It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?
So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.
And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it — I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.
There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.
I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury — he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” — and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging — I was with her at that moment — she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.
But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy named—” “Yeah, sure — you want his phone number?”
My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher
“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that I’m on the phone with you now, after all that’s been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. There’s not a case of that. He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. I’m not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, “You know, it’s not this, it’s that”? Because — let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, that’s what it lacked. That’s what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.
~ David Simon
as very “anti avatar” as some people are, you are extremely “pro avatar”.
If the film gets to 600 million worldwide, and i have no reason to think it won’t, i doubt there’s going to be much celebrating on any of the partners ends.
700 million, 800 million, now we’ll see some tapdancing. Any more than that, gravy.
But let’s be realistic. what’s the home sell through on this one comparatively speaking. Owning the Avatar experience at home will be possible for high end spenders with 3D televisions and blu ray systems, but the kind of sell through they want is for blockbusters. not blockbusters with a faulty home component because the whole point is the ‘cinematic experience’.
im curious as to the sell through numbers on 3D movies. I would have to imagine that outside of Pixar and other animated 3D films aimed at families that the sell through isn’t as impressive.
do you think there’s a chance that Avatar on Blu Ray and DVD will suffer because of the scaled down home experience?
I don’t really care about pro or con, Anghus. I just care about disregarding facts or not making the effort to explore the facts in order to make your pre-determined point. That’s unacceptable for any journalist, but truly disgusting for a Timeser.
The film should be close to $700 million worldwide by Jan 3. I am being conservative. I still think you’re looking at over a billion in the end.
And again, the “celebrating” was a balance to the idea that the funders were still having to worry about avoiding a “financial calamity.”
As for the sell-thru… it will be one of the biggest titles of the last 3 years, regardless of the 3D issue.
Would there be bigger numbers if there was quality 3D available for Blu-ray or traditional DVD? Sure. But 9 million units is likely the low number.
“do you think there’s a chance that Avatar on Blu Ray and DVD will suffer because of the scaled down home experience?”
Allow me to jump in here and say that this won’t happen. While it may be a small factor.
Let’s not forget that Blu Ray buyers are already better equipped than most so that segment should take care of itself.
And as for regular definition buyers, let’s not forget that a very high perecentage of people will see this movie in 2D. I see no reason to believe that those same people will be put off against buying something just because they would not be recrate the authentic theatrical experience. If the movie is well liked and is seen as an entertaining event for various age groups (which it is) then it will sell well.
Pixar and others had little problem pushing their 3D home releases. When the time comes, “Avatar” will not suffer.
Especially when you begin to consider that Blu-Rays are seen by many as an investment of sorts & it’s likely that Avatar will continue to sell for years to come.
In fact, I bet we’ll see more than one edition and re-release.
P.S. I think it is implied within Poland’s piece that “Avatar” will get to $700+ million and this could be the main reason he’s so mad at Barnes (i.e. see the signs, dude).
Gonzo Knight, while I agree with you on the Pixar/animated releases…those are animated films. The history of recent live-action 3D films is short enough that you really can’t draw a conclusion.
“Journey to the Center of the Earth” was the 23rd top grossing film of 2008…but the DVD didn’t gross enough to crack the top 50 on this year’s or last year’s DVD charts, even though family films typically sell more on the home market.
The Hannah Montana concert film grossed 65 million at the box office, but only took in 18 million in DVD sales. This year’s non-3D Montana movie took in 79 million at the box office, and 47 million and counting in DVD sales.
My Bloody Valentine, on the other hand, pulled in 51 million at the box office this year and 19 million on the home market, slightly above par in relation to other comparable movies like “A Haunting in Connecticut” or “Orphan” this year.
Either way, comparing animated 3D films to live-action ones is apples and oranges. No one knows at this point, based on history, how Avatar will perform.
Gotta add that I finally thawed out enough to see “Avatar” today (I live in Fairfax County, Northern VA…we got 22 inches)….loved it…gotta add the 350 seat theatre was PACKED on a midday Monday, something no doubt aided by the fact the federal government and public schools were still closed.
One of the few times here that a film received generous applause as it ended.
