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Escobar Takes Hollywood by Storm

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 29 — As “Entourage,��? television’s fictionalized Hollywood chronicle, wrapped its season last month, the agent extraordinaire Ari Gold saw his client’s dream movie about the Medellín drug cartel hammered by the audience and would-be buyers at the Cannes Film Festival.

The 'Medellin' Trailer From 'Entourage' Maybe Mr. Gold was working the wrong market.

At the American Film Market, which begins here on Wednesday, no fewer than three prospective movies about the cocaine cartel and its kingpin, Pablo Escobar, are expected to vie for attention.

Escobar was killed in a 1993 shoot-out with the law in Colombia. For nearly 14 years, his story kicked around the film world, inspiring the “Entourage��? plot line about a movie that can’t quite be made. But suddenly, and for no obvious reason, the real-life drug tale has inspired a cinematic battle, pitting players like Oliver Stone and Joe Carnahan against one another.

If all three pictures are made, somebody is likely to be hurt. “Capote,��? with Philip Seymour Hoffman portraying Truman Capote in the “In Cold Blood��? years, came out in 2005, exhausting the market for “Infamous,��? another Capote biopic, released the next year. Similarly, “The Illusionist��? and “The Prestige��? stepped on each other’s toes when both presented turn-of-the-20th-century stories about magicians last fall.

“That’s not going to deter us,��? Bob Yari, a producer of one of the Escobar films (and of “The Illusionist��?), said of the unexpected competitive heat.

With Mr. Carnahan (“Narc��? and “Smokin’ Aces��?), Mr. Yari and others have for years been working to produce an adaptation of “Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World’s Greatest Outlaw,��? Mark Bowden’s best-selling 2001 book. This month, however, Mr. Stone said he would join J2 Pictures, an independent film company, to produce a biopic. Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day��?) plans to direct the film, based on “Mi Hermano Pablo,��? a Spanish-language memoir by Escobar’s brother and associate, Roberto.

Also at the market, another independent film producer, Hannibal Pictures, plans to sell rights to its “Escobar,��? to be directed by Alexander Witt (“Resident Evil: Apocalypse��?), based on original research and a script by Richard Rionda Del Castro and Greg Mellott.

The American Film Market is an annual gathering of buyers and sellers who deal mostly in international distribution rights to films. The Escobar films, which are all being independently financed, are expected to seek distributors in foreign territories at the market.

(As if the situation weren’t complicated enough, a man named Robert Escobar Jr. recently offered, without success, to provide financing for Mr. Yari’s film, if Mr. Yari were willing to cast him in a role and give him a producing credit. Reached by phone in Las Vegas last week, this Mr. Escobar — the exact nature of his relationship with the family remains unclear — said he had been in touch with Pablo Escobar’s son, who began living under a new name after the Colombian blood baths of the 1990s, and added that he expected to approach HBO with a project.)

Hollywood has long had a soft spot for gangsters, from “Scarface��? in 1932, to the “Godfather��? series, to “American Gangster,��? set for release by Universal Pictures on Friday. And it was probably inevitable that Escobar should join the cinematic queue.

Born to middle-class parents in 1949, Pablo Escobar Gaviria stole and resold tombstones, then cars, before becoming an organizing force among Colombian street thugs who hit the jackpot as the country’s cocaine trade exploded in the 1970s. He bribed authorities, ordered killings and, at his peak, lived with the improbable trappings of a Charles Foster Kane: His possessions included submarines, a fleet of airliners and a vast estate, Hacienda Los Nápoles, complete with a private zoo.

After the 1989 bombing of an airliner in which United States citizens were killed, American operatives joined Colombian authorities in their war on the cartel and its leader. Driven into hiding, Escobar played cat and mouse with police and the military until Dec. 2, 1993, when he was cornered by 500 police officers and soldiers, and shot to death. The killing led to deep mourning among many of the Colombian poor, for whom he was something of a Robin Hood, turning American dollars into food, housing and jobs.

