Woody Allen Disses US Filming (Domestic Studios Now Refusing Him Cash & Control For Movies)

NY Post ^ | 5/13/05 | Richard Johnson

[gopwinsin04]

Geeky director Woody Allen might be a quintessential New Yorker, but he says he is sick of making movies in Manhattan. His latest, 'Match Point' which just premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, is set and filmed in England.

'I did the film in England because it is increasingly difficult to get financing in the United States,' said Allen. 'Its become more prevalent for US studios and financiers to participate in a project. They want to have a say in casting and read the script.'

'I can never work like that. I don't let people read the scripts. I want the money in a brown paper bag and to give them the film a few months later, and that is that.' In London that is the way it was. There is no rigamarole from people who want to participate.'

'Match Point' a dark tale set in London high society, stars Scarlett Johansson, Emily Mortimer, and Johnathan Rhys Meyers.

[gopwinsin04]

It's called the free market Woody! Enjoy film exile in rainy London town...

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Heaven forfend that the investors know on what they're throwing their money away!

Woody, I still love "Bananas" and "Take the Money and Run", but please shut up and go away now. You're a crashing bore.

[trisham]

Woody has become increasingly strange and perverted.

[DamascusRoad]

"I don't let people read the scripts."

Judging from the quality of his most recent films, I would guess the above quote would include the actors.

[gopwinsin04]

'The Purple Rose of Cairo' was his last funny film and that was like 20 years ago!

[reagan_fanatic]

Does England have any Chuck-E-Cheeses he can take the better half to?

[Heyworth]

Woody Allen was widely blamed for killing Orion Pictures, which funded a bunch of his self-indulgent movies and lost money on every one of them.

[gopwinsin04]

[softwarecreator]

'I can never work like that. I don't let people read the scripts. I want the money in a brown paper bag and to give them the film a few months later, and that is that.

And they should finance your movie ... why?

[Spok]

"he says he is sick of making movies in Manhattan."

I agree. I'm sick of him making movies, too. (Maybe he should try the Neverland Ranch)

[blueblazes]

Maybe I should move to London if they give out money so freely.....

[ClearCase_guy]

It would be difficult to name a celebrity with a longer track-record of failure. He has produced notable flops for decades, with his (few) successes long, long ago.

[gopwinsin04]

Gross, that was his adopted step daughter, right? So is he a grandad to her child as well...

[whereasandsoforth]

He's not half the director he use to be. He's Semi-Woody now. But, he does have a point. He comes from the old days when artist control overruled every other concern in film making. His past successes have fed his reputation and his ego. He is above being scrutinized by money people without his experience.

[DoctorMichael]

"I need income to support my lifestyle".

[SF Republican]

The studios actually want to read the script before handing over $100 million dollars, go figure.

[uncitizen]

I did the film in England because it is increasingly difficult to get financing in the United States,' said Allen.

Uh Woody... Maybe if you didn't marry and impregnate your girlfriends 19 year old daughter financiers would be more willing to help you out. Or maybe your movies just suck. Or both.

[af_vet_1981]

Geeky director Woody Allen might be a quintessential New Yorker, but he says he is sick of making movies in Manhattan.

He should be making movies in prison.

[fatnotlazy]

It's too bad about him...very talented many years ago...he just got too weird, professionally and otherwise for my tastes.

But I'm sure he'll find an audience in Europe. They seems to have a tolerance for pedophiles over there.

[blueblazes]

He takes himself wayyyyy too seriously and the dreary, decadent Manhattan he portrays in his movies for the past couple of decades is just not appealing to or accessible for the vast majority of Americans. Just a bunch of self-indulgent neurotics congratulating themselves on their taste in wine and comparing their trust fund statements.