Project Greenlight [Ongoing Discussion]
- Thread starter Kabz
- Start date
I totally agree...actually I jsut got done watching it and I got on to post on the same subject.
That guy they have as the director has to be the worse director in the world. I couldn't help but just laugh at him through the whole thing. First off, the guy just creeps me out...he never talks (I don't even think he knows how the movie should look)...the script is jsut stupid (not his fault)...and so on
I can't believe he waited days to call that exec to discuss the budget...I mean you are given an opportunity and his is doing just about everything to **** it up.
It pisses me off so bad....I seriously hope he gets canned...which he might judging by next weeks previews...
That guy they have as the director has to be the worse director in the world. I couldn't help but just laugh at him through the whole thing. First off, the guy just creeps me out...he never talks (I don't even think he knows how the movie should look)...the script is jsut stupid (not his fault)...and so on
I can't believe he waited days to call that exec to discuss the budget...I mean you are given an opportunity and his is doing just about everything to **** it up.
It pisses me off so bad....I seriously hope he gets canned...which he might judging by next weeks previews...
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
I'm on the West Coast; I have to wait. But I watched EPISODE 1 and I'm hooked; I skipped Season 2 but this whole Making a Horror film scenario is great.
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Chris Moore seems like he might be the biggest asshole on the planet. Just a thought.
Bigmagic
Well-known member
I don't know him but Gulagers family was acting long before Damon or Afleck. I think the show edits to create some conflict to maintain interest and I think Chris is great for that. I refuse to be led to the conclusions that seem a little too obvious. I am trying to learn something and so far I have learned I don't want a casting director. Was she playing for some face time or what? Turns out the Clulagers raised 35,000 and directed a short call (#$%&ing) Tulsa. I think it was a horror/slaser short(20 minutes). I wouldn't give up on him quite yet and I hope he's not fired. Damon was the only one who really wanted him to direct the film anyway. Does anyone else watch the HBO series Deadwood I love the camera work in that one.
KOVAROVA
Veteran
one of the most interesting things tonight is how much the studio slashed the budget by. i think the producers have it harder than anyone in this. Gulager was so stoked to get his 3k paycheck... hopefully he can stick around for a couple more before they fire him. the IMDB has him credited as director and says that the film is currently in PP. hats off to him if he made it that far.
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
I'm pulling for this John Gullager guy; I am a little trippin on hin wanting to cast the ENTIRE family; but having his DAD is a smart choice (Return of the LIving Dead anyone?) and his Brother seemed to have put on a good audition.
Joh nis quiet and not outspoken; but let the artist do his thing; when they ask me "John, whats your vision?" I'm gonna say "Get me a ****ing script thats complete and Ill tell you."
I think the Monsters should have Nosferatu Vibe going; oh wait; thats my horror story.
I doubt he's fired; its reality drama. But damn do these people sit around and moan and *****; too funny. Id be like "Can we actually get to work?"
Joh nis quiet and not outspoken; but let the artist do his thing; when they ask me "John, whats your vision?" I'm gonna say "Get me a ****ing script thats complete and Ill tell you."
I think the Monsters should have Nosferatu Vibe going; oh wait; thats my horror story.
I doubt he's fired; its reality drama. But damn do these people sit around and moan and *****; too funny. Id be like "Can we actually get to work?"
KOVAROVA said:
I was about to say.
Somehow he got through the movie.
Maybe he struggled through Pre Production, but during filming the movie, he came alive.
I saw his work, and I must admit it is very impressive, but its just that he as a person cannot communicate.
He wants it to be his little thing, and doesn't care to work with others.
Thus he casts his family and friends.....he is also planning to murder the Casting Director.
That said, I think much of this has to do with him making the most he can out of his big break, and give back to his family and friends.
He's very traditional, and having a family background with your parents as old time actors, its understandable that he wants to bring in that throwback quality and pay homage to their past I assume.
KOVAROVA
Veteran
i don't think that the drama of the show would be as high if they had picked one of the other directors. could it be that the Bravo producers had some say in this choice? Gullager is too much of a character and when you throw his family into the mix it should get even more interesting. that said, i think his short was best of the finalists. rules and reality bend so much nowadays with TV i wonder if we are seeing a tv fix again or was the selection process an honest one?
