What Makes Low Budget Films So Successful? - GoFuckYourself.com

cheekycherry · 11-27-2006, 07:42 AM

Open water (the one filmed on cheap cameras in the sea) and Blair Witch Projects are 2 that come to mind.

These films cost fuck all to make, have no stars in them and made MIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLIONS...

What made them so successful?

hzoltan · 11-27-2006, 07:56 AM

they look real, that's why.
and blair witch had a great promotion

darksoul · 11-27-2006, 08:02 AM

because they're better than all the hollywood crap
when they've got no money they have to put their brains to use
because they can't use all the technology available to those with money.

blair witch 1 was good once he got the money blair witch 2 sucked.

Gary_TLX · 11-27-2006, 08:06 AM

Their director, and the promotion.

cheekycherry · 11-27-2006, 08:08 AM

But what was it inherent in the film that made them "special" and appeal to a mass market?

The two examples I suggested are both based on fear I guess. Playing to that emotion.

VegasKingPin · 11-27-2006, 08:10 AM

The movie Saw was low budget and made shit loads.

Saw was a financial success: shot on a meager budget of about US$1.2 million, it earned over $55 million at the box office.

ninavain · 11-27-2006, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheekycherry

Open water (the one filmed on cheap cameras in the sea) and Blair Witch Projects are 2 that come to mind.

These films cost fuck all to make, have no stars in them and made MIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLIONS...

What made them so successful?

I can name several more, such as

SAW 2 : cost 10 mil makes $80mil domestic
SAW 3 : cost 10 mil makes 76 mil domestic
CABIN FEVER cost 3 mil makes 40 mil

these numbers do not include DVD/Cable/Overseas $$$$

Horror is a genre that can sell w/out stars. But now with the explosion of DVDS/ BLU RAY/ HDVD Giant screen TVs...movie studios have exclusive lines that go straight to DVD and sometimes do 3 times the business as the theatrical counterparts. People like staying home now. We are shooting our 1st horror film in FEB 07, cost nearly $100k . we will give you the results 6-12 months later

HeadPimp · 11-27-2006, 08:14 AM

Most small movies actually have some thought and effort put into the script. Hollywood only seems to be able to rip off Japan and India for movie ideas, or re-make old movies and TV shows.

cheekycherry · 11-27-2006, 08:15 AM

nina, you are actually who inspired this thread with your comments in my other thread about investments.

See, I think that's the key and you've hit the nail on the head. Horror. Horror is universal, men and women watch it. Whereas my GF doesn't like action and I don't like chick flicks.

For the guys saying Saw (great film btw) maybe I should clarify, even though Saw is considered low budget, I kinda meant low low budget. Kinda maximum a couple of hundred grand. or so.

E$_manager · 11-27-2006, 08:25 AM

There is a Russian movie "Brat" that had very low budget. It was a great success. May bebecause of the new ideas. Fresh and stylish and foremost - unique.

ForteCash · 11-27-2006, 08:27 AM

Don't forget about Napoleon Dynamite.. cost less than 400k to make and has made hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide with film/dvd/merchandising..

darksoul · 11-27-2006, 08:28 AM

now, don't draw the conclusion that a low budget is needed for success

if your scripter/producer sucks it really doesn't matter how big/small the budget is.

Edit: actually thats not entirely true. with a big enough budget you can make any shitty movie sucessfull (take titanic).

DjSap · 11-27-2006, 08:29 AM

then again for each successfull low budget film there are about a hundred that end up losing tons of money on the project...

rounders · 11-27-2006, 08:30 AM

I think because they are real, and they are acutally made to be funny because its from the heart.

ninavain · 11-27-2006, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheekycherry

nina, you are actually who inspired this thread with your comments in my other thread about investments.

See, I think that's the key and you've hit the nail on the head. Horror. Horror is universal, men and women watch it. Whereas my GF doesn't like action and I don't like chick flicks.

For the guys saying Saw (great film btw) maybe I should clarify, even though Saw is considered low budget, I kinda meant low low budget. Kinda maximum a couple of hundred grand. or so.

Ok let me find you a brand new low budget HIT

HARD CANDY/COST: $500k-$800k sold to LION'S GATE for $5 mil, it's DVD rental and sale have been double that.

WOLF CREEK
HOSTEL
CABIN FEVER

all have sequels coming, but also look at the straight to DVD properties
JEEPERS CREEPERS
PUPPET MASTERS THESE MOVIES ARE CHEAP and bring in hundred's of thousands.

Like I said in the other thread our producer friend is doing movies ( Like Vencie Underground) crappy cop movie $500k made 2.4 mil in sales..rent it tonight at Blockbuster.
When a movie is in the $200k-$500K..crappy story , corny idea, will still make it's money back if the production value is there.

A movie $1 million movie is the same as a $20 million..the difference is the casts pay salary.

Austin Powers 1 was considered a flop when it came out, not until after it hit DVD, is when it made real money and spawned the franchise, with the main producer being Demi Moore

Porn is FAST money..Movies are LONG money..You will make money on movie properties forever

cheekycherry · 11-27-2006, 08:54 AM

I like LONG money for sure.

This made me laugh, a user review from IMDB about that Venice Underground film.

"Somebody owes me 1 hour and 32 min's of my life back. This film is beyond terrible. If it'd been terrible I'd have suffered through it happily."

lol

I reckon, with the right idea, I could come up with the next cheaply made blockbuster. Hey, if you spend 10 or 20K and it does nothing, you've not lost much... Hmmm... definitely got my brain cogs working.

ninavain · 11-27-2006, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheekycherry

I like LONG money for sure.

This made me laugh, a user review from IMDB about that Venice Underground film.

"Somebody owes me 1 hour and 32 min's of my life back. This film is beyond terrible. If it'd been terrible I'd have suffered through it happily."

lol

I reckon, with the right idea, I could come up with the next cheaply made blockbuster. Hey, if you spend 10 or 20K and it does nothing, you've not lost much... Hmmm... definitely got my brain cogs working.

hit me up, got something for you

reynold · 11-27-2006, 08:58 AM

I guess it's basically the unique scare factor. Promotion comes next.

cheekycherry · 11-27-2006, 09:09 AM

You got skype instead nina (for typing chat not voice)? I don't really use ICQ

hzoltan · 11-27-2006, 09:15 AM

the story reveals only when you watched the movie. and if it has a good promotion, then you'll watch it...

marketsmart · 11-27-2006, 09:16 AM

because they are unique, not the same old crap

Pete-KT · 11-27-2006, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marketsmart

because they are unique, not the same old crap

Exactly, they actually take there time to make it good so they can make some money

ninavain · 11-27-2006, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheekycherry

You got skype instead nina (for typing chat not voice)? I don't really use ICQ

my username: ehartsoe

The Heron · 11-27-2006, 09:53 AM

Marketing.
You can sell pure shit to morons if you package it correctly.

I still haven't watched blair witch, it's on tv now and I still don't get it!

interracialtoons · 11-27-2006, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheekycherry

Open water (the one filmed on cheap cameras in the sea) and Blair Witch Projects are 2 that come to mind.

These films cost fuck all to make, have no stars in them and made MIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLIONS...

What made them so successful?

My experince as an actor trying to make it in Hollywood was that big companies use "formulas" to make movies; basing the next film on a concept that is "proven to make money"(even when it didn't).

So big budget movies must have certain events in the script to be made and they must "appeal" to the targeted demographic(which is usually where they call the average american a low-educated-racist who loves guns, violence and heroes)

Low budget films therefore have more room to branch out and be more interesting.

The Hollywood Formula:

- Boy meets pretty girl
- Boy sees villain
- Boy humiliates or roughs up bad nigga or spick(prefably in their own hood)
- Boy defeats villain
- Boy is now a hero
- entwined with, violence, guns, property damage, car chase
- Boy gets pretty girl
- Happy ending

My agent refused to peddle a script I wrote because "boy" didn't get "girl" and those were his exact words!

I am a believer that Rocky(I) was a hit because it evaded the formula:

- Rocky(boy) "accepts" ugly girl; sister of friend to get a job
- nigga humiliates boy
- no car chase, only controled violence in ring, no guns, no property damage
- Villain beats shit out of boy in ring
- Ending with just happy to be alive rather than just happy

Sly Stone wrote it himself and refused to change the script and that was a very good move.

11-27-2006, 07:42 AM	#1
cheekycherry Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 1,703	What Makes Low Budget Films So Successful? Open water (the one filmed on cheap cameras in the sea) and Blair Witch Projects are 2 that come to mind. These films cost fuck all to make, have no stars in them and made MIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLIONS... What made them so successful?

