Corrado Part II

Adam, what would be the LEAST amount of money you would be satisfied with in terms of advance or money from a distributor on this Corrado project?

.....and what would be the most amount of money that you feel is realistic?
 
pekar1876 said:
I think it will do the job but would like to have seen a more creative poster maybe with a few more faces.

Was the marketing expenses set at a certain figure in your contract?

and are they recouped by Shoreline before any payments are made to you?

Which markets are they taking the film to? I'm in Cannes this year and I hope it's there.
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Yes, marketing expenses are fixed for the life of the contract and cannot be exceeded without my approval. Of course these are recouped before any profits, but this isn't too big of an expense.

The film is going to ALL the major film markets.
 
FilmBoy77 said:
Adam, what would be the LEAST amount of money you would be satisfied with in terms of advance or money from a distributor on this Corrado project?

.....and what would be the most amount of money that you feel is realistic?
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I tend not to think of it in terms of advances, rather, gross payments. Least amount satisfied? Break even. Most amount of money realistically? High six figures.

The economy has changed so much since I initiated this project that it's tough to predict where the final numbers will lie, but even so, just the benefit of having completed a film and got it out into the world has a ton of merit for my career.
 
what are some of the differences you notice now that you have completed a film with name actors and a modest low budget?
 
FilmBoy77 said:
what are some of the differences you notice now that you have completed a film with name actors and a modest low budget?
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I assume you mean what are the differences professionally.

There are quite a few, actually.

First, I've got a set of contacts that have become associates. I can phone them and chat about my next movie with regards to casting, distribution, post production, whatever.

The biggest change is I'm no longer an aspiring filmmaker and I'm treated as such. I've got a team of people working on the budget and schedule for Red Ruination Blue, and no one is skeptical that the film will be made. When I talk to my team and my associates, I'm treated as a doer, not a talker, and I'm given more respect.

I remember in the beginning of this process I was always having to prove myself and answer questions relating to my experience. Now all of that is gone. I've been introduced in public by associates as a director, and it's no longer theoretical.

Yesterday I was offered to direct another feature, where I would come on board solely as a director, for pay. We'll see what that looks like as soon as i read the script.

So yeah, everything has changed.

Making subsequent films will still be a challenge, but at least the skepticism will be removed from the equation.
 
yea that is pretty cool then. it seems you've earned the title as Director at this point by going through the real deal. didn't you say in the old thread Seizmore's agent or some agent had read your Corrado script and mentioned representing you or something? what is your take on getting an agent at this point that will look for directing gigs for you?
 
FilmBoy77 said:
yea that is pretty cool then. it seems you've earned the title as Director at this point by going through the real deal. didn't you say in the old thread Seizmore's agent or some agent had read your Corrado script and mentioned representing you or something? what is your take on getting an agent at this point that will look for directing gigs for you?
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yeah, i'd be curious to hear your thoughts on representation as well. but i've had agents and managers that saw IFHY and the Heart of Now trailer who want to rep me including Emile Gladstone at ICM. I've taken meetings and have declined to sign with anyone so far, but can't say its more than a gut feeling that I don't need them while i'm building the Zak Forsman and Sabi Pictures brand.
 
Zak Forsman said:
yeah, i'd be curious to hear your thoughts on representation as well. but i've had agents and managers that saw IFHY and the Heart of Now trailer who want to rep me including Emile Gladstone at ICM. I've taken meetings and have declined to sign with anyone so far, but can't say its more than a gut feeling that I don't need them while i'm building the Zak Forsman and Sabi Pictures brand.
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Well I was signed by Pantheon close to a year ago. They did the odd favor for me here and there, but that was about it. The original agent who repped me moved to South Korea to head up an asian production division, and for about six months, I was repped by the owner of the agency.

About one month ago, I called it off. They just weren't doing anything significant for me - but paradoxically, I told them I only wanted to do my own stuff so there it was. I actually found myself doing more favors for them as far as helping their people get places and I looked at the whole arrangement and said 'wait a minute'.

It was amicable and mutual. I could have them back whenever I need them. I have also had several opportunities to sign with other agents.

Here's the thing, though: If you do your own stuff you really don't need an agent. When you start doing larger movies, it's handy to have one of the big agencies (CAA, William Morris, ICM, etc) rep you because this greatly facilitates you packaging your deals. You have access to a much greater talent pool (basically anyone witin your agency) than you normally would plus the instant endorsement of being with that large group.

To sum it up:

At this level - agent not required. At a higher level - agent not necessarily required but helpful and expected by others.

Zak - In your case, there's not reason not to sign with ICM. None. You could literally be there for life. The counterpoint to this is that if you sign at ICM now, and don't produce a return for them they'll give you about six months before they turn YOU loose.

I've heard this a lot with the big five agencies. Easy to get signed while your on a winning streak, playing at fests, getting buzz....the second you're down they axe you.

Signing with them is not something to be taken lightly. You must deliver.
 
hehe, wow! talk about a red band trailer! actually, that even exceeds what the mpaa allows in a red band. so this must be a sales reel, right? don't think shoreline paid out the $20K+ to license that music cue. I used to be friends with one of the guys in Filter. back in the day. and the song is about a pennsylvania politician that shot himself on TV. bud dwyer. the local news kept replaying it. over and over and the image of blood pouring out of his face is burned into my psyche. his niece was in most of my classes in high school.
 
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hehe. sorry, i've got several ties to that song. i grew up in PA and will never forget having my cartoons interrupted with a live suicide. the blood just kept pouring out of his face like water.
 
Zak Forsman said:
hehe, wow! talk about a red band trailer! actually, that even exceeds what the mpaa allows in a red band. so this must be a sales reel, right? don't think shoreline paid out the $20K+ to license that music cue. I used to be friends with one of the guys in Filter. back in the day. and the song is about a pennsylvania politician that shot himself on TV. bud dwyer. the local news kept replaying it. over and over and the image of blood pouring out of his face is burned into my psyche. his niece was in most of my classes in high school.
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You guys know more than me at this stage. It looks okay to me. I know nothing about the song, either.

It's their baby!
 
The creepiest part of Bud Dwyer was he finished his speech and casually pulled the gun from a paper sack like he was pulling out a bag of skittles or a ding dong. And everyone in the room gasped and kinda went, "Is that real"? And then when he put it to his head and pulled the trigger he answered their question.
 
a guy in a beard went for the gun and Bud quickly stepped back and jammed the barrel in his mouth. Then obliterated the inside of his skull.
 
Wow, that footage looks pretty damn good. Your going to have to degrade it to make it look more like a gangster movie but very few people have a quality source like that to start with. Kudos. It's nice you have that option.

I also watched it without the audio a couple times and it held my attention.
 
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jls4 said:
wooow. I like that trailer! :) Can't wait to see it - lots of blood and guts. LOL
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Well they basically used every action clip in the whole damn movie! Don't bother watching it, the rest is all talk, lol!:grin:

Actually, there's still some stuff left....
 
You're probably not allowed to answers this, but I think you said you called Sizemore's agent and had HIM name a day rate...is that correct? I was wondering what kind of day rate that was? I was curious what an actor like him made...

If you're not allowed to answer that, what kind of % of your budget were guys like him and Messner taking up on your budget? Was it over half?

Thanks,
Tommy
 
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