Miramax

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By FRANK SWERTLOW

Staff Reporter

Miramax Films’ startling announcement last week that it plans to start a magazine focused on turning articles into movies was greeted as the latest twist in Hollywood’s increasing practice of ripping stories from the headlines.

“I think this deal acknowledges the power of the entertainment industry,” said Richard Rosenzweig, executive vice president of Playboy Enterprises, which has long been involved in the use of its magazine to drive programming on its cable channel, the sale of videocassettes, and the production of low-budget films.

The Miramax magazine will be headed by celebrity editor Tina Brown, who will get an executive producer credit (and fee) for each article she can bring to the screen.

Miramax officials are keeping details close to the vest, although spokesman Andrew Stengle said the new publication would come off the presses sometime next year, probably next fall. It would be based in New York, where Miramax is also headquartered.

“There’s no question that good magazine stories can make good TV and film productions,” said Michael Berman, the president of Hachette Productions, a division of Hachette Filipacchi Magazines. “Everyone is after writers and this is a good way to attract them by offering them more.”

Moreover, Berman, who co-founded George magazine, said film and TV productions can help brand a magazine with readers.

Hachette, which publishes Elle, Mirabella and George, has a production deal with October Films and actor Harvey Keitel’s production company.

The British-born Brown resigned as editor of The New Yorker to head the new venture, and will be joined by Ron Galotti, who resigned as publisher of Vogue.

In the past, magazines, newspapers and books have served as the basis for Hollywood-produced film and TV shows. Even alternative publications like New Times have become a development source for Hollywood.

A current genre of TV movie is called “ripped from the headlines” high-concept, journalistic non-fiction stories that are turned into movies and TV programs. Film and TV companies like to base films and TV shows on journalism because it validates a story.

“It gives you legitimacy,” Berman said.

Many producers hire development staffs that routinely scrutinize publications for film projects.

What is so unusual about the marriage of Brown and Miramax, the boutique film division owned by Walt Disney Co., is that it is so blatantly aimed at the entertainment industry. Disney also owns Los Angeles magazine, but that publication has never been primed specifically for Hollywood movie and TV production.

Paramount Pictures had a production deal with the now-defunct Buzz in which the movie company would provide money to finance articles that would be turned into film or TV projects.

“I think this (Miramax deal) is terrific for the industry,” said Andre Morgan, co-owner of the Ruddy Morgan Organization, a film and TV production company that produces CBS’s “Walker, Texas Ranger.” “It is a way to explore new ideas and there is a direct channel into a movie studio. It is very forward thinking.”

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