I think they should be equally balanced, tbh. It should be: Story, then budget, creativity, then production organization, talent, actual production, post-production, and then promotion and distribution to get the film out there
In the first directors defense, it doesn't seem unreasonable to ask for a finished script before shooting. Edit: Walt Before Disney has terrible ratings. I don't think this guy is giving the best advice.
High budget flops are a significant argument against budget doesnt make a good movie. They're called 'movies' because they are moving pictures, and pictures tell a story. The quickest way to waste money is to not be interesting. You need an interesting story or interesting characters. Momey is just a magnifier.
Um, yeah story IS the king. Even a tiny budget given to a great story will make a great film. $200m+ thrown at a stupid story results in disastrous flops. Who exactly is this guy and why would anyone see him as an "expert"? I never heard of the things this guy has done.
IF you watch the video fully, its about indie movies. 200m is not indie. And he’s talking to creators and not viewer. It’s a hard enough challenge to get your piece going if your budget is low so you have to sacrifice some story/ideas and still get the message across. he’s talking about efficiency and not asking for more budget. You take the budget you are given and make the best of it.
Well, the story is what gets investors to _give_ you a budget in the first place. They're betting real money on you. But the story can be _changed_ by the budget to get all the pieces together to start filming (actors, locations, wardrobe, production design). I love the Blumhouse philosophy. No billion dollar productions, but still able to make money with some damn good stories.
I think we can all agree that viewers are not buying the whole putting celebrities in your movies will attract audiences. People are tried of stunt casting and big name just roll eyes now. They’re more focused on established franchise and word of mouth. Celebrity branding has been faltering.
Even though the production and post-production crafts exist to support the story, the general audience doesn't go to the theater or sit down in front of the TV to watch the cinematographer, director, or the work of any production, either the post-production department. They go there because of the story. Mr. Khoa Lee seems to be pitching his skills to the ears of producers more than someone trying to put his feet at the starting point of his career in the filmmaking industry. In doing this, he brings misinformation about the relationship between the story and the craft. We have been telling stories with images (the craft) since the caveman's time. It hasn’t been the other way around. However, it’s possible to make a story about the craft!
Cool perspective. But I have a 2 minute threshold when watching a film. If the sound, acting, camera and sets are compromised, it is switched off immediately. So if you can pull it off with out making it a factory project, great. I dont write for budget. Silly me!
I agree with the first 7 post about story is king, Khoa has his own way of doing things but I have seen time and time again that a good story will always prevail. Listening to his interview it sounds like he is putting on bandages but not focusing on the causes of bad pre production and project management. I feel for him, it didn't sound like a good time.
