CBS Films is sticking with an old formula intact: four to six films a year, anchored by stars and costing up to $50 million apiece. "There's an area in the middle where I want to live," said Amy Baer,
president of CBS Films. Among the movies it has coming up are "The Back-Up Plan," a romantic comedy starring Jennifer Lopez, which arrives on April 16; work has started on "Faster," a co-production
with Sony, starring Dwayne Johnson and Billy Bob Thornton. Other projects include a feature adaptation of the classic TV western "Gunsmoke."
The philosophy -- grown-up dramas -- has any
veterans of the film business wondering about CBS' strategy. It might make sense on paper - diversifying CBS' mix of businesses and lessening its reliance on television and radio advertising while
creating an in-house pipeline for Showtime - but this middle swath of the industry can be a tough slog. One example of a successful effort: "The Blind Side," the sports drama starring Sandra Bullock
cost less than $35 million to produce and has sold $227 million in tickets worldwide.
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