Director Taylor Hackford and Money Man Philip Anschutz battled constantly over some of the more adult elements of the film, with Hackford either quitting or being fired on several occasions.



Director Taylor Hackford and Money Man Philip Anschutz battled constantly over some of the more adult elements of the film, with Hackford either quitting or being fired on several occasions.

The Man Behind 'Ray'? Nascent 'Examiner' Mogul Philip Anschutz

By Joe Strupp

Published: January 19, 2005 3:50 PM ET

NEW YORK The successful biopic “Ray,” which chronicles the life of Ray Charles, has garnered praise for star Jamie Foxx and director Taylor Hackford. Just as important -- but likely much less well-known -- is the key money man behind the flick: Denver billionaire and ambitious newspaper owner Philip Anschutz.

Anschutz, who entered the newspaper world with last year’s purchase of the San Francisco Examiner and now plans to launch a Washington, D.C., Examiner next month, came up with the estimated $40 million for the film several years ago. Hackford, who had unsuccessfully sought funding for the movie for more than a decade, initially convinced Anschutz, who also owns the Los Angeles Kings hockey team, to put in half of the capital needed.

When several studios passed on the film -- despite Anschutz investment and Foxx’s agreement to star -- Anschutz agreed to pay for it all. Perhaps that's why Foxx prominently saluted him on Sunday night in accepting his Golden Globe for best actor in a musical or comedy.

"Phil really loved Ray Charles," Hackford told the Los Angeles Times. "He was touched by his music. He's a moral conservative and I'm an old-fashioned liberal, but when it came to Ray and what he meant to us, we felt exactly the same way."

But while he was ready to finance the project, Anschutz was not ready to allow an R rating, according to Jim Monaghan, an Anschutz spokesman. He told E&P that Hackford and Anschutz battled constantly over some of the more adult elements of the film, with Hackford either quitting or being fired on several occasions.

“It was one of those creative-tension things,” Monaghan said about the project, which ended up with a PG-13 label. “Phil is never going to produce an R-rated movie so there was a real arm-wrestling match to keep it PG-13. He wants to make films that are family suitable.”

Anschutz, who does not do interviews, had previously invested in less-successful films such as last year’s “Around the World in 80 Days” remake and “Holes,” a 2003 disappointment. Both were made under his Walden Media production company, while Ray came out of his Bristol Bay productions.

Monaghan said Anschutz had long been a fan of Ray Charles and was glad to be involved with the film. “The story really gripped him and at one point he went to the set to meet some of the people and was really taken in a positive fashion,” Monaghan said. “I think he is pleased.”

Still, don’t expect to see Anschutz at the Academy Awards, says Monaghan. “He didn’t go to the Golden Globes; he usually shies away from that kind of thing. That isn’t his style.”
Joe Strupp (jstrupp@editorandpublisher.com) is a senior editor at E&P.

When this story was posted in January 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Ask Not As our country prepares for the inauguration of a President, we remember one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century and how his words inspired us. "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

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January 15, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Bellamy finishing term - Veneman to head Unicef 15 Jan 230 RPCVs volunteer for Crisis Corps 14 Jan Peace Corps Fund needs silent auction items 12 Jan Matt Gould in one-man Peace Corps show in Hollywood 12 Jan Taylor Hackford's "Ray" Nominated for Golden Globe 12 Jan Ambassador Johnson shares memories of Thailand 11 Jan Senator Dodd suggests PC return to Venezuela 11 Jan Ambassador Hull wants PC to return to Sierra Leone 11 Jan Poiriers unhappy with PC investigation of missing son 10 Jan Emile Hons reflects on the Deborah Gardner murder case 10 Jan Judge Paul A. Bastine criticized for stalling Divorce 6 Jan Volunteer Patricia D. Scatoloni dies in Macedonia 4 Jan more top stories...

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Coleman: Peace Corps mission and expansion Senator Norm Coleman, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that oversees the Peace Corps, says in an op-ed, A chance to show the world America at its best: "Even as that worthy agency mobilizes a "Crisis Corps" of former Peace Corps volunteers to assist with tsunami relief, I believe an opportunity exists to rededicate ourselves to the mission of the Peace Corps and its expansion to touch more and more lives."

RPCVs active in new session of Congress In the new session of Congress that begins this week, RPCV Congressman Tom Petri has a proposal to bolster Social Security, Sam Farr supported the objection to the Electoral College count, James Walsh has asked for a waiver to continue heading a powerful Appropriations subcommittee, Chris Shays will no longer be vice chairman of the Budget Committee, and Mike Honda spoke on the floor honoring late Congressman Robert Matsui.

Latest: RPCVs and Peace Corps provide aid Peace Corps made an appeal last week to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps and more than 30 RPCVs have responded so far. RPCVs: Read what an RPCV-led NGO is doing about the crisis an how one RPCV is headed for Sri Lanka to help a nation he grew to love. Question: Is Crisis Corps going to send RPCVs to India, Indonesia and nine other countries that need help?

The World's Broken Promise to our Children Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.

Changing of the Guard With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

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