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Universal Studios is interested in Matt Osterman's low-budget, low-fi, indy supernatural movie, "Ghost From the Machine."
It's the story of a young man who tries to bring his deceased parents back to life.
"Universal Pictures really loved the concept. I'm in awe. They ended up buying the remake rights," said Osterman. "They thought the story could reach a much wider audience if it has movie stars and special effects."
With producer Jennifer Kramer, writer and director Osterman shot the 2008 version in the Twin Cities with local actors for $25,000.
With Universal on the line, is Osterman hearing KA-CHING or ka-ching?
"We'll see. You won't catch me driving any Maseratis anytime soon," said Osterman. "The production company owns the film. I own part of the production company. They give you a little money up front and then the bulk of it if and when the film goes to production. I'm not going to get a huge payday."
He doesn't do it for the money anyway, although baby Linnea, 8 weeks old, will need to go to college someday.
"The bigger deal for us is that we own the original film. If a remake does happen, more people are going to want to watch the original," said Osterman. See the trailer at ghostfromthemachine.com.
Osterman's parents, Steve and Peggy Osterman of Rhinelander, Wis., are very much alive. "Everybody asks that question," he said, thankful that he hasn't gone through the experience of losing parents. "Like all great writers, I can make things up."
Food fight is over"We have resolved the lawsuit," said David Page, the Minnesota creator and producer of "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives," the Food Network show that made Guy Fieri a household name. He wouldn't divulge the details.
In May, Page sued the Food Network when it refused to free up Fieri to tape "DDD" shows for what would have been their 12th season. Food Network countersued, according to the Hollywood Reporter, filing court papers alleging, among other charges, that Page failed to deliver footage on time and mistreated staff.
The network's counterclaim provided a taste by quoting e-mails from Page that were laced with profanities: "I hope you die so I can dance on your [expletive] grave" and "lets assume im a genius from now on...let's assume i know what im [expletive] doing...this is no longer a democracy."
As Fieri might say, Spicy, that's kickin'!
"One thing I've always prided myself on is collecting the most talented individuals and making the best possible TV," Page told me Wednesday. "The fact that we did 140-plus episodes, and made this the hottest show in food television, is a testament to that.
"Occasionally you get saddled with employees who can't cut it. When people can't cut it, things can get unpleasant. But ask anybody [with whom he has worked previously and] they will tell you that if you have talent, I'm a hell of a nurturing boss."
Stacy, was that you?"I was out for my run last night," a Jill McDougall e-mailed on Wednesday, "and almost ran smack into Stacy London from 'What Not to Wear.' I imagine they were 'ambushing' someone for the TV show. Maybe we'll see somebody from Minneapolis featured soon? There were several people standing around with microphones. I actually think they were filming in the shop that shares space with Cupcake." While Twitter's StacyLondonSays gives no hint as to her whereabouts, others did. The Walker Art Center's PR guy tweeted about giving London a Wednesday night tour, and others reported seeing London in short-shorts that were very much a "Not." Has she had a recent breakup? She appeared to be wearing depressed wear.
Ouch! Live by the Not, die by the Not.
What will Dad say?The lyrics to Dez's song "Stairway" include: "I've got my red thong on."
A few months ago, when I listened to the KS95 midday host's album with her producer and my pal, Shaun LaBelle, and engineer Dik Shopteau, Dez was concerned about what her dad was going to say when he heard that song! It was her fond wish that the imagery would slip by her father, Orlin, who lives in Montana. No such luck. "He was like, What? What did that part say?" laughed Dez.
Dez has a photo shoot for the album cover set for today. She is planning a fall release party.
Meanwhile, she's got to decide what to call the album: "We're thinking it's going to be 'Standing Alone.'" The other possible title: "Breakup Fatality."
Oh, I might go with that one. There just aren't many albums with "Fatality" in the title.
C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. E-mailers, please state a subject. More of her attitude can be seen on Fox 9 Thursday mornings.
