Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Hollywood veteran launches dream with "Sex Tax"
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Asia Pacific
World
Hollywood veteran launches dream with "Sex Tax"
Reuters - Wednesday, April 14
Send
IM Story
Print
By Alex Ben Block
LOS ANGELES - When writer-producer David Landsberg invited friends to join industry executives for a recent screening of the low-budget, high-concept comedy "Sex Tax," his pitch wasn't just come to see the film but also to celebrate his life.
"What I told everybody is, 'Don't come to my funeral. Don't come see me when I'm dead,'" Landsberg recalled. "'Come when I'm alive, when I'm doing something, not when I'm a little box of ashes.'"
It was pure Landsberg. After 35 years in Hollywood as a commercials and TV actor before moving behind the camera as producer and writer on "Herman's Head," "The Cosby Show," "Love Boat" and other series, Landsberg suffered several heart attacks -- a life-changing experience.
"As a writer, I had been Tony Thomas' voice, Aaron Spelling's voice, Dudley Moore's voice, but I had never been mine," he said. "After the illness, I decided it was time to put myself out there, my own plays, my own writing, my own movies. I decided to spend the money this industry has allowed me to attain on my own projects."
After doing a TV series pilot that didn't sell and several plays in his friend Garry Marshall's Falcon Theater in Burbank, Landsberg decided when he turned 65 last fall that it was time to make a movie. He pulled out a script he had been working on for five years, a fictional take on the true story of a short period in 1999 when the IRS took over a Nevada brothel.
In real life, the feds quickly sold the operation. In "Sex Tax," an IRS auditor goes there to run the whorehouse, and it changes his life.
Landsberg spent $50,000 to convert his ranch-style home and guesthouse in North Hollywood into a movie studio, complete with state-of-the-art digital technology. Then he put up $350,000 more to shoot in HD with a team of energetic newcomers including director John Borges and editor Sean McPherson, along with industry vets seeking a comeback including director of photography Mark Woods and casting director Fern Champion.
"I didn't give people jobs," Landsberg said. "I gave people opportunities. I said, 'If you have a dream, come with me. I'll help make your dream come true, and while I'm doing that, you will help make my dream come true.'"
Landsberg shot under Screen Actors Guild guidelines, paying minimums but with the promise that when the movie was sold and his costs were recovered, they would receive an amount equal to their entire pay for the movie plus a share of any profit. That went for everyone from the stars to the extras and even included musicians whose music he licensed for the soundtrack.
"My star will make as much money as any big star if this is a hit," Landsberg said.
Landsberg already has two other projects for his Landsberg Studios and hopes to shoot two or three movies a year as long as he is able. First up is the romantic comedy "Leading Man," followed by a comedy about the Vietnam War, "The Last Man Drafted," which he has been trying to sell for years.
The Vietnam movie is based on his own experiences. Landsberg, who grew up in New York, was drafted at 22 and sent to Southeast Asia. After his discharge and college, he worked for an ad agency in New York before deciding he wanted a different life. He became an actor and, during the 1970s, did more than 300 commercials and more than 1,000 radio ads. He was a series regular on NBC's "CPO Sharkey," guested on dozens of series and appeared in a handful of movies, including "The Jerk," before moving behind the camera.
He wrote and produced movies for Cannon before serving as head writer and executive producer on "Cosby Show" and "The Love Boat: The Next Wave."
Although Landsberg is the sole backer, the movie is no mere vanity project but the culmination of years as a successful writer and producer. Given his puckish personality, it promises to be witty.
So why didn't Landsberg seek outside financing or a distribution deal, which he now hopes will result from Thursday's screening?