Either way expect a higher than usual Monday number. As far as Fox goes, don’t forget they have their secret weapon coming this weekend in the ear-splitting Chipmunks 2.
You know, Dave, it’s quite obvious you are “pro” for this movie – you’ve had about a dozen blogs over the past week about it and you seem to be quite passionate about the film.
And hey, I’m right there with you – it’s just a fantastic entertainment, probably among my top five for the year alongside A Serious Man and Hurt Locker.
But I think I and many others will cry foul if you just dismiss this as “genre” and don’t even include it in your Top Ten for the year – if you love the movie, then you love the movie. I’ll be very suspicious if this places below An Education, Collapse, or Bright Star, or something like that – it’s a “movie” movie and a damn good one, at that. Have the courage of your convictions!
I just saw “Avatar” and was totally, totally blown away. Not sure I loved it story-wise, but what a terrific experience. I plan on seeing it again in 2D or maybe IMAX.
“Gonzo Knight, while I agree with you on the Pixar/animated releases…those are animated films. The history of recent live-action 3D films is short enough that you really can’t draw a conclusion.”
That was just the closest comparison I could find and with all of the CGI in Avatar it may not even be that inappropriate. You know, that actually drawing any strong conclusions just trying to find a sensible frame of reference. You are zeroing in on the less essential part of my argument. That said, your treating it a strict live action doesn’t make much sense either. It’s a hybrid (perhaps even more so than “Journey to the Center of the Earth”) that as different (or not different) to Hannah Montana and MBV as it is to “Wall-E”.
And speaking of Journey, the fact that it didn’t crack top 50 may not be very telling considering the relatively late release date for the DVD. BUT!, checking the data I can see that it did sell rather poorly. I’d venture a guess that the fact that it sold fewer than DVDs that may have been expected has to do with more than just the 3D aspect.
Not that I’m ruling out that it may have done it too, mind you. Yet this is another reason why I think a comparison with Pixar/DWA seems appropriate. While I haven’t seen Journey it seems to be that for that film the 3D aspect really dominated above everything else. I mean it’s right there in the title. Whereas Pixar, like AVATAR (and, perhaps, unlike some gimmicky horror flicks that all have 3D in the title) has more going for them and therefore are likely to be work great even in 2D. This was a fairly lengty paragraph so I hope my point actually came through ;).
I could also go on for hours why the DVD sales for Hannah Montana actually makes sense and how a Concert eperience is not exacetly the same as 3D experience and how freshness plays a role. But this is a topic for another day.
P.S. I agree that the Monday gross for Avatar will be very impressive.
Geoff – Not sure if it will make my top 3, but it will surely make the 10.
An Education is a good movie… not one that goes that high on my list if on my top 10 at all.
I like genre. B13 was very high on my Top 10 one year. I’m sure there are others. I have no bias against entertainment.
Well thanks, Dave – I feel better, now.
Ahem:
“Went to a 1:00 pm Sunday show of Avatar. At least 2/3 full. 1:00 pm. Usually about 4-10 people had about 200 people in a 300 seat theater. 75 million minimum.
Posted by: doug r [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 20, 2009 09:14 PM”
http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/archives/2009/12/weekend_estimat_70.html
Gobstopped that Fox didn’t fudge the numbers further for The Record. That said, the news stories had already been written that it hadn’t broken The Record, so the incentive to pull a few thousand from “Puerto Rico” just wasn’t there, even though early morning “actuals” were leaning that way.
Good on’em, I say.
Another small data point: sold out 3-d showings here in Boulder on a Monday night, with the students already out of town and all the other screens in the theater pretty much deserted. Applause at the end. My 9-year-old son already planning to see it again.
Matt, good for you, but here in the hood four people applauded. Four. The rest of the theatre sort of grumbled in unison. So, yeah, I am going with the WOM being mixed on it.
Hell, Neytiri is the shit, but she can barely keep the rest from the movie from being… weird. It’s just weird.