Bigmagic
Well-known member
He has a talented family and its his chance to show them off, I think the studio execs just want to be reassured about his ability and I don't think if he stood on his head and whistled dixie out his arse that they would be content. They chose a script that none of them liked and had a director jammed down there throat(by Damon). Let the guy make the movie whoever he casts will probably be dead in five minutes in the film anyway. Damon was right the guy has some talent with a camera in his hands. His communication skills are lacking but the guy was picked and they should go with it. They want "his vision" of something the scriptwriters are having to change every five minutes. The guy knows his faults and embraces them which is actually kind of cool.
thartley
Veteran
I am glad some of you are watching this. I personally like Gulager alot, but I prob wouldnt want to work with him. He seems like he would be the kind of person that will get things worked out in his own mind, but not be able to incorporate a lot of other people in on the thought process. His family likely knows this part of him and they all know how to work together. I say, put the whole family in there and let him run with it. Of course, its not my money he's running with, either. 
But I am pulling for him.
But I am pulling for him.
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
What mesmerizes me about this show is that it's:
"Submit your Screenplay and/or Reel and we'll PRoduce your movie!"
In the meantime; each season is a showcase on how to make the writers and/or directors look like assholes or incompetent buffoons. We get treated to a bunch of Hollywood Professionals bitching and moaning about how hard it is and how their mad about this and that and blah blah blah.
I love it.
"Submit your Screenplay and/or Reel and we'll PRoduce your movie!"
In the meantime; each season is a showcase on how to make the writers and/or directors look like assholes or incompetent buffoons. We get treated to a bunch of Hollywood Professionals bitching and moaning about how hard it is and how their mad about this and that and blah blah blah.
I love it.
Well I have never seen Greenlight before, but I just watched the first two episodes thanks to the wonders of my DVR. I am really disappointed.
It is clear that this production is nothing but a clusterfkkk.
They picked a script that everyone agrees sucks and can't be done for even 1/20th of their budget if it was ready to be produced. From what I saw in Episode 1, I thought the timetravel comedy sounded most interesting, and most likely to actually break out to mainstream. Comments like "I laughed out loud while reading the script" tell the story. It would also have been cheap, not requiring much in terms of animation or special effects. But the studio got cornered with the final three, and a committee chose a "cut your losses" script because they are more worried about making a mistake than actually winning. Note that DImension showed up with their decision made, so we didn;t get to see the one decision maker and the group of "yes men". The rul ein any meeting is to have more people than the other team. If those guys were at the poker table, they would never bet and would just be ante'd to death, collecting their salaries for a while longer while minimizing risk of going bust. And the studio committee stuffed the choice down the throats of everyone else. Even Wes Craven was worried about having his name on the resulting debacle.
They chose a director who has no vision of the project. He was completely ridiculous in his interview. It may be that his sample tape was the best, but no one knows how many hours he took to produce it, and how much of the result was his family vs. him. It may be that his dad or brother or wife should be the director. He is asocial, having no clue how to work with anyone or even have a conversation. He sees himself as a clown and has probably gotten by thru being "easygoing". But he has never finished anything he started and can't even support himself at age 42. I bet he entered the contest with no hope of winning, and the TV show people pushed him forward in the process (42, family of actors, yada yada). Trying to target my demographic for viewers.
It's not that he can't articulate his vision, the truth is he has no vision. Both other directing candidates were better. One got rejected because the studio suits "did not want to produce a comedy". Well farce (campy) may have been the only way to save a bad, underbudgeted script. The other director clearly had a vision, was excited about it, could articulate it well, and should have been the choice if they were "not going to do a comedy". But because the studio forced the script issue, they had to bend on the director issue to Affleck and Damon. I wonder how that off-camera discussion went? "Look guys, Greenlight is ours and we gave you the script choice, so...". Egos took over. This is also part of a typical committee approach. By allowing the "other guys" to effectively pick the director, they have positioned themselves to hide behind that later when the project blows up. I spent too many years in the corporate world for this nonsense to fool me at all.
Episode 2 confirmed everything I saw in episode 1. The director is clearly ineffective in so many ways that it seems impossible that they will allow this to continue. The preview of next week hints at him getting fired, but I doubt they will act that fast. Something else will happen, like he will yield on his family in all the roles, then whine about it for the rest of the production.
