directors want to be in one of Rudin’s movies – they could care less about her. NO director is bending over backwards to work with an actress that wants to tell him how to do his job. Angie is already making it clear she wants the film to follow her vision – THAT’S THE DIRECTOR’S JOB! The director determines the vision of the film. Rudin was probably appalled that Angie is running all over town talking to directors – because she was probably turning them off. No director wants the actor telling them how to direct the movie. Even Ben Affleck (Best Picture Oscar winner) talked extensively about he kept his mouth shut and just let Fincher direct him in Gone Girl. Angie should follow that lead. Last time I checked, she’s 2 movies in as far as directing and no big awards yet. If she does win any for Unbroken, at least she will have more clout – but even then, if she’s acting in a movie – she best not direct the director.
Fassy with Angie as Anthony? yes please please please
Cumby? no way. I so don’t get the sex appeal – it is non existent IMO
He’s a lot sexier if you listen, not look.
I’d like to see it if Angelina directed and Cumberbatch played Cleopatra.
Jolie really does come off well in these e-mails, unlike the others. They obviously think she’s uppity, how dare this ACTRESS think outside the box and frame coherent sentences. That’s why they reverted to junior high level to try to get her to either go away or bow to their self-alleged superiority and do what they say.
Maybe the movie format is just dead. They keep doing remakes of remakes. She should consider telling the story she wants to tell in a lower budget way. Maybe a series on the web or YouTube?
Hey, maybe even animated! If you saw the Tin Tin animated movie, you know how incredible animation can be, how fluid the motion is now in 3D-ish. I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn’t live action, but it still benefited from the ability of animation to focus exactly on what the filmmaker wants to show rather than the clutter of live action (much the same way that technical drawing can be so much more useful than a photograph). Guess that’s not really low budget but maybe it would be easier to find good people to work with whose brains aren’t stuck in Hollywood dreariness. She really does have good ideas.
Why don’t you go after Megan Fox for the role Rudin, she’s exactly what you mouth-breathing, perennially teenaged, loser geek Hollywood moguls envision for Cleo – an oversexed little minx with lots of sweaty love scenes. Grow up.
Hear hear
So she was called a brat for just speaking her mind. Oh how the tables have turned. She’s the only one that reminds professional and looks like a mature adult. Watch this barely get 200 comments.
Angelina comes off as classy, thoughtful, and polite while Rudin reveals himself to be a vulgar, childish, backstabbing jerk. Good for Angie.
i just realized, Scott got so ticked off by Pascal and Jolie that he took his self and his book and his rights to Universal… to Donna Langley who… gave Angelina Unbroken based on little seen, financially unsuccessful ITLOBAH. who gave Angelina By the Sea even before getting results on Unbroken…
who might give Angelina more control over Cleopatra depending on how well Unbroken and By the Sea does financially… Scott will still have to deal with The Brat still?
(then again Amy Pascal championed for Angelina to get Salt).
Angelina looks young–that was made really apparent in her chickenpox video. It might be her slenderness and her big eyes but she can look very young sometimes. She could play Cleopatra. Moreover loads of people would be interested in seeing this version, this Cleopatra centered version. Not an epic period piece love story schtick.
Everyone in Hollywood knows that Rudin is a nightmare. They all hate him and hate working with him, but his movies make money, so he will never be out of work. I know one incredibly gifted screenwriter and producer (and sometimes director) who had to check into a mental facility for two weeks after having worked with Rudin (and being SCREAMED at daily) on a project.
I think she wanted cleopatra to be her final movie as an actress. She wanted something big and bold. Well, I hope she finds something else. I for one enjoy her as an actress and I wanna see her go out with a kaboom.
Yea and that’s the funny thing: Those epic films almost always lose money these days….So his idea, while standard for the industry, is not necessarily a shoe in.
Interesting. Thanks for the analysis, Kaiser! Even if there’s disagreement about whether AJ’s idea will sell, it sounds like she’s passionate about her vision and makes her case in a professional manner. Too bad, as you said, Rudin plays high school “mean girl” and doesn’t discuss his concerns directly with AJ, like a professional, respectful grownup would do. Now, his passive aggressive behavior has come back to bite him.
