Paramount to start a "Micro-budget" division.

they are making 10x 100,000$ movies.

i get the point of only expecting one good hit to back up in ads, and they are secure.

with the quality of "big budget movies" in 2009, i don't think it would be a problem.

documentary still horror can be their last resort.
 
I just can't see how this will work for them. This is a whole new business model for a Hollywood studio, and just getting their minds wrapped around it is going to take some great effort. They are going to have to also pioneer alternative marketing AND alternative delivery, which I get is what they are talking about when they talk about building a community around Insurge.

What I can't see is the corporate mind coming to grips with how to do this. If the idea for the flicks that are developed are good, how are they going to stop from putting the corporate return on investment thinking, based on their standard business model, on them and start sinking tons of dough to make "Regular" movies out of them? I mean, sh*t, just getting a film out and prints for any kind of theatrical release is going to take more than $100,000, plus marketing.... There is a micro-budget filmmaking "Quantum Price Point", at which point you go from paying for nothing to having to pay for everything. I just wonder if Hollywood can beat this.
 
I read about this a while ago.
If they decide to make the movies themselves, they'll be ****ed. Insurance, lawsuits and unions etc etc.
If they fund independent filmmakers and let them make the movies themselves, using studio equipment and non union cast/crew, it's an amazing thing if they get it to work.

Think of all the people dying to get into the business - not just writers and directors, but actors and all types of crew members. This could really open a lot of doors for people and give them a chance to get into the union and start making regular budget movies.
If that's what'll happen this is great news.

Doc Bernard said:
LOL, I know a secret!
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Lemme guess. You see dead people?
 
It's an experiment, and a comparatively safe and inexpensive one. Even if it doesn't work out it offers the possibility of learning how to make it work down the road.
 
Sad Max said:
It's an experiment, and a comparatively safe and inexpensive one. Even if it doesn't work out it offers the possibility of learning how to make it work down the road.
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I hope so. I really hope they put out some killer movies.... something new and exciting... I just am a skeptic, I guess.
 
I seem to recall this as being old news. Perhaps it was a different studio. They were intending to use the micro budget devision as a "proving grounds" for people new to the studio system and they didn't even intend for it to make money... Perhaps I am mistaken.
 
Starshine Video said:
I seem to recall this as being old news. Perhaps it was a different studio. They were intending to use the micro budget devision as a "proving grounds" for people new to the studio system and they didn't even intend for it to make money... Perhaps I am mistaken.
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The jest of it: developement cost are sky high for a studio for big features, for $100k they can own all rights to your story with footage and have something on screen with a hopefull 1 in 5 year lottery winner like paranormal, most will not have much of a future, if the story is decent it will be looked at for a remake/rewrite on a large scale with name actors, again they own all rights, your out of the deal and they will not let you direct a $30M+ feature for your second movie but they will ask you to make them another $100k movie.

Is it good for indies, if you want $100K for a movie that you won't own rights or make a dime off of then yes (minus a very small producer/director fee, burger flipping money), some people just want to make a film and be used, it's perfect for them. If your story and movie is actually good you'd be a fool to give rights away, the vocabulary on the contract is to much for any first or second time indie to understand what's really going on and what's worse is the couple people they hired to promo this to all their indie friends, talk about being used. Reminds me of car dealerships that hire first time salesmen, they go out and sell all their friends cars then they fire them and restart the process.
 
Macphilia said:
Read Mark Stolaroff's insightful response to Paramount's concept HERE...
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‘give the guy a rope and now he thinks he’s a cowboy.’ is the uderstatement of the decade.

When your the most dissrespected exec in hollywood (who Spielberg & Snider kicked off their ship for that reason btw) and few top level people will deal with you anymore I guess you better start finding new talent/development somewhere.

Missed this link before I posted above but am now tempted to go more indepth.
 
ChipG said:
‘give the guy a rope and now he thinks he’s a cowboy.’ is the uderstatement of the decade.

When your the most dissrespected exec in hollywood (who Spielberg & Snider kicked off their ship for that reason btw) and few top level people will deal with you anymore I guess you better start finding new talent/development somewhere.
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I went to High School with that guy. He was a couple years ahead of me and was a big deal because he got a job on the set of Flatliners...Doesn't sound like this thing is gonna work at all but if it doesn't they'll only be out a million dollars, which for a studio is chump change.
 
Batutta said:
I went to High School with that guy. He was a couple years ahead of me and was a big deal because he got a job on the set of Flatliners...Doesn't sound like this thing is gonna work at all but if it doesn't they'll only be out a million dollars, which for a studio is chump change.
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You went to highschool with Adam?

