Despite rich storylines and low-ish budgets, these five projects somehow couldnt get funding for a theatrical release. Heres why.
For years there has been talk about the impending death of mid-budget movies that occupy the real estate between indies and their wealthier cousins, the north of $100 million dollar spectacles. As Labor Day looms, audiences this summer have been subjected to an unusual number of big budget movies. Mid-budget sleepers like American Beauty and My Big Fat Greek Wedding are fewer and farther between nowadays.
Lincoln, we are told, came "this close" to becoming an HBO film. Even Ron Howard is not immune from the headaches of film financing in this present hour of the wolf. Big budget films like The Avengers do not have problems getting funding -- although after this disappointing summer of the tentpoles, that might be up for reassessment. Smaller films, even medium-to-mid budget films are in trouble.
Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo might actually become the go-to fallback for low-budget films in the $3 to $6 million range that cannot find funding elsewhere. The filmmaking community will be watching the box office returns of Veronica Mars and Wish I Was Here to see if it is a viable way to partially fund. The Canyons raised almost $160,000; Anomalisa raised over $400,000. Kickstarter donors have pledged nearly $60 million to film projects in the year leading to January 2013.
Inception is an instructive example of what a smart, mid-budget movie can do if given half a chance.
The international market, where most films make their money, has increased pressure on filmmakers even more. "Someone from the audience asked what genre work best in the foreign market," blogged Evening Sea Entertainment, at last years Small World: The Challenges of Global Production panel at the PGA Produced By conference. "It was easier for the panel to say what doesn't work, American comedy. It just doesn't translate. The Hangover did very well, but that is rare. Action does well, like the Bourne series. Inception, surprisingly, did very well in China."
Inception is an instructive example of what a smart, mid-budget movie can do if given half a chance. And Inception, quite frankly, wouldnt even have been made had not Christopher Nolan -- a proven big budget director -- been attached. "This shortsighted death-spiral of the original, mid-budget film has continued even amidst some great original-film success stories, like Inception, which Warner Brothers made as a favor to Christopher Nolan for the Batman films a favor, that is, that grossed $825 million worldwide," wrote Zachary Wigon last year on this blog. Here are five lower to medium to mid-budget movies that shouldnt have had trouble getting funding -- but, in this day and age -- did:
Inside Man 2
Spike Lee has gone the crowdfunding route of late because of his well-publicized problems getting studio funding. The biggest casualty of this ongoing conflict with the suits is that Inside Man -- which was Spike Lees most profitable film, making $185 million worldwide -- will never have a sequel. (W)e can't get the sequel made. And one thing Hollywood does well is sequels. The film's not getting made," Lee told Charlie Rose at PromaxBDA. "We tried many times. It's not going to happen. Charlie Rose recently donated $20 to Lees Kickstarter campaign (on air, of course).
Eastern Promises 2
Eastern Promises more than doubled its initial investment of $25 million. Profitability based on previous performance -- as in the aforementioned case of Spike Lee -- doesnt appear to factor into the decision. The sequel to David Cronenbergs gritty film about the brutality of the Russian mafia appears, quixotically, to be dead on arrival. Cronenberg told The Playlist. [But] Its done... If you dont like it talk to James Schamus at Focus. It was his decision.
Spawn Sequel/Remake
Todd MacFarlane plans to self-finance the sequel/remake of his cult superhero movie Spawn. His plan to make the film more horror than comic book mega action film was not met with applause at the studios. "We had New Line and then it went over to Sony," MacFarlane told MTV recently. "Then I had a couple of meetings with other people and we got pretty close. But I could see they just werent quite on the same page as what I wanted to do, so I just said, Nah, thats OK." Spawn is scheduled to begin production in 2014.
David Lynchs "Typically Dark" Film
Whatever happened to David Lynchs "typically dark" script? Was the problem that it couldnt get financed, as he has been hinting at his retirement from film. In Februarys New York Times magazine story on Lynch, it was leaked that the filmmaker was working on another script. "I reached Lynch by phone at his hotel room in Paris. Bob Roth had told me that Lynch said he was working on a new script and that it was typically dark," wrote Claire Hoffman. "When I asked Lynch about this, he paused, annoyed. Bobby's got a big mouth, he said. I asked him if the script was influenced by his work with T.M., and he said no, absolutely not. This will be a David Lynch picture, he said, adding, I think people would probably recognize it." Then -- nothing. By June the acclaimed director turned pessimistic, talking about never making another movie again to The Independent.
And One That Did, But Not For Theatrical Release: Behind The Candelabra
Behind The Candelabra, despite competing at Cannes, was considered "too gay" by the studios, according to director Steven Soderbergh. "Nobody would make it. We went to everybody in town," the director told TheWrap in January, at the Television Critics Association winter press tour. "We needed $5 million. Nobody would do it." Despite the fact that the film had a major director at the helm and proven stars like Matt Damon and Michael Douglas on board, it took HBO t
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
Despite rich storylines and low-ish budgets, these five projects somehow couldnt get funding for a theatrical release. Heres why. 