"Because that means opinions," he said. "I'm done with other people's opinions. There were no notes on this. I did this all on my own."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - Wednesday, April 14
Aiden Turner exits "Dancing With Stars" Reuters - Wednesday, April 14
Hollywood veteran launches dream with "Sex Tax" Reuters - Wednesday, April 14
Shrek photo spread too saucy for studios Reuters - Wednesday, April 14
Booming TV formats go global in risky times AFP - Wednesday, April 14
News Search
Top Stories
Greece bailout 'up to 90 billion euros': report
Mexico Catholic Church seeks child sex abuse pardon
Michelle Obama arrives in Mexico
Russia calls for swift WTO entry
Millions of women, infant deaths easily avoidable: study
More Top Stories »
Related Full Coverage
Hollywood NewsGet the latest Hollywood news
All Full Coverage »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
World nuclear summit confronts 'growing' threat
Dow closes above 11,000 for first time in 18 months
Oil price surge threatens economic recovery: IEA
Fresh doubts hit Europe's Greek bailout offer
Greece attracts strong treasury bill demand
More Most Viewed »
Two-million-year-old hominid sheds light on evolution
Taiwan's male 'Susan Boyle' a web sensation
Junkies and junk-food addicts share craving mechanism
Toad is a telltale for impending quakes: scientists
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Wednesday, 14 April 2010 Sudan elections show up deep divides
Juncker 'reassured' by markets over EU Greek bailout
Facebook rolls out redesigned 'safety center'
Sudan vote errors hit turnout
Poles pay tribute as first couple lie in state
US-TECH Summary
Demjanjuk rejects Nazi camp murder accusations
|
Poles pay tribute as first couple lie in state
US trade deficit widens in February
Brazil rancher convicted in U.S. nun's murder
|
Karadzic war crimes trial witness details horrors
|
Growth, cheap smartphones key in handset market
Afghans demand compensation for German raid
|
Michelle Obama in surprise visit to Haiti
Brazilian rancher jailed for US nun's 2005 murder
China says sanctions 'cannot solve' Iran nuclear issue
Venezuelan website lampoons Latin American leaders
18-year-old Afghan woman slain in campaign of fear
Twitter could act as early warning system for epidemics: experts
In message to North, S.Korea to hold nuclear summit
Twitter unveils ad plan in profit push
Kyrgyz interim leader tells AP US base will stay
Palm approached Huawei for acquisition talks
Apple updates MacBook Pro
|
Pakistani airstrike kills many civilians: official
Pakistan airstrike kills many civilians: witnesses
New York Times leads pack of Webby nominees
|
Apple updates MacBook Pro laptop line
Kyrgyzstan interim leader says US base will stay
Web browser that bypasses big brother a Kazakh hit
|
Pohang, Adelaide, Osaka advance in AFC Champions League
Oracle boosts MySQL investment, targets Microsoft
Hachette says its books among top iPad downloads
List of possible Palm suitors grows, led by Asians
|
2-mile scar on Barrier Reef after ship grounding
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in Twitter twist
|
Apple updates MacBook Pro laptop line
World's second-tallest building under construction in Saudi
Spanking children can lead to aggressive behavior: study
Bille August to direct film on 'Out of Africa' author Karen Blixen
German cinema pioneer Schroeter dead at 65: museum
Japanese friend for Thomas The Tank Engine
Indian Sikhs mark 'World Turban Day'
Conan mocks NBC on first stop of comedy tour
Thai protesters hit tourist hub with guns -- of water
Cyprus tourist arrivals rise in March in 15-month first
Conan O'Brien legally prohibited from being funny
|
Christian music star Jennifer Knapp says she is a lesbian
|
New York Times leads pack of Webby nominees
|
Lionel Shriver novel counts cost of healthcare
|
US consumer magazine calls Lexus model a 'safety risk'
Worst over for loss-making Air India: minister
Infosys quarterly profit dips but sees upturn
South Korea to host nuclear summit in 2012 -Obama
China Southern swings back to profit for 2009
ADB says Bangladesh grows by 5.5 percent in 2010
China eases home grown tech purchase rule
China's Hu rebuffs Obama on yuan
Pakistan's anti-Taliban push proves divisive
Greece bailout 'up to 90 billion euros': report
Strong quake kills 300; destroys homes on Tibet plateau
|
Intel net profit up nearly four-fold
Obama voices frustration on stalled Mideast peace
Thai protesters on move to final battleground
|
Mexico Catholic Church seeks child sex abuse pardon
Gates assails Internet group over attack video
Juncker 'reassured' by markets over EU Greek bailout
Corrected: Twitter chases first revenue with ad service
Sudan vote errors hit turnout
Clinton, Taiana Sign Megaports Initiative To Guard Against Nuke Smuggling
"South Park" Re-Skewers Celebs For 200th Episode
Web browser that bypasses big brother a Kazakh hit
Intel Posts Huge Jump In Q1 Earnings, Tops Estimates
Top U.S. envoy in Kyrgyzstan for talks after revolt
|
U.S. Markets Post Modest Gains Ahead Of Earnings
Apple updates MacBook Pro laptops
Iran complains to U.N. over U.S. nuclear threat
|
Union Leader's Planned Resignation Would Shift Balance of Labor's Power
Cargo aircraft crashes in northern Mexico; 5 dead
|
Girl Fashions Prom Dress From Gum Wrappers
Apple updates MacBook Pro
Pilots hailed as heroes for averting Hong Kong air disaster
|
Avon Suspends 4 Executives In Chinese Unit Ethics Probe
President, First Lady To Attend Funeral In Poland
Chavez rallies armed youths to defend socialism
|
Adam Lambert Releases Remix EP, Talks Tour Plans
Obama voices frustration on stalled Mideast peace
|
Recovery Of Bodies Completed At West Virginia Mine
Michelle Obama visits Mexico on first solo outing
Michelle Obama arrives in Mexico
About 300 dead in China quake
Russia calls for swift WTO entry
Pakistan uses scanners to locate truck bombs
Cyclone kills 31 people in eastern India
Hong Kong proposes limited political reform
Millions of women, infant deaths easily avoidable: study
Malaysia's Anwar loses bid to discredit accuser
Cyclone kills 29 people in eastern India
Pakistan delays LNG contract with French company
Venezuelan website lampoons Latin American leaders
|
Opposition bigwig to contest special Malaysia poll
Moody's raises South Korea sovereign rating to A1
Strong quake in western China's Qinghai kills 300
China raises fuel prices as economy steams ahead
Seoul shares extend gains on Moody's upgrade
Thai protesters on move to "final battleground"
CORRECTED
2 drown in river during Hindu festival in India
China raises domestic fuel prices
China's property prices rise in March
Korean Air says sales up but delays profit report
Wal-Mart plans India 'big box' store drive
Hollywood veteran launches dream with "Sex Tax"
Safety issue prompts new Toyota sales suspension
British hero returns to Korea 59 years after battle
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Aiden Turner exits "Dancing With Stars"
Chocolate makers show off Syria's sweeter side
Hollywood veteran launches dream with "Sex Tax"
Aiden Turner exits U.S. dancing show
|
Shrek photo spread too saucy for studios
Shrek photo spread too saucy for studios
|
Booming TV formats go global in risky times
Pop duo MGMT defies critics on Congratulations
|
Scott, James Cann go head-to-head in "Mercy"
Does anybody own Fellini's La Dolce Vita?
