Hollywood to implode...according to Spielberg

[Mr.M]

Uh, WB took a massive risk with Inception and it paid off in a huge way for them. Paramount and WB are taking perhaps an even bigger risk with Interstellar next year.

Nolan factor makes this completely irrelevant. Best director working today.

 

[redfirebird2008]

What you're talking about isn't risk, what you're talking about is safety. MOST studios are making complex darker films these days which are more readily successful, which you are calling is risk taking. In an an age where lighter films aren't making as much money, you're saying a studio staying family friendly isn't risky. So making a dark film like every other studio - risky. Making a family friendly film not like every other studio and aren't doing as well - not risky. Got it.

Opinions don't really fall into risk taking or not risk taking. Just because you didn't like something doesn't make it not risk taking. You're saying John Carter looking like a joke to you as defining why it isn't risky. While I'm saying it's risky because you won't see any studio these days taking a risk on a film of the like which isn't trek or wars.

Pacific Rim will either show that audiences aren't hip on giant robot movies like Transformers, or it will show that giant robots are in. You can clearly and more readily see this in how audiences reacted to Battleship. key point being the studio's decision there as to why is clearly transparent - trying to cash in on Transformers. I'm not saying Del Torro saw it that way, as a cash in, but the studio did. Transformers 1 was risky - pacific rim is not.

Are you really trying to argue that family friendly films are more risky than dark movies? This after family-friendly Avengers made over $1.5b worldwide and Despicable Me 2 just opened to over $140m in 5 days. Really man? Family friendly films are the bread and butter of Hollywood's profit machine.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Nolan factor makes this completely irrelevent. Best director working today.

I love Nolan, but I don't know if I'd say he is the best. Definitely the most financial viable of the new generation.

Are you really trying to argue that family friendly films are more risky than dark movies? This after family-friendly Avengers made over $1.5b worldwide and Despicable Me 2 just opened to over $140m in 5 days. Really man? Family friendly films are the bread and butter of Hollywood's profit machine.

Depends on the genre and the budget.

 

[redfirebird2008]

If they wanted that, they could have just given him what he wanted.

And not much of a financial risk. A lot of groups are carrying the cost, the budget is large, but far from obscene and Nolan is directing. Nolan's name is box office these days.

Interstellar's budget has not been announced. For all we know it's $200+ million, which would make it a huge financial risk.

And what do you mean they could have just given him what he wanted? WB did not develop Interstellar in the first place, so the best they could do was become a partner for Paramount. That project was set up at Paramount 10 years ago.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Interstellar's budget has not been announced. For all we know it's $200+ million, which would make it a huge financial risk.

And what do you mean they could have just given him what he wanted? WB did not develop Interstellar in the first place, so the best they could do was become a partner for Paramount. That project was set up at Paramount 10 years ago.

For some reason I remember seeing a $160mil budget. Must have just been someone's guess.

On the WB thing. It has been reported that Nolan was willing to become a fixture there, if they made him a part of the lot. It would appear some weren't keen on that and thus they apparently didn't do it, while still wanting him to still make movies for them and to run their DC division. Now it seems Nolan is moving away.

Wouldn't be a surprise if he ended up with Disney down the road, though it now appears that those now running WB are making a real effort to get him to stay.

 

[redfirebird2008]

For some reason I remember seeing a $160mil budget. Must have just been someone's guess.

On the WB thing. It has been reported that Nolan was willing to become a fixture there, if they made him a part of the lot. It would appear some weren't keen on that and thus they apparently didn't do it, while still wanting him to still make movies for them and to run their DC division. Now it seems Nolan is moving away.

Wouldn't be a surprise if he ended up with Disney down the road, though it now appears that those now running WB are making a real effort to get him to stay.

That was Inception's budget, though there were rumors that it was $200m. $160m was the "official" number given by WB, but who knows if that is true or deliberately on the low side.

What do you mean make him a part of the lot? His production company Syncopy already has office space on the WB lot. His involvement with Interstellar likely has a lot more to do with his brother writing the initial script than anything else. But they've gotten rid of two executives at WB that Nolan likes (Horn and Robinov). Horn is at Disney now and tried to get Nolan for Star Wars. The problem with Disney is they likely would not give him final cut on any project, which is a condition he demands.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

That was Inception's budget, though there were rumors that it was $200m. $160m was the "official" number given by WB, but who knows if that is true or deliberately on the low side.

