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Pre-Production Casting, lining up crew Shooting script and shooting schedule finalized Read-throughs of script Equipment lined up Production design (sets, costumes, etc.) Cross-promotions, product placement, etc. Location scouting
Above-the-line & below-the-line
Location Scouting “Oregon’s incredibly varied locations are not only in close proximity to each other, but also within a two hour flight of Los Angeles. People living in LA can be on a plane in the morning, work a full day in Oregon and be back at home the same night.”
Production Principal photography Second unit shooting
A typical studio feature film
produced in LA spends an average
of $200,000per day.
Test Screenings ”Did you like it?” “What didn’t you like about it?”
“Would you recommend it to people?”
“If not, why not?”
An Average Hollywood Budget
Average Cost (in millions)
Initial Budget: $80 million
$37m P&A
$65m negative
costs
Cost Breakdowns
Camels: $81,375
Riders, grooms: $79,748
Horses: $71,610
Stabling, transport: $53,989
Horse, camel master: $51,638
Veterinarian: $9,184
Payment to stop a river improvement project: $40,688
“Political/Mayoral support”: $23,250
Sources of Revenue
Theatrical release
Video/DVD release
International release
Cable/Television release
Other windows
Product Placement
Tie-ins & Cross-Promotions
Merchandise
For Sahara:
Loss (as of 2007) = $78.3 million
Pre-Production & Production
Challenges: ◦ How much financing is in place?◦ How much time can cast and crew
commit to production?
Production eased:◦ Digital technologies (e.g., high-end
digital cameras like the Red One camera)
Post-Production Challenges:
◦ Has filmmaker adhered to budget?◦ Was budget realistic to complete movie?◦ Was movie financed for production only, or was post-
production included?
Post-production eased:◦ Again, digital tools: Avid, Final Cut Pro, Pro Tools
Employed 27,000-34,000 people every month making films
Annual payroll ranged from $133 million to $145 million◦ 80% of actors (extras included) earned under
$15,000 per year; 45% earned less than $4,000
Spent $186.8 million making movies in 1939 Box office receipts = $673 million in 1939
Hollywood Data, circa 1941
From: Leo Rosten, Hollywood: The Movie Colony, 1941
President
Studio chief
Associate producers
Screenwriters
Directors
Actors
Cinematography, editing, casting, art direction, makeup, etc.
Publicity
Types of Workers
Louis B. Mayer (Head of MGM)
Herman J. Mankiewicz (worked on Citizen Kane, It’s a Wonderful Life, etc.)
The Studio Star System Studios “owned” stars
◦ Under contract◦ Had to take the role given to them
◦ Or be in breach of contract and have to make up the time missed (contract is extended)
◦ Often “loaned out” to other studios
Practice ended due to vertical disintegration, reduction in production costs, etc. starting in 1950s.
The Star System Today
“The value of stardom relies partly on its rarity.”
Agents Managers Publicists
Entertainment Lawyers
Agents “Person or corporation who engages in the occupation of procuring, offering, promising or attempting to procure employment for an artist or artists” (McDonald, p. 168)
Personal Managers “It’s our job to take the whole picture into account, not just the particular job.”
--Bernie Brillstein, manager
Managers + Agents = turf war?
Keanu Reeves and manager Erwin Stoff
43 different craft and talent groups, including:
IATSE
Conference of Studio Unions
SAG-AFTRA
Screen Writers Guild
Screen Directors Guild
American Federation of Musicians
Screen Cartoonists Guild
Trade Unions/Guilds
Trade Unions and Guilds How do unions/guilds help?
◦ Generally: salaries, benefits, working conditions◦ Specific to media: royalties/residuals, credits
This is typically accomplished through collective bargaining.
Job Conditions Fewer opportunities in higher-budget employment
Pressure (on part of studios) to reduce production costs
More difficulty in negotiating appropriate compensation