Cleopatra in 50 shades of Marc Anthony would be super dull and boring, no matter who the hotties were in it. Cleopatra was said to be extremely smart and educated woman, I’m sure she had much more to her than her sexuality. In the past, she was always said to be plain looking woman. Her intrigue came from completely different place than plastic looking face. The whole sex romance thing is Hollywood made thing. I’d actually love to see Angies version of the movie if it was something else than another soppy-tits-out-please-love-me-and-do-my-bidding version of Cleopatra.
save the drama for your mama, Scott
Rudin’s emails behind Angelina’s back were incredibly sexist. Its clear that he comes from a mindset of female actors should go back on set, shut up, and make him a sandwich. He’s speaking about Angie as if she’s not a huge star, as if the Cleopatra film could be made with any other actress right now. I’m sure Jessica Biel is available and willing to take on whatever script Rudin throws at her…
It was especially obnoxious that Rudin continually berated Amy Pascal telling her that he wanted to make smart films, while mocking Angelina’s earnest interest in learning more about the subject of Cleopatra.
Meanwhile, Angie’s take on Cleopatra sounds innovative and interesting. She doesn’t want to do the same love story, where Cleopatra is defined by the men she romanced, as has been done and done, again and again, as Rudin himself said a story told best by Shakespeare. Angelina’s version of Cleopatra, as an international power player sounds a lot more fascinating and is a story I would like to watch play out.
I would see AJ’s version of Cleopatra if it could be carried off as she envisions it. However, I just don’t know that I trust Hollywood film writers, directors, and producers to do that. Time and time again, the film industry flubs the big historical epic — I can’t even remember the last one they got right!! Troy and Kingdom of Heaven were both disasters, in terms of quality (though I think they both made money).
It seems to me that what is frustrating Rudin is not only that AJ will not “shut up and make him a sandwich” (thanks for that @Juliette!), but that he knows that he *needs* her to make Cleopatra. AJ would be the perfect Cleopatra and would sell a lot of tickets. In good movies and bad, she brings the box office (when she acts, let’s see how she does when she’s behind the scenes rather than onscreen). She’s probably the most famous global star, they love her in China and all of Asia. Her starring in a Cleopatra movie would guarantee the film a profit. So I think what pi**es Rudin off is that he not only wants her, he needs her, but he also can’t stand her b/c she wants more control than he wants to cede (and I totally think *any* actor in the world would ask for the same, if they thought there was a chance in he** they could get it — which most of them cannot, and look at what happens even to AJ when she tries).
I’m an Angie fan but objectively she is not the best actress. I don’t watch her dramas but I love her in action movies, which sadly may not happen again. Having said that, even if a Cleo movie wasn’t needed and Angie can’t play Cleo, her idea is certainly refreshing. If I had to watch a Cleo film, I’d certainly be more interested in her version. I would get excited if she makes a cameo though haha. Take that project to HBO!
while AJ comes off as a courteous professional, she wants too much control as an actress.
what burns rudin’s britches is that she is very powerful and she will have control. nobody will tell her no, himself included.
what will hurt her as an actress is not being able to relinquish the control she demands.
she sells movies successfully so will always find work as an actress, despite acting being far from her forte, but it will definitely make other producers and directors wary of working with her because i don’t think she has (yet) cultivated the “touch” in creating something phenomenally successful as say a rudin.
she seems to be using her power as an actress to leverage her directing. can she really direct?
is she spreading herself too thin and possibly becoming a jack of all trades, master of none?
i have no problem with her desire to make films as an actor or director where women are powerful and less objectified or make movies with truly compelling stories. i will spend money to see this. but it needs to be well acted, directed and produced. and that’s where i have my doubts about her.
i 100% agree there should be more of the new and good in film (where her interests genuinely seem to be) but if only a handful of people will pay to see it, it won’t be widely distributed and will not make $$$$. that’s all a a rudin would care about. and that’s why his type dominates -ultimately it is a business and they care very much about the bottom line.
I agree with the gist of what you’ve said… I’ve been criticized and called woman-bashing and unsupportive for saying such things too. Particularly about “Saint Angie”. The irony of course is that I admire her and I’m honestly a fan (of her action movies, anyway…)
I think the basic message I’ve been trying to get across is that it would be WONDERFUL to have more female power in Hollywood. More female writers, producers, and directors. PLEASE, YES…. I think the problem with Angie and the reason alot of comments come across as “bashing” her is because she may be ORCHESTRATING these power plays more than she’s EARNING it, harnessing what is basically tabloid celebrity cred instead of big box office cred. In the end, she could do more harm to the argument of more female power behind the scenes in Hollywood due to her over-reaching and pushing too hard, too soon, with too little experience.
