HOLLYWOOD LIES. Huh? Oh-OK…IT’S MARKETING (The 4 Big Movie Lies… #3 Is The Best)
by Dov S-S Simens on August 24, 2016
HOLLYWOOD LIES
Oh-OK. Yes Hollywood lies. They lie big time but they don’t call it lying….They call it marketing.
Why do they call it marketing? Because they want to go to heaven and you can’t get into heaven if you lie…so let’s market.
(The Weinsteins, here’s Harvey, are definitely two of the best marketing executives in Hollywood…ever)
Marketing 101: Just like the Clintons call their bank account a Foundation (great marketing) and like Trump really wants to be president…
2 CommentsWant to make a successful independent film?
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GUARANTEED FILM SUCCESS (The 7 Step Process…But Start At-The-Bottom)
by Dov S-S Simens on August 23, 2016
7-STEPS to FILM SUCCESS
(1) Read this Blog
(Follow these 7 Steps and practice your acceptance speech)
(2) Pick a Budget (see below) that is hopefully #1 to #6… Go #7 to #12 in budget selection and you are not realistic
(3) Get the Script… Keep-It-Simple-Stupid (90-pages, 1-Location, No Stunts, No VFX, No EXT-NIGHT)
(4) Hustle some money (see below, #1 to #6)
(5) Make the Film and make it with Talent (Talent can’t be taught)
(6) Be a Good Person (Who have you helped today?)
(7) Trust God…
28 CommentsWHO IS THE TRUE DIRECTOR? (Hire a DP Who Is a DP… Huh?)
by Dov S-S Simens on August 21, 2016
CINEMATOGRAPHERS ARE DIRECTORS
For a first-time filmmaker (aka: aspiring director), with a script and a little bit of cash (Micro- or No-Budget), unquestionably the most important person you hire will always be the Cinematographer.
(Cinematographers are now called Director-of-Photography)
But please hire a Cinematographer who is a DP. Not someone who merely bought 2 cameras and has a business card stating “DP”.
DP? Yes,
6 Comments$20 MILLION MOVIE NAMES… LIKE DEPP, DAMON, CLOONEY, DiCAPRIO, even B COOPER or Ms LAWRENCE: PART I (How to Contact A-List Actors)
by Dov S-S Simens on August 14, 2016
HOT ACTORS: “How to Find a Bankable Actor”
You got the script. You’re sure its great and you’ve been told “You need a name“. And, you actually have the name of an actor in mind. Now how to you get to him or her and have them talk to you? And, according to Shakespeare, Hollywood’s first hyphenates (Writer-Producer-Director), “There’s the rub”.
(Ever hear of Pay-to-Play? A-List Movie Names are busy.
MOVIE MONEY: PART 11: BOX OFFICE GROSS IS NOT PROFIT ($100 Million Gross or $14 Million Loser)
by Dov S-S Simens on August 10, 2016
GROSS IS NOT PROFIT
Come Monday when tv/cable channels and morning newspapers report news and state THE TOP GROSSING FILM or THE BOX OFFICE WINNER THIS WEEK IS (with all that is going on in the world I always chuckle as to why “Box Office Gross” is considered Monday morning news)….
….and report how many Millions of Dollars this film (“PIZZAMAN: 6” or “ZOMBIE SLIME MASSACRE: THE MUSICAL” or “KAMA SUTRA: VIRTUAL REALITY”) made at the box office…they are not talking about your movie’s profits and what you or a distributor should report to the IRS as profits…
14 CommentsSCR*W FILM SCHOOL…SAVE $300,000 (Produce & Direct A Feature Film… Step #4 is Fun )
by Dov S-S Simens on August 6, 2016
SAVE $300,000… DON’T GO TO A 4-YEAR FILM SCHOOL
Now here’s why: The worst film schools in the world, without a question of a doubt, are probably NYU, USC & UCLA.
(Got an idea? Want to make a movie? Then a 4-year Film School is not the best route)
WHY?
Simple…. Cost, Money, Moola, Dollars… They, especially NYU, with all expenses, cost over $300,000 and consume 4-years of your life.
2 CommentsCANNES or SUNDANCE. FESTIVAL or MARKET (Awards or $300 Million…Pick One)
by Dov S-S Simens on August 2, 2016
CANNES, SUNDANCE & TORONTO: FILM MARKETS and FILM FESTIVALS
There are Film Festivals and there are Film Markets.
Festivals & Markets have absolutely nothing in common.
Film Festivals are about “Fluff & Awards”, with an undiscussed hope that you, with your film, will get either (A) Discovered or (B) a Distributor.
Film Markets are blatantly about Business-Business-Business…. Money, Pre-Selling, Financing, Profiting & More Money.
30-35 years ago I don’t think you could name more than 10 Film Festivals in the entire world….
1 CommentGOT GUTS? RATE YOUR SCREENPLAY (Does your Script S*ck… Take the Test)
by Dov S-S Simens on July 28, 2016
SCREENPLAYS: THERE ARE ONLY TWO TYPES OF SCRIPTS:
Your script is the key to opening the doors of the Movie Industry.
And, as a first-timer only GREAT will do… Always remember, “Hollywood can get away with mediocrity but first-timers, like you, can not (Yes, life is not fair) for good is not good enough and only GREAT will do”.
(Your script is either Great or it S*cks…
SCREW FESTIVALS. RENT-A-DISTRIBUTOR (To Guarantee Profits. Pay for P&A)
by Dov S-S Simens on July 25, 2016
CUT-TO-CHASE: PRODUCERS ALWAYS GET F*CKED.
You must control content. Distributors & Networks control content.
(Harvey Weinstein is a great Producer for he controls his content)
Hollywood (Warners, Paramount, 20th, Universal, Sony, Disney, etc.) has a simple saying that you, the independent filmmaker(s), have never heard… but they say it all the time & it is the truth.
So what is the saying?
I hope you’re an adult,
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