If Escobar’s story had all the elements moviegoers have long adored, it nonetheless got stuck in the Hollywood system. Mr. Yari’s first attempt fell apart when his-hoped for star (Tom Cruise) and director (Mr. Carnahan) had a falling out. But Mr. Yari and his partners recently acquired turn-around rights, and set out to make the film with Christian Bale and Javier Bardem in lead roles, for distribution by the Yari Film Group.

Meanwhile, Mr. Stone and Mr. Fuqua declared their interest in a rival project that had also been knocking around for years. This one was born with a small production company called Sky’s the Limit, one of whose principals, a Colombian native, had family ties with the Escobars.

Mr. Stone is no stranger to Hollywood face-offs. He prevailed in one several years ago, when Baz Luhrmann and Leonardo DiCaprio postponed a planned movie about Alexander the Great, clearing the field for his own “Alexander.��? But the resulting film was poorly received by critics and United States audiences when Warner Brothers released it in 2004.

The owners of J2, Jason Felts and Justin Berfield, declined through a spokesman to be interviewed. A statement from the spokesman said, “We are pleased to be working with Pablo’s brother, Roberto.��? Many people, the statement added, want to tell Escobar’s story, “but very few can tell it accurately.��?

Mr. Del Castro, who been working on “Escobar��? for the last five years, didn’t appear too worried about the efforts by his better-known competitors. “I believe we are much more advanced than either of those two projects,��? he said. Mr. Del Castro said his movie is budgeted at $22 million to $28 million, and is expected to have American stars, though none have yet made firm commitments.

But he seemed less certain when asked why there was the sudden rush toward telling Escobar’s tale. “I don’t know,��? Mr. Del Castro said.

THE FOLLOWING IS A PHOTO OF PABLO ESCOBAR AND HIS SON IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE BOOK, "PABLO ESCOBAR GAVARIA en CARICATURAS."

By Medellin Traveler on Nov 1, 2007, 20:23 in Friendly Talkzone.

Simon says on Nov 1, 2007, 21:35:

Fok Escobar!

I hope he's burning slowly in hell!

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

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dwmte7 says on Nov 1, 2007, 23:09:

for myself, i hope that he has, in the consciousness of his soul, acknowledged and repented for his ways, and has, above all, petitioned his CREATOR, for forgiveness.

dwmte

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goin_south says on Nov 1, 2007, 23:15:

speaking of Hollywood.... (not our resident).... It's time for ... "Love in the Time of Cholera"!
si????

Ciao! Gustav. Bienvenitos, Ike.

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john_stark says on Nov 2, 2007, 06:00:

And to all these people living in a fantasy world of hordes of US tourists coming to Colombia along with retirees etc - what do you think all these Escobar flicks wil do to the average American's idea of Colombia? Reinforce it's image as a haven for drug barons and criminals.

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manINred says on Nov 2, 2007, 09:51:

HAHA it's true! I have to convince people that I'm not a drug dealer, going to Colombia so much. God-damn hollywood stereotypes.

And trust me, the stereotypes of Colombia in Canada are bad, unfortunately

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Grateful Dead says on Nov 2, 2007, 10:16:

Individuals living in the "west" believe anything they see on the screen or read in the press, Europe although considered part of the west is a bit more immune to this, never the less Colombia will gain tourism not through conventional marketing programs but only through "word of mouth networking" , that being said the movie will not really awake anything that does not already exist.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Nov 2, 2007, 10:16:

It seems logical to me that Hollywood (the industry, not the user ID) has a romantic fascination with Escobar because, let's be honest, so many people in the business have a close personal relationship with cocaine.

I think most of them are numb to how that episode in Colombian history is viewed by most Colombians.

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slguy says on Nov 2, 2007, 11:15:

G_S,

"Love in the Time of Cholera" premiered in Miami last night, I think, w/ Benjamin Bratt et al. in attendance.

The Herald article didn't anything about wide distribtion, but I assume a Miami premier indicates wide release soon, no?

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

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coffee beaner says on Nov 2, 2007, 11:19:

November 16th slguy http://movies.yahoo.com/holiday-movies/Love-in-the-Time-of-Cholera/180...

