Osama bin Laden's death is blockbuster news for Hollywood

LOS ANGELES: Osama bin Laden's death is blockbuster news for Hollywood, whose attempts to dramatize the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have largely bombed.

Instead of churning out little-seen films about death and destruction wrought upon civilians and military personnel, the studios can now tap into resurgent American pride with movies about the hunt for the world's most wanted man.

If only John Wayne were still alive or Arnold Schwarzenegger were younger to star in a gung-ho film about the daring strike by dashing Navy SEAL operatives on a compound in suburban Pakistan. Picture "Black Hawk Down" with a happier ending, or "Die Hard" in Islamabad.

Coincidentally, the Oscar-winning director of "The Hurt Locker" -- an Iraq war film that earned just $17 million at the box office -- has a chance to reach a wider audience with an aptly named follow-up, "Kill Bin Laden."

According to entertainment news Web site Deadline.com, Kathryn Bigelow and her "Hurt Locker" screenwriter Mark Boal have been working for some time on their project about an earlier, unsuccessful mission to nab bin Laden.

Details about the film's plot were sketchy, Deadline reported, but the filmmakers will likely need to rework the script to take into account real-life developments. A spokeswoman for Bigelow said she was not talking.

Television will likely rush out a few quick movies if history is any guide. Within six months of the successful Israeli hostage rescue mission in Uganda in 1976, two television movies had been broadcast. The rescue of U.S. soldier Jessica Lynch by Special Operations forces in Iraq also got a similarly quick turnaround time in 2003.

The Navy SEALs -- short for SEa, Air and Land - were notably depicted in a 1990 action thriller of the same name starring Charlie Sheen.

The film's director, Lewis Teague, said that a new movie should be similar to "United 93," a semi-factual real-time depiction of events aboard one of the ill-fated 9/11 flights, or to "Touching the Void," which blended documentary footage and recreations to show a mountaineering mishap.

Ideally, the filmmakers should get full cooperation from the Navy SEALs, especially since Teague said they videotape all their operations.

And don't forget a few good jokes, said Teague, a Middle East expert who spent about a year working closely with Navy SEALs in San Diego on his project.

"I would definitely do it with humor," he said. "It takes a very peculiar character to be a Navy SEAL -- courage, stamina, dark humor, a witch's brew of a warrior's mentality."

Can't wait for the film? How about the book? In another strange-but-true coincidence, former Navy SEAL sniper Howard Wasdin is bringing forward the publication of his memoir by two weeks to next week.

"Seal Team Six" is about Wasdin's Navy SEAL training and his service in Somalia during the 1990s. Even though the book has nothing to do with bin Laden, Hollywood studios barraged Wasdin's agent on Monday.

"This story is really on everyone in Hollywood's mind right now so it is probably going to be a race about who can do this type of story," Scott Miller said. (Reuters)

Chilean miners surface in Hollywood

The 33 miners rescued from a Chilean mine after two months trapped underground arrived here Thursday, in a TV-network organized trip following the global media frenzy triggered by their ordeal.

The miners -- whose exploits could reportedly be made into a movie by Brad Pitt's production company -- were to be shown round Hollywood and Beverly Hills as guests of global news channel Cable News Network (CNN).

"It is incredible for us to be here, and for my wife it is the first time she has travelled by plane," one of the miners told. The men and five of those who rescued them last month will appear on a "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" to be held on Thanksgiving, next Thursday, November 25,.

The miners were the subject of a media bidding storm after their rescue in mid-October, following a record 69 days in an underground cavity at Chile's remote San Jose mine in the Atacama desert.

Kaali... not about Hindu goddess: Producer

Hollywood film Kaali - The Warrior Goddess is inspired by mythology but not based on the Hindu goddess, says Britain-based producer Karan Arora who plans to cast Colombian pop singer Shakira in the title role.

"Let me clarify that through this movie we are not trying to depict any mythological character. It is not the story of goddess Kaali and it has nothing to do with the scriptures. It is a complete fictional story," Arora told IANS in an interview here.

But he admits that the looks and clothes in the film are inspired by mythology.

"We definitely have a few things in common like victory of good over evil. Also, in terms of looks, clothes and costumes, the film is heavily inspired by mythology. The movie will be made in English and then it will be dubbed in Hindi and various other languages."

There are many who are not happy with the choice of Shakira for the title role even though she is yet to sign on the dotted line.

Arora said: "While scripting we never thought of taking Shakira because we were trying to evolve a new concept. Once the script was ready, we wanted someone with international appeal and she fits the bill completely.

"We are still in the process of negotiations and paperwork. So we can't confirm her presence till the deal is through. But if she is on, let me tell you our investors are already jumping with joy. You will see Shakira in a completely different avatar, it won't be a regular sing and dance act."

Arora, CEO of High Grounds Entertainment Ltd, which will produce the movie in association with noted sound recordist Walter Anderson, also explained the film will have characters inspired by mythology, but they are not trying to preach anything.

"Kaali's character has got power; she is someone bestowed with powers. All through these years you have watched movies like 300 and Avatar that have characters from the West. Through this movie, from the very beginning, our aim was to have our leading character from the East. But this movie is meant for international audiences...," he said.

To be directed by Simon Hunter, Kaali - The Warrior Goddess will go on the floors in April next year and is slated for a 2013 release. The film's budget is $75 million and Arora says money will be spent on technology.

"As the movie is imaginary, we are not bound by any geographical locations. Though we will shoot some parts in eastern Europe, mostly it will be studios as it is a 3D VFX movie. So the budget will be spent more on technology and less on stars," said Arora.

Hunter has roped in technicians from the US and Britain as well as a research team from Kolkata to work on the look of the movie.