What do you mean make him a part of the lot? His production company Syncopy already has office space on the WB lot. His involvement with Interstellar likely has a lot more to do with his brother writing the initial script than anything else. But they've gotten rid of two executives at WB that Nolan likes (Horn and Robinov). Horn is at Disney now and tried to get Nolan for Star Wars. The problem with Disney is they likely would not give him final cut on any project, which is a condition he demands.

I remember reading that he wanted something akin to what Spielberg had at Paramount I believe. At least that is what I remember. Not simply office space like Syncopy. Though considering the stories you hear about Nolan, he seems to have a lot of power over there.

And please don't tell me those Nolan for Star Wars things. My heart can't take that much. I probably would have died of excitement if that happened.

 

[redfirebird2008]

I remember reading that he wanted something akin to what Spielberg had at Paramount I believe. At least that is what I remember. Not simply office space like Syncopy. Though considering the stories you hear about Nolan, he seems to have a lot of power over there.

And please don't tell me those Nolan for Star Wars things. My heart can't take that much. I probably would have died of excitement if that happened.

haha, I'm glad he turned it down. That is a huge burden for anyone to bear, but I think Abrams will do a very good job with it. His filmmaking style is a better fit for Star Wars than Nolan's style. Kennedy wanted Abrams, Horn wanted Nolan. It's for the best that they ended up with Abrams since Kennedy is a lot more involved in the project than Horn is. She got the guy she wanted and he's a perfect fit.

 

[dark_b]

Nolan is like a 2000 times better director than JJ. but JJ is a 2000 times better choice for SW than Nolan.

 

[Mr.M]

Interstellar's budget has not been announced. For all we know it's $200+ million, which would make it a huge financial risk.

And what do you mean they could have just given him what he wanted? WB did not develop Interstellar in the first place, so the best they could do was become a partner for Paramount. That project was set up at Paramount 10 years ago.

Who's name is going to actually be on that film at the beginning of the credits? At least domestically? Will we get the Rocky Mountain/Everest or the WB logo?

 

[redfirebird2008]

Nolan is like a 2000 times better director than JJ. but JJ is a 2000 times better choice for SW than Nolan.

LOL, I wouldn't say 2000 times better in either case but I do agree with your general idea. Nolan is the better filmmaker overall, but Abrams seems like a much better fit for Star Wars.

Who's name is going to actually be on that film at the beginning of the credits? At least domestically? Will we get the Rcky Mountain/Everest or the WB logo?

Paramount has domestic distribution and WB has international distribution. If it plays out like Inception, WB will get the better end of that deal even though they had to give up their rights to South Park and Friday the 13th.

 

[Solidus]

Ya I'd say JJ and Nolan are both equal in terms of direction, and maybe JJ a tad more in direction at times. However Nolan is the overall better film maker because he's also a stellar writer as well. JJ is an okay writer, and mainly works with very mediocre/bad screen writers like Bob/Alex. However he is able to take that mediocre work and make a great film from it still.

I think JJ is a lot like Spielberg, great director, leaves (or should leave) the writing to other people. That's why Episode VII I think will be his huge breakthrough because he is finally getting to work with a superb writer. So as directors I'd say JJ and Nolan are tied in terms of that aspect of the craft. But Nolan is a much better writer on top of that giving the overall edge of film making to Nolan. But I think Episode VII and beyond if JJ continues to work with writers like Ardnt he will be able to be seen at the same level.

 

[Mr.M]

LOL, I wouldn't say 2000 times better in either case but I do agree with your general idea. Nolan is the better filmmaker overall, but Abrams seems like a much better fit for Star Wars.



Paramount has domestic distribution and WB has international distribution. If it plays out like Inception, WB will get the better end of that deal even though they had to give up their rights to South Park and Friday the 13th.

And the production costs were split down the "T" with this? Or does Syncopy fund the entire thing, with the studios footing the distribution and marketing of the film?

 

[Maximus One]

Ya know, I think this is inevitable. I've been noticing more and more that I'm liking less and less movies each year and most of the time I find myself not really giving a **** about most films. I've had well over a dozen new releases (not new anymore lol) sitting on my laptop since before New Year's that I haven't even watched and I'm just like meh. I'm honestly more worried about either watching all my favorite shows as they air new episodes or watching series I've never watched before. We truly are in a golden age of television dramas right now and if the trend of quality television continues uninterrupted for the next few years I see an even bigger boom in quality tv being produced. The thing is, movies cost so much the suits are unwilling to take more risks, with tv people are really starting to take notice with shows coming out on DVD and Bluray and then Netflix, Hulu etc that people are wanting stuff to really get into. Movies are just so long and then boom, they're over. With tv dramas it's something you can really get into and if they're good, they suck you in and you get really invested in the characters. You just can't really do that with movies nearly as much. I dunno, I just think that the entire Hollywood paradigm is gonna see a big shift soon. Especially if what Spielberg said about Lincoln almost ending up on HBO is true.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

haha, I'm glad he turned it down. That is a huge burden for anyone to bear, but I think Abrams will do a very good job with it. His filmmaking style is a better fit for Star Wars than Nolan's style. Kennedy wanted Abrams, Horn wanted Nolan. It's for the best that they ended up with Abrams since Kennedy is a lot more involved in the project than Horn is. She got the guy she wanted and he's a perfect fit.

