NAME THAT FILM!

Remember the old game show "Name that Tune?"  It was the one where two contestants would bid on how few notes it would take for them to name the title of a famous song. I'd always laugh when some contestant would say "I can name that tune in ONE note," and the emcee would reply, "All right, Sally, name that tune!"  I attended a pitch fest with distributors and producers on the panel.  The idea was to pitch either a project or completed film in hope of getting one of the panel members interested enough in your project to fund or purchase it.  I was able to see one of the features that was being pitched and knew two other filmmakers and wanted to observe their pitches.  It's always good to listen and learn.

A filmmaker who made a wonderful faith based film (not going to tell the title to protect identity) was first up.  I viewed his film online and although there were a few minor flaws (which happens in low budget film making) the acting was good, production value good, music original, and story line watchable.  This was a good feature length film worth distributing. The filmmaker's selling point during his pitch was that he made the film for only five thousand dollars.  I immediately thought of the game show.  Why would a filmmaker tell anyone how much he made his film for?  Proud of making the film for no money are you?  What about the people that helped you make the film?  Isn't there a value on friendship and favors?  It's called soft money, or goods and services and all part of the budgeting process.

I saw the credits of his film and there were quite a few actors and crew members that made his vision possible.  There should be a value on their services even though you didn't pay for them.  Think!!! Why would a distributor pay you fifty thousand if he knew you made the film for five?  The lesson here is when you are in prep and working out your budget write EVERYTHING down.  What crew are you using, what equipment do you need, where are you going to shoot?  Put a value on it. Mike is my camera guy because he owns a camera and he will work for free.  Great!  Put a value on Mike and on his camera rental.  We didn't use a dolly, we used a wheelchair or Mom let me use their house and pool to make the film.  Who cares? It's what's on the screen that counts.  Put a value on it.

I worked for director Paul Leder in the 80's & 90's and we made a film entitled "The 11th Commandment" (1987 - aka Body Count).  At a screening of the film at the American Film Market, Paul was approached by Jonathan D. Krane. This is the same Jonathan D. Krane that produced several successful John Travolta films.  He owned and operated a distribution company in the 80's called Manson International (which eventually became MCEG) and he was at the screening of "The 11th Commandment."  He asked Paul what he made the film for and Paul replied "What do you think?"  JK said $500K and Paul replied, "You're good."  Krane offered $350K and a good percentage on the back end.  Paul took the deal.  We made the film for $125K with another $125K in deferred costs (the costs that goes to the people that worked for practically nothing!).  Paul still had enough profit to start the process all over again.  P.S. we never saw a dime on the back end.

I guess what I'm trying to tell filmmakers just getting out of film school is, the pride you show in knowing that you made a good film for practically nothing should be kept to yourself.  If you need to brag about yourself use the term "Cost vs. Production value."  Saying you made your film for five thousand dollars isn't going to get your film sold but a cost ratio of 20 to 1 will keep everyone thinking, "Nice film, wonder what his budget was?"  Try it, you'll like the results.

One last thing as a follow up to last week's post, I am starting to understand the meaning of the word "following."  The more followers you have the more value is placed on what you are saying or doing.  Think of what Senator McCarthy could have accomplished if he had social media to out communists within the Hollywood circle.  Are today's outed sex offenders the Communists of today?  Should art suffer because of the misdeeds of the artist?   It's getting to the point that I don't look forward to the Hollywood trade papers.  Don't want to get back on that tangent again (for Travis' sake) but I saw "Wonder Wheel" the other day and Kate Winslet was marvelous.  Oscar worthy, as was Woody Allen's direction and script.  I can't believe that at eighty-one he still can tell a great cinematic story and elicit great performances from his ensemble. I can only hope that I am able to dress myself at eighty-one.  Go see the film and share your thoughts in the comments section.

This is my last column before Christmas and I want to wish everyone Season's Greetings.  Be well, be safe and most of all be thankful for what we have and for those that help to make our dreams come true.  Merry Christmas!

Bob

Bob Cook
Film Director
B.C. Entertainment Group, Inc.

Dear Travis:

Inspired by the "M*A*S*H*" episode entitled - "Dear Dad"

Someone by the name of Travis, has written my first negative review for last weeks blog about the serious problem of industry celebrities being taken down by stupid choices they've made in the past. I believe the moral to last week's column was to make sure when casting or working on your project you keep it professional and have an assistant handy to keep you in check.

Travis I believe, was enticed by my headline "Did David O. Selznick grope Olivia de Havilland?" I'm not even sure he read the entire column because of his remarks about what "my" column should contain.  I believe the operative word there was "My" column.  Travis wants me to write more about focusing a camera and lighting a project.  I have 4,031 followers most of which are industry friends, family and coworkers and most of them already know how to light a film and keep a camera in focus. I have to find interesting and topical issues to keep their interest and create a buzz and hopefully increase my following and at the same time make my regular readers happy.  I guess I am saying it's not all about you, Travis.

In today's generation we open ourselves up to ridicule every time we speak in front of an audience or post something in writing.  Social media can turn on us at any minute.  Take you for instance, Travis, when I researched you to find out why the bad review I noticed you like to critique a lot but have never written a kind word or good review to anybody.  Which if anything made me feel better.  I know it's easier to write a bad review than a good one but seriously there had to be a time you researched an article about the industry and thought to write something positive.  Your background also shows some religious mentions.  You like Christian Films and that's good.  I have a friend who is a follower and has a film running during the holiday season on Hallmark.  Wonderful film, I'd tell you the title, Travis, but I fear you would only look for the ugly things or twist the true meaning and make up one of your own and preach as if we should follow you.  Information on all of us is uncomfortably found on the Internet.

Since last week's column, more high profile names have been humbled by misdeeds.  The point which I was making and most of my other readers understood was it's Golden Globe and Oscar time and films are being judged without being seen.  "Wonder Wheel" for example was directed by Woody Allen.  Woody has had his share of controversy before it was fashionable to bring up.  He was found NOT guilty in the State of New York of any wrong doing.  The press to this day still thinks he married his step-daughter (he didn't, he married the adopted daughter of Andre Previn and Mia Farrow).  The eyebrow raising thought, was Woody married someone almost forty years younger. This wasn't the first time that happened in Hollywood.  Woody and Mia were never married and even kept separate dwellings, yet somehow "Wonder Wheel" has lost interest and distribution momentum because it was backed by Amazon and the studio heads there have their own problems with harassment.  Add that on to Woody's tale and the cast and crew of a wonderful period piece which should earn Kate Winslet and Woody Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, goes in the crapper. This has happened to several films and that's topical and that's industry related.

For those of my readers that have a vote, make sure you watch as many as you can screen and vote for the film's content and not the director or producer's backstory.  Travis, I hope you continue to follow and I will include technical articles as they are needed and I believe worth mentioning. Everyone wants to stay current with our ever changing industry.  I am not writing this column as a cheap answer to film school but to share feelings, emotions, and situations that we all encounter daily and perhaps someone has a solution that I can share.

Here's today's question for everyone...What films should receive Oscar nods this year?  The Independent Spirit Awards have already announced their nominees and I was disappointed not to see DOG YEARS starring Burt Reynolds, Chevy Chase and Ariel Winter on the list.  Solid direction and excellent performances all around especially by Burt.  If you can find it playing somewhere or can download it please take the time, you won't be disappointed.  An added plus, the producer of DOG YEARS is Neil Mandt who won Best Picture honors at the Central Florida Film Festival in 2007, with LAST STOP FOR PAUL.  Good to see one of the festival's alumni still making films in the mainstream.

That's all for this week.

See you at the movies!

Regards,
Bob