Wow, it has been a long time since I have posted.
I started my first film back at the end of May. It has been an all-comsuming project that left me with very little time. I’m now nearing the end of the project and for the first time feel like I have time to breathe. I’ll update you on my adventures and the things I’ve learned shortly.
– Rich Pulham
It looks like the recession has been kind to the movie business. Ticket sales are up more than 17% and that isn’t just because ticket prices have risen. Attendance has surged nearly 16%.
It has been speculated that there are two reasons for this.
First, there is lots of troubling news with these tough economic times and people want to forget their troubles. Movies are a good place to do this. Considering other offerings, it is also a relatively inexpensive place to do this.
Secondly, studios have finally gotten the message that people want to have fun at the movies. They don’t go to see great acting and thoughtful plots. They want to leave the theater with a smile on their face.
This is good news for filmmakers. Increased demand should improve the chances for getting distribution.
– Rich Pulham
The Sports Video Group published an article, “NAB Camera Preview: Cost-Effective Systems Shine in Tough Times.” They said exhibitors will be featuring their “cost effective” products at the show instead of the high-end products.
I don’t know about you but from my independent producer’s point of view, a $10,000 camera isn’t cost effective, especially when they use P2 cards. I got the feeling they were mentioning products the exhibitors wanted to push.
It will be interesting to see what really happens at NAB. This will be my first time attending the convention. I just hope I will have as much fun as my wife who will be lounging by the pool.
– Rich Pulham
The Academy Awards this year portends great opportunities for the indenpendent producer. Here is an independent, low budget production that wins 8 of the 10 Oscars it is nonimated for.
Slumdog Millionaire has its roots in Indian cinema. The term Bollywood is derived from Bombay, the original name of Mumbai, and Hollywood. It refers to the Mumbai-based Hindi language film industry in India. They actually produce more movies than does the real Hollywood. The first third of the film is in the Hindi language. Bollywood films were used for research in developing locations and mileau. And local actors were used.
Warner Independent Pictures paid $5 million to acquire the distribution rights to the film. However, in May 2008, Warner Independent Pictures was shut down with all of its projects being transferred to Warner Bros. Pictures, its parent studio. Warner Bros. doubted the commercial prospects of Slumdog Millionaire and suggested that it would go straight to DVD without a U.S. theatrical release.
Then, Fox Searchlight Pictures bought a 50% of Warner Bros.’s interest in the movie. A limited North American release on November 12, 2008 qualified the film for this year’s Oscars. As of February 25, 2009, the film had grossed $175,115,223 worldwide.
Slumdog Millionaire has been referred to as an Indian Cindarella story. In my mind, it is an independent film Cindarella story as well. Warner Bros. didn’t think it was worthy of theatrical release. What does that tell you about the major studios? That they are afraid to take creative risks?
Creative risks are exactly what is needed in the film industry. Look at Star Wars, an example of creative risks where Paramount thought it was just a kid’s movie. Perhaps you can’t take risks with $100 million films. But indepents can with their small budgets.
Go make a movie that will be refreshing and creative. Those kind of films are in short supply these days. And if it is really good, maybe we’ll see you at the Academy Awards.
– Rich Pulham
JVC’s new camera, the JVC GY-HM100U ProHD, looks like a real honey. It records to SDHC cards instead of the extremely expensive P2 card. It runs at high bit rates to give great HD quality. It has 2 XLR inputs and manual audio control. And many more great features. It sells for about $3,500 at B&H Photo.
When I looked at the specs, I was bummed out. Turns out this camera is a dud for the independent producer. It uses small 1/4 inch sized chips. JVC thinks of them as super chips that will perform as well as the 1/3 inch chips. But therein lies the weakness of the camera.
Smaller chips mean less wide angle and more depth of field. The 35mm equivalent of the zoom is 39-390mm. I don’t think I would call 39mm “wide angle.” As an independent filmmaker, wide angle is much more important to me than shooting nearly 400mm.
Depth of field is another important spec to achieve the “film” look. With this camera, I’d have to spend another $1500 for a 35mm lens adapter plus lenses.
Sure, having XLR connectors and higher quality sound for this camera would be cool. But I could also shoot double-system sound and have 8 inputs instead of 2.
Maybe my money would be better spend on a Canon 5D Mark II. Then I would have money left over for pizza. Cast and crew can get hungry.
– Rich Pulham