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Bad Influence

7/27/2016

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There is a trend that I can’t quite put my finger on – casting “INFLUENCERS” in a film to please potential distributors.
 
What is an INFLUENCER? Any random person with a huge social media following that suddenly wants to act. Anyone can act, right? That’s not a profession that takes years of training, classes and hard work to master…
 
The thought is, cast said influencer, they tweet/snap/instagram your project, and all of their millions of followers will flock to theaters on the release date. But does that actually happen?
 
Who are these followers? First, let’s reduce the number by half to eliminate the bots that aren’t actually humans.
 
Now were down to real people. Are they the target demographic of your film? Would they actually pay to see the movie? Or are they the gorilla crew keeping the torrent sites alive? I just don’t believe that the social media fan bases are buying $10 tix at AMC on a Friday night. They’re streaming, baby!
 
Influencers make a living by being paid anywhere from $20k-200k to shill products on their pages.
 
On a recent project, I was in negotiations with one of them. There was a lot of pressure from the distributors to cast, let’s call him “Jack,” as the lead. To be safe, we enrolled him in acting classes immediately. He was young and green, but seemed eager enough to make it work.
 
Cut to: two month’s later when he only made it to 2/10 sessions that we PAID for, and when he did actually go, it became clear that he had never read the script. I will never forget the day the acting coach called me to say: “I don’t think I’m a good fit to teach him.” Let’s just say it’s not a good sign when the teacher quits.
 
We had a very awkward conversation with “Jack’s” management, and decided that we would recast the lead but give him a small supporting role so he could still be part of the project. Of course, the smaller role meant a smaller fee. The response from the manager was priceless: “Well he get’s paid that much for 1 instagram post. So if you want him to promote your movie, he’ll do it for scale but then you have to pay his going rate per post.” I think my phone may have exploded at that point, or I had a stroke, because I can’t recall the rest of the conversation.
 
Is that what our business has come to? Cast someone with no talent in a random role and pay them extra to tweet to their (potentially purchased) “fanbase.” No thank you.
 
 
Distributors: isn’t there value to great acting? Will people really enjoy a poorly played movie just because their favorite youtube sensation makes a cameo?
 
I completely understand the rational behind casting big names, but it used to be big name ACTORS. Reality television, vine, and snapchat does not an actor make.
 
I also have yet to see one movie starring said influencers have a successful big box office release.
 
As much as this trend makes me cringe as a filmmaker, I can’t imagine how the actors are taking it. I could just see their inner monologue: “Should I go to my class at Groundlings today and work on my craft, or just go take a selfie in a thong at Runyon to get more followers?” I really can’t say what will help your career more.


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We have to reschedule...

7/25/2016

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​For the past 10 years that I’ve spent in the entertainment business, I’ve grown accustomed to people rescheduling meetings 1, 2, 3 even 4 times. Usually, the appointment gets confirmed by both assistants a day prior, but then something peculiar happens – about an hour before, one of the two parties calls to cancel.
 
It doesn’t even phase me since it happens more often then not, until a friend recently pointed out that it doesn’t happen in any other business, or any other city for that matter. Do people in LA not know how to manage their schedules? Do force majeure style events happen so regularly that we shouldn’t be insulted by last minute cancelations?
 
The more I thought about it, the quicker I realized that it isn’t even limited to business meetings, but outing with friends as well. An hour before a planned brunch, hike, yoga class, coffee date, it’s still ok to bail. WAS EVERYONE IN LA RAISED BY WOLVES???
 
And then it dawned on me. This is a city obsessed with “BIGGER, BETTER DEAL.” All plans are technically tentative in case something better comes along. Meetings are canceled with no regard to the other party, as long as the reason may serve you greater in the longer run. Plans with friends can be dropped at any moment if someone more interesting/famous/with bigger tits comes along.
 
As Stephanie Tanner would say, “How Rude!!!”
 
When you commit to a meeting or any plans for that matter, don’t say yes unless you mean it. I’d much rather be told no in the first place than strung along until I give up. I go back and forth between thinking it’s like trying to convert to Judaism (where the Rabbi denies you three times to make sure you’re serious), or maybe they’re just not ballsy enough to say no, so they’re torturing me until lose interest. Do they want me to keep rescheduling, or are they hoping I’ll let it go…?
 
This whole concept feeds right into the stereotype that LA is famous for: everyone is nice to your face, and nasty behind your back. They yes you to death until it actually comes time to pull the trigger.
 
There is only one sector of the industry that has never canceled on me: the lawyers. Why would they? They’re changing you hourly for the meeting!
 
What if we all instilled cancelation policies? We can be inspired by airlines, hotels, and medical offices - no returns after 24 hours, non-refundable first night stays! Maybe our assistants will have to start taking an Amex to confirm a reservation…
 
I have a great idea for a science fiction movie: In a world where everyone actually fulfills their commitments, pigs fly as a young filmmaker attends a meeting with an agent that has never been rescheduled…


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The Indie Film Investor: How to avoid the frauds, criminals and bullshitters

6/30/2016

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​The biggest hurdle to getting most indie films off the ground is getting the money to actually get them made. Most filmmakers are going the route of crowd funding and harassing their extended family and facebook friends (that they haven’t spoken to since middle school) to pitch in $50 towards their dream. Come on, we’ve all done it. But when you get past a certain budget threshold into the 7-figure range, only Zach Braff can pull it off on kickstarter.
 