I hate the way reality shows are cast. This series seems to have taken a page from "The Apprentice" where they cast the biggest fkkups and everyone gets to watch them implode. I don't understand why this helps ratings, because it is just painful and stupid to me. It is why I quit watching the Apprentice. But evidently people like to see it, because they feel better by thinking "I could do a better job than that guy". Well, I could.
Just because of my interest in moviemaking, I will probably give this series a few more weeks. I may even go rent series one or two, and hope that they were better. I hope they make enough off TV revenues and DVD sales to keep the concept alive. But they should quit pretending they are trying to really make movies. Lets just call it "Project how to waste a million dollars on a movie by making a bunch of really stupid decisions".
Sorry if I got off on a rant. (delete word "if").
It is clear that this production is nothing but a clusterfkkk.
They picked a script that everyone agrees sucks and can't be done for even 1/20th of their budget if it was ready to be produced. From what I saw in Episode 1, I thought the timetravel comedy sounded most interesting, and most likely to actually break out to mainstream. Comments like "I laughed out loud while reading the script" tell the story. It would also have been cheap, not requiring much in terms of animation or special effects. But the studio got cornered with the final three, and a committee chose a "cut your losses" script because they are more worried about making a mistake than actually winning. Note that DImension showed up with their decision made, so we didn;t get to see the one decision maker and the group of "yes men". The rul ein any meeting is to have more people than the other team. If those guys were at the poker table, they would never bet and would just be ante'd to death, collecting their salaries for a while longer while minimizing risk of going bust. And the studio committee stuffed the choice down the throats of everyone else. Even Wes Craven was worried about having his name on the resulting debacle.
They chose a director who has no vision of the project. He was completely ridiculous in his interview. It may be that his sample tape was the best, but no one knows how many hours he took to produce it, and how much of the result was his family vs. him. It may be that his dad or brother or wife should be the director. He is asocial, having no clue how to work with anyone or even have a conversation. He sees himself as a clown and has probably gotten by thru being "easygoing". But he has never finished anything he started and can't even support himself at age 42. I bet he entered the contest with no hope of winning, and the TV show people pushed him forward in the process (42, family of actors, yada yada). Trying to target my demographic for viewers.
It's not that he can't articulate his vision, the truth is he has no vision. Both other directing candidates were better. One got rejected because the studio suits "did not want to produce a comedy". Well farce (campy) may have been the only way to save a bad, underbudgeted script. The other director clearly had a vision, was excited about it, could articulate it well, and should have been the choice if they were "not going to do a comedy". But because the studio forced the script issue, they had to bend on the director issue to Affleck and Damon. I wonder how that off-camera discussion went? "Look guys, Greenlight is ours and we gave you the script choice, so...". Egos took over. This is also part of a typical committee approach. By allowing the "other guys" to effectively pick the director, they have positioned themselves to hide behind that later when the project blows up. I spent too many years in the corporate world for this nonsense to fool me at all.
Episode 2 confirmed everything I saw in episode 1. The director is clearly ineffective in so many ways that it seems impossible that they will allow this to continue. The preview of next week hints at him getting fired, but I doubt they will act that fast. Something else will happen, like he will yield on his family in all the roles, then whine about it for the rest of the production.
I hate the way reality shows are cast. This series seems to have taken a page from "The Apprentice" where they cast the biggest fkkups and everyone gets to watch them implode. I don't understand why this helps ratings, because it is just painful and stupid to me. It is why I quit watching the Apprentice. But evidently people like to see it, because they feel better by thinking "I could do a better job than that guy". Well, I could.
Just because of my interest in moviemaking, I will probably give this series a few more weeks. I may even go rent series one or two, and hope that they were better. I hope they make enough off TV revenues and DVD sales to keep the concept alive. But they should quit pretending they are trying to really make movies. Lets just call it "Project how to waste a million dollars on a movie by making a bunch of really stupid decisions".
Sorry if I got off on a rant. (delete word "if").
Bigmagic
Well-known member
Well what actually happens is he finishes the movie. His father and wife get roles in the movie. As for the other two scripts Wes Craven bought "Wildcards" and the other one was purchased also. So the "winner" may have finished third. I don't agree with your contention that Gulager never finishes anything he's a wedding videographer by trade and he has been a DP/editor/musician(he wrote the score) on the short I mentioned earlier.
