The Movie Promotion on the Front Page

Heresy488 · 06-27-2009, 09:53 PM

Yea, except the only problem with independent film makers is their movies suck. I agree with Brian on the front page, that a lot of what Hollywood produces is trite and cliched - but the vetting process that numbs a movie also serves as quality-control. Yes, we're getting something institutional, but it also won't be poisonous. And, we know the formula works. This is not the ideal. But diverting from the formula just because you like being contrary won't lead to success - or entertainment.

I'm not lobbying to support the Hollywood status quo. I'm saying it is what it is because that's what works for the massive scale of production Hollywood embarks itself on. They're extremely ambitious. Hollywood makes movies for a world audience. That means the heavily censored Chinese audience, the extremely liberated European audience, and the college-student killing Iranian audience. So yea, Hollywood's movies have to be accommodating of those varied cultural norms in order to be received at all. But that's what they decided to do.

An independent film maker is going to make something niched and different. This could be a good thing. It could also be a load of crap. Slumdog Millionaire was made by an independent film company and was an excellent film, it was one of the most refreshing movies I've ever seen. But Slumdog's the exception to the rule. They won't all be hits.

I read all the information the guy posted about his movie, I can see he wants it to be cute, but I'm not sold, and above I've outlined my reservations about it. A movie about a little girl - damn that's a narrow tight-rope to walk. There are so many many movies that are crippled by annoying whiny children, and you want to make a film that stars one? The plot is obviously whimsical, you have to be careful with that. That's a barrier where the audience is going to fall in love with it or think it's weird.
Think of Yoda in Empire Strikes Back. Exactly how close was that character to being an early Jar Jar Binks? You can be clever and the story can be fantasy, but damn it is a very very hard target, even for experienced film makers to botch not getting, and it needs to be nailed. You can't not hit the bulls-eye, something like that is all or nothing.

I'm not certain the guy reads these forums, maybe Brian can pass along the message that there are potential investors in the 8-bit forums, but they need additional massaging. Not sold just yet.

06-27-2009, 09:53 PM	#1
Heresy488 Sent to the cornfield Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 80	The Movie Promotion on the Front Page Yea, except the only problem with independent film makers is their movies suck. I agree with Brian on the front page, that a lot of what Hollywood produces is trite and cliched - but the vetting process that numbs a movie also serves as quality-control. Yes, we're getting something institutional, but it also won't be poisonous. And, we know the formula works. This is not the ideal. But diverting from the formula just because you like being contrary won't lead to success - or entertainment. I'm not lobbying to support the Hollywood status quo. I'm saying it is what it is because that's what works for the massive scale of production Hollywood embarks itself on. They're extremely ambitious. Hollywood makes movies for a world audience. That means the heavily censored Chinese audience, the extremely liberated European audience, and the college-student killing Iranian audience. So yea, Hollywood's movies have to be accommodating of those varied cultural norms in order to be received at all. But that's what they decided to do. An independent film maker is going to make something niched and different. This could be a good thing. It could also be a load of crap. Slumdog Millionaire was made by an independent film company and was an excellent film, it was one of the most refreshing movies I've ever seen. But Slumdog's the exception to the rule. They won't all be hits. I read all the information the guy posted about his movie, I can see he wants it to be cute, but I'm not sold, and above I've outlined my reservations about it. A movie about a little girl - damn that's a narrow tight-rope to walk. There are so many many movies that are crippled by annoying whiny children, and you want to make a film that stars one? The plot is obviously whimsical, you have to be careful with that. That's a barrier where the audience is going to fall in love with it or think it's weird. Think of Yoda in Empire Strikes Back. Exactly how close was that character to being an early Jar Jar Binks? You can be clever and the story can be fantasy, but damn it is a very very hard target, even for experienced film makers to botch not getting, and it needs to be nailed. You can't not hit the bulls-eye, something like that is all or nothing. I'm not certain the guy reads these forums, maybe Brian can pass along the message that there are potential investors in the 8-bit forums, but they need additional massaging. Not sold just yet.