I think she’s spreading herself too thin, like you suggested. I admire her for “going for it”, but ultimately if the films she makes fall flat it means nothing.
Who says she hasn’t earned it? The fact that they’re even engaging her in those emails says that she’s earned it. If she hadn’t been important to the movie at the time of those interviews, then he wouldn’t have even been talking to her as long as he did.
And what do you mean, power plays? Because she wanted Fincher? Rudin wanted him for Jobs. HOWEVER, Fincher is a grown man. Rudin doesn’t own Fincher; neither does Angelina. Ultimately, it’s HIS decision. Stating that you’re trying to talk someone into doing a job isn’t a power play. Or even when Fincher definitely wasn’t doing it, and Angelina was suggesting a bunch of directors, and stating that she’d be happy to do the heavy lifting i.e. physically fly and meet with directors that they wanted.
I’m not really seeing how anything she did, is doing is so horrible. She was trying to get a film together. We don’t know if Rudin told her that he wanted Fincher for Jobs. And even then, again, it’s Fincher’s decision.
Ok which is it St. Angie or Dame St. Angie?
Krystal
Researching that was tough! Got a lot of notre Dame vs St. Mary…
It would be Dame Jolie Saint of such and such.
The thing is she DOES have box office cred. Lots and lots of it. She has made studios money consistently and is one of the few women who can open a movie all on her own. How freaking awesome is that? No wonder they jump through hoops to keep her happy and Rudin is doing all the sniping behind her back.
Sorry not sorry for throwing in the sexism angle here, but I’d like to know if Rudin emails have yet surfaced where he talks about comparable *male* actor the way he does about AJ? Like, is he an equal opportunity douchebag, or does AJ elicit this reaction from him, at least in part, because she’s a she – – with a lot of power? The “b*tches be crazy” vibe I’m getting from his emails suggests to me that maybe, say, Clooney saying the same stuff would be “smart,” “professional,” “serious about it.” Either way, this Rudin is clearly a major a*sshole. I mean, probably so is most everybody in Hollywood, including AJ, in varying ways and degrees.
I am sure there are legitimate reasons that Rudin and Pascal are frustrated, if the project is going nowhere and the script is problematic, and Jolie is perhaps wasting everyone’s time by meeting with more directors and studying films. I definitely get the impression that Rudin does not respect her “intellectual” contributions and is essentially humoring her while backstabbing and mocking her behind her back. If they want to scrap the film or something they need to say it to her face.
Yeah, that was my take on this as well. I get the sense that there may be reason for the executives to want the project to get moving already or to drop it and stop wasting time on it, but no one seems to be making that urgency clear to Angelina. I have no idea how she’d react if she got a more upfront email, but it’s hard to judge her when Rubin and Pascal are sending her one message and each other very different ones.
I´ve already seen jolie in Cleo role, imagine maleficent in egyptian clothing n wigs. So i´ll pass.
Wow, Rudin is a misogynistic gaslighter? Who woulda thunk it?
Are there anyone women coming to his defense after all of these revelations?
I thought the whole point of adapting the particular book into a movie was to show Cleopatra as a strong leader and what kind of queen she was not just “oh she rolled out of a carpet”
Hollywood is so out of touch and still clinging to old formulas that no longer work.
Scott rudin’s spin sounds like an awful
Cgi bore that will spin some money or bomb spectacularly. Angie’s sound way more interestining and resonant with modern audiences, not to mention refreshing. But i dont think she’s the right woman for the part. I’d rather see someone fresher with more energy and acting chops, like jess chastain in the role. Angie’s a little one note as an actress, she’ll make cleo into angie instead if transforming angie into cleo.
I hope that her knowing this will push her into directing/producing for a long while yet. If she has to fight just to make a non-cliched version of an iconic character (which, ironically enough Rudin is against her version because he didn’t want to compromise the integrity of his work and career, YET he wants to make another Cleopatra-is-a-sex-kitten movie), just imagine what women like Ava Duvernay have to go through, who have no power when it comes to things like this. I hope she forms a big production company with the majority of women writers, directors, and producers….if I’m not mistaken, her former assistant (Holly something) is a producer that works with her now. I love that.
Women with vision and dedication are crazy bitches. Doesn’t everyone know that? Geez. Lay off these poor guys. They just want to make a love story. What, are you against love?
If there was any doubt about who the spoiled brat is, Rudin’s email cleared that up. Somebody needs to slap the crap out of that obnoxious little twerp and send him to bed with no supper.
