Dragon's Den Studios - A New Hollywood Mogul Dynasty!!!
 

I just picked up HM and started playing around with it. After learning some of the basics, I have decided to start anew with my own dynasty, a talent file, and so forth.

I do not know how long HM will entertain me. A week? Two days? Who knows. I don’t even know if I’ll finish the game (100 movies). However, I was very poor at making money in my pretend game (with 18 movies). I only had four movies make money then, so I’ll have to see what happens in this go around.
Well, let’s see what happens.

-Anxiety

After a successful tenure as the head coach at Eastern Michigan University, I have decided to look for projects elsewhere. At first, sports became my thing, and I headed to interview at various teams. Few large franchises outside of football would interview me, but I occasionally got an interview with a baseball or hockey team.

But sports sort of, well, began to bore me. So I went outside the realm of ESPN to look and see what was available. Nothing.

Therefore, I have decided to go into business for myself. I have 1 mill in personal money left after setting up Dragon’s Den Studios. I will begin to make movies. It has always seemed like an enjoyable thing. Pure crap is being published by Hollywood and I want to give an independent feel to major movies. You know, that kind of intellectual, thinking movie that makes you remember the movie long after you have the theater.

I am now the Executive Producer and CEO of Dragon’s Den Studios.

Game Level – On my Way. This means we spend half a million each year in upkeep costs. Since we only start with 1 mill in funds, and costs are not exactly on the cheap, we’ll have to go into debt soon.

Talent is not randomized, although that would be fun. My assistant is my own picture (heh). I am using the talent file you can find on Hollywood Mogul’s site in the forums section. If anybody out there has some additions to the file, and they would like to share that, please send ‘em my way! There are a lot of people missing. And a lot of people who are over or under valued.

Anyways, here goes nothing.


-Anxiety

My first day in the office. I breathe a breath of uncertainty, of anxiety. Of composure. I will succeed here. It should be just like EMU. Hard at first, then hard work over time will snowball. Just stay the course.

Greatness is not overnight inspiration. It is annual dedication.

I know I will be in debt sooner or later, so I hit the circuit, looking for screenplays already written. I want to buy the Movie Rights for them.

I like the following and purchase them:

The Diary (3.8 mill) – Forbidden pleasures at the White House are splashed across the tabloids.

Shocker (3.4 mill) – In Los Angelos, an earthquake upsets the balance of nature.

Challenges of the Heart (3.3 mill) – A woman must face the fears of her childhood to save her own child’s life.

One Last Chance (3.1 mills) – A young college graduate, dying of cancer, gets a chance at the life he always dreamed of.

Milestone (3 mill) – A one hundred year old woman us tormented by her beautiful young nurse.

Heavenly (2.8 mill) – In heaven, a man meets the woman he’s been dreaming about.

Star Gazer (2.4 mill) – A mysterious stranger pays a visit to a young couple lost in Death Valley, California.


Each of these movies has something I like, whether is is a good plot, good characters, or whatever. I then take a look at some Stage Plays and Novels to see if there is anything out there I want to buy the rights to.

I like:

She Was An Empty Place (5.7 mill) – Stageplay about a woman so afraid of being abandoned that she cannot show her love to the man who loves her.

Tearoom – (5.1 mill) – Stageplay about ladies meeting to compare notes on life.

Be Gone, B’Gosh (5.7 mill) – Novel – The dead are awakened by aliens from another planet.

Deep Cut – (5.1 mill) – A novel about the story of the building of the Panama Canal.
Dead or Deader – (4.95 mill) – Novel about a vampire coming live in New York City.

Marvelous – (4.8 mill) – Novel about an oil tycoon meeting the love of his life on the wrong side of the tracks.


These 13 plots will have to sustain us for a little while.


-Anxiety

Each of these movies has something I like, whether is is a good plot, good characters, or whatever. I then take a look at some Stage Plays and Novels to see if there is anything out there I want to buy the rights to.

I like:

She Was An Empty Place (5.7 mill) – Stageplay about a woman so afraid of being abandoned that she cannot show her love to the man who loves her.

Tearoom – (5.1 mill) – Stageplay about ladies meeting to compare notes on life.

Be Gone, B’Gosh (5.7 mill) – Novel – The dead are awakened by aliens from another planet.

Deep Cut – (5.1 mill) – A novel about the story of the building of the Panama Canal.
Dead or Deader – (4.95 mill) – Novel about a vampire coming live in New York City.

Marvelous – (4.8 mill) – Novel about an oil tycoon meeting the love of his life on the wrong side of the tracks.