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elmodefoque says on Nov 2, 2007, 12:25:

Don’t understand why some get all worked up and bent outta shape with Hollywood making movies about Colombian drug dealers.
I rather have THAT image than what most gringos imagine when they hear the word Colombia. A guy in a Mexican sombrero and poncho riding his donkey in the middle of a dusty town square then crossing himself as he goes by the only standing building, a church.
At the other side of the town pretty barefooted teenage colombianas in long colorful dresses wearing 2 trensas run towards a visiting gringo taking picture of their little town. More people gather and look at awe at the sight of this white stranger and soon mothers are inviting him for tacos and burritos served by their very single and shy daughters.
Listen, the Godfather and the Sopranos brought lots of respect to the Italian community, even fokin New Jersey (sopranos home town) is now looked up as a place of movers and shakers. Not too long ago people were ridicule for saying they came from fokin JEARSEY the smelly arm pit of America.
Now, i be going home!

any colombianita willing to date me, IS UP TO NO GOOD

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Grateful Dead says on Nov 2, 2007, 12:29:

ROTFLMAO !!!!

oh man you crack me up

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coffee beaner says on Nov 2, 2007, 12:43:

Damn elmo, I never looked at it that way... you got a point though lol

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Medellin Traveler says on Nov 2, 2007, 14:30:

"Individuals living in the "west" believe anything they see on the screen or read in the press, Europe although considered part of the west is a bit more immune to this, never the less Colombia will gain tourism not through conventional marketing programs but only through "word of mouth networking" , that being said the movie will not really awake anything that does not already exist." Grateful Dead

I completely agree with your comments, especially the part about Colombia gaining tourism through word of mouth.

That is what I told a few Paisas I met in Medellin. As far as I'm concerned, Colombians will not convince any gringos to visit Colombia, but gringos who have traveled to Colombia and discovered the beauty that is Colombia will spread the word upon their return home.

The Pablo Escobar movies will definitely create more interest in Colombia; good, bad or otherwise. I think it will only help Colombia in the end.

"Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com

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gold digger says on Nov 2, 2007, 18:20:

If the movie does well, get ready for the gringo rush!! After Crocodile Dundee, Australia was flooded with tourists.

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dwmte7 says on Nov 2, 2007, 22:00:

as i interpret your remarks, m.d. and g.d. i think you've both arrived at mature perceptions of and realistic evaluations of colombia (for me, medellin specifically and the country as a whole, generally.)

one point that appeared to get left out....is tourism to colombia--no matter that it can or can't be amplied by word of mouth and/or comercial ad investment--a true boone to colombia or are we overlooking something. possibly something very important.

it is given that tourists expend dollars and thereby create investments designed to maximize and capture/capitalize on those transient expenditures. but, it's not really clear that that is the kind of 'help' colombia needs. what are your thoughts.

as i see it, those transient dollars (or what ever currency) enrich some schrewd localized merchants. that, however, does not of necessity, translate--in my own personal experience--into economic assistance to all of colombia; it rarely, if ever, positively effects the economic welfare of the employees of the succesful merchants, who are appealing to this tourism inversion.

this kinda 'bright, painted lady' attraction, is false, and holds false promice. it draws the rural farmers and their families into already overcrowded areas...where ONLY tourists and the rich can access nice housing, these rural transients, are faced with 'slum/shanty-town' living, after giving up the healthy, pure, natural, food producing, campo. not too much gain there. far better we/others make our investment in REAL colombia, by sharing our knowledge with these rural poor on how they can amplify the little they have and possibly assist in the development of 'economies of scale' benifits, which is how total living economic health in a country is achieved.

dwmte

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Mr. Hollywood says on Nov 3, 2007, 09:12:

I don't think Colombia experienced a surge of tourism post "Romancing the Stone", "Blow" or "Traffic" so why now because of "Escobar"?

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dwmte7 says on Nov 3, 2007, 14:05:

why not?

check this out:

dont know what that is..just copy and past...part or all...i don't know

dwmte

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goin_south says on Nov 3, 2007, 22:20:

well doug, that' s progressive for an ol man, but it's got nothing or lil to do with huntin', fishin', and football on de bayou

Ciao! Gustav. Bienvenitos, Ike.

