The Film Business

Nowadays the tension between commercial and artistic control of film production has become more pronounced. Conflicting financial interests among investors have to be carefully negotiated by independent producer/directors who do not want to compromise their artistic integrity. Investors are the venture capitalists who put up the money to fund the production. There is high risk in investing in movies, as many become box office flops. However, when a picture is successful, these venture capitalists stand to make a good return on their investments. The director/producer John Boorman has described the production process during the making of The Emerald Forest (1985) in detail. Negotiations with lawyers, studios, financiers, and ego-driven personalities took place over 18 months of pre-production. Finally, a budget of $14 million was agreed, followed by a relatively brief and relaxed period when the film was in production. A crew of 120 was reduced to only 8 in post-production, during which time special effects were produced and a music score composed. Finally, all the sound was mixed together, and the film was guided and controlled through the laboratories. It was only after previews in Washington, Dallas, and San Diego, and more adjustments, that the film was finally completed.

On the other hand, Apocalypse Now (1979), directed by Francis Ford Coppola, which was shot in the Philippines, far away from the dictates of financial control, ran considerably over its budgeted $12 million, was in production for 238 days, and finally cost $31 million. Michael Cimino, the director of Heaven's Gate, similarly overspent by $35 million and brought its distributor and financier United Artists to financial ruin. Even these figures pale in the face of the $180 million that Waterworld (1995) reputedly cost.

These examples demonstrate the unpredictable nature of film production in recent years, with the director, more than the producer, in control, and show how, in so expensive an industry, one error in the production process can throw out all calculations. As a feature film is, generally, a commercial product, all components in the production chain require meticulous costing and control. In part, the creative conflict between the producer and the director and his team is a constructive part of the film-production process, but there is no doubt that the tradition of the “working producer”, well versed in the techniques and problems of film-making, has disappeared. Producers are frequently financiers alone, without the knowledge of the practicalities of film-making, and the new school of director/producers can be self-serving. The history of film production suggests that where tight financial control fails, commercial disaster is likely to follow.

Exercises and Tasks

1. Vocabulary

1) Name those involved in the film production:

1. cast b) film-makers c) technical personnel

2. Match each person with what they would say (a-e):

director producer continuity girl

clapperboard man cameraman

1. Can’t you get on with the shooting? This is costing me money.

2. Scene 24. Take 25!

3. Your make-up’s thicker and you are wearing a different dress.

4. Clear the set! This is supposed to be a film studio! Get those damned extras out of here! Action! Cut!

5. Rolling!

3. Explain the meaning of words and phrases underlined:

1) … careful planning is a commanding feature of film production. 2) One with the little apparent audience appeal is likely to be more difficult to finance… 3) The producer or director of a previously successful film may appear to have magic touch … 4) Intermediate stages are sometimes skipped … 5) … if expensive adjustments and salvaging operations are to be avoided later. 6) The track record of the writer or director, … 7) Production is a highly collaborative process … 8) Today, with independent production, these people are freelance … 9) The “assembly” … leads to a “rough cut”. 10) … once the “preview” audiences have seen the film. 10) The tension between commercial and artistic control of film production has become more pronounced. 11) There is high risk in investing in movies, as many become box office flops. 12) Apocalypse Now … ran considerably over its budgeted $12 mln … 13) Sylvester Stallone's action-adventure film Judge Dredd, which was panned by both critics and the public, was a box office bust … 14) … the tradition of the “working producer”, well versed in the techniques and problems of film-making, has disappeared. 15) Today it is not uncommon to have 2 versions of a film available.

4. Fill in the gaps using the words from the text:

1) Most feature films are economic … intended for distribution and exhibition. 2) The films are produced to make … . 3) Any of the key figures in pre-production (i.e. producer, writer, director) may … the process of film making. 4) The … … of the film-makers and prospective lead actors are important in raising finance. 5) Today extras are not film production companies permanently employed staff, but … . 6) Shaping the film into its final form includes 1^st of all sound … . 7) During the editing process unsatisfactory takes and redundant shots are … . 8) Today it’s not uncommon to encounter 2 versions of the same film, the commercially released version and the … … . 9) It’s not an easy job to conduct negotiations with those involved in film-making, as most of them are … personalities. 10) At the final stage special effects were produced and a … … composed. 11) At the post-production stage the film … was reduced abruptly. 12) The film got its final shape only after … in several cities. 13) The film director … $20 mln and brought its financier to financial ruin. 14) A feature film is a commercial product and thus its production requires … costing and financial control. 15) Nowadays you can hardly find a film producer who is well … in the techniques of film-making.

5. Find the English equivalents for:

процесс создания фильма; нарушать правила; сценарий; определить бюджет фильма; пропустить промежуточные этапы; расходы; разрешить проблемы; заключить контракты с исполнителями ролей; монтаж фильма; четко согласовать; превысить бюджет фильма; в нужном месте в нужное время; место выездных съемок; установить декорации; инвентарь фильма; провести пробы; завершение съемок; снятый фильм; неудачный дубль; лишние кадры; сократить фильм; версия фильма, выпущенная в прокат; организовать интервью; кассовый провал; творческие разногласия на съемочной площадке; десятка самых кассовых фильмов года; съемочная команда; сочинять музыку к фильму; творческий конфликт; хорошо разбирающийся в съемочном процессе.

6. Complete the sentences:

1. There may be many versions of the same film in existence because …

2. The post-production editing includes …

3. The following considerations can influence the budget of the film …

4. If the producer wants to avoid salvaging operations & commercial disaster …

5. Only a proportion of the shot film remains in the final product since …

6. Even despite expensive advertising campaigns a film can become a …

7. Promotion campaign can include: …

7. Think about how film is made, e.g. actors, camera angles. Draw up a list of at least twenty things you would need if you wanted to make a film from scratch.

8. Sum up the information about:

1. the producer’s role in film-making;

2. the director’s role in the film production;

3. the importance of promotion in the motion picture industry.