John you bring up an interesting point, do they believe the audience is so shallow that we have to have the mud slung around like that. It shows a disdain for the people that watch. They left us with the impression that Gulager would be fired but clearly that doesn't happen(movie is in post and he's listed as director). I do find it somewhat offensive that they feel the need to leave us hanging like some daytime soap opera. Overall I can see why a certain ten minute film school director has had enough of Hollywood.
It was funny when the "casting director" was appalled that John would embarrass her publicly(she was going behind his back dissing him) and called it "unprofessional". No matter who you root for or why you watch it does provide an interesting look at the process. This is the first of the Greenlight movies that I actually may buy. I'll be watching for the other two(Wildcards & ...Time Travel) as well. Thanks for your time.
John you bring up an interesting point, do they believe the audience is so shallow that we have to have the mud slung around like that. It shows a disdain for the people that watch. They left us with the impression that Gulager would be fired but clearly that doesn't happen(movie is in post and he's listed as director). I do find it somewhat offensive that they feel the need to leave us hanging like some daytime soap opera. Overall I can see why a certain ten minute film school director has had enough of Hollywood.
It was funny when the "casting director" was appalled that John would embarrass her publicly(she was going behind his back dissing him) and called it "unprofessional". No matter who you root for or why you watch it does provide an interesting look at the process. This is the first of the Greenlight movies that I actually may buy. I'll be watching for the other two(Wildcards & ...Time Travel) as well. Thanks for your time.
I thought Gulager said when talking about his previous movies that he and his dad did not finish "^&*^*& Tulsa". But he was only DP, so not really responsible for calling it finished anyway. I guess I will have to record another rerun to verify that my ears were working. And finishing a wedding video does not qualify in my opinion as "finishing something".
And as far as him being listed (where?) as director, all good reality shows know that they have to be consistent with their news releases, so it is possible that they will "update" their public listing of him as director when/if he actually gets fired. Please don't burst my bubble, if I think I have to watch 11 more weeks of him bumbling, I will probably delete this show from my recording schedule.
As to the casting director, clearly she feels that public attacks are not okay, but private ones are. I sort of agree with her. I think she is mostly voicing concerns and frustration, and she was doing it to the right person (producer if I remember). If Gulager was a better leader she would feel safe enough to talk to him directly about it, but clearly he does not like even the slightest conflict or disagreement with his opinions. I bet he is a middle child. And as "the boss" it is totally inappropriate for him to criticize/challenge people in public as he did.
I will be watching for Time Travel, and I am glad they both got picked up. Sounds like Wes Craven has protected his rep, especially if Wildcards is successful. Maybe next season, the three top guys (Craven, Damon, & Affleck) should each pick one and see who "wins" among them. In fact, I would like to see George and Caroline from the Apprentice be the real comeptitors, each picking one team to mentor. That would get me watching the show again, and we could all learn something from watching experts instead of nitwits.
And as far as him being listed (where?) as director, all good reality shows know that they have to be consistent with their news releases, so it is possible that they will "update" their public listing of him as director when/if he actually gets fired. Please don't burst my bubble, if I think I have to watch 11 more weeks of him bumbling, I will probably delete this show from my recording schedule.
As to the casting director, clearly she feels that public attacks are not okay, but private ones are. I sort of agree with her. I think she is mostly voicing concerns and frustration, and she was doing it to the right person (producer if I remember). If Gulager was a better leader she would feel safe enough to talk to him directly about it, but clearly he does not like even the slightest conflict or disagreement with his opinions. I bet he is a middle child. And as "the boss" it is totally inappropriate for him to criticize/challenge people in public as he did.
I will be watching for Time Travel, and I am glad they both got picked up. Sounds like Wes Craven has protected his rep, especially if Wildcards is successful. Maybe next season, the three top guys (Craven, Damon, & Affleck) should each pick one and see who "wins" among them. In fact, I would like to see George and Caroline from the Apprentice be the real comeptitors, each picking one team to mentor. That would get me watching the show again, and we could all learn something from watching experts instead of nitwits.
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Good posts everyone.
