Date: March 30, 2004
Source: IESB.NET
Author: Robert Sanchez
Mark Altman C.O.O. of Mindfire Entertainment and Co-Creator of Free Enterprise
For longtime readers of our site it comes as no surprise that Free Enterprise is considered required viewing material for all of our close associates. Consider it a rite of passage to becoming one of our regular contributors.
Free Enterprise, created by Mark Altman and Robert Myer Burnett, is one of those movies that goes under the radar until it reaches the video shelf and then BOOM it takes on a life of its own. I still remember the day I saw the trailer at my local theater. Months passed and I wondered what had happened to this, what I thought, was a Trekkie movie.
Not until Spring of 2000 did I come to find that it had been released on video the previous November. I rented it at Blockbuster and within two hours I called everyone I knew and said this was a must see movie. Within 72 hours I went to Suncoast and picked up my own DVD copy.
What can I say, this movie parallels my life as a geek so closely it's scary. The Toy R Us run is hilarious, but true. The rich fourth grader analogy applies to me and all my friends. Pan and Scan versus Widescreen is an argument I have encountered many times!
Why am I talking about a movie that came out last century? Because they are making a sequel. YES! Straight from Mark Altman's mouth came confirmation. While attending the Sci-fi Summit in Pasadena this past weekend I had the priviledge of sitting down with Mr. Altman for a few words.
Mark was actually working on the script the night before we spoke and if the plan works out we should have Free Enterprise 2 by Summer of 2005.
Everyone involved is quite passionate about this film including returning icon Bill Shatner. The entire cast plans to return to reprise their roles. This includes movie turned TV star Will from Will & Grace, Eric McCormack. IESB favorite, Daren "Tiberius" Dochterman, has been promised much more Kirk dialogue which we are certainly looking forward to.
Rumors have been flying around the net regarding Leonard Nimoy's involvement with this project and Mark was quick to respond. He stated that Leonard has officially retired from acting, save his recent Priceline ads, and is not involved in any capacity. He is aware of the rumors and is unsure of how they started. However, he said if Mr. Nimoy was in any way willing to make an appearance in the film he would make the needed changes in the script to accommodate him.
What is Free Enterprise going to be about? Well it's current working title is Free Enterprise 2: My Big Geek Wedding. A previous incarnation was FE 2: The Search for Shatner and they are considering changing it in the near future to FE 2: The Passion of the Shatner, don't worry I am sure he was just joking, well let's hope.
Some quick details. It will be a global trek, it's FE 2 meets Midnight Run. There is a much larger budget involved (yes these guys can make a good movie) of around 10 million dollars, a considerable increase from the almost non-existant budget of the first installment. He claims the original to be between the cost of El Mariachi and Desperado but isn't revealing which one it was closer to.
Also, the DVD of the original film has done so well and been so successful they are now gearing up for a Special Edition release with more deleted footage. You gotta love the power of DVD!
FE 2 and the new extended DVD are not the only two projects Mark is working on. Mindfire Entertainment acquired the rights to the ever popular video game Crazy Taxi. They intend to have a film based on the game out by late next year. Mr. Altman also mentioned that he would have a cameo in both upcoming films.
For all the San Diego Comic-Con fans out there here is some good news and some bad news. Bad news first, there will not be a Robot Rumble competition this year. But, Mark promises "a huge Starship Smackdown All Stars." If you have missed these events previous years, be sure to catch it, you will be in geek heaven.
The IESB will keep you updated with any further information as it comes in!
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