I read the emails as well, and I think Angelina sounds intelligent and invested in the project.
I’m sure there’s far more to this entire story than what those emails provide.
It is a movie.. they are not trying to make laws or such. And really why is it such a big deal. As I said it is a MOVIE..nothing more and nothing less. The world is not going to change if it is made or not.
Rudin is just another laptop cowboy typing with one hand.
am i the only one who finds it surprising that heads of film studios have the time and energy to personally email with an actor about such mundane details as wigs for a movie?
While I think those emails were unnecessarly rude, I also think AJ still has to prove her directing skills; and I understand why people can be pissed with her.
And I basically agreed with those yesterday’s leaks where there was someone who said it would be better for her to focus her energies on one project.
She is not trying to direct this film. And her directing should have nothing to do with this film she is acting in. She can be more than one thing.
After reading your posts about the Rudin/Jolie “spat”, I had to finally comment to give my thoughts on it. Rudin sounds like a massive entitled spoiled brat. He’s basically a 3 year old throwing a tantrum in the grocery store because his parents won’t give him a toy he sees on the shelf. He seems like a mean person, and the fact that he has gone through so many assistants in such a short period of time is not funny to me. I’d really like to know what he thinks about his emails being exposed. Pascal has apologized, but to my knowledge Rudin has not said a single thing.
As for Pascal, she doesn’t come across too badly to me. Her emails may not sound “great”, but they sound like any other worker/employee emailing a co-worker giving their opinion, good or bad. She doesn’t seem like a brat, but she does seem kind of…. weak? Or she just doesn’t give a crap and is doing the bare minimum and smoothing things over as much as she cares too.
Jolie sounds lovely to me too. And I realize my views of her are skewed as I absolutely adore her. But I kind of wonder, why does she still want to do this movie after so many years have passed of trying to get it together? Is she THAT passionate about it? Can it possibly be a good movie at this point? Is she financing a portion of it to be given so much say on the script and director???
I think people forget that some films talk a long time to get going. Selma was worked on for 7 years. Some projects longer than that. She wants to do Cleo based on this current biography. Telling this story as a strong woman in History. We don’t see that often. Yes we have Elizabeth (don’t recall people saying that there are too many films about her) but this would be a different look at Cleopatra the woman, mother and leader.
She is passionate about it. I don’t know why some people don’t understand that. But I agree she sounds very nice and cooperative in these emails.
So, what was the whole point of this hack? To embarrass the studio? To ridicule those in charge as a form of retribution? So far, all of the actors involved come off as sounding, enthusiastic, passionate and professional. It’s the directors and producers that sound like total a-holes. But that’s Hollywood is it not? I do find it fascinating having an insiders look into the industry but it’s not really all that shocking to me. I guess I don’t get the whole fight that’s come about with North Korea/the U.S./the scandal and all over a silly comedy? It’s seriously ridiculous. There are so many more important things going on in our World to get in an uproar about. Like the children dying from the attack by the Taliban in Pakistan. Now that is a very serious thing to get in an uproar about. I mean is freaking North Korea really that much of a threat to the United States? I’m not trying to sound arrogant but we certainly are far more advanced than they are. I suppose all of the hype has come about because of the 9/11 attacks being mentioned and our fear of ISIS. It’s overreaction which is exactly what was desired to begin with. And everyone has played right into it in my opinion. Ok, end rant.
As for Angie’s ideas…I quite like her proposal of Cleopatra being portrayed as a powerful Female leader. And I completely second the studio’s choices for Antony…Hardy or Fassy…yes please!
Yeah, I’m not seeing the crazy there either. I mean, I think that Cleopatra is a bad idea and that Fincher is a bad director for the project. The script probably was too long, and I can understand that studio executives would be frustrated when their partner was watching films and working the creative end of things rather than focusing on the business aspects. But no one ever said those things to Angelina. Instead, they emailed childish things behind her back. On her end of the communications, she consistently came across as polite and reasonable.
So…she’s been saying she’s sick of acting since 2008, including her most recent interview. Yet behind the scenes she’s all about it, and only if she’s the star. M’kay. Are we still not going to talk about what a liar she is? Really?
Instead twisting her words – how about actually listening what she said?
Angelina said that she will slowly retire from acting. That’s exactly what she has been is doing. She didn’t act for 4 years between 2010 – 2014. Despite many well known directors wanted her in big budget movies she said no.
She said there see few roles she will like to do and then retire. Again that is what she is doing – By the sea, Cleopatra and maybe Salt 2. Everything else is directing no acting.
