Millions and millions for a movie

[Rodrigo]

I think, that, it’s much money !!! 20 millions, 18 millions, 35 millions, I can’t even imagine such a great amount, and just to make one movie. Why is it so expensive to make a movie ??? And where all these amounts come from ??? who is paying all this ??? And many times the movie does not return half of what they spent to make.... Which part requires more money ? the payrol of the cast ?? or the special effects ?? or the locations ???

 

[gunslinger]

In most cases with BIG productions a majority of the money will go to cast and crew. Work this out. The Hunted starring Tommy Lee Jones and Benecio Del Toro.

Budget: $55 million.
Cast: Tommy Lee got $17.5 million. Benicio reportedly got $5 to 7 million, tally in the rest of the cast you're probably looking at another $5 million.
Director: William Friedkin got $3 to 5 million.
Crew: Anywhere between $4 to 5 million.
Cost of action scenes: $4 to 5 million.
Location shooting: $1 to 2 million.
Sets: Anywhere between $2 to 5 million.
Special Effects: Anywhere between $3 to 5 million.
Post Production: Anywhere between $4 to 5 million.

It soon adds up. Keep in mind that budgets DON'T include advertising, prints, marketing, often that goes into the hundreds of millions depending on the release. The Hunted grossed only $34 million in the states and it will probably gross that amount again when overseas grosses come in depending on its success. Most films are lucky if they break even.

An expensive game indeed.

 

[Lotussan]

Yes it seems like it for sure, and no assurance that the film will do well...
It's a gamble...

 

[rastafari]

In most cases with BIG productions a majority of the money will go to cast and crew. Work this out. The Hunted starring Tommy Lee Jones and Benecio Del Toro.

Budget: $55 million.
Cast: Tommy Lee got $17.5 million. Benicio reportedly got $5 to 7 million, tally in the rest of the cast you're probably looking at another $5 million.
Director: William Friedkin got $3 to 5 million.
Crew: Anywhere between $4 to 5 million.
Cost of action scenes: $4 to 5 million.
Location shooting: $1 to 2 million.
Sets: Anywhere between $2 to 5 million.
Special Effects: Anywhere between $3 to 5 million.
Post Production: Anywhere between $4 to 5 million.

It soon adds up. Keep in mind that budgets DON'T include advertising, prints, marketing, often that goes into the hundreds of millions depending on the release. The Hunted grossed only $34 million in the states and it will probably gross that amount again when overseas grosses come in depending on its success. Most films are lucky if they break even.

An expensive game indeed.

questions for gunslinger---what is post-prodution...and why are some films in post production for 2 months sometimes

in ofaks case seagal would have got 1m and maybe some did the director so where did the other 18m go as it was not on special effects

can films save money filming in just one location(like ofj being shoot all in new york)

 

[Kwan]

well a movie is much more expensive then you think...and the costs raises in high speed....TV commercials are expensive too

 

[gunslinger]

Dear Rastafari,

Post production is the the process the film goes through AFTER filming. It's when the music is put in place, the editing, the special effects, everything that wasn't or couldn't be done during filming. Often this takes a long time because of several reasons. The director might not be happy with the cut he made, the studio may not be happy with his cut, often directors will have to wait for the composer they've chose to become available, sometimes effects work can slow things down. I've heard some directors say on DVD commentaries that generally post production takes them 6-9 months. I guess when there's so much money at stake they don't want to rush things. Most films never have 2 month post production times but there are some of them. Spy Kids 3 because it was shot with a digital camera was put together overa three month period, that's what I heard, and our own fave, Exit Wounds was being edited while it was shot and got put out three months after shooting making it's post production a relatively fast 6 months.

 

[Jacko Seagal]

the cheapist place to make a film is either in new zealand of france and austrailer (cant spell)

 

[Sleeping Fox]

So uhm Rodrigo, many paso's or what Amigo?
lol, thats not much up here in the Super Continant as some small membered people would probably call it lol.

 

[Sleeping Fox]

the cheapist place to make a film is either in new zealand of france and austrailer (cant spell)

Or Canada
Don't forget Toronto and Vancouver are Hollywood north

 

[GlimmerMan]

Aye - probably one of the reasons why they filmed Exit Wounds in Toronto.

 

[Jacko Seagal]

Exit wounds still is one of the best action films around tho, i cant see y seagal done the foringener and ofak thay arnt really as good as EW but are still a little good. i havent seen ticker yet cant find a copy gonna try the internet tho, is it any good i herd he is the bomb squad or somin

 

[Lotussan]

Jacko he is a bomb specialist, and a very cool, calm collected one too...
His character diffuses a few, and even talks Tom Sizemore through
the nerve wracking process of it as well...
I think it had some good parts, and he a few very charming lines, but he wasn't in it very much...

 

[J.Lucas]

Exit wounds still is one of the best action films around tho, i cant see y seagal done the foringener and ofak thay arnt really as good as EW but are still a little good. i havent seen ticker yet cant find a copy gonna try the internet tho, is it any good i herd he is the bomb squad or somin

It's not really a Seagal film........I mean he gets 3rd billing in the opening credits....and if your looking for Seagal action..except for 2 brief scenes at the very end filmed in a dark corridor ....forget it.....
from a natalia point...it's the last time Seagal had his trademark ponytail...
and it's really an allegoric film.....Seizemore is actually a Ticker and Seagal is his Spiritual mentor that "treats" him...before he goes off...
Seiamore is at a turning point..with dealing with his wifes death..he can either 'explode" in destruction..or he can be "treated" as Seagal relates to dis-arming a bomb.
I never eeeven knew about it....I belive it was Casey that poited it out..everybody was talking about the upcoming EW release she told that Ticker had been filmed the Spring prior to the filming of EW....so I was curios and got one from Asia for 5 bucks..and of course a Asian bootleg of EW as well....Ticker got released in the US(where I'm at) almost a year later...so my copy is different the the US relese...the US one I thibk is in widescreen and also has a commentary...mine is stricky the movie....and the Asain version of EW is something you have to see to believe...lol
Ticker actually was a theatrical release in Asia..I have an image of a ticket on my site and if you look closely at the bottom you'll see the web address for the Official Ticker site(in Japanese)
John

 

[Jacko Seagal]

i reckon ol steven needs to shape up in EW he is quite capable of moving around and fighting but in ofak he seems a bit slow and not the seagal im used to seeing

 

[Administrator]

I've read many movies just about make up their budget with advertising during the movie. Supposedly the latest James Bond had broken even by the time it even hit the cinema due to the amount of products advertised in the movie.

Craig

 

[TDWoj]

From my readings on the subject, the advertising budget for a theatre release film can be up to 50% of the cost of the film, hence why a film whose budget is, say, $40 million does not make a profit if it only makes $50 million.