Israel leaves Vantage: “It’s not the same company”

This strikes me as very bad news indeed. Amy Israel, head of acquisition and production at Paramount Vantage, has been shown the exit. You’d think overseeing the production of such titles as “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood,” and acquiring, among others, “An Inconvenient Truth,” would count for something. Apparently not.

Replacing Israel is Guy Stodel, a former exec from New Line. He has some history of acquiring arthouse titles (“The Sea Inside,” “The Upside of Anger”), but worryingly, his most emphasised accomplishment in the press release is having brought the two “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” remakes to fruition. Because that’s the kind of thing we’re looking for, right?

Israel’s parting statement is diplomatic, but somewhat ominous:

I’m proud of having been a part of building Paramount Vantage from the ground up under John Lesher, making great films. I love the company we built. It’s not the same company. (It) is evolving a different direction.

Truthfully, we all knew this was coming. When Vantage was incorporated into the main body of the studio last month, it was pretty obvious they wanted to broaden their focus to more commercial genre projects. Vantage president Nicholas Meyer insists specialty films will remain a priority:

Although the moves signal that Vantage is moving more in the genre direction, Meyer insists the studio is pursuing a more “eclectic and elastic” slate. “We are not abandoning the specialty business. We are too committed to it,” Meyer said. “As the company evolves, we need to morph and mutate in order to survive in a challenging environment.”

Hmm, sounds noble enough, but as soon as people start talking about “challenging environments,” warning “compromise” bells go off in my head. Would there be room for another “There Will Be Blood” in such an environment, particularly with less baity names attached? I’m not convinced. Neither, in her blog, is Anne Thompson:

Everyone says the same stuff: we want to make accessible, commercially strong, high concept stories that are original and fresh and delightfully entertaining starring not too expensive stars that will somehow stand out from the pack. So easy to accomplish!

Everyone is chasing that holy grail. And the ones who aren’t want the same thing only it’s genre: horror, thriller, or comedy, with stars who will play to territories around the world.

Does the world really need another Rogue, Atomic, Screen Gems, Lionsgate, Dimension, Ghost House, Dark Castle…and there are more?

Granted, the independent film sector is always going to have its struggles (it’s independent for a reason, after all), but with this coming hot on the heels of the disappearance of Picturehouse and Warner Independent, not to mention the very sad loss of ballsy British pioneer Tartan Films, the picture for indie film is starting to look very grim indeed.

Reading about this, I keep thinking back to a very simple quote from this year’s Oscar ceremony. Accepting for Fox Searchlight’s “Once,” easily the most independent film there, Glen Hansard closed with these six words (well, two really): “Make art. Make art. Make art.”

I hope I’m not the only one who heard that.