A friend in Florida has a couple of investment partners who have put together about $8 million with the expectation of traveling to Burbank, assembling the necessary talent, and producing a profitable film that will lead to a luminous film career. (Their film experience is basically limited to munching on popcorn at the local multiplex.)
How common is this Hollywood story–of fairly affluent folks trying to make it big as producers? While there is a lot of wealth in this country and making a splash in Hollywood would be high on many lists, it must require a lot more than personal wealth to make it big.
I suppose people have come into Hollywood with nothing but money and hit it big, but to do that you need to be able to understand what makes a movie a hit. You have to be able to tell if a script is a great one or a stinkeroo, and whether the low budget will help or hinder it. Even established Hollywood producers have trouble picking winners (see “Heaven’s Gate” or “Cutthroat Island”).
But “Heaven’s Gate” nearly bankrupted its studio – people who supposedly knew Hollywood. They got blinded by Michael Cimino’s Oscar (undeserved – “The Deer Hunter” was a mediocre film) and gave him carte blanche to spend as much as he wanted.
Movies are a crapshoot. There are certain things that can be depended on (sequels, for instance), but even the best producers find it hard to pick hits. And there are many producers that wouldn’t know a good script if it bit them in the ass. Sometimes they luck out; other times, they get burned. It’s a high risk business, especially if you’re working outside a studio.
To succeed, you need to be able to recognize talent, recognize a good movie concept/script, hire the right people, know when to meddle and when to leave well enough alone, and have the contacts to bring it all together. And even if you have all that, you’re going to need good luck. It can be done, but it’s not easy.
IF you’re willing to put $8 million into the film, and you’ve got a good script lined up, there’s a good chance you can find other investors who’ll toss money into the pot.
I have a script that can be shot on a modest budget. Who do I send it to?
My friend has poured through maybe 200 scripts to date and thinks 95% are rubbish. I’d otherwise be glad to forward his company’s e-mail, but that would blow my cover … If interested, just shop your script around. He has told me, however, that everyone writes insisting s/he has a killer script.
Sure, a killer script is a good start. But even the best script can be compromised by poor direction, stilted acting, and perhaps a dozen other factors I don’t even know about. To summarize, I cannot believe that becoming a successful producer is simply a matter of having access to lots of money. You’ve got to be able to create a profitable product. As for the amount, $8 million, they know it’s limited, but are committed to the indie production route–which makes a success seem even more speculative.
I have seen every variety of “I want to make it big in Hollywood”. People who aspire to be in the world of film have a painful absent “realistic” gland. I have seen the would be directors, who all seem to apire to be Quintin Tarentino (why, oh why?). I have seen the potential actors, who are convinced that just as soon as they get a few jobs as and extra, they will make it big. I have seen hourds of would-be writers, complete with “killer scripts”, that are utter and complete crap.
I am yet to see someone blow eight million on an attempt to be a producer. It would be interesting to add that to my collection.
The thing is, you don’t just walk into Hollywood and say “I’m going to make a film”. What does your friend know about film? Does he know about distribution? Marketing? Pandering to the audience? Most importantly, does he have connections? Filmmaking aint easy, and there is nothing thats a sure thing. I can think of a lot more fun ways to send myself to the poorhouse.
If your friend really loves film, and wants to make one, I suggest he wade through the millions of bad screenplays produced every year, find some will-work-for-food actors, and a fresh out of film school director and spend a good twenty thousand on an independent film. If it is good, he can surely get it in a few festivals, and hopefully build up his name enough so that if he chooses to make a bigger film he can get some real investments. If it blows completely, at least he will still have enough money leftover to still consider himself rich.
That said, if he needs a will-work-for-food fresh out of film school director…well…blush…I admit I’m one of them =)
