By David Poland poland@moviecitynews.com
Hot Button Rules of Thumb (first published in 2006)
Top 10 Hot Button Rules of Thumb
I just ran into this list, posted somewhere 8 years ago.
There is really only one specific change. In item #2, the DVD market has changed and international has become a much more significant force. I would still say that $150m domestic is still not a blockbuster, but often the start of a road to more than $300 million in returns to the distributor and/or funders. These days, a blockbuster starts anywhere between $200m – $250 domestic, depending on expected international results. There were 11 films over $200m domestic in 2012 and 13 in 2013. And in most cases, production costs of the films in that range have gone up substantially as well.
TOP TEN HOT BUTTON RULES OF THUMB
1. Great Media Outlets’ Standards Are Less Stringent When The Subject Is Entertainment And That Sucks.
2. $150 Million Is No Longer A Blockbuster In Theatrical… But Right Now Represents The Start Of A Road To More Than $200 Million In Returns to The Studio In Most Cases Thanks To The New DVD Market And Expanded International Theatrical Market.
3. Successful Movie Advertising Sells One Idea At A Time… And There Actually Has To Be An Idea Worth Selling.
4. The Story Of The Moment Is Almost Never The Real Story.
5. There Are Very Few Journalists In Entertainment Journalism.
6. Talent Is Your Friend Until It’s Time For Talent Not To Be Your Friend.
7. Reviewing Scripts Or Test Screenings Is Selfish And Immoral… You Do Not Know What Effect Sticking Your Nose Into Process Will Have And More Often Than Not It Is Negative.
8. Opening Weekend Is Never About The Quality Of The Movie.
9. There Are Things I Know And Things I Don’t Know And Sometimes They Change.
10. Love What You Do And Do What You Love Or Get The Fuck Out.
I remember this list….. #8 made an impression.
I would say about #4 that the story of the moment is indeed not the real story. In fact the story is never, ever the story, because there are no journalists in entertainment journalism. Period. If there were, they would have gotten Weinstein a couple of decades ago, instead of enabling him at every turn.