How much would it cost to produce this half-hour Batman fan film? I'm trying to get a sense of the costs, thanks. 🙂
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdpig1_city-of-scars_shortfilms#from=embed
"City of Scars" was shot for $27,000 in 21 days according to the director.
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
Excellent! I should have done a Google search. CI, would something like this work as a proof of concept, as in, do a series of short videos like this, so you can convince Warner Bros to give you funding for a TV series.
Do you mean a well made fan film? Using a Warner Bros. franchise
to convince them to hire you to produce a TV series?
No. that's not the way. If Warner Bros is open to a (for example)
Batman TV series they will look at a movie like "City of Scars",
think it's great and then hire the working professionals they have
first look deals with to develop it.
If you are asking about a totally original concept, then the
answer is, as always, maybe. It's very, very rare that a TV
outsider submits an episode to a studio and the studio then
finances a series. I guess you could be the first. And that hope
is why there are hundreds of "webisodes" being made every week.
Each producer is hoping their show will be seen and financed by a
big studio.
Aaron Schoenke has been making Batman fan films since 2003 but
hasn't gotten Warners to finance a TV series or hire him to direct
anything.
What franchise are you thinking of using?
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
quote:
No. that's not the way. If Warner Bros is open to a (for example)Batman TV series they will look at a movie like "City of Scars", think it's great and then hire the working professionals they have first look deals with to develop it.
Oh, OK, I was hoping that a fan film could be used as a proof of concept. So how would someone approach Warner Bros?
quote:
Aaron Schoenke has been making Batman fan films since 2003 but
hasn't gotten Warners to finance a TV series or hire him to direct
anything.
This father-and-son team seem pretty talented. You know Aaron?
quote:
What franchise are you thinking of using?
Batman or Star Trek, but I'm open to suggestions.
quote:
Originally posted by certified instigator
If Warner Bros is open to a (for example)
Batman TV series they will look at a movie like "City of Scars",
think it's great and then hire the working professionals they have
first look deals with to develop it.
If I understand well, that would mean buying the rights to the script/story of that fan film and developing that.
If that's correct, it means that the best one could hope for would be to get a studio to like the fan film and pay to use its story. In other words, there is literally NO chance of actually getting hired to produce the thing for the studio.
quote:
If I understand well, that would mean buying the rights to the script/story of that fan film and developing that.
They don't have to; they own ALL the copyrights and trademarks to Batman, so they can take anything they want. The question is if they would be sufficiently impressed by the talent to give the fan studio a chance.
quote:
Originally posted by Aspiring mogul
quote:
If I understand well, that would mean buying the rights to the script/story of that fan film and developing that.They don't have to; they own ALL the copyrights and trademarks to Batman, so they can take anything they want. The question is if they would be sufficiently impressed by the talent to give the fan studio a chance.
HIGHLY unlikely. It would be irresponsible to say that it could never happen, but it is extremely unlikely. First, they'd NEVER accept a submission without it being represented by an accredited Agent, Manager, or Lawyer. They do that to protect themselves legally because for every movie or TV show that IS produced, there are dozens of lawsuits submitted by "aspiring writers/directors/etc" all claiming that their idea was stolen.
Even if a newbie did somehow get their fanfilm through the screeners to someone who cares and that person (studio exec or other producer-type) did like it, they'd never give the newbie much power in the production of the project, particularly if the property is already established someway, like a Batman or Star Trek is.
Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com
Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com
quote:
Originally posted by Aspiring mogul
Oh, OK, I was hoping that a fan film could be used as a proof of concept. So how would someone approach Warner Bros?
The development exec's at Warners will only accept material sent
to them by an agent or a reputable lawyer. You will need a lawyer
with experience in entertainment law to approach them.
quote:
Originally posted by Aspiring mogul
This father-and-son team seem pretty talented. You know Aaron?
They do. I have met Aaron several times. He, too, is dreaming and
hoping and putting a LOT of money, talent and time into the idea
that Warner Bros. will contact him to direct the next Batman film.