David, yeah I read that Brooks Barnes story and thought it was the most ludicrous thing I had ever read. It opened to $73 million in the US at no.1. The no. 2 film made $12. That is box office dominance. There has been terrific word of mouth, which means more people will be seeing it and there will be repeat viewings. This reminds me of the chatter around Peter Jackson’s King Kong, which was considered a flop because it didn’t make back its $200 million budget on its opening weekend. But the reality is the film ended up grossing $218 domestically and $500 worldwide.
And remember, Titanic only grossed $28 million in its opening weekend. Big flop that one.
IO, Avatar got at least an “A” Cinemascore across virtually all audience segments. Word of mouth isn’t going to be mixed.
Grady, what does that matter? Again, I posted a video yesterday from two guys who had mixed/to negative reaction to this film. I even have a mixed reaction to the film. So cinemascore means jack, squat, and two bags of monkey piss in this case.
Cinemascore? Cinemascore? Get out of here. Seriously though, it’s all international now. This weekend it should do the drop they all do, people will be shocked that the WOM did not carry it, and we will all wait to see if it gets any Oscar noms.
Oh yeah, Devin, if you are out there. Good show, sir. Good show.
Folks around me can’t stop talking about it, 110 hours after the fact.
I’d almost say it’s annoying, if not for the fact that I’m just interested enough to see it again myself.
Something something something dark siiide. Something something something complete.
I just read Devin’s review. Yeah, that’s pretty much what I thought, in general.
It’s a movie that relies entirely on astounding the viewer with visuals of Pandora. So what happens if you’re just not into Pandora and its designs?…
THEN YOU’RE A MONSTER.
Or not seeing it in IMAX 3D, yo.
IO’s “here in the hood” comment made me LOL.
IO, the point is that you’re clearly in the minority here.
@EthanG: “The Squeakel” opens tomorrow, giving Alvin and the Chipmunks a 2-day jump on the holiday.
@Tofu: Fox cannot legally include Puerto Rican grosses with U.S. box office. Puerto Rico is considered a foreign country for theatrical releases.
@RedheadedWonder: Anyone talking about repeat viewings is a fanboy or retarded. The company I worked for ordered furloughs this past year and will do so again in 2010.
As for me? I have no plans to see it. Breathless Hype! Corporate Synergy! Hard Sell! Name-Checking! Product Tie-Ins! What a piece of s#!t.
IO, don’t be the Dee Zee of AVATAR. You were wrong, son. Accept. And be of good cheer.
What movies does Chucky actually watch?
Super 8 home movies. No titles, credits or stars.
“Chucky you remember Uncle Phil, he was in your cousin Bernice’s Wedding”
“MOM, NO NAME CHECKING”
IO: $16.4 million more yesterday–3rd-highest non-holiday Monday ever. So much for that mixed word of mouth…
I kinda love that IO likes the film, but keeps rooting for it to die. He/She also continues to completely ignore the economics of movies in the holiday corridor.
Committed.
Insane. But committed.
IO is SO in the hood, yo. Hey, what if his hood buddies saw the Twilight posters on his wall, you think they’d shoot him?
Sorry, that’s bad form…I shouldn’t harp on the fact that IO has no friends to shoot him.
David, you are insane to think the way you do about a movie where the white guy saves the day, and has furries sex. Seriously, the fact that there’s furry sex in the movie, and no one is really talking about it. Cracks me up. Seriously, Devin put you and people like you in your place over at Chud. So stop acting all tough. The fact that the guy who jumps on every fucking lost cause there is, refers to me insane. Really needs to learn the definition of that word.
Nevertheless, grady that’s bullshit. Other movies have done bigger numbers on fucking Monday. Seriously, again, it’s done. I understand it’s the holidays, but it’s done.
“As for me? I have no plans to see it. Breathless Hype! Corporate Synergy! Hard Sell! Name-Checking! Product Tie-Ins! What a piece of s#!t.”
How about you stop talking about it then? INSANE.
ill never understand the psychology behind rooting against a film. i thought avatar was a visual feast with a poor story and some pretty crappy designs. But i could care less if it makes a billion or more. No one benefits from a failure.
I like the idea that Avatar and District 9 doing good numbers could be the catalyst for a Halo film, something i would love to see. Financial success breeds oppotunities. Failure gives us more GI Joes and Transformers 2, and fuck do we not need any more of those.
