Are you tired of the mega-budget comic book action films and useless remakes of classics? When will the studio regain the river gambler mentality that made Hollywood great? There was a day when there was room for small independent or art films. I'm talking about films like The Big Chill, Diner, Ordinary People, Harold and Maude, to name a few of the many. I believe the studios would make a killing if they made a dozen smaller films instead of one of their mega-budget comic book films. All they'd need is for one of them to find an audience. For the record, George Lucas made two of those films American Graffiti followed by Star Wars. As late as early post-production most executives thought it would never break even. It was simply his "pet" project.
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I wish it would happen again, but it's unlikely to occur - well, not this decade, anyway.
I agree likely not soon. Maybe after the comic books run out of gas. Everything does. Big musicals, Westerns, Gangster films have all been the films to make at one time or another. Eventually, the audience gets tired of them. Speaking of Westerns I looking forward to Old Henry a small-budget old-style western. The trailer has my interest.
There are so many opportunities outside of the studio system which is really exciting. Especially in that $3-5m range. Most “studio” producers I k now who used to go through a major are now getting indie financiers to come on instead.
That is good to see. Are they able to get decent distribution deals? I can remember when films had a couple of kicks at the can before they were left for dead. Bonnie Clyde only became a hit in North American with its 3rd release and after becoming a hit in England. There were many other situations like that. Today even with the multiplex some films get only get a week on a few screens. I remember when Cineplex created the first 16 plex and there was a different film on every screen. Today you might see six to eight titles spread through those screens. Then there's the issue with advertising. I've seen films released without a poster. A handwritten sign will not put butts in the seats.