What Ails Hollywood? Six Movie Experts Weigh In On a Cure

[dr.sound]

A very interesting read:
What Ails Hollywood? Six Movie Experts Weigh In On a Cure | The Wrap Movies

I enjoyed the readers responses.

[ggegan]

Not exactly uplifting outlooks for us crafts people. The one opinion that really struck home for me is that if you branch out and exploit as many possible outlets and revenue streams as possible, then you can still make a go of things. This is exactly what I've done for the last three years and it's been working pretty well for me, even though it's a lot more work. It keeps things interesting, too.

[Henchman]

You know, reading that article, just strengthens my attitude towards budgets.
IE, I still cannot understand why basically a walk and talk thriller can cost $100 million dollars.
Obviously, too many people are making too much money on the font end.

[Jfriah]

Originally Posted by Henchman

You know, reading that article, just strengthens my attitude towards budgets.
IE, I still cannot understand why basically a walk and talk thriller can cost $100 million dollars.
Obviously, too many people are making too much money on the font end.

Where's the "like" button...oh, this isn't Facebook.


There are so many days I hate working in the back end and having producers say "we only have 'this' much left in the budget now, but we want it to sound like ___________ (insert 200 million dollar tentpole feature here)"

Sigh

[Jfriah]

I'll go out on a limb here again: keep costs down, price it LOWER, sell to more seats/units, and make your profit and move on. It isn't rocket surgery.

Oh, wait, there's that whole "star power" casting thing. Audiences are so silly. Then they complain "I can't see past X Y anymore, he always plays the same character..."

Jeff

[Jfriah]

Oh yeah, and:

[Henchman]

I mean, do you REALLY think 8 year olds care if A-List actors are voicing cartoons?

[Tom Fleischman]

Originally Posted by Jfriah

Where's the "like" button...oh, this isn't Facebook.


There are so many days I hate working in the back end and having producers say "we only have 'this' much left in the budget now, but we want it to sound like ___________ (insert 200 million dollar tentpole feature here)"

Sigh

It even worse when you cut your rate and accept a too-short schedule to get the job because they say they have no money, and then when you get to the mix the director wants the world and they find all kinds of money for overtime.

[iluvcapra]

Originally Posted by dr.sound

A very interesting read:
What Ails Hollywood? Six Movie Experts Weigh In On a Cure | The Wrap Movies

I enjoyed the readers responses.

Only one of these six people is a practitioner, the others are just check-writers and outside observers. And all of their responses boil down to: "We dunno, we're just waiting to see how it all shakes out. Somebody will figure out how to make it work, some Steve Jobs will come along. People have to be ready for when that happens, but what's going to happen is a mystery."

And all the reader responses boil down to "I'm not in the film industry, but everybody in the film industry is a moron, all movies suck, people in movies are paid too much and in the future everybody will be able to make Transformers in their backyard with their overtime check from the soylent green plant, and they'll give it away for free on youtube. Stupid film industry, why don't you just give up and give all your movies away for free, then you'd make a lot more money!"

[ggegan]

Originally Posted by Tom Fleischman

It even worse when you cut your rate and accept a too-short schedule to get the job because they say they have no money, and then when you get to the mix the director wants the world and they find all kinds of money for overtime.

I remember one project like what you describe, when we requested one extra mix day in order to put the final polish on the sound track, only to be turned down by the producers. We found out that they had just "gifted" the Testarosa used in the movie to the male lead, even though he already had one. So much for putting the money on the screen.

[soundboy]

(Reference to a particular tool in the foregoing should not be regarded as an endorsement.)
iluvcapra is online now


I'm glad you're not endorsing those tools.

[Frank S.]

Is it me or does anyone else find the mention of DVDs oddly ironic?

I seem to remember when the industry was claiming that DVDs would hurt the industry...now they're saying that the decline in DVD sales is hurting the industry? Which is it?

The number crunchers can't save the industry; that will be left up to a mix of creatives and theater owners. Stop charging ridiculous prices for tickets, stop paying ridiculous fees to A list actors, and put the money into better writers, directors, and other creative folks.

[Frank S.]

Sorry for the double reply, and apologies if this gets a little off track...

