"Corrado" - A production blog

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Adam,

So glad you're back! This thread has been a gem in the DVX catalog.

It makes perfect sense why you had to withdraw. You had to be in the 'zone'. I know, before you go into a meeting, you need your coach or mentor giving you all the positive advice and encouragement so that you take that confidence with you.

Good job! Looking forward to the next installment. :)
 
Adam,

Glad to see you here again. I hope the meeting was a great success! Looking forward to hearing about it.

Sam.
 
So I keep calling the thing a trailer but it really was a demo. My contacts at Millennium asked me to bring in some demo footage - a thumbnail of the movie as it were to show them what I was up to.

Basically, you can read between the lines - if you bring them a demo that sucks, you're meeting days are over. Would they look at a snazzy trailer if they think the demo sucked? Probably not. So it's the same old "one chance" stuff.

And it's further compounded by the fact that they have already told me, and I have already told you, they aren't buying it in house. These two development execs have a deal with the ownership - they can run with anything that Millennium can't take - and take it to Millennium's strategic partners and get it sold while still using the clout and prestige that Millennium has built over the years.

So then these two will take the footage directly to the executives of other distrib companies. Do they want to lose face? Hell no.

It's okay to fudge what you thought about some demo footage, buy it in house, and then answer questions from your boss like "you bought this piece of ****?" It's quite another to take the aforementioned piece of **** to all the distributors in Hollywood and look like an ass everywhere you go.

By their own admission, they don't do this very often - this taking movies on a dog and pony show. So it had to be killer so they wouldn't be embarrassed, and ruin their chances of doing it again.

So back to the demo: What did I do? I listened to all the advice. I listened to my DP who sent several pages on guidelines and his ideas.

And I rejected it all.

I submitted more or less what I showed you guys with a few changes:
1. Corrected the color to the best of my capabilities.
2. Tweaked the sound to make it listenable.
3. Removed the titles. I figured "what the hell" these aren't really part of my vision, it's not like they are going to make their way into the final film anyways.
5. In the areas where the titles where, I added a few more clips of LAX, a couple more clips of Johnny.

It's about the same length: 3:02. and more or less the same as what was seen here..color a little nicer...sound a litle nicer.

And I put a great big disclaimer up in the beginning of the DVD : ROUGH DEMO, TEMP SOUND, NO COLOR CORRECTION.

More to follow.
 
I think you did the right thing too. We can all learn from each other.

It's generous of you to write in such detail of all that happened before, during and after your production. If you continue we'll all learn a lot about distribution as well.

Of course, as I told you before, it's seldom that any indie filmmaker gets a distribution deal (or has an assurance that the film will be picked up) before the movie has been shot and evaluated. So you're very lucky in that regard.

Nevertheless, there's still the amount of advance that you'll be getting. That's of the most interest to me. Here I wish you the best of luck. Your future as a producer will depend on how well you do here. You could be set for a long time if you get your investors money back plus something for yourself as producer, director, writer, editor -- all around filmmaker.

It's very encouraging to see you do so well on your first feature.

Since I've not seen any footage yet, I can't comment on the movie you've shot. However, if there is some advice I can give you to help you, I will do it. It's my approach to criticism that if I can't help, I don't comment negatively. What would be the purpose of my doing so.

I think you did the right thing also to show your movie in rough cut to your distributor. Sometimes when a distributor is invited to give feedback will be more engaged and feel that he's been included in the process, because marketing a commercial movie begins with some of the content that will make or break a picture. Genre pictures by definition (especially action movies) are not pure art.

I'm appreciative of the opportunity to learn about your distribution strategies, as I've learned so much from you about dealing with agents :-) Good luck, Adam. Go kill 'em ... or break a leg, which ever you prefer.
 
So there I am at 5:45 sharp. They are in the conference room. After a few pleasantries, they take the DVD and put it in the player. While she's figuring out how to start it up - I look at the screen. Great - a projector with a 7' screen. Oh my gosh I hope this is going to hold up.

The lights go down, the music starts to roll. We see young Corrado's family gunned down. We see Johnny shoot the old man. We see Tom scream. Then scream some more. You guys know the rest.

The lights came back on. It became clear that we were only going to watch it ...once.

They knew I had produced and written - not sure if I told them I was directing as well.

Distrib: "Who directed this?"

Come on, Adam, you still have a chance to deny everything!!!!!
Me: "I did. I wrote, produced, and directed this."

Distrib: "Well I can tell you obviously have talent"

They then proceeded to tell me that they thought the film had amazing production value for the budget. They loved the gunfire, the muzzle flashes, they loved the fact that we filmed at LAX - they were even like - "Is that LAX?????"

They liked the shots, the story (even though they had already read the script previously). They especially liked Tom's performance and commended me on extracting that from him as a director. I started to mention that I had done no such thing but though the better of it.