I think that is in the back of the mind of every maker of fan movies.
Some are actively pursuing that goal.
quote:
Originally posted by Aspiring mogul
Batman or Star Trek, but I'm open to suggestions.
My suggestion is to create something original. Not to spend time,
money and talent on a fan film in the hopes that the studio will
be so impressed they will finance your series or film.
quote:
Originally posted by Aspiring mogul
The question is if they would be sufficiently impressed by the talent to give the fan studio a chance.
And the answer is no.
There have been many, many examples of very good fan films and
no examples of the studio being impressed enough to give the "fan
studio" a chance. But I guess you are banking your time, talent
and money on being the first.
Any reason you don't want to create something new?
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
quote:
They do. I have met Aaron several times. He, too, is dreaming and
hoping and putting a LOT of money, talent and time into the idea
that Warner Bros. will contact him to direct the next Batman film.
Why doesn't he get an agent to contact them directly, as you suggested?
quote:
Any reason you don't want to create something new?
Because I have no imagination, LOL. But, seriously, I do have some ideas, based on my professional experience, which is why I was asking about sitcoms and one-hour dramas. I was asking about the fan films because, first of all, I want to brainstorm and see what's out there, and, second, I've always wanted to do a Batman film or series. I'm not so interested in Star Wars or Superman, but I do like Batman.
Why make a fan film when it really has no life of its own. The Lawyers of the copyright owner can make you take it off the web anytime they want and you can't even list it in IMDB. Better to create your own project, if it gets attention and you talk to Warner Brothers you can shoot them some ideas on their properties, if it doesn't get their attention you still have options.
RJSchwarz
RJSchwarz
quote:
Originally posted by Aspiring mogul
Why doesn't he get an agent to contact them directly, as you suggested?
He has an agent.
Warners will not even look at his films because they - technically -
violate the companies copyright. When they decided to "reboot"
the Batman films they didn't look to the makers of fan films, they
looked to hot, successful directors.
But he's still holding on the hope that Warners comes around and
hires him so he keeps making his Batman fan films. I know he has
another one prepping now.
quote:
Because I have no imagination, LOL. But, seriously, I do have some ideas, based on my professional experience, which is why I was asking about sitcoms and one-hour dramas. I was asking about the fan films because, first of all, I want to brainstorm and see what's out there, and, second, I've always wanted to do a Batman film or series
Well, I hope it works out for you. Someone has to be the first, right?
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
Hmmm, Frank Miller, author of the Batman classic, "Year One", has said that he has taken the Dark Knight as far as he can go. He wanted to do a graphic novel with Batman fighting the Al Qaeda, but DC Comics felt that would be too controversial, so they nixed it.
He's now going to start his own character - just as you guys have suggested. He's taking a risk, by taking a political stance (remember what happened to the Dixie Chicks?) but he may also make it big, just as James Cameron did.
So, in the end, the big corporations cannot take the risk, because they cannot end up like Enron. So the small guys do it, and reap the rewards if they succeed.
Maybe you're right. Maybe I should try to create my own world.
It would be interesting if he dropped his new character into his Sin City background. Perhaps Al Queda coming to Basin City and some masked vigilante fights him. If he's talking about a hero going off to Afghanistan I suspect it'll be more than a bit lame.
RJSchwarz
RJSchwarz
I will say this right now. Make sure you hire a good effects artist/specialty costumer to producer good unique batman cowls, and costumes. Don't just have a seamstress make it. Look at Batman Dead End. They spent some $$$$. I am happy to advise, pitch in, consult, whatever, or you can find somebody else, but don't ruin a good film with laughable costumes and effects. I have seen it happen way too much. If you are doing this as proof of concept, then this is arguably even more important, as you need to convince investors you can generate good work. One line I hear a lot is "we didn't have the money to do it up nice, but when we make the feature we will do X,Y, and Z, and that just does not fly. You either don't get the money, don't get enough, or the feature is greenlit but sucks"
Cheers?:)?
making low budget dreams come true
making low budget dreams come true