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dwmte7 says on Nov 4, 2007, 00:38:

southbound...when i finally moved my children outta los angeles at the behest of my parents and took them to where i grew up...fresno.ca...they freaked, it was akin to dying and going to hell...they had been in brentwood middle and santa monica high...now they're in the 'sticks' and atttending clovis schools. the first day of school i was at the house sitting by the fire place and my oldest daughter, then about 15 came home crying her eyes out. i asked her, what's wrong sweetie..why are you crying? she said, i saw a bumper sticker to day that said "i wish i was milking"....

a year or so later, her mother was up from hollywood visiting our two children (she was the only one of the mothers that i shared two children with) and mira, my daughter, said daddy i want to go to a concert of concrete blond. i hadn't been to a concert in years but i conceeded and her and her mother and i went. it was fantastic. high energy, what i called , 'pressure rock'. it was the first time i danced with my daughter and we danced our asses off. the song above, still in hollywood, was great. the recording on you tube is really bad...sorry.

dwmte

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Chelesupercono says on Nov 4, 2007, 05:25:

VIVA PABLO!!!!!!!!

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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Mr. Hollywood says on Nov 4, 2007, 16:53:

Doug, I hope you've long ago repented and sought penance for moving teenagers from the West Side of LA to Fresno. That's on par with some of the shit Escobar did.

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dwmte7 says on Nov 5, 2007, 05:06:

well, the only thing i can say in my defense, is that my kids finally learned where the milk came from....to their surprise, it didn't come from the refrigerator. the net result of this painful move was good. i grew up in the country and on the farm, they had no realistic image of this, in fact, they were clueless. now, they have--after a 'bump' and 'scratch' or two--have very wonderful memories of their years in the country.

by the way, the oldest girl, mira, just finished her second master's degree in san francisco; her brother, immanuel, is a film maker and system designer in silicone valley. another brother, abraham, died in a medical accident some years back (GOD rest his most precious soul), middle sister, sage, is bumping around berkeley, doing drugs insted of doing university.

sage's mother, is iranian and lives in berkeley and has some deluded sympathy with hammas. a wonderful talented lady...speaks 5 languages fluently, was the private secretary to reza shaw's brother in law. and as much as she was screwed out of her land and belongings in iran, she still sympathizes with that culture of lunatics who run cattleprod over the peoples of iran. worked their about 10-12 years...until the lunatic revolution.

dwmte

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kalder says on Nov 5, 2007, 09:00:

"Romancing the Stone" was set in Colombia?

I saw it a million years ago at the cinema...

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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kalder says on Nov 5, 2007, 09:01:

"Chelesupercono says:

VIVA PABLO!!!!!!!!"

Why does he?

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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Chelesupercono says on Nov 5, 2007, 14:14:

What other heroes do the Colombians really have.....at least Pablo fought the corrupt Govt. Army, Police and the low life fucking Gringos.....yes I say VIVA PABLO!!!!!

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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goin_south says on Nov 5, 2007, 16:44:

Hey, ... to many... A.U. is their hero.
However limited my experience,...
I've met many more Colombianas
who were Xtremely pro-Uribe
than were against him.

Ciao! Gustav. Bienvenitos, Ike.

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Chelesupercono says on Nov 5, 2007, 16:55:

Ditto GS... I also think Uribe is great for Colombia...

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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goin_south says on Nov 5, 2007, 16:57:

well, whether A.U. is good for Colombia seems to be quite controversial....
or, at least on this board.
But, it never seems to be so controversial when I'm in Colombia....
but,then...I don't hang around with 2 many Farc and other guerrilla sympathizers.

Ciao! Gustav. Bienvenitos, Ike.

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Chelesupercono says on Nov 5, 2007, 17:03:

The fact that he has been able to anything at all is remarkable to say the least considering that there are billions of dollars in bribe money in Colombia...not to mention guns, .guy has some big cojones!!!!

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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john_stark says on Nov 5, 2007, 20:53:

My hero is Tio Sal. He tells like it is. Plus he's very generous.

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Chelesupercono says on Nov 7, 2007, 15:25:

HE IS THE MAN....NO DOUBT....

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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