So what’s there to do? You attach some noteworthy names, design a kick ass pitch deck, and you go out to high net worth individuals, hoping to seduce them into the ultra sexy/glam movie biz.
 
Then it happens! Somebody is interested! You have a potential investor!
 
What no one in this industry will admit is that 99% of the time, these private investors turn out to be TOTAL FUCKING FRAUDS. Most people would rather put a rose tinted filter over their “making of” stories, and not share the true horrors of vetting an investor.  
 
Here is how it actually goes down, sans facetune.
 
Phase 1: THE HONEYMOON
When start dating your investor, everything feels wonderful. He loves your script, thinks the cast is spot on, and has a huge passion for filmmaking. He will treat you to fancy dinners - you may even fly to meet him at his exotic villa in Mauritius. This is the honeymoon phase. At this point, you naively tell your colleagues and friends that you found your perfect ANGEL investor. You start verbally discussing the main points of the deal, everything feels fair, and its time to start putting an agreement together.
 
Phase 2: SHARK TANK
In a new relationship, nothing looks as good the morning after. The buzz has worn off and you’ve already slept together on the first date. Now all of a sudden, your Angel turns into a Shark.
 
The investor actually has some creative notes on the script, which he demands be completely re-written, and insists upon casting Rachel McAdams as the lead, because really, he’s always had a thing for her, and this is his chance to whisk her off her feet. So what if he’s never even read a script before, his notes are valid! And the lead character is a 50 year old transgender Latina? That’s what makeup and special effects are for!
 
Also, he wants 75% of the backend instead of the standard 50/50 split between creative and investors, and rather than taking advantage of the tax credit in Georgia/Lousiana/Canada, he suggests you shoot the entire film in a warehouse in Bulgaria that he always envisioned turning into a studio.
 
PHASE 3: EXCHANGING VOWS
Once you jump through all of the shark’s hoops, you finally get to a place where you both feel comfortable. You agree to stalk Rachel McAdams at the Soho House so he can send her a drink, and he agrees to come down to 51% and shoot in Georgia.
 
Your lawyer puts a Deal Memo together reflecting the negotiations, everyone signs, the investor steps on the glass, everyone yells Mazel Tov, and it’s time to fund the production account.
 
PHASE 4: FAILURE TO CONSUMATE
To consummate your marriage and go into pre-production, the investor has to fund the production account. 1% of the time, everything goes as planned, and the train leaves the station. But what no one ever talks about is when the funds don’t show up.
 
I have heard every excuse in the book from investors when the money doesn’t arrive. First they say the wire is on the way. When it doesn’t hit your account, they offer a personal check. When the check doesn’t clear after a 7 day hold, they offer a wire again. Then they get annoyed that you have been harassing them for money. Then they stop answering your calls/texts/emails.
 
PHASE 5: WHO THE FUCK DID I MARRY?
When things go sour in a relationship and you stop hearing from your ex-lover, it’s hard not to resort to social media stalking. You just want to see what they are up to. You are obsessed with tracking them down and finding out why they are too busy to talk to you. You Google them too, and you always find something weird.
 
People don’t change. If an investor has flaked on you, it’s pretty likely he’s done it before, and there will be a record of it. You might find old lawsuits or my personal favorite, mugshots. How could you be so stupid! If you want to sue him for fraud or breach of contract, you better get in line!
 
PHASE 6: ACCEPTANCE
You feel like an idiot. How could you have fallen for such a lying, scheming, criminal? It’s time to move on and find someone more suitable. But you can’t make the same mistake twice.
 
Here are a few simple steps to vet an investor:
 
Stalk
Always Google your investor. It doesn’t take much to find out if they actually own the fancy mansion they are staying in in Beverly Hills, or if that is in fact their personal yacht and not a charter. Use websites like Blockshopper or Spokeo, check property tax records, call the captain of the yacht if you have to. Your reputation is at stake! Pay attention to the details they give you in conversation and make notes so you can verify them. You would be shocked to see how often people lie.  

Background Checks
Find out where your investor does business and check both civil and criminal court records is those counties. Check under their personal names and their businesses. These searches can be done in most counties online at the county clerk’s website. Also, a simple Google search of their name and the word “mugshot” is surprisingly effective. This is also fun to do with names of family and friends.  

Proof of Funds
Ask to see proof of funds once you start negotiating the actual deal memo with your lawyers. If they have the cash, they shouldn’t be turned off by this simple request. Think of it as asking your tinder date if they’ve gotten tested – if they show resistance, there is most likely Valtrex in their medicine cabinet. People without secrets have nothing to hide.  
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There is an old saying: fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Vet your investors.



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