April
11
Post Studio Stress Disorder
More and more, I've been talking to producers, filmmakers and agents who don't seem to understand how to function in today's three-tiered universe. There's the big studios and their tentpoles, formula genre fare and comedies, the occasional star-driven vehicle that the studios wouldn't make without a George Clooney on board, like Leatherheads, and there's the studio subsids and indies. In the middle is a raft of indie financeers and suppliers who play both sides of the street, some geared toward the foreign market.
It's tough to put movies together these days, and even studio heavyweights like Scott Rudin have to lower their expectations to get their more difficult projects made. (In his new incarnation at Disney/Miramax Rudin is like a man unshackled from his chains--he's running with such pics as No Country for Old men and There Will be Blood, both in partnership with Miramax and Paramount Vantage.) But other producers aren't as resourceful and powerful as Rudin. Many are having more trouble adapting to a world where they --and not the studio--have to do all the work.
Here's my column about post-studio stress disorder.
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Unfortunately, its true. I work for an independent producer, and it takes a lot of muscle to get anything in motion.
There is a developing bipolarity between the studios and the independents. Like your article said, there isnt even an attempt to get financing for a high-risk project from a studio--unless you're the Coen Brothers.
Thank the cinema gods for the independent system, though, because their developing reputation for quality cinema gives hope to us future filmmakers that someday there will be a market for films with personality.
Posted by: Victoria | April 11, 2008 at 02:45 PM