A Letter To The Folks At NEW LINE About 13 DAYS

You know folks, sometimes... Agony is visited upon me.

Today, I received news that physically made me ill. No rum needed. No bad clams. Just hearing that Roger (Cocktail, No Way Out, Cadillac Man, White Sands, The Getaway, Dante’s Peak and SPECIES) Donaldson has been brought on as Director of my favorite as of yet not in production script.... called 13 DAYS.

Folks, I assure you, this was at the script stage a sure fire Oscar winner. One of the greatest scripts I have ever seen and read.

It was written by the constantly reamed DAVID SELF, who had his fantastic HAUNTING script tossed to Jan DeBont (though I’m still holding hope against hope that it can.... Somehow survive and flourish as a great Haunted House film).... and now Mr Species.... The man that brought Natasha Henstridge’s incredible talent to the screen through his brilliant nuance with his actors and camera.

I mean, in DANTE’S PEAK he was able to direct a slightly better ‘Row Row Row the boat...’ scene than William Shatner, but dammit!

DeLuca! Front and center. If this film doesn’t come out as one of the nominees for BEST PICTURE out of the year 2000 runners, then it will be this decision that killed a great script.

Can’t get Copolla? Well gosh.... Let’s hire Roger Donaldson? Psychotic? Insane?

You see folks, the last thing this script needs is a director that can’t put Kevin Costner in a corner with a dunce cap in place. And ya know folks? That takes a director that is in fact BETTER than Costner and can and has directed gigantic egos to great films.

Ummm.... Try Scorsese. Try Wolfgang Peterson. Try Oliver Stone. Try Milos Forman. Try Frank Darabont. AIM HIGHER!

Yeah... I know... Perhaps their schedules won’t fit, but you know what? DON’T MAKE THE MOVIE TILL YOU CAN GET THE “PERFECT” DIRECTOR IN PLACE!!!! If that means a 5 year wait.... Well guess what? That means you wait!

Scripts like this one don’t casually cross your desk on a day to day basis, ya know. When something this good comes along you do not rush it.

You see, a writer took his time. Did his research. Honed his characters to perfection, and now you go out and get a director, who’s films really do well on cable.

Look at his career. Can you honestly tell yourself that this director was in your first 3 choices? Can you? Don’t settle, do the film a favor. Do the right thing. Will the ‘allure’ of Roger Donaldson... oh... say bring in Tom Hanks as JFK? or... ummm... say Brad Pitt as RFK? Ya know.... I reeeeeealllly don’t think so!

Michael.... Please. This is the film, alongside THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy that will identify your company and you as being visionary. Don’t Fuck It Up! Don’t Choke.

I’m willing to bet you went to Stephen Hopkins before this guy, didn’t you? Come on. You can do SOOOOOO MUCH BETTER.

I have nothing invested in this project other than the desire to see this movie win BEST PICTURE. Please.... Make the right decision.