Going For Your Masters

Two of my favorite film directors are making news:

Martin Scorsese and the late Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980)

Pamela McClintock of Variety has news of a deal between Scorsese and Paramount Pictures

Wooed by Brad Grey and enjoying the biggest commercial success of his career, Martin Scorsese has inked a four-year first-look deal with Paramount Pictures to direct and produce films, TV, direct-to-DVD pics and digital content.

One unique twist: Par has the option to own half of any film the filmmaker directs elsewhere, as well as to co-distribute.

Deal marks the first time in years that Scorsese has aligned himself with a studio; among directors, only Steven Spielberg has a producing deal of relative heft.

Despite all the recent talk of studios trimming costs by refusing to support the upper reaches of the star caste system, Scorsese deal signals that studios still care a great deal about working with top talent -- and hiring the director who can lure that talent.

For Scorsese's first Paramount feature, idea is for him to direct a larger-scale commercial film like "The Departed."

Of the more than 40 films Scorsese's helmed, Warner Bros.' "Departed" has turned into his best B.O. performer. Pic has grossed more than $150 million worldwide since its bow five weeks ago and is considered an awards contender.

Under the terms of the pact, Scorsese will work on films for both Paramount proper and John Lesher's Par Vantage. Lesher was Scorsese's agent before Grey hired him to run the studio's specialty arm.

First-look deal was revealed just days after Paramount announced it would distribute Scorsese's untitled Rolling Stones doc.

Continued...

Sounds like quite the deal....I'm just glad someone as talented as Scorsese is still in the game. Looks like he and Paramount will be joined at the hip for some time...Thanks to that co-distribute option...

When I read the Hitchcock story, I was both intrigued and excited--not just that Hitch is the subject of a feature film, but also by who may be calling the shots on the project,

Stax of IGN-Filmforce picked up the TMZ.com exclusive:

Focus Features is reportedly developing a thriller called Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho. John McLaughlin penned the screenplay.

Ryan Murphy, the creator of Nip/Tuck and the director of Running with Scissors, is Focus' pick to direct the project, according to TMZ.com (TMZ Story)

TMZ claims that the script "is being kept tightly under wraps, but we hear it blends both the actual and the not-so-factual events that lead up to the making of the classic thriller, a retelling wherein a killer outside the script becomes interested in Hitchcock's chilling masterpiece."

This isn't the only Alfred Hitchcock-inspired pseudo-biopic, movie-within a-movie that is in the works. Number Thirteen, starring Dan Fogler as Hitch, focuses on the Master of Suspense's lost and unfinished first film, complete with a murder plot and love triangle involving the filmmaker. Ben Kingsley co-stars.

Focus' parent company, Universal Pictures, is also developing a remake of Hitchcock's The Birds (story) with Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes [production company]

The film about the making of Psycho (1960) has me locked in on so many levels. As a fan of Nip/Tuck--I'm glad that Ryan Murphy is being considered to direct. They need a strong hand for what's sure to be tricky material. Murphy has already proven that he's up to the challenge as far as I'm concerned, I hope he signs on the dotted line.