Titanic is being re-released, and I will go see it. Why? Because it is an amazing film.

Why isn't this something that is done more often? I would go see Top Gun or Jurassic Park or Goonies or a number of other films if they were re-released.

Wouldn't that bring in revenue at a relatively low cost?

[ggegan]

Originally Posted by Frank S.

Sorry for the double reply, and apologies if this gets a little off track...

Titanic is being re-released, and I will go see it. Why? Because it is an amazing film.

Why isn't this something that is done more often? I would go see Top Gun or Jurassic Park or Goonies or a number of other films if they were re-released.

Wouldn't that bring in revenue at a relatively low cost?

It isn't done more often because producing a lousy remake is a better vehicle for sucking millions of dollars out of the system.

[iluvcapra]

Originally Posted by Frank S.

Why isn't this something that is done more often? I would go see Top Gun or Jurassic Park or Goonies or a number of other films if they were re-released.

To be fair the New Beverly, the Aero and the Egyptian welcome your patronage. They re-run great movies all the time, but even Los Angeles is only able to support a few houses that do run old shows, and rarely do they sell out, even with cheaper tickets. And they're competing with Instant Queue for these eyeballs, and the marginal cost of IQ to a Netflix subscriber is zero.

The Egyptian will be showing The Goonies on a double bill with Super 8 on Friday.

[Frank S.]

Originally Posted by iluvcapra

To be fair the New Beverly, the Aero and the Egyptian welcome your patronage. They re-run great movies all the time, but even Los Angeles is only able to support a few houses that do run old shows, and rarely do they sell out, even with cheaper tickets. And they're competing with Instant Queue for these eyeballs, and the marginal cost of IQ to a Netflix subscriber is zero.

The Egyptian will be showing The Goonies on a double bill with Super 8 on Friday.

If only I lived in L.A.! It's nice to know that someone is running these films in real theaters.

[InternJesse]

Originally Posted by Frank S.

Titanic is being re-released, and I will go see it. Why? Because it is an amazing film.

Why isn't this something that is done more often? I would go see Top Gun or Jurassic Park or Goonies or a number of other films if they were re-released.

Wouldn't that bring in revenue at a relatively low cost?

They are starting to do this a lot now... only they generally get re-released in 3D... *sigh*

[Rick Sanchez]

Really interesting article from many perspectives. Digital distribution really does change the game considerably. Quality will probably be all over the place but I'd be willing to bet some very interesting stories get produced. Much like the music business, promoting them will be the big challenge from the producer's standpoint and from the consumer's finding the good stuff will be the challenge as there will be a whole lot of really bad stuff being produced.

The A list blockbuster will always have an audience, but those will be fewer. It's the mid-level stuff that really will have the toughest time. Unlike the music business, it's very difficult to do a film in your bedroom and it generally takes significantly more people with different skill sets to do it correctly.

[Tom Fleischman]

Wait until instant digital delivery to theaters takes hold. If opening day is a fail we'll be back on the stage conforming the ending for tonight's shows.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by Tom Fleischman

Wait until instant digital delivery to theaters takes hold. If opening day is a fail we'll be back on the stage conforming the ending for tonight's shows.

Digital delivery is taking over in a lot of theaters and the days of schlepping big film cans up and down the steep projection room steps are almost over.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by Rick Sanchez

Really interesting article from many perspectives. Unlike the music business, it's very difficult to do a film in your bedroom and it generally takes significantly more people with different skill sets to do it correctly.

I agree about films but video is moving more and more to boutique studios and bedroom production operations. We do both audio and video in our facility but I am not sure how much longer we can continue with budgets dropping through the floor and more and more companies trying to do everything themselves in house including doing their own commericals.

For less than $1000.00 some one can purchase an HD camera and FCPX and be in business if they already have a Mac computer. It may not be CBS or ABC but I have seen some amazing work done on a "zero" budget. It can't be too much longer before video goes the same way as audio and places like Guitar Center and Sweetwater start selling video equipment. Maybe even Behringer will start to produce ripped off video equipment.

Career one day - hobbyist the next. Fun!!!! Ain't technology wonderful???

[PeterN]

Interesting article, but with limited significance. It seems as noboday of these guys have a clear vision or idea how companies should act in order to keep their business alive.