So better luck next time in trying to make Angelina look like a liar.
@ Wingnut I knew there had to be ONE
She look like a b*tch.
Angelina seems passionate about getting the project right while still being flexible and open to other people’s ideas. That’s exactly what you want in a creative collaborator. Amy and Scott are catty and unprofessional.
I tend to agree with Scott Rudin that a Cleopatra film starring Angelina wouldn’t be profitable, but at least Angelina Jolie demonstrates an awareness of costs and keeping the project focused.
Creating Cleopatra is a $200 million endeavor. Without plenty of sex, or a marvel character, it’s a money pit. I can see where a failure to grasp that fact could drive somebody crazy.
Producers and actors have hated each other since the first guy figured out how to make the pictures move. They put up with each other for the money. This little incident isn’t going to change that.
Maybe I’m missing something, but Rudin owns the rights to the material yes? And at this point Jolie’s just an actor in the film, she’s not actually producing? If that’s the case then her emails may be very professional but her other behavior is not. It’s not her film to find a director for, and if she doesn’t like Rudin’s vision she either needs to get the rights off him and do it herself, or just walk away.
It’s great that Angelina likes to control her career, but if she wants to decide on things like directors then she has to bring the material to the table and produce. Going behind the actual producers back and trying to attach directors you know he doesn’t want to the project is at best extremely annoying and a spectacular waste of everyone’s time, at worst professional sabotage. If Fincher’s decision to pull out of the Jobs film has anything to do with Cleopatra, then her behavior has damaged one of Rudin’s productions. He has every right to be pissed off at her.
THIS – Angie kept pushing for Fincher – maybe because he directed some of Brad’s best work: Seven and Fight Club (also Benjamin Button). But look at Fincher’s body of work. It’s very impressive, but there’s not one period piece. Maybe Rudin keeps pushing Angie in a different direction because Fincher is not a good fit for this movie but an excellent fit for Rudin’s other project (Jobs). Rudin’s suggestions to her were all directors that have made successful period movies.
The emails behind her back were catty – but true. She’s being controlling with a movie that’s not hers (she’s not producing, directing etc…) and making ridiculous suggestions. And holding up the process. And I’m sorry – but Schiff’s story really starts when Cleopatra is 18 — No way Angie can play that.
Yes. This. Rudin isn’t being professional about it. That is 100% true. But I see his point. He’s been successful for a reason. The man works all the time. Hear his stories of working on Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc from his assistants. There’s plenty of them out there he had like 200 in 2 or 3 years. He’s there for plays, movies, books, etc.
I would feel a little annoyed that an unproven producer, director, and frankly average actor is trying to take control of the project in this way. Especially when his CV is much stronger than hers in terms of film-making. For the past 7 years he’s produced several Oscar contenders for best picture, actress, etc. And most of the movies he’s produced are pretty well reviewed and critically acclaimed films. Quite a few of them have female lead roles. Rudin seems to be doing that pretty often. Note he bought the rights for Cleopatra and brought it to her. He also enjoyed that it highlighted her as a strategist and politician (that was back in 2011). Personally I think he chose her mostly for her box office cred and he sees parallels between AJ and Cleo.
But I do admire AJ sticking to her guns regarding the story. Especially when it sounds like the studio was making it less edgy.
Sony can’t do better for executives than these two? Really?
See, this movie is a problem for all the same reasons that all other Cleopatra movies are a problem: Cleopatra wasn’t some sex goddess (or not likely). She wasn’t even pretty. She manipulated men WITH HER INTELLIGENCE. The modern idea of Cleopatra is due to men refusing to believe the idea that women can be powerful in any other way than sexual manipulation, and the irony is despite all our feminist movements, complaints of sexism, etc, we still buy into this bullshit, day after day after day.
the concept of Cleopatra as a movie sounds stinky to me.
and Angelina Jolie is a boring narcissist.
don’t care to ever see her in anything at all.
Because, of course, all anyone wants to see a female leader do is have a romance. Jesus. Rudin is a human dollar sign.
This Cleo movie is a bad idea and Jolie can’t act. She wants to make this movie for her ego.
Jennifer A is a ‘mininally talented’ actress too by the way.
Regardless of what people think about her talent, it is obvious she calls the shots in her career because she can. This makes the the directors and producers annoyed because they can’tcontrol everything. It is every actors dream to be in Angies shoes.
She looks pretty effing crazy in that first pic, that’s for sure.