back to the 250-seat Donmar Warehouse where she caused such a naked sensation in ``The Blue Room.'' British theater's wonder boy, given the best director Oscar for the dark tragi-comedy, flew home full of plans for the Donmar and a financial comfort cushion provided by Spielberg, who gave the 34-year-old Mendes his chance to make a sensational Hollywood debut.
Spielberg, director of such famed blockbusters as ``ET,'' has given Mendes 250,000 pounds ($398,700) a year to set up a film office -- but Mendes is going to stick to his first love, the theater, for the moment.
``It is a first-look deal. Dreamworks (Spielberg's company) are funding me to develop a few projects which they get first look over,'' he told reporters on his return to the theater.
``I wanted it connected geographically and philosophically. Steven and all of DreamWorks are aware of what they are part of and they are thrilled.'' he added.
Spielberg is also giving 100,000 pounds a year to the theater where Mendes' next directorial project will be Shakespeare's ``Twelfth Night.''
True to the old movie cliche that the Oscars won't change him, Mendes said: ``If I had signed an exclusive deal with DreamWorks, I could have got millions. But I am very conscious of allowing myself freedom.''
Determined not to become the slave of a big studio, he noted that fellow British director Anthony Minghella had to wait almost five years after the Oscar-laden ``The English Patient'' before he made ``The Talented Mr. Ripley.'' ``I don't desire to become part of the Hollywood community,'' he said at the theater he is passionately devoted to.
Kidman's electrifying performance in ``The Blue Room'' was hailed by critics as ``pure theatrical Viagra.'' But would she return? Mendes said: ``It's becoming more than likely that Nicole will come back.''
He would dearly love to tempt ``American Beauty'' star Annette Bening onto the London stage but warned: ``I don't know, it may take 10 years. She has four kids, you know -- but I would really love to bring her here.''
Rookies Torpedoed at Box Office (2000-05-01)Roberts Beats Tarnished 'El Dorado' at Box Office (2000-04-02)Oscar Winner Mendes Back Home to Spielberg Boost (2000-04-02)Oscar Gets a Facelift With Sunday's Awards (2000-03-28)'American Beauty' Wins Oscar for Best Film (2000-03-27)