But personally I'm wondering what will happen with regards to movie theatres in future. With BlueRay/Online releases shortly after the theatre release, it becomes to wait for the film to see it @ home on a 55" LED flatscreen + surround sound.

What do you think can cinemas do to survive and to find their place in the future film market?
3D picture might come against its limits (unless its an animation), but would it be possible to attract people with real 3D Audio?

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by PeterN

Interesting article, but with limited significance. It seems as noboday of these guys have a clear vision or idea how companies should act in order to keep their business alive.

But personally I'm wondering what will happen with regards to movie theatres in future. With BlueRay/Online releases shortly after the theatre release, it becomes to wait for the film to see it @ home on a 55" LED flatscreen + surround sound.

What do you think can cinemas do to survive and to find their place in the future film market?
3D picture might come against its limits (unless its an animation), but would it be possible to attract people with real 3D Audio?

A couple of suggestions for movies and movie theaters.

1. Make the movie going experience a good one. Stop people using cell phones and IPADS (yes someone in the theater was using their IPAD last weekend). What's next? laptop computers??? Why do you have to have a cell phone or IPAD in the theater when you are there to watch and enjoy a movie?

2. Assure that the sound and the picture are perfect. A check of ALL the sound and visual systems should be a weekly occurrence.

3. Have someone older than 18 in charge of the cineplex.

4. Stop building 100 seat boxes in the movie complexs and calling them a "theater". A 9 by 12 foot screen and some speakers that may have come from the local high school classrooms does not IMHO make a genuine movie theater for first run movies.

5. Stop making movies that are only 2/3rd there. In the past year I have seen so many movies that start off great but 2/3rds of the way run out of script and depend on special effects to carry the rest of the movie.

6. Stop charging so much for popcorn and soda. If I am paying a lot for a movie I don't want to get robbed at the concession stand as well. Either charge what it costs you to put on the movies by raising the ticket prices or go out of business. Twenty five cents of popcorn is not worth $7.50.

7. People are not dumb. Stop treating them like they are. Make movies that have some plot and are not just special effects vehicles.

8. A BIG gripe of mine. Parents with small children are responsible for their kids and if they are making a lot of noise or running up and down the aisles it is up to the parents to keep them under control. Nothing ruins a movie going experience like having crying babies or someone yelling "when it is going to be over" or I have to go potty" at the top of their young lungs. Not sure how to solve this but it has ruined a lot of my movie going experiences an I assume I am not alone.

9. I don't mind watching upcoming movie trailers but stop all the commercials. It is starting to look like a big screen TV. Next they will be interrupting the movie every 30 minutes with a commercial.

10. Don't do fund raising in the theater for charities. I was at a movie theater where they turned on all the lights ran an announcement on the screen for a charity and then had the "ushers" come around with buckets to have people contribute. If you want to do this make it something in the main lobby but not when people are in a theater getting ready to watch a movie which they just overpaid to see. GRRRRRRRRR!!!!


Many more but...probably nothing will change so........I will continue to go but not as often which is what a lot more people seem to be deciding to do lately.

[TimOBrienFlorida]

More basic: How about writing a SCRIPT before you start shooting, Hollywood?

Look at the number of utter fails in the last 10 years where they've started a movie
with no script, written it as they went along, or let the stars 'improvise'....


Re: Budgets
I also question how many movies are costing $100million+
Recently they announced that the Bruckheimer/Johnny Depp movie is budgeted at over $200million.
It's "The Lone Ranger"..... a WESTERN... and they're blaming 'a lot of CGI'... in a WESTERN.
(the originals were shot for a few thousand)
It's INSANE.

[LX3]

You might like to know that in the UK we have an "official" moviegoers' Code Of Conduct. Official in that it was compiled by the the hosts of BBC Radio 5's film review show Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo (available on iTunes as an extremely entertaining weekly podcast). And for many film lovers around the world, what Dr K says is gospel, even if they disagree.

Echoes many of your sentiments, Thomas.

Available in entertaining and printable colour poster form, here:

BBC - BBC Radio 5 live Programmes - Kermode and Mayo's Film Review, 19/11/2010