11-27-2006, 07:56 AM	#2
hzoltan Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: 21sextury Cash HQ Posts: 2,007	they look real, that's why. and blair witch had a great promotion __________________ Gabriel - [email protected] - ICQ 636275551

11-27-2006, 08:02 AM	#3
darksoul Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: /root/ Posts: 4,997	because they're better than all the hollywood crap when they've got no money they have to put their brains to use because they can't use all the technology available to those with money. blair witch 1 was good once he got the money blair witch 2 sucked. __________________ 1337 5y54\|)m1n: 157717888 BM-2cUBw4B2fgiYAfjkE7JvWaJMiUXD96n9tN Cambooth

11-27-2006, 08:06 AM	#4
Gary_TLX Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Budapest Posts: 776	Their director, and the promotion. __________________ Quality custom exclusive content: ICQ: 286786153 email: contact(at)tlxproductions(dot)com

11-27-2006, 08:25 AM	#10
E$_manager Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: pink adult dreams Posts: 13,557	There is a Russian movie "Brat" that had very low budget. It was a great success. May bebecause of the new ideas. Fresh and stylish and foremost - unique. __________________ Enjoy more sales with EnjoyBucks! Homemade: Asian : Ebony : GFs : Voyeur : Nudist : Public : 3D

11-27-2006, 08:08 AM	#5
cheekycherry Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 1,703	But what was it inherent in the film that made them "special" and appeal to a mass market? The two examples I suggested are both based on fear I guess. Playing to that emotion.

11-27-2006, 08:10 AM	#6
VegasKingPin Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 312	The movie Saw was low budget and made shit loads. Saw was a financial success: shot on a meager budget of about US$1.2 million, it earned over $55 million at the box office.

11-27-2006, 08:14 AM	#8
HeadPimp Bad Mo-Fo Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,772	Most small movies actually have some thought and effort put into the script. Hollywood only seems to be able to rip off Japan and India for movie ideas, or re-make old movies and TV shows.

11-27-2006, 08:15 AM	#9
cheekycherry Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 1,703	nina, you are actually who inspired this thread with your comments in my other thread about investments. See, I think that's the key and you've hit the nail on the head. Horror. Horror is universal, men and women watch it. Whereas my GF doesn't like action and I don't like chick flicks. For the guys saying Saw (great film btw) maybe I should clarify, even though Saw is considered low budget, I kinda meant low low budget. Kinda maximum a couple of hundred grand. or so.

11-27-2006, 08:27 AM	#11
ForteCash Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Posts: 3,278	Don't forget about Napoleon Dynamite.. cost less than 400k to make and has made hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide with film/dvd/merchandising.. __________________ NO PILLS - NO EXPENSIVE STRETCHERS - JUST REAL EXERCISES THAT WORK! "Upsell Your Members The Top Penis Enlargement Site!" Link Exchanges & Traffic Trades www.penilefitness.com/links/ ICQ: 63935693 $50 per trial with www.ForteCash.com

11-27-2006, 08:28 AM	#12
darksoul Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: /root/ Posts: 4,997	now, don't draw the conclusion that a low budget is needed for success if your scripter/producer sucks it really doesn't matter how big/small the budget is. Edit: actually thats not entirely true. with a big enough budget you can make any shitty movie sucessfull (take titanic). __________________ 1337 5y54\|)m1n: 157717888 BM-2cUBw4B2fgiYAfjkE7JvWaJMiUXD96n9tN Cambooth Last edited by darksoul; 11-27-2006 at 08:30 AM..

11-27-2006, 08:29 AM	#13
DjSap Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,869	then again for each successfull low budget film there are about a hundred that end up losing tons of money on the project... __________________ Blog Themes, TGP Design, Writing Services, Grunt Work ICQ: 66871495

11-27-2006, 08:30 AM	#14
rounders Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: p0rn0stars & h0es Posts: 2,931	I think because they are real, and they are acutally made to be funny because its from the heart. __________________ ICQ#: 153923840

11-27-2006, 08:54 AM	#16
cheekycherry Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 1,703	I like LONG money for sure. This made me laugh, a user review from IMDB about that Venice Underground film. "Somebody owes me 1 hour and 32 min's of my life back. This film is beyond terrible. If it'd been terrible I'd have suffered through it happily." lol I reckon, with the right idea, I could come up with the next cheaply made blockbuster. Hey, if you spend 10 or 20K and it does nothing, you've not lost much... Hmmm... definitely got my brain cogs working.

11-27-2006, 08:58 AM	#18
reynold Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Global Traveler Posts: 51,271	I guess it's basically the unique scare factor. Promotion comes next.

11-27-2006, 09:09 AM	#19
cheekycherry Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 1,703	You got skype instead nina (for typing chat not voice)? I don't really use ICQ

11-27-2006, 09:15 AM	#20
hzoltan Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: 21sextury Cash HQ Posts: 2,007	the story reveals only when you watched the movie. and if it has a good promotion, then you'll watch it... __________________ Gabriel - [email protected] - ICQ 636275551

11-27-2006, 09:16 AM	#21
marketsmart HOMICIDAL TROLL KILLER Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sunnybrook Institution for the Criminally Insane Posts: 20,419	because they are unique, not the same old crap

11-27-2006, 09:53 AM	#24
The Heron Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 4,488	Marketing. You can sell pure shit to morons if you package it correctly. I still haven't watched blair witch, it's on tv now and I still don't get it!