tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post114960597841935839..comments2023-12-16T16:50:25.810-08:00Comments on The Heart of the Matter: Shhh... It's a Secret...Barry Eislerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785333622697500192noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-1150028173179559522006-06-11T05:16:00.000-07:002006-06-11T05:16:00.000-07:00"In the days before Pixar, a low-budget film like ..."In the days before Pixar, a low-budget film like Casablanca could become an Oscar-winning hit with a message that endures generations. How long will we remember this particular permutation of Superman?"<BR/><BR/>I don't know much about movies, but in the days of Casablanca, weren't there fewer movies to choose from in the theaters at any one time? Plus, there were no dvd players and not as many other entertainment options. Therefore, there was less competition for customers looking for entertainment. <BR/><BR/>With so many options now, I bet it's more difficult to generate buzz, so there's an escalating arms race in trying to outdo the other guys for a smaller and smaller market of people who will go to a theater to see a new release. Same dynamic in the publishing industry.<BR/><BR/>Of course, marketing has always contained a smoke-and-mirrors element to it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-1150000519100968422006-06-10T21:35:00.000-07:002006-06-10T21:35:00.000-07:00Barry,Nice mention on the front page of today's Wa...Barry,<BR/><BR/>Nice mention on the front page of today's Wall Street Journal! Two mentions in two paragraphs.<BR/><BR/>DougAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-1149991389747825532006-06-10T19:03:00.000-07:002006-06-10T19:03:00.000-07:00My husband was in a movie, Heaven and Earth, the J...My husband was in a movie, Heaven and Earth, the Japanese epic, but I digress.<BR/><BR/>From the publisher's side of the equation, I find this fascinating. I never gave the numbers a second thought.Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-1149911737687847532006-06-09T20:55:00.000-07:002006-06-09T20:55:00.000-07:00Hollywood has gone mad. Have you been on a movie s...Hollywood has gone mad. <BR/><BR/>Have you been on a movie shoot? Me? Once. The amount of food was unbelievable. The number of paid extras, production people and actors standing around waiting for their 2 seconds of fame, astronomical. Multiply all those people and all that food by weeks and weeks and weeks of shooting, add in locations all over the world, equipment, set design and production, props, costumes, pre-production expenses, the cost of residuals, toss in some VERY expensive special effects, focus groups, editing costs and the producers' cut, never mind the stars salaries, and I can easily see how the total could hit $270 million.<BR/><BR/>Which poses the question: Why?<BR/><BR/>In the days before Pixar, a low-budget film like Casablanca could become an Oscar-winning hit with a message that endures generations. How long will we remember this particular permutation of Superman?Elizabeth Kreckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12122785972211597168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-1149785151098967172006-06-08T09:45:00.000-07:002006-06-08T09:45:00.000-07:00Good seeing you, too Brett, and thanks again for c...Good seeing you, too Brett, and thanks again for coming.<BR/><BR/>Joe, now it's 1400 hundred and 48 bookstores... ;-)<BR/><BR/>Dying to post on the proposed gay marriage amendment! But I've got a bunch of stores I want to hit in Phoenix this morning, and a long drive to El Paso today. Maybe tonight, if I'm awake enough...<BR/><BR/>:-)Barry Eislerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17785333622697500192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-1149732891319402912006-06-07T19:14:00.000-07:002006-06-07T19:14:00.000-07:00So when you say you've driven "1000 miles" and vis...So when you say you've driven "1000 miles" and visited "35 bookstores"...JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-1149686044815412812006-06-07T06:14:00.000-07:002006-06-07T06:14:00.000-07:00It all goes back to that old adage,"Don't believe ...It all goes back to that old adage,"Don't believe everything you hear(or read)". Problem is, sometimes that's all we get...just what the powers that be want us to hear. The other old saw that springs to mind is "bigger is better...the more it costs, the more it's worth". Not always true but oh so believable. That's why Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets go for $200.00 a pop...costs that much? Wow must be great!<BR/>Glad the tour is going so well...even without the sleep :o)<BR/>And so glad you found the time to post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-1149686004597429012006-06-07T06:13:00.000-07:002006-06-07T06:13:00.000-07:00Personally, I want to see the movie because it is ...Personally, I want to see the movie because it is Superman. They could say it was a 5 million dollar budget, or a 270 million dollar budget. I would still fork over my 9 bucks to see this in the theaters.<BR/><BR/>I look for stories that I am interested in, not budgets.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22165230.post-1149615206907777212006-06-06T10:33:00.000-07:002006-06-06T10:33:00.000-07:00Hollywood not telling the truth? Barry, say it ain...Hollywood not telling the truth? Barry, say it ain't so! <BR/><BR/>All right. I have to admit I actually work in "Hollywood." And the fact that numbers would be inflated to pump up anticipation of a BIG MOVIE is not surprising. Studios will do whatever it takes to get certain movies noticed. Sadly, more often than not, these are the flicks that suck. <BR/><BR/>I don't doubt that the big blockbusters are expensive, but with the creative accounting that goes on here, who knows how much something costs. It's like a double punch. They make the movie seem more important by saying it cost 270 million dollars, then if it tanks, they don't have to share any of the profits they may actually make by saying the movie lost money.<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I know. We're all nuts out here.<BR/><BR/>Good seeing you Friday at Mystery Bookstore. For those of you out there who have not heard Barry speak in person, it's well worth it.Brett Battleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03786471378650235415noreply@blogger.com