|
HBO renews "Treme" after first episode
British Atheists Seek Arrest Of Pope Over Sex Abuse Scandal
Scott, James Cann go head-to-head in Mercy
|
Parents Of Adult Skaters Receive Letters From Police
Irving Penn photos to be auctioned at Christie's
Hollywood veteran launches dream with Sex Tax
|
U.K. Study Proposes Use Of Slop Buckets In Offices To Improve Recycling
Public Image Ltd, returns to U.S. after 18 years
|
Planet Circling "Cold" Star Is Earths Newest Neighbor
Book to reveal unheard Jackie Kennedy interviews
|
HBO renews Treme after first episode
|
Virginia Boy, 12, Arrested For Bringing Gun To School
Irving Penn photos to be auctioned at Christie's
|
"Dirty Dozen" Member Dies
Colorado Sheriff's Deputy Tazes 30 Students; Gets Suspended
Three Senior Citizens Arrested For Attempted Burglary Of Ex-Mob Boss Home
Two Fighter Jets In Near-Collision With Commercial Airliner Over Ohio
British Women Spend Close To Decade Shopping
Holocaust-denying bishop 'to miss German trial'
Apple delays worldwide release of iPad for a month
Greece hit by new debt doubts, string of strikes
Vatican under fire for linking gays to pedophilia
|
UAE Movie Studio Sets Up Shop in Las Vegas
Iraqi Shi'ite blocs inch toward power-sharing deal
|
FDA Phasing Out Asthma, COPD Inhalers Containing CFCs
Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Carrie Underwood Headline "Today Show" Summer Concert Series
Palestinians accuse Jewish settlers of mosque attack
|
Police Investigate Chicago Shooting That Left 4 Dead
Poland eyes June 20 vote, post-crash cracks emerge
|
Weight-Loss Surgery May Reduce Pregnancy Risks In Obese Women
Tonight Show Finds Replacement For Band Leader Kevin Eubanks
Florida Democrat Wins First Congressional Election After Healthcare Vote
Protest over Islamic tomb turns violent in Jakarta
|
Britney Spears Releases Unedited Shots From Ad Campaign
Bashir's party asks rivals to join Sudan government
|
Study: Epilepsy And Depression Drugs Linked To Suicide Risk
"South Park" To Premiere 200th Episode
Thai protesters step up anti-government rally
Cyclone kills 85 people in eastern India
Quake in western China kills 400, buries more
Chinese official sentenced to death in mafia trial
Cyclone kills 76 people in eastern India
Apple delays iPad's international launch
|
Shippers: China sending gasoline to Iran
Former China police chief gets death in gang case
Pakistani stocks end up; rupee eases; o/n rates down
Chinese officials: Foreign investors face problems
Dollar falls against euro before US data
Starbucks planning huge expansion in China
Thais rally in Bangkok to oppose Red Shirts
China raises fuel prices as economy steams ahead
Cyclone kills 68 people in eastern India
CSBC seeks shipbuilding order from Taiwan's Evergreen
China defends business environment
China's Agricultural Bank prefers local investor
US base in Japan bans dolphin film: report
News agencies snub Cannes conference over TV dispute
Joss Whedon directing "Avengers" for Marvel
Does anybody own Fellini's "La Dolce Vita"?
"District 9" star in talks for another alien film
Whitney Houston returns to stage, critics divided
Taiwan turns plastic bottles into expo pavilion
Stirrings of less violent protest in Hamas-ruled Gaza
Whitney Houston returns to stage, critics divided
|
Tomb protest turns bloody in Indonesia capital
Indonesia police fire tear gas at protesters
Indonesia detains 30 migrants headed to Australia
News agencies boycott Cannes briefing over access
|
Joss Whedon directing Avengers for Marvel
|
Scrappy fighter Kick-Ass high on Hollywood radar
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights