Does kissing up and brown-nosing work?

donkathon

donkathon

Carbonite Member
Has anyone honestly tried to contact one of the major film studios and ask for some small amounts of cash (1000-2500) or any other items, such as props or old retired equipment?

Perhaps the unused ends of film stock?

Or how about advertisement purposes- putting their logo for cash?

Im wondering, because I figure if they can give some idiot 53million to an idiot to make Dukes of Hazzard, they can spare small amounts of money or equipment to us small-folk. If you've tried, please tell me what they thought of your request.

P.S- Do tell if you had a fiscal 501(c)(3) sponsorship for tax deduction.
 
They will give you anything you ask. As long as it's guaranteed to make them money.

BTW, Dukes info for ya...

Domestic: $80,270,227 72.6%
+ Foreign: $30,333,649 27.4%
= Worldwide: $110,603,876

Not a bad return on 53 mill.

A studio is just a fancy name for business. And businesses are required to make money not art.

Approach them with a way to make them money and you'll be better off than asking for a hand-out.

-rook
 
rook said:
They will give you anything you ask. As long as it's guaranteed to make them money.

BTW, Dukes info for ya...

Domestic: $80,270,227 72.6%
+ Foreign: $30,333,649 27.4%
= Worldwide: $110,603,876

Not a bad return on 53 mill.

-rook
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Wow- they would give you money. Im not sure I expected that. But, Im talking low-class stuff, not anything that would reach outside a local festival.

Thank you so much for commenting, rook. :dankk2:

And on your Dukes comment, though it made 110mill, it was still a terrible movie. Hehe...
 
actually thought Dukes was pretty funny. especially enjoyed Wilie Nelson chuckin' moonshine and crackin' jokes.
 
I agree. Dukes was awful. But even making an aweful movie that earns dollars isn't easy.

If you are looking for freebies, try contacting the companies themselves. Sometimes panavision will loan cameras and kodak has given away ends in the past. Bring them your idea, a reel and your youthfull enthusiasm and give it a go.

-rook
 
JY_Blue said:
actually thought Dukes was pretty funny. especially enjoyed Wilie Nelson chuckin' moonshine and crackin' jokes.
Click to expand...

Yea, some parts were funny. But overall, it was really really bad. That Broken Lizard guy, Jay Charnanasharahanr (I really dont know, and I dont feel like IMDb'ing it) really ruined it. He makes bad movies, hands down. Some parts were funny, but some people here could make better movies with only a half a million dollars, plain and simple.
 
pto2212 said:
... I figure if they can give some idiot 53million to an idiot to make Dukes of Hazzard, they can spare small amounts of money or equipment to us small-folk. If you've tried, please tell me what they thought of your request.

P.S- Do tell if you had a fiscal 501(c)(3) sponsorship for tax deduction.
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An idiot that made a comic cult hit and two funny underground hits that more than made back what they cost.

So ... that with the other stars and premise attached seemed like a good business risk.

Seeming like a good business risk works.

Brown nosing gets you thinks like a discounts on contact lenses and some company letting you barrow a freeze dried rat to use as a prop in exchange for saying "freeze dried rat provided by"

the only other thing that will het you produced other than seeming like a good business risk is being somebodies vanity project ... which means that they think you are brilliant and they want the credit for debuting you.

I guess favors do come into play ... but would you give somebody 53 million dollars as a favor.

as for 501(c)(3) status ... that's non profit ... are you trying to raise 53 million for a film that its illegal for people to make their money back on?

there are 501(c)(3) films that get made, but unless you are getting money from an individual the kinds of foundations and institutes that give money to non-profits do so according to their mission statement -- i.e. making minority voices heard, promoting awareness about animal cruelty, etc. Of course brownosing won't hurt (unless its incensere) but can only put you over some other guy if you meet the requirements for that organization or grant.

A note on 501(c)(3) status -- don't do it unless you are really sure that's what you want. I produced non-profit theatre for 10 years without becoming a non profit ... now this was small potatoes stuff but there are tons of Umbrella organazations around such as Allied Arts that will allow you to use their 501(c)(3) status. In exchange they take 5 - 10% of small checks and 1-2% of really large checks.

Why is that better than being non-profit yourself ... to be a non profit you have to form a board that is invested in what you are doing. The purpose of a board for a non-profit is to steer the organization and make sure it stays true to its mission statement and that the funds are being used towards that end. In otherwords, they can fire you. Lots of theatre companies are started by some driven producing director who assembles a board of directors which then fires him or her somewhere down the road (usually with good reason).

Unlike a producer or a board, an umbrella organiztion doesn't care so much what you do on set or with the mission of your work. They may ask what your mission statement is but if you change your mind that's your perogative.
 
pto2212 said:
Jack Daniel Stanley, I see where you are going with your very helpful post. I fell bad though, because I should have should have mentioned that if I did seek out a 501(c)(3), I would do it through an Umbrella organization. But I also should have mentioned that I would NEVER seek out a non-profit status, because its too much work.

I simply asked because I wanted to know if the studios respond more to the non-profit status.

But thanks anyway! :dankk2:
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I don't think they would -- non-profit is the antithesis of studio. They are about making money -- unless they have some small division for tax breaks and public relations that gives to non profits, but I've never heard of that ... and I'm just guessing about what a studio would or wouldn't do based on what makes sense to me anyway.

goodluck :thumbsup:

jack
 
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I'm almost LOLing at this thread. Of course, knowing my luck, you'll ask the studios and they'll say yes.

I been around the studios for a while. They're an old breed. And while true, they will take a project with a guaranteed return (which, by the way, is impossible to prove), they will only take projects from larger production companies who back you in a series of pitches to many, many execs. If you manage to get a greenlight (which does not mean your movie will be made, it means the right person at the studio with contact to the trade papers said yes) then you'll be in business. Following a greenlight, you will go into a formal contract/deal memo which will specify who has what rights. If this is your first feature, then you will NOT get final cut or final casting rights, unless you are the son of god or something the like. It's doubtful you will even get to direct, unless you really play your cards right.

Then, you need to turn profit for not just the studio, but the production company in partnership.

And then the foreign market is a whole different ballgame, each market requiring cerfitication for pre-sale. If your product is owned by a studio, then they will generally handle all of that and reap the benefits.

Dukes of Hazard was taken to Warner Brothers by Village Roadshow productions. Often times the studios fix the cost of film production by doing things like excluding marketing, which cost an additional 40 million dollars worldwide for the dukes of hazard. Also remember that 50% or more of the box office goes to the theater chains. Not to mention back end points spent, possibly on actors, and if smart, the director took some back end. So 110 mil isn't that impressive, it probably didin't go into profit until DVD sales, which is why they opted to make Dukes of Hazard 2 a direct to DVD market.

I've been around this block a few times. If you think the studios will finance your indie creative idea, be prepared to be dissapointed. In this day and age most writer directors find independent financing, do a feature, shop that around for festivals and distribution, and if one of the lucky and talented ones, then land the attention of the studios. And even then, they won't get final cut on their first feature, without making many other sacrifices.
 
Zoostory, thanks for that.

I am indeed expecting "no"s from studios, but I would never even dream of thinking of expecting them to consider funding an entire movie.

I am a different "low-budget" kinda person. Im not no-budget, Im lower than that. Thats why I would ask for some petty cash. I figure this would make them feel "special" for promoting the arts, and allowing them to get their logo in the title sequence and in the credits. I might be dreaming, though.

Im trying to figure it out, though. I read "no-budget" websites, and they always say "You should be willing to pay 20000-25000 dollars to make it complete. If 20000 is no-budget, what it literally no-budget.

If I can get even the smallest amount of money from them, I'd buy a DVX, and a good mic, and make me a full feature (Ive already got Vegas and all that good stuff, and ive made countless dollies and lighting systems). Probably give them 5% of the profit for thanks, and then they would notice me. (BTW, im still dreaming.) Then I make another, send it to sundance, and make more.

Dreaming is like a WalMart in a small-town Quebec city. Magical and terrible at the same time.
 
The question you'de have to ask is: "why donate to you, when there are so many others in the same situation."

Film and Video making are not a charity, but an industry. Especially when you involve the studios. If all you want is a DV camera and a good mic, I suggest you do what we have all done... work for it or ask people you know for donations.

In the end, it is talent, hard work, and who you know (or get to know) that will help you. Asking the studios for a small charity donation is off course for beginning a successful filmmaking career.
 
here's a feature made for 10K shot on the DVX
http://www.sexmachinemovie.com/
if you want to see 3 shorts shot for $300 - $500 each visit my website French Quarter Features (link in my signature).
also none of these budgest include gear already owned ... include that and all of my shorts jump to 10K and the feature listed above would jump to 20K.


I just don't see how it can be done for less than $100 per minute (hence my $500 six minute films). And then a feature would be 9K- 10K. This is paying NO ONE. This covers feeding your crew, transportation, and some set, costume, and makeup items.
 
I have been sold a slightly used quality microphone for half-price from a rental house, I have been given filmmaking odds and ends like grip tape, black line, white/black cards etc. from productions where they wanted only new stuff for their crew...bought $200.00 lights for $50.00 each...I haven't pushed this to any limit, because I believe in making my own way and not asking for a lot of handouts. But sometimes a little help is needed and appreciated by up-and-comers

Get to know people in the business who can help you. Develop a rapport .

It's just people helping people, we're all people, and people appreciate a real person with a little talent who is trying to make it in the same business they they were working to make it in years before. Someone(s) helped them get to wherever they are, many established filmmakers enjoy returning the favor to someone they see in the same position they were in years before.

Somewhere out there are the next Frank Capras, or Steven Spielbergs, trying to make it along with the rest of us...they see this truth, and wouldn't it be nice if they were the ones who helped him make it!

If you will look at directories of filmmaking organizations around your area, (L.A. being one of the best in my opinion) and get to know some of these groups, you find that there are a lot of very creative and helpful people in them, find some way to "get in" (like, for instance, be a p.a.) and know them, and the rest should be easy for a truly creative person.

The whole world turns on personal contact, common reality and thus liking for one another, which leads to understanding. A good conversation may work much better than the best-tuned pitch. Good conversations often happen at parties...if the music isn't so idioticallty loud you can't hear anything...try to get invited to some!
 
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Hehe... why would a studio want to open themselves up to the legal quandry
and bad press if a 'director' they tossed a few grand, got someone killed or
went out and shot kiddie porn with the money.

Its not gonna happen... Get a credit card :)
 
Oh boy... thats a point, greggl. But I wouldnt do that. Ever.

No, I dont want to sound greedy. I keep thinking how that would be kinda unfair- getting money and others dont.

I guess I'm asking because I'm on my way to a gigantic farm in Quebec, Canada, where I have an entire 100 acres of farm house and fields and silos and barns, and cows, and I want to shoot something there.

The only problem is: all I have is a tripod and a PV-GS31 (cheapo cam, cost me 200$)
And I have no money to buy anything.
 
if you are going to charge something - let it be something that can make you money - a camera is the most logical choice. Believe me, putting yourself in a hole on a movie could take you over ten years to pay off. It's happened to many of my friends and they are still digging out. Kevin Smith is the exception, not the rule.
 
you can always find someone who is an aspiring editor (who will most likely have their own editing station) to cut your film afterwards. The most important thing to do is get it in the can. A great location, like this farm possibly, could do more for your production value than any money you could dish out. Good luck!
 
Yea, Im not using any credit cards or anything.

And I would buy a camera- its what I NEED. Honestly, if I were to inquire to a studio, and I got money, I'd buy a DVX100B. I wouldnt dream of using it for anything else. A PV-GS31 isnt going to do me any good, any time soon.
 
I guess I'm asking because I'm on my way to a gigantic farm in Quebec, Canada, where I have an entire 100 acres of farm house and fields and silos and barns, and cows, and I want to shoot something there.

The only problem is: all I have is a tripod and a PV-GS31 (cheapo cam, cost me 200$)
And I have no money to buy anything.
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Why not network? Link up with people here and through Craigslist. Email the script to them. Get them interested. Plenty of people that own a DVX who would love to get credit in a feature. Especially if they like the concept/script. :thumbup:
 
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