My concern is not Paramount being out a few million dollars, it's indies who pore their heart and soles into a making a feature being used, not owning rights etc.
 
ChipG said:
Is it good for indies, if you want $100K for a movie that you won't own rights or make a dime off of then yes (minus a very small producer/director fee, burger flipping money), some people just want to make a film and be used, it's perfect for them. If your story and movie is actually good you'd be a fool to give rights away, the vocabulary on the contract is to much for any first or second time indie to understand what's really going on and what's worse is the couple people they hired to promo this to all their indie friends, talk about being used.
Click to expand...

so what exactly does the filmmaker get?
 
ChipG said:
You went to highschool with Adam?

My concern is not Paramount being out a few million dollars, it's indies who pore their heart and soles into a making a feature being used, not owning rights etc.
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Yeah, Adam...but I didn't know him all that well, just in passing...My issue with the whole micro budget approach is that in general you get what you pay for. The people who get paid to do their jobs get paid because they do their jobs well. Pay less or nothing and you get less, or nothing. Yes, there are always exceptions, but they are exactly that, exceptions and not the norm. For every Paranormal Activity there are thousands that didn't make it, and making thousands of films for one hit movie doesn't sound like much of a business plan.
 
Yea, Viacom shareholders are nervous.

There is a reason why Vantage was shut down, IT LOST IT'S ASS and had oscar winning film makers, Brad Pitt and other famous actors in it's low budget movies.
 
ChipG said:
The jest of it: developement cost are sky high for a studio for big features, for $100k they can own all rights to your story with footage and have something on screen with a hopefull 1 in 5 year lottery winner like paranormal, most will not have much of a future, if the story is decent it will be looked at for a remake/rewrite on a large scale with name actors, again they own all rights, your out of the deal and they will not let you direct a $30M+ feature for your second movie but they will ask you to make them another $100k movie.

Is it good for indies, if you want $100K for a movie that you won't own rights or make a dime off of then yes (minus a very small producer/director fee, burger flipping money), some people just want to make a film and be used, it's perfect for them. If your story and movie is actually good you'd be a fool to give rights away, the vocabulary on the contract is to much for any first or second time indie to understand what's really going on and what's worse is the couple people they hired to promo this to all their indie friends, talk about being used. Reminds me of car dealerships that hire first time salesmen, they go out and sell all their friends cars then they fire them and restart the process.
Click to expand...
Come on. It's a great opportunity if you get it.

Sure you don't get to keep the rights. It's not your risk.
The filmmaker doesn't have to put in all his possessions into a project, but he still gets a shot at making a movie.

That's the nature of being a writer / director but not a producer. You want to produce your own 100k film, go ahead. Hey - I'm doing it as we speak!
But I'm also putting everything I have on the line, including my future career and financial security. If I don't make any money back from MARIANNE, I need to get a good paying job fast to pay back all the loans.
It's a huge risk, that anyone who gets a chance to make one of these films doesn't have to take.

I'd love some flippin burger money right about now.

ChipG said:
'they will not let you direct a $30M+ feature for your second movie but they will ask you to make them another $100k movie.
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What exactly do you base this on?
 
JavaExMachina said:
Come on. It's a great opportunity if you get it.

Sure you don't get to keep the rights. It's not your risk.
The filmmaker doesn't have to put in all his possessions into a project, but he still gets a shot at making a movie.

That's the nature of being a writer / director but not a producer. You want to produce your own 100k film, go ahead. Hey - I'm doing it as we speak!
But I'm also putting everything I have on the line, including my future career and financial security. If I don't make any money back from MARIANNE, I need to get a good paying job fast to pay back all the loans.
It's a huge risk, that anyone who gets a chance to make one of these films doesn't have to take.

I'd love some flippin burger money right about now.


What exactly do you base this on?
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I just want you guys to know the jest and value of it for what it is and make your own educated decisions, that's all. I'd hate to see someone like Faith Grainger - Deuce of Spades thread get woo'd by a major studio and give up rights for something good for $100K.
 
ChipG said:
I just want you guys to know the jest and value of it for what it is and make your own educated decisions, that's all. I'd hate to see someone like Faith Grainger - Deuce of Spades thread get woo'd by a major studio and give up rights for something good for $100K.
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But it's not about "giving up" the rights though, is it?

If you don't produce it or finance it, the rights are not yours to give up.
 
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