They told me the movie would sell easily. They told me the clips I showed interested them very much, and that the final product could only get better.

They want a one sheet made up, and a final, smoking, kick ass trailer to show. I asked when we could go on our tour. Answer?

"We can go the second you are done your smoking trailer. Be prepared, we'll have meetings at 7-15 distribution companies and will get a deal done"

Wooooow. Talk about motivated.

The topic then turned to "what else I have in the works"

I told them I'm working on a film called Hangar 14 (no, I've never given you the title formally - here it is). They asked me to give them the pitch, and I did. They were like - wow- I've never heard that hook before. What's the budget? $5M says I.

Then they asked me to let them find the money. I said I had my own private money, but they mentioned that they had a whole bunch of investors that would painlessly fund this thing for cheaper than I could get it. I could be in production in 30 days if I had all my ducks in a row (i.e. attachments).

Me: Creative control?"

Them: That's not our thing. We'll leave it to you.

Me: Great!

They said they wanted me back for a meeting as soon as my attachments were in place and that I would sit before a panel of their investors and repitch my idea. They're far more stoked over Hangar 14 than Corrado since it represents a chance for them to make the money they are used to making. And Corrado's footage impressed upon them that I can deliver the goods. And they will make Corrado go away so they can get their hands on Hangar 14...a win win situation.

So to say the meeting went well is a bit of an understatement. They were impressed with my drive and focus.

One of them had an interesting comment: "You want to make these strategic alliances now, early on, because right now you need $5 million, but the next movie you might need $20 million."

I had never thought about it that way.
 
Wow.
I'm glad to hear the meeting went so well.

'Congratulations' seems like an understatement, but I'm at a lack of what else to say.
:)
 
First Adam, just wanted to say I'm glad to see you back. Second I'm glad you stuck to your guns and did what you had to do. Sounds like it was a rather lucrative decision to say the least. Thanks for keeping us posted on the developments - very much appreciated! Keep up the good work and good luck on the rest of this!
 
Okay now I am trying to be as magnanimous as I can here, but I still want to put it out there.

To all who hated the demo - it's okay - I respect your opinion which you most certainly have the right to. I can handle criticism. There are no hard feelings.

What I cannot tolerate is the old "I could've done better than that" thinking. Think it privately if you must- but let me tell you a little anecdote first:

Almighty God and a Scientist were walking down the beach one day. The scientist says to God - You know, we can create life from dirt as well now. Really, says God? You can create a living, breathing, organism from dirt just as I did? Yes, says the scientist....it's like this...he proceeds to scoop up a handful of sand and puts it into a beaker....see, we just put the sand into this beaker and......Wait a minute, says God. What? says the scientist....God speaks up: Go make your own dirt first!


The moral of this story is that anyone can duplicate or even better your work if they ride upon your infrastructure.

I'm sure that If I had given some of you my cameras, my equipment, my $300K, and my actors, that you would have made a better film than I.

But therein lies the rub...getting to the point of even making the film is very, very difficult. You don't have the dirt, as it were. Oh, your swing might be better than mine, but you've got to get drafted into the majors FIRST for you to prove it.

I know these metaphors don't quite fit, but you can understand what I am saying, I think.

The people who wanted to write the check liked the footage. That's all that matters. I stuck with my vision and it worked. Period. Can you do better? Then go ahead and do it - write back when you've accomplished it.

And I'll leave the dead horse where she lies.
 
Oh and one more thing - as very special thank you to all those that phoned, e-mailed and PM'd your support. You know who you are...more importantly, I know who you are, and your support is not forgotten.
 
WOW! i'm glad the meeting went so well!!!! I am very happy for you (and slighly envious haha). I hope everything turns out well! And I really hope that one day I can reach the same spot as you.
 
Smokin' !!!! This whole thread arc is very cinematic! I'm going to go get some more popcorn and can't wait for this show's third act!!!!
 
Alright, Fat Monsters. Where you at?

Do what you do, Adam. Distribution sounds like it's right around the corner.
 
I liked the way you played that. You didn't ask them for the money for the new movie.

BTW when are you getting some money back for Corrado?
 
filmman said:
I liked the way you played that. You didn't ask them for the money for the new movie.

BTW when are you getting some money back for Corrado?
Click to expand...

It goes like this:

Finish post audio / color
Cut smokin' trailer
Go on Dog / Pony show
Make Deal
Get money

In that order. Timewise - think 30ish days. Sooner if Post audio / color is done quicker.

I want to get it sold yesterday, but there is no financial pressure - my lenders are content to sit and wait for top dollar. I'm in no hurry to repay it.
 
I appreciate the reply. It's a very great thing you're doing. It should be this way. Although it rarely is.
 
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