Perm, seriously, you are a bloody stain from your mother’s cooch. Always remember that you are this blog’s Penguin. Again, my hands, are deadlier than any weapons you could ever bring. You dumb ugly pointless fuck.
Christian, it did what it did, but I am still right. Seriously, it’s done. If you do not think it’s done, then you are obviously a very tanned Jewish fella. Who enjoys wearing scarves, and always has a show tune in his heart!
Anghus, it deserves to fail because of all the critics and reviewers who got on their knees, unbuckled Jimmy’s pants, and took it all in with one gulp. A total derivative story with FX that have done better in movies almost a decade old. It should fail because Poland liked it so much. So I will continue to root for it to fail just to prove a point about that man, and his horrible fucking taste! Hold on! Peter Berg is doing a Battleship movie next year! I can hear David cracking his knuckles with excitement right now.
Oh yeah, you are all fucking stupid. Dear lord, you are all stupid. Paul was right. Tell my sister, Paul was right. Fuck off, and have a happy new year.
“People like you,” IO?
“Again, my hands, are deadlier than any weapons you could ever bring.”
I’m sorry, this is one for the hall of fame.
Avatar grossed $16.4m on Monday. It’s gonna fail…any day now.
In the interest of keeping IOI from continuing to move the goalposts, I’d love to hear him say at what point the movie will stop being a ‘failure’.
Straight up, no joking around IO…you are truly ignorant. People like you are a blight on the world. It’s not that I disagree with your stances, but how you prsent them so mindlessly. You are a fool. I really hope you’re no older than 14. If so. you may as well sit back and take a hit off the crackpipe because there’s no hope for you.
“Other movies have done bigger numbers on fucking Monday.”
Avatar has the 3rd highest grossing non-holiday Monday ever, behind The Dark Knight and PotC:DMC. It’s Monday is 11th overall.
All the higher grossing mondays were also summertime films.
“my hands, are deadlier than any weapons you could ever bring”
I get the feeling that your hands are much more lovers than fighters.
IO, has it crossed your mind that your personal taste is not reflective of the world at large outside of DARK KNIGHT and…er, uh…TWILIGHT?
The Japanese will eat up AVATAR like sushi, as are other nations around the world, so how “weird” can it be? Clearly it’s a film that audiences want to see. Take it up with them, not just Poland.
god knows io is out to lunch and on a crusade to carry out some bizarre vendetta against cameron for having the audacity to make a movie that grossed higher than TDK, but avatar is kinda weird, but in the best possible artistic way
Counting all costs and all revenues, that puts the breakeven of worldwide theatrical at between $500m and $600m.
The general rule of thumb is a movie has to gross twice its production cost to break even in theatrical. Theaters have to share grosses with distribs, y’know. On that count “Avatar” has failed.
I hate to say it, fanboys, but that’s the ugly truth. Crikey.
Chucky, if you had read DP’s actual posting at the top of this page, you’d see that he believes the movie’s cost to be $310 million, not $500 million.
And I think it’s safe to say that if you think Perez Hilton is a better entertainment journalist than David Poland, you’re either terminally stupid or mentally deranged.
(or both)
IO and Chucky may as well be Holocaust deniers at this point as everything they are saying is so easily refutable.
Just wait until it’s made upwards of $300mil or whatever and they keep saying “nobody likes it!” just like Titanic.
@jeffmcm: I went to college for a couple of years, so don’t call me mentally deranged. Anyone who does is a mouth-breathing a$$hole.
Chucky, your behavior, specifically your insistence on posting bizarre, groundless, easily disprovable claims, plus your complete lack of interest in conversation and your inability to pick up on social cues are all symptoms of some kind of impairment.
And deranged people go to college all the time, so your argument fails (‘stupid’ would have been the stronger argument to make there).
A mouth breathing “what?” Chucky has used some kind of unbreakable code, I don’t know what he meant.
Of course what interests me in his last post is that he went to college for “a couple of years.” Didn’t mention graduation. Is that when you went mental, Chuck? A few years in college and that’s when the nice doctors put you in the padded room for awhile?