Abrams is a great choice, arguably perfect. The only person I think in terms of style would probably fit better is Edgar Wright, though I know that will probably never happen. The idea of a lightsaber/Force battle from him.

But there is something about a Nolan Star Wars that intrigues me on a very different level. I think the plotting and story would be great.

And I agree that Nolan is definitely the all around better filmmaker.

 

[redfirebird2008]

And the production costs were split down the "T" with this? Or does Syncopy fund the entire thing, with the studios footing the distribution and marketing of the film?

The way it was reported in the media, sounds like production costs will be split between WB/Paramount. I assume Syncopy will have a percentage of WB's costs and revenue.

 

[chamber-music]

The whole 'we need a movie star in the lead' for a movie to be a success thing is partly killing Hollywood.

Charlie Hunnam and Henry Cavill have said this exact same thing.

It was really frustrating because there were directors that really liked me and wanted to hire me that I wanted to work with that were doing great, interesting stuff. Then they would get to the studio and the studio would say, "Listen, we think he's great, but he's not really a big enough star to justify hiring at this budget" -- so I wouldn't get the job.

I'm sure its a common experience for many other actors as well.

Hollywood should cast more cheaper lesser known actors in leads and cast more established names in supporting roles instead of relying on a small talent pool of ageing established actors to carry their big pictures most of the time because its being shown that big names don't count as much as they used to anymore.

Hollywood does sometimes give up and comers a shot like Armie Hammer, Taylor Kitsch, Chris Hemsworth, ect but not enough in my opinion.

Young actors have to do a acclaimed television show and generate some buzz before they can launch a film career.

 

[Destructus86]

Nolan is like a 2000 times better director than JJ. but JJ is a 2000 times better choice for SW than Nolan.

I don't think they can be compared. Two very different directors. For instance...I loved Super 8. It was really a love note to the Spielberg era of film making of old. Nolan could never come close to making such a film. But I also love Inception...which JJ could never make. Neither is worse than the other...just different in style.

Anyway...as for Hollywood...they are screwing themselves over. Look at Lone Ranger. A lot of potential...but instead they focused more on action than story telling. And look at comedies...most comedies that come out lately are rated R and follow the same kind of humor.

I do think there is going to come a point where Hollywood as a whole stops and looks at itself and re-examines what kind of movies it wants as budgets get bigger and losses become too big to deal with.

 

[Octoberist]

Yeah, it's a fools errand to compare the two.

 

[Lord]

Ya I'd say JJ and Nolan are both equal in terms of direction, and maybe JJ a tad more in direction at times. However Nolan is the overall better film maker because he's also a stellar writer as well. JJ is an okay writer, and mainly works with very mediocre/bad screen writers like Bob/Alex. However he is able to take that mediocre work and make a great film from it still.

I think JJ is a lot like Spielberg, great director, leaves (or should leave) the writing to other people. That's why Episode VII I think will be his huge breakthrough because he is finally getting to work with a superb writer. So as directors I'd say JJ and Nolan are tied in terms of that aspect of the craft. But Nolan is a much better writer on top of that giving the overall edge of film making to Nolan. But I think Episode VII and beyond if JJ continues to work with writers like Ardnt he will be able to be seen at the same level.

I like J.J but i didn't really want to see him do Episode VII because i don't want Star Wars to look like this

 

[Solidus]

Ah the over use of lens flare is about as overused as the internet griping about it. And he has already stated that the look will be completely different. He knows what he's doing with that. That and most the Star Wars at least had a few shots of lens flare. However, it is clear that JJ won't use the same look for Star Wars he knows not only does he have to differentiate the two, but at the same time he knows what Star Wars is suppose to look like. I trust him fully with that.

 

[Tanin]

Is that an actual screenshot or a joke about his use of flares?

 

[Solidus]

A joke I believe.

 

[Tanin]

A joke I believe.

Bah if you want to make a serious argument don't use joke pictures

 

[Octoberist]

Is that an actual screenshot or a joke about his use of flares?

an obvious joke.