These 13 plots will have to sustain us for a little while.


I head over to the writer’s studio. I need these scripts tuned up. I decide to start with the screenplays I already have.


The Diary begins with a Five start plot, intelligence and genre elements. With four star pace, it just needs work on the arc, character development and dialogue. This may be our flagship piece if it’s done quickly. I send the script to a writer for the Dialogue and Character Development.


The scifi Shocker has a five star arc, dialogue, pace and genre elements. It needs serious work however, on character development (Char Dev), plot and intelligence (Int). I send the script to a rewrite specialist to tune up the plot and intelligence.


One Last Chance needs more work than the first two scripts. While it has five star plot and pace, and four star genre elements, this drama needs serious work in the arc, char dev, and dialogue. I ship the script to a rewrite specialist to work on the character arc and character development. Really, a drama should have both in spades.

The suspense thriller Milestone needs char dev, dialogue, pace and genre elements. Five stars in arc and intelligence and four in the plot. Definitely a script with potential. I send the script with orders to work on the dialogue and pace.

Challenges of the Heart has potential as well. This drama is close to ready out of the box. With a five star arc, plot and genre elements, just a few other elements need work. I send it off to a writer for pace and intelligence.

The comedy Heavenly struck me as having a witty premise. With a five star arc, I don’t want to do a page one rewrite of the material, but most of the other elements could reallys use some work. I order a writer to start with pace and intelligence.

The last screenplay is the sci fi drama Star Gazer. The screenplay is pretty poor, but it has amazing char dev and pace. The arc and plot are emphasized by my writer.


As for adaptations – I send off She Was An Empty Place to a 3 mill writer (Melody Brook).

Tearoom looks like a nice chick flick drama, and maybe potential for a little satire. I send off the script to Marina Rosovodskovik – one of the best writers in the business with
a 5 million price tag. She looks perfect for the part, however.

Be Gone, B’Gosh appears like an excellent horror vehicle. I ship it to Flip Stevens, a 2 mill writer with a penchant for pace, intelligence and polish.

Marvelous is sent to Jimmy Barman with a 4 mill tag. We’ll see what he can do with the love story.

I decide to hold onto Deep Cut and Dead or Deader for a while and not send them out away right. Historical epics, like Deep Cut, need to be released after you get a handle on things, and I want to see how the horror market breaks before doing Dead or Deader.

Spent 75 million on the scripts and the writers. One month down, 50 million gone from the coffers.


-Anxiety

February 2003.

Producer David Brown dies.

Robert Redford has heard about my ambitious goals and wants a meeting with me. He pitches a script called Barefoot, about a 38 year old woman who dumps her husband to have a little fun. After just a few minutes I can tell that the screenplay is just awful. I send Redford away, but tell him that if he has a better script in the future, I would be willing to consider funding him.

None of the scripts are back yet. I head back to the market to see if any new scripts are available.


I see a few new screenplays that I like:

Eyes of Rage (3.7 mill) – A man goes after the two men who raped and murdered his wife. With Five star dialogue, pace, intelligence and genre elements, this drama looks excellent. I really like this film, and I send it off. There is no screenwriter or rewriting specialist with expertise in both char dev and plot. So I send it to a specialist to get its arc polished a bit while working on the char dev.

Don’t Be Afraid (3.5 mill) – A suspense thriller where a widow is pursued by a man she meets at a self help seminar. Five Star Dialogue and four star char dev, plot and pace. Another good looking script with promise. I send this flick to, of all people, Stephen King to get work done on the arc and intelligence.

Terror Train (3.2 mill) – A ghostly passenger rides the coast to coast train. Five star pace and plot with four star character arc and three star dialogue. Nice looking horror flick. Sent to get intelligence and genre elements rewritten by a specialist.

Short of Breath (3.4 mill) Another dramatic screenplay. A woman executive finds her new job dangerous to her health. With five star pace and four star arc and dialogue, I decide to purchase it, but stick it in a drawer for later.

Gone Hollywood (3.1 mill) – A comedy screenplay where a lame-brain inherits a movie studio. I think this will be an excellent film to poke a little fun at myself, and with five stars in the arc, char dev and genre elements, we might be able to turn it into an amazing film. Sent to get plot and intelligence redone by a specialist.

No good novels or stage plays this month.


-Anxiety

March 2003

I get back the rewrites from the first seven screenplays I bought in January. Before looking at them, I go hit the market again. I pick up:

Hamburger (4.1 mill) – Horror Comedy screenplay – The local fast food joint is serving up students from the local junior college. A very inventive script has five star dialogue and both genre and sub genre elements. It’s a smart script too, with four star intelligence. I really like it, and it’s the sort of film you could realize early without a large fan base and it still might do well. I send it off to gets its arc and plot rewritten by a specialist.

