Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Audiophilander (A) on July 07, 2002 at 10:06:54

In Reply to: studied stupidity from studios posted by late on July 06, 2002 at 07:44:31:

The little films still get made and released and often make a profit, but probably not when compared with summer blockbusters. Why? Because folks are looking for F-U-N!!! Parents are looking for films that can entertain themselves and the kids who are out of school. Kids and older teens aren't looking for intellectual "foo" either; what they want is something to take their minds off of the normal presures of being an adolescent.

Small-market films are much cheaper to make, more likely to be considered at Oscar time, and do their best business in the Spring and Fall (i.e., when school is back in session). Small films still thrive because actors who typically make the Big Bucks in blockbusters often take cuts in their salaries to appear in "prestige" pictures in the hopes of getting Oscar attention and thereby making the box-office demand even higher. Note: As I see it, a star's demand is probably based on how well he/she "opens" a picture; the amount of fall-off from week to week can therefore be attributed to the movie's direction and scripting.

So, while I will concede your point about some studios and certain "big-wigs" in Hollywood trying to contract theaters to show certain big-budget films ad infinitem (i.e., George Lucas comes to mind instantly!), I can't agree with your glaring generalities about the whole industry being composed of "idiots."

AuPh