10 films a year at $2 million is $20 million, which is far beyond what a certain aspiring mogul can aspire to for now.

But you're right. ONE micro-budget at a time, to see what sticks. By coincidence, the students from the local film school came to my building to shoot a student film, and it involved some martials arts, which I do know a bit about - too bad I'm too old to be the star, LOL.

To add to what you just said, CI, Lionsgate is also interested in projects by filmmakers WITH THEIR OWN FUNDING.

?url? http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/low_budget_lion_1EPoJmTWyiDE8Zct8fbygO?/url?

I have said this will happen more and more, because there are literally trillions of dollars in the banks, waiting to be invested. And, over time, this will grow to tens of trillions.

Maybe we should approach Lionsgate, see what they have in mind.

quote:

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Originally posted by Aspiring mogul

10 films a year at $2 million is $20 million, which is far beyond what a certain aspiring mogul can aspire to for now.

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I understand that. I'm thinking along the lines of going into business
for, say, 12/16 months to produce 2-3 micro-budget films.

All distributors are interested in projects that have their own
funding. I know someone at Lionsgate. I know people at several
distributors. Approaching distributors with funding in place is
easy. Few are willing to match funds or even offer an "first look"
option anymore, but if any producer has funding avaialble it is
best to approach distributors to get them interested and see
what they are looking for before he starts casting.

Two more pieces of evidence to show that the internet is changing the rules of the game.

Vancouver-based Rainmaker Entertainment is launching its own YouTube channel to market its own properties, hoping to become a first-tier entertainment property company.

At the same time, Miley Cyrus is dissing Youtube sensations, saying that Youtube starts like Justin Bieber and Rebecca Black should not be able to get famous so easily. She is obviously feeling the competition.

?url? http://blog.seattlepi.com/people/2011/04/01/miley-cyrus-resents-youtube-sensations/?/url?

And technology will increasingly disrupt the power of traditional media. That's why I'm thinking of going via the internet.

Funny that someone who got their break because of a famous father feels
that people who are discovered singing in YouTube do not deserve it.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

quote:

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Originally posted by certified instigator

Funny that someone who got their break because of a famous father feels
that people who are discovered singing in YouTube do not deserve it.

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Exactly. But this will only continue, because history is not on her side - or the established companies, for that matter.

Remember what has happened to Blockbuster.

To show how the internet is continuing to disrupt the entertainment industry, Netflix is continuing to grow, but, at the same time other companies are also beginning to offer streaming videos to the public.

This will only continue.

?url? http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/?/url?

I don't see how that shows the internet is disrupting the entertainment
industry. As more companies offer streaming video on line, more
entertainment content is needed. The entertainment industry must grow
to feed the need.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

"Disrupting" as in changing, CI, not destroying. In a similar vein, TV was a disruptive technology that changed the radio and film industries but did not destroy either. And, yes, TV, like the internet, gave the entertainment industry room to grow.

One other thing - Justin Bieber was discovered on YouTube, so, once again, the internet is offering opportunities to hit it big in showbiz that were not available even ten years ago.

I think there is a real chance of a low-budget movie hitting it big, and then going from there to creating a franchise or TV series.

quote:

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Originally posted by Aspiring mogul
I think there is a real chance of a low-budget movie hitting it big, and then going from there to creating a franchise or TV series.

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There always has been. And low budget films have hit it big
long before the internet and YouTube and Bieber. The history
of low budget films hitting it big is a fascinating one. And it's
why tens of thousands of low budget films are being made
each year. It's that one in ten million Bieber-like story that
keeps the dream alive.

I am a touch more pragmatic so my direction doesn't include
a Bieber-like scenario. But it happens.

quote:

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I am a touch more pragmatic so my direction doesn't include
a Bieber-like scenario. But it happens.

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I like pragmatic - what's your direction? Tell me more.

What I mean is; the five million to one shot like Bieber is fun to
talk about, but I never use them as an example nor do I think
about them when making a decision on what movie to make or how to
market a finished movie.

You believe there is a real chance of a low budget movie hitting
it big, and then going from there to creating a franchise or TV
series and you use Bieber as one example. I too, believe its
possible, but its unlikely so I would use a different example and
a different way of achieving my goals.

quote:

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?i?I would use a different example and
a different way of achieving my goals.

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Elaborate, please. 🙂

The short version:

Know the market. I go to the film markets and talk to companies to
find out what is actually selling. I speak to distributors to find
out what they are looking for - what they believe will sell. I
speak to sales agents to find out what excites them - what will
entice them to take on a project for a percentage rather then an
up front fee.

My goal is to make a movie that will make money. And thats
getting more difficult. Its easier to post a finished movie
somewhere than it was 10 years ago, self distribution is a very
real possibility, there are 20 times more film festivals than
there were 20 years ago, but fewer and fewer people are paying to
watch movies.

For every discovered on YouTube there are five million wanting
be be discovered. I hate those odds so I wont allow that into my
plan or even my thoughts.