CREATIVITY
First off, you have to know; that working on a film (or any artistic endeavor actually ;) of any magnitude, is an exhilarating experience, and will always change your life. Especially if you work with people who know their art.
I'm going to burst a bubble here: REALITY TV IS NOT REAL.
Real LA insiders do not operate like the kardashians. omg :)
THE SECRET OF INSIDER HOLLYWOOD?
Be chill and look at who you're doing biz with. Are they that talented or smart?
I get a call from a producing team this week (I get 5-20 a week) they had shot an $8M film a lil while back, did 100M+ in the box office... Number one rule in Hollywood?
PRODUCER'S NEVER USE THEIR OWN MONEY
This is a beautiful thing being connected, sure. But mostly, we don't have any big significance on it - but please don't think that we don't know where we stand in any situation.
LA IS the film capital. Once you've been in every scenario imaginable for film and finance, you see the pattern...and those that don't fit the pattern of good ole honest productive types that bring a lil extra to the table, they stand way out.
ADMIRATION IS THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER THING IN THE UNIVERSE
The norm I see in Hollywood: investors and outside producers coming in and making the wrong relationships, and financing B quality - even with talented actors ... This is pretty standard, but the investors (equity, hedge funds, etc) always think they know something and this is where the breakdown in capabilities begins.
HOT PROJECTS IN THIS TOWN MOVE AT LIGHT-SPEED
Hot films get financed generally in a day or 2, maybe a week, etc (Will Ferrell, Vince V, Tom, Smith, Angelina & Brad, etc) unless you're part of the team :)
...most have money and only need 50% to 25%
Don't ask me, "are you using tax credits?"
WHAT SHARKS SMELL LIKE
What's to understand? You have an A-list actor or 2 attached and you're all set! Right? ;)
The amount of money I need to fund all the film funds, exec producers, studios, indie films, and Oscar-winning celebrities I have access to...is in the billions. In a couple of phone calls.
I'm a humanitarian. This stuff funds the other, and of course is the only thing that truly matters - besides art.
WAITING FOR A MOHITO...and my masseuse
After doing this for years at the top levels of the entertainment industry, what I found is that those of us who play this game with the REAL purpose in mind, art, can pick who we play our games with. I don't say these things to be brash, I am simply open and up front. The intensity of which Hollywood operates at, and at such a constant peak level, is such that almost everyone I've met walks in and gets chewed up as an investor and/or artist. I spent years finding chill people to work with. Very key.
Here's the deal though - I aced my last 3 IQ tests, and I chew on PhD's with my espresso in the morning. I and mine cover Hollywood. You pretty much get one shot. If I find out you're not straight up? And I always do - 1 for 1 - you might as well not show up in Hollywood again...or Monaco, UAE, Cannes, Ibiza or Como, etc. (sigh). And I'm not a negative person, I just have to thrash scum so regularly that it's worth a mention for the insane to keep in mind.
If you know how to drive 1000hp Camaro against mine, shred on the guitar, snowboard double black-diamonds, can get in a UFC ring and speak Italian...you're ahead of most ;) But just starting to catch me.
~WHAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN
(do you see a question mark?)~
There's many layers, complexities, and levels of power in Hollywood. So, when dealing with me and most of the producers I work with, you have to pay attention to who you might bring in to the group.
This is not beginners finance 101. You aren't going to get a film package to sit on for a week. If you don't move with alacrity they won't care about you losing your phone in the Alp's.(happened...the guys from Dubai got to fund the Warner brothers deal that time)
Most producers have a film fund (10-20 film slate) $300M-$1.2B is the standard range. Most of the time, I can pull one or 2 films out for quick launching also. A lot of them have some money attached to the films already.
DO NOT COME TO ME AND ASK WHO'S ATTACHED, AND DOES IT HAVE DISTRIBUTION. This is not the minor leagues.
Major's can call anyone in town, and get offers for distribution, they don't really ask for it.
How many billion dollar producers do you know? How many can you call on the phone?
AVAILABLE:
* #1NY Best Seller Teenagers (5 consecutive books) $20M
* #1 NY Best Seller, True Story - One of the biggest stories in a while...everyone knows the Story too, internationally also.
*Studio - inside deal, part of a studio is being sold.
*Julia Roberts, Charlize Theron- $15M famous story
*Next big trilogy from top 5 (all-time) producer- $250M. Or you can come in with starter money - $10M and up.
*Govt Spy thriller/trilogy ...Major Studio/top producer 50/50
*WB producer friend has films developed and ready for more funding
*Mini-Studio multi-media deal, great returns.
I always have more.
Do you have POF?