Jan. 26, 2007
 
RUTHERFORD ON FILM: McG Directing TV Pilot; 'We Are Marshall' Recoups Production Costs
 
By Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Columnist
 
Huntington, WV (HNN) – “We Are Marshall” director, McG, who won the hearts of Huntington, has signed to direct and executive produce the pilot of “Chuck.” Created by “O.C” creator Josh Schwartz, the Warner Bros. TV production centers a group of twentysomething spies in an action comedy.
 
The Hollywood Reporter compared the proposed series to “Gross Pointe Blank,” a critically acclaimed 1997 film directed by George Armitage starring John Cusack, Minnie Driver and Dan Aykroyd.
 
McG and Schwartz are the executive producers of “O.C.,” which concludes a four-year run this spring.
 
Meanwhile, MU President Stephen Kopp told the Board of Governors that to his knowledge Warner Brothers has already recouped the cost of creating “We Are Marshall.” However, he thought the studio has yet to break even on its marketing/advertising costs for the film.
 
Kopp did not discuss an international release, but told the Board about five million DVD’s will be produced. The studio keeps about $10 of each disc sold.
 
Currently, “We Are Marshall” has taken in about $42 million at the box office. The studio does not receive the entire gross, though. The studio’s percentage comes through complex formulas that often grant theatre owners an amount (known as the “nut”) to cover their break even expenses. The formula gives the studio a higher percentage of the box office sales during the first weeks, then the percentage turns to favor the theatre operator. For that reason, a movie playing a long multiple week engagement may be more profitable for the individual than opening a new picture.
 
“We Are Marshall” has been a “word of mouth” picture, which means it increased its box office revenue after its opening week, then has dropped slowly when compared to normal drops of 50 to 60%.