Hey folks, Harry here with some tidbits of information regarding one Paul Verhoeven. And ya know... this news actually brightens the day a bit. I believe that watching Paul Verhoeven... free of the confines of Hollywood... might revert back to being able to make some extremely hard-edged film-making. It seems that more and more often... Filmmakers... even ones that CAN make films in the U.S. are choosing to attempt to get outside financing and make films outside of the studio system. I AM IN 100% SUPPORT OF THIS POLICY!!! Rah rah Holland! Man... I wish I were in Rotterdam for the festival this year. Sigh...
Hi there Harry,
The largest Dutch newspaper, DE Telegraaf, today announced that Paul Verhoeven and his Dutch producers from the Turkish Delight and Soldier of Orange-days Rob Houwer have made a deal to produce and direct two $50 million plus films scheduled for the next few years. The first film is supposed to be a pan-European film and the other one a Dutch film. The crew should be mainly Dutch and the productions company is Houwers Nederlandse Film Compagnie. The first film should start shooting in 2001.
Verhoeven himself confirmes the plans, but is a bit hesitant: "Only on the first day of shooting you really know a film is happening, that's what I learned in the States. And at the moment there isn't even a script."
My guess is that Houwer, as many time before, announces again a collaboration with Verhoeven, the man who left him to find succes in the USA. Remember that Verhoeven was in Holland and talked about the Jesus-film. I think Houwer sought and found an opportunity to be of assistance to Verhoeven and offer him to produce the film for him, since both Verhoeven and Houwer know how hard it will be to get the money for it in Hollywood.
Another thing is that Verhoeven has to be careful what to pick as his next project since he is not becoming any younger. And if he wants to make a statement before he is too old, it is now. Given that and the fact that there is now script (he said in an interview that it will take another five to six months before he has a first draft of the Jesus-film) is all may make sense.
Houwer pushed I think the second film and a favor in return.
You may call me The sober Dutchman.
Here you also have the original article from De Telegraaf, 01-28-2000
HARRY NOTE: Well... My Dutch stops with "Patat Met" and "kanker" Thanks to The Beast and his cohorts!
Samenwerking Verhoeven en Houwer voor twee films
door Marco Weijers
AMSTERDAM - Regisseur Paul Verhoeven en producent Rob Houwer, het gouden team dat eerder films als 'Turks Fruit' en 'Soldaat van Oranje' maakte, hernieuwen hun samenwerking. Zij hebben concrete plannen voor twee mega-producties, die elk het budget van 50 miljoen dollar overstijgen en daarmee de duurste Nederlandse films ooit worden. De opnamen voor de eerste kunnen volgens Houwer al in 2001 van start gaan.
Verhoeven (foto links) neemt bij beide producties de regie op zich, terwijl ze door Houwers Nederlandse Film Compagnie worden geproduceerd. De eerste film die op stapel staat is een Europees project, het tweede is een puur Nederlands project. "Maar ook in het eerste geval zijn de producent en de regisseur Nederlands, werven we het grootste deel van de opnamecrew in eigen land en wordt het gros van het budget hier uitgegeven", aldus Houwer (foto rechts).
Regisseur Paul Verhoeven bevestigt de plannen, maar toont zich nog terughoudend. "Pas op de eerste draaidag weet je zeker of een film doorgaat, heb ik in Amerika geleerd. En op dit moment is het script nog niet eens rond."
