This document discusses learning objectives around identifying the role of a film producer. It provides examples of case studies on successful films like Titanic and outlines the challenges of financing film production. Filmmaking involves high costs across production, distribution, and exhibition that producers must generate confidence to secure financing for. Some ways producers do this is through casting stars, working in proven genres, franchises, sequels, and creating synergies. The risks of genres and potential for films to flop are also covered.

2. Learning Objectives
Identify the role of the producer
Complete short case studies about success:
Titanic
The Adventures of Pluto Nash
Fulfil the role of a producer and budget
‘Spiderman 2’

3. Financing
Filmmaking involves high ‘overhead’ costs to finance
the three main stages of a films life cycle before it is
released to the audience:
• Production
• Distribution
• Exhibition
• Pre-Production
• Production
• Post-Production

4. Financing
The first stage in any film’s production is the attempt to
secure financial backing
The production company (those making the film) must
generate confidence in the potential revenue of their
planned film
Harvey
What can producers do to generate Weinstein
confidence in their films? Head of
• Casting of established ‘Stars’ ‘The
• Working within a genre proven to be a success Weinstein
• Franchises – layout a long term plan Company’
• Sequels
• Ability to generate ‘SYNERGY’

5. Attractive Proposition?
Working in pairs, complete your hand-out, providing specific reasons
why each of the following elements will give confidence to producers:
Stars Franchises/Seq Genre ‘Synergy’
uels

6. Star Appeal
Global Appeal – maximum publicity and world
wide recognition
Name & Image – in marketing materials will
significantly increase potential audience
Potential “Box office pull” – how much of the
final gross is down to the stars’ presence?
They generate press / public interest
Stars associated with specific genres –
audiences expectations are easy to identify and
appeal too

7. Stars & Genre
Stars are usually associated with a specific genre
– they may work in others, but their most
successful films tend to be in the same genre
As a result audiences ‘expect’ certain things from
them
If they give audiences what they want they are
more likely to succeed
However if they rely on this for too long
audiences will become bored and reject the films
as being ‘too familiar / predictable’
Films must find a balance between ‘Familiar & New’

8. Genre
Based on previous films, Genre allow studios to
estimate the following:
• Budgets
• Potential Box Office Gross
• Marketing Costs
• Audience Reactions
Genre films have a clear set of rules they must
follow resulting in the generation of ‘audience
expectation’
Genre films can appeal to a very specific and
targeted audience What are the risks
of ‘genre’ films?

9. “It’s called “Show Business”
Film industries are designed to make money
through entertaining an audience
Investing in a film is no guarantee of financial
success – “There is no such thing as a safe bet”
As a result Hollywood studios are reluctant to
move away from established genres, stars, trends
etc
Most ‘risky’ films are given small budgets that will
not harm the studio if they fail
But Hollywood still take risks on a scale few other
industries would dare to contemplate

10. Success/Failure Task
You each have a resource pack
containing information on three films:
Answer the following questions:
Why do you think the investors funded the film?
Make a list of the potential ‘selling points’
Why do you think this film flopped?
Do you think it spells disaster if a film like this
flops?

11. Case Study 1 - Success
Blockbusters are the most expensive forms of films to
make, as a result they pose the greatest risk to the studio
This is the main reasons most Blockbuster films follow
very specific formulas and stick to genres, star appeal &
franchises
TITANIC
The initial budget of $150,000,000 rapidly increased to
over $200,000,000
At one point Studio Chief Bill Mechanic closed down
production due to rising costs
Cameron used his own money to finish the production

12. Case Study 1 - Success
TITANIC
No-one knew if the film would be a success, despite the
obvious positives
Upon release the film broke all box office records and
remained the highest grossing film of all time for over 12
years
Global Gross: $1,800,000,000 ($1.8 Billion)
(This has since risen to $2.18 billion due to re-releasea
and 3D conversions)
At the time this was more than twice the amount grossed
by the previous largest film, ‘The Lion King’ ($952,880,140)

13. Case Study 1 - Success
TITANIC
Working in pairs create a list of the reasons why Titanic
was so successful
Consider:
Cast
Director
Story
Genre
Promotion

