What would you do?

Robbie Comeau

Robbie Comeau

Como's back. back again
My friend asked me a somewhat hypothetical question last night..

"If you were to make a hollywood film and get paid 100,000,000, credit on the DVD cover, but it'd be the worst film and no body would like it, would you do it?"

I'm not into filmmaking for the money, I'm into it cause it's a passion and it's something I want to be doing 20 years later from now.

Now, I'm not sure if the question involves you NEVER making a film again, cause that might change your answer.

Lets say a) you can never make another film, but you get the 100,000,000 and b) you get the 100,000,000, and CAN make another film, but you'd have that bed rep.

Robbie
 
Yep. I'd then have enough to launch my latest start-up idea in conceptual stages.

And if it was as an AD, then I don't care if the film is great. Sure, it would be nice if the film was good. But so long as I did my job well, then I'm content and I'm sure I'll get hired again.

Now if I did a terrible job, there would be a different story.

And if bed rep means I'm awesome in bed, then I'll take that title too. :)
 
Robbie Comeau said:
"If you were to make a hollywood film and get paid 100,000,000, credit on the DVD cover, but it'd be the worst film and no body would like it, would you do it?"
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If it could be a film/script of my choosing in any genre I wanted, but the catch was that it wouldn't be successful at the box office (based on what kind of genie, sorcerer, etc. could do this)... then hell yes.

Unless I had some sort of foreknowledge that I would eventually have a successful and happy career due to my own efforts and luck, then I'd do it for a hundred million and the chance to make a big budget film.

Robbie Comeau said:
Lets say a) you can never make another film, but you get the 100,000,000 and b) you get the 100,000,000, and CAN make another film, but you'd have that bed rep.
Click to expand...

b) -- Now, if I had to make something crappy like Cabbage Patch Dolls the movie, then I'd probably still do it, collect the dough, then change my name (legally) and use my mountain of cash to finance my own low budget films on my terms.

My reasoning is that if I could make that much money on one gig, even if it took 2 years to do, I'd be set for life and could just make whatever low budget films I wanted to. Whereas now, I have to constantly deal with my normal jobs and not having much if anything at all to really put towards any films of my own. Personally, I don't want to do wedding videos the rest of my career.
 
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Robbie Comeau said:
My friend asked me a somewhat hypothetical question last night..

"If you were to make a hollywood film and get paid 100,000,000, credit on the DVD cover, but it'd be the worst film and no body would like it, would you do it?"

I'm not into filmmaking for the money, I'm into it cause it's a passion and it's something I want to be doing 20 years later from now.

Now, I'm not sure if the question involves you NEVER making a film again, cause that might change your answer.

Lets say a) you can never make another film, but you get the 100,000,000 and b) you get the 100,000,000, and CAN make another film, but you'd have that bed rep.

Robbie
Click to expand...

Nope. Making movies is everything to me, so I couldn't give it up no matter what the cost.
 
Robbie Comeau said:
My friend asked me a somewhat hypothetical question last night..

"If you were to make a hollywood film and get paid 100,000,000, credit on the DVD cover, but it'd be the worst film and no body would like it, would you do it?"

I'm not into filmmaking for the money, I'm into it cause it's a passion and it's something I want to be doing 20 years later from now.

Now, I'm not sure if the question involves you NEVER making a film again, cause that might change your answer.

Lets say a) you can never make another film, but you get the 100,000,000 and b) you get the 100,000,000, and CAN make another film, but you'd have that bed rep.

Robbie
Click to expand...
Send that guy my way. For 10 mil? I'd leave the country and never look at another camera.
 
This has happend recently
Transformers II..... :)

yes I would,
Im ready to make the worst movie ever and get paid .
Afterwards I could always say it's a dark comedy .
 
For b, obviously I'd go for it. Plenty of directors and producers have come out of making something bad with future successes. That's how it works. If I could never make a movie again? I would probably not be willing to go with that. My first thought is that I could use it in all sorts of investments, but with something like that blocked, something that integrated into everything I do, it just wouldn't be worth it. The ten million would do me no good. Personally, I am a strong believer in diminishing returns as far as income goes; once I have enough to live comfortably (not quite there right now), more would only really serve as investment for the sake of doing something worthwhile. It wouldn't do much for personal satisfaction.
 
For a hundred million US dollars? That would be tough to turn down. I understand doing it for the love of the craft, but with that kind of money my kids' great grand kids would be set for life if invested wisely.

With money like that you could easily finance and shoot your own films under another name and enjoy all that life has to offer.

Hmmm.
 
Anyone who wouldn't say yes is out of their mind!!! With 100 mil you could make 50 personal indie films and still have 50 million left. Coppola made Dementia 13. Scorsese made Boxcar Bertha. Cameron made Pirhana 2. Many well respected directors made crap films out of the gate and that in no way became a life long stigma.
 
absolutely I would.

If I had that kind of money the last thing on my mind would be my "rep" in Hollywood or with critics and what have you....

hell.... thats the last thing on my mind now and I only have like 50 million in the bank... I'm poor!
 
Robbie Comeau said:
My friend asked me a somewhat hypothetical question last night..

"If you were to make a hollywood film and get paid 100,000,000, credit on the DVD cover, but it'd be the worst film and no body would like it, would you do it?"

Lets say a) you can never make another film, but you get the 100,000,000 and b) you get the 100,000,000, and CAN make another film, but you'd have that bed rep.

Robbie
Click to expand...

Since this is a hypothetical Q anyway.... here is a hypo answer:
Is it US $ the figure advanced or other currency ?(assumed it is but not specified)
From your a) and b) options.... I understand the taker would end up with the money (anyway) and his reputation tarnished (regardless making another movie or not)
So..... my understanding of this "offer" is that someone (sane or not) would spend that money just to tarnish someone's reputation and make sure he/she is not heard from again (or doesn't come public again since the "taker" knows full well the movie will not be well received anyway).... Right?

Just hypothetical questions...
 
If I could take it and make my own movies with it, then absolutely yes. Double yes. Triple yes!!!

If I could take it and it means I only have one bad film under my belt, then yes I would take it. It doesn't ruin your career. Didn't James Cameron do like a Piranhas 2 or something as a first film? Heard the story was that he directed for a week, then the producer did the rest, to get with the women on set.

If I could take the million but I could never make another film, then no. No way no how. Film making is what I love. What's good about money if I can't do what I love? Sure I could try and buy happiness, and do all kinds of things, go on vacation, but my passion is film making. When I'm on set, I'm happy. When I'm writing, I'm happy. When I'm editing, I'm happy. When I see the final product, I'm happy. Can't imagine not doing it. I'd just try to make 100mil with a good film instead.

While I love money, and would love to get lots of money, I only want money for two main things. First is to live well (obviously) and second is to help fund my films. I don't see money as "yes I have it and I'll go crazy and spend it on everything and buy loads of boats and cars and women!" I'm just not like that. Plus if you take that route, the 100 mil will dry up fast, then what?
 
I'll take the $$$ regardless. If I never work in film/tv again, there are other professions and careers I'd be eager to explore. And I can always indulge myself with a camcorder and bunch of friends on weekends, to my heart's content.
 
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