I have to admit; I would have went with the younger man who could articualte and did have a vision. I was not at all digging the COMEDY approach; I don't mind a horror film having funny moments (Scream, Dawn of the Dead 04) but I do not like Horror Comedy; give me action horror anyday.
It is interesting to watch but I find myself by the end of the show being somewhat disgusted by the process and the manner in which they are presenting it. That is a good point about the Casting Director running all kinds of smack behind John's back but has a meltdown when she is called out at the table; good for John on that one; maybe a sign that he will be more assertive?
Too much is made of such small things; they are complaining about the painting being inspirational to John; tons of films have been 'imagined' off of paintings
Glaidiator originally started with this:
http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/gladiatr/gerome.jpg
And the look of Se7en was inspired by paintings by Munch I believe. These people are all up in arms about this painting; I see the painting and I'm thinking "Yeah, I can dig it."
My wife asked me last week "I thought you were going to submit your screenplay" (Something on my shelf forever) and I told her "I'm afraid of what the show would try and do to me and my film." (Not that I would be picked; it's not finished and is only in the first draft). MY point being? This is exactly the kind of programming that makes me weary of Hollywood and the MAchine and I thank god for the indiependent filmmakers.
I have to admit; I would have went with the younger man who could articualte and did have a vision. I was not at all digging the COMEDY approach; I don't mind a horror film having funny moments (Scream, Dawn of the Dead 04) but I do not like Horror Comedy; give me action horror anyday.
It is interesting to watch but I find myself by the end of the show being somewhat disgusted by the process and the manner in which they are presenting it. That is a good point about the Casting Director running all kinds of smack behind John's back but has a meltdown when she is called out at the table; good for John on that one; maybe a sign that he will be more assertive?
Too much is made of such small things; they are complaining about the painting being inspirational to John; tons of films have been 'imagined' off of paintings
Glaidiator originally started with this:
And the look of Se7en was inspired by paintings by Munch I believe. These people are all up in arms about this painting; I see the painting and I'm thinking "Yeah, I can dig it."
My wife asked me last week "I thought you were going to submit your screenplay" (Something on my shelf forever) and I told her "I'm afraid of what the show would try and do to me and my film." (Not that I would be picked; it's not finished and is only in the first draft). MY point being? This is exactly the kind of programming that makes me weary of Hollywood and the MAchine and I thank god for the indiependent filmmakers.
Bigmagic
Well-known member
Awesome post and picture John. I wholeheartedly agree with your take on hollywood. I suppose thats why my interpetation of Project Greenlight is skewed. I tend to be skeptical of tv and the media in general.
You make some good points Galt, I guess being a former musician I've just seen a lot of "artists" and you can't judge a book by the cover. I once hired a drummer for a gig we had to play while our regular drummer was out of town, he looked great had great gear and was impressive in the brief tryout we gave him. Unfortunately he was all glitz and no gutz and I had to give him the heave ho in the first set. We finished the night with someone from the audience who went home and got a set. We wound up hiring him for the rest of the weekend. He played better with a snare highhat and kick drum than the guy who had the great looking pro gear and look. I don't know any of the members here personally but I have a feeling that everyone isn't an extrovert with all the mad communication skills. Most "artists"are flawed in some manner and are more in touch with their senses than the average bloke. I get the feeling from watching Gulager that his father and family has dominated his life but maybe this is a chance to let the artist in him emerge. Hope everyone keeps watching and commenting I enjoy the discussion.
You make some good points Galt, I guess being a former musician I've just seen a lot of "artists" and you can't judge a book by the cover. I once hired a drummer for a gig we had to play while our regular drummer was out of town, he looked great had great gear and was impressive in the brief tryout we gave him. Unfortunately he was all glitz and no gutz and I had to give him the heave ho in the first set. We finished the night with someone from the audience who went home and got a set. We wound up hiring him for the rest of the weekend. He played better with a snare highhat and kick drum than the guy who had the great looking pro gear and look. I don't know any of the members here personally but I have a feeling that everyone isn't an extrovert with all the mad communication skills. Most "artists"are flawed in some manner and are more in touch with their senses than the average bloke. I get the feeling from watching Gulager that his father and family has dominated his life but maybe this is a chance to let the artist in him emerge. Hope everyone keeps watching and commenting I enjoy the discussion.