14. Took advantages Based on an icon
James Cameron: Genre with
of ‘repeat’ historical event
proven track
viewings full of tragedy
Arguable the record
and romance
biggest
commercial
director of all
time. Stars the
‘Heartthrob’ of
Proven track the moment
record for
bringing new and
exciting High Concept:
experiences Innovative
Highly publicised special effects
Global number never seen
production due to
Great one hit single to before (New
budget and apparent
reviews support the film cinematic
production problems
experiences)

15. Case Study 2 - Failure
The Adventures of Pluto Nash
Not all Blockbusters are successful!
Loses can be very high if the film does not make enough of
a return
Eddie Murphy film
“The Adventures of Pluto
Nash”
Total Cost: $120,000,000
Box Office Gross: $7,000,000
Loss: $113,000,000

16. Empire Review
Plot
After his nightclub is destroyed, Pluto and entourage travel the length and breadth of
the moon to find the culprits, whilst resisting the evil clutches of corrupt casino
developers.
Review
A blink-and-you-hopefully-missed-it cinema run was overly generous for this dire
wannabe sci-fi comedy adventure.
The year, in case you're the slightest bit interested, is 2087 and, on the moon, nightclub
owner Pluto Nash (Eddie Murphy) is resisting crooked casino developers. The story is
just plain bald-faced lazy, as is director Ron Underwood's vision of the future, which is
about as hi-tech as a Sinclair C5.
All said and done, this is another dud to add to Murphy's already turkey-laden CV. In a
galaxy, far, far away - that's where this piece of crap should be jettisoned.
Verdict
This is another dud to add to Murphyís already turkey-laden CV.

17. “It’s called “Show Business”
Armyan Bernstien, producer of Air Force One
(1997) said:
Of every TEN films made in Hollywood:
Rank Studio Revenu
e
• SIX will lose money
• ONE will break even (recover it’s costs but make 1 Warne $1.88
r Bros Billion
no profit)
2 Param $1.67
• ONE will make little money
ount Billion
• ONE will make good money
3 Fox $1.58
• ONE will be a successful Blockbuster that makes Billion
enough money to cover the cost of the other nine
4 Disney $1.41
Billion
5 Sony £1.27
Billion

18. “It’s called “Show Business”
Once a film has secured funding the producer and
director must assign their budget
Most people think that if a film recovers its
production budget it will make a profit
Spider-man 2
However, most studios will spend in excess of $80 Negative Cost /
million dollars on marketing and promotion alone Production Budget:
$202,000,000
The costs associated with making a film far Development Cost +
exceed the amount generally publicised Pre-Production Cost +
Production Cost +
‘Negative costs’ is another term for ‘Production Post-Production cost
Budget’ and can be worked out with one =
equation: Negative Cost

19. Budget Task: Spiderman 2
Working in pairs What? Who? How Much?
your must now Script Rights Marvel $20,000,000
complete the job Screenplay Alvin Sargent $10,000,000
of a producer Producers Stan Lee et al $15,000,000
Director Sam Rammi $10,000,000
You must assign Stars: Toby Maguire $17,000,000
the $202,000,000
Kirsten Dunst £7,000,000
budget of
Alfred Molina £3,000,000
Spiderman 2 on
the following: Rest of cast $3,000,000
Shooting Cost $45,000,000
Special Effects $65,000,000
Music $5,000,000
Composer Danny Elfman $2,000,000
Total Negative Cost $202,000,000
approx

20. Box Office Failures
You must complete a detailed case study on a Box Office Failure
Log on to the internet and research the biggest ‘film box office loses’
Using WORD, create a case study on the film and reasons for its
failures
You MUST include:
• Name of stars – did the presence (or lack of) a star impact on the
films box office?
• Director? (same as above)
• Genre
• Financial information – budgets & takings
• Reasons for the films failure (detailed reserach to be conducted)
•Fall out – what impact did the failure have on cast/crew/studios?

21. Budget Gross Star Genre
$300,000,000 $281,158,679 Taylor Kitsch Sci Fi / Comic
Book
John Carter (2012)
Budget Gross Star Genre
$175,000,000 $173,219,280 Steve Carell Comedy
Evan Almighty (2007)
Budget Gross Star Genre
$85,000,000 $47,718,072 Michael Cera Comedy
Scott Pilgrim (2010)

22. Why do you think the investors funded it? Chosen Film:
What are the potential selling points?
Why do you think this film flopped?
Do you think it spells disaster for a studio if a film like this flops?