Downtown (3.8 mill) – Screenplay, Mystery – A private investigator is led into intrigue and murder by a vengeful woman. Great screenplay with five star int, pace, and gen elements. Four star arc too. Might take a while to work on the script because no writer or specialist has any two of the three areas in which it needs work. So three rewrites might be necessary. I send the plot elements out first.

No good novels or stageplays.


I take a look at the seven scripts that have returned. The Diary is looking better but I send it back out for an arc polish. It’s almost ready to go otherwise.

Shocker is still in need of some work. I send it back for a char dev rewrite.

One Last Chance could use some serious work as well. The only man in Hollywood that is both a specialist in dialogue and intelligence is Stephen King, so I’ll hold off until he’s finished with his current project.

I send Milestone send back for a rewrite of the char dev and pace elements.

Challenges of the Heart is looking ahead of schedule. I ship it for Char Dev polish from a cheap writer. I just want to see what she can do with the script before dedicating it to her hands.

Heavenly needs some massive work on plot and intelligence. I send it for a specialist rewrite.

I hold onto Star Gazer for now, since I have no intention of producing it soon.

-Anxiety

April 2003

Scripts for five movies were returned today. I go hit the market.

A nice novel, A Choice of Words, is available and I purchase the rights to it. A drama where a writer unknowingly changes the life of a woman with an article he’s written. Five star dialogue, pace and genre elements with a four star arc. 5.9 mill.

Another novel, Lovers, is available for 5.85 mill. The sexual oddities of two lovers searching for self-truth. Sounds exactly like the off beat stuff that I’m looking for. I purchse it.

There is also a stageplay, Stand Up and Dance. It’s a musical, so it comes with risk, great everywhere but char dev and int. 5.25 mill.

I hold on to each of these and choose not to develop them at this time. Too many dramas right now, and a musical is a bit risky.

Eyes of Rage is back. I still need a better plot so I send it back for a polish.

Don’t Be Afraid is back from Stephen King. The movie is almost ready to go, just needs some work in intelligence and genre elements. I send it to a rewrite specialist.

Terror Train is also almost ready for the saddle. I ship it off to a writer for a polish on the char dev.

Short of Breath still needs work, however. Plot and intelligence are ordered from a specialist.

One Last Chance is sent to Stephen King now that he is available again.

Challenges of the Heart was not improved in char dev. I only paid 25k, so I am hardly surprised. I ship it to a specialist.


-Anxiety

The Diary is back with a four star overall script. I go ahead and greenlight the movie with the following budget:

Shooting Location – Washington DC, Internal shot on location. Elaborate set construction.

Physical costs, 53 million. Pyrotechnic costs 5 mill, stunts 5 mill. No robotic effects. 10 mill State of the Art effects.

Print Cost – 7 mill, 3500 theaters, TV Ads, Print ads – 18 mill each. Radio – 1 mill.


I intend to make The Diary our “Welcome to Hollywood” Film. Then we can start churning out the less splashy dramas. Even if we lose money, we will do so spectacularly.

I hire George Fuller for 300k as the producer. With his best work in Suspense Thrillers and good budget skills, I think he’ll be fine. I initially limit my director search to Spielberg, Lucas, Cameron, M. Night Shyamalan and John Hughes. But none’s best work is suspense. Of course, I quickly find out that no director specializes in such limited work. I intend to hire some expensive actors, so I send the script to Shyamalan. He doesn’t require any gross points. I bring him on board for a total of 1.2 mill with benefits.

Now I need an actor. Someone who can thrive in a suspense, someone who can carry the movie. I send the screenplay to the A-List number one actor – Brad Pitt. He likes it, and we agree to meet. The guy wants a lot – 18.6 million total in salary and provisions, plus 10 percent of gross. Still, he will put butts in the seats. I agree.

Now I need someone who can play across from Pitt. Someone who can hold her own. I send the screenplay to Nicole Kidman. She is interested so I get on the horn with her agent. Her provisions and salary come to almost another 10 million, plus another 10 percent of the gross revenue. Again, it’s probably worth it.

I now have signed the number one actor and number two actress in Hollywood for our first film. They will know we are here.

I hire Jeremy Piven as a Supporting Actor (400k) and Thora Birch as a Supporting Actress (550k). A pair of up and comers are hired for the two minor roles.

With all costs, the budget for this movie is 151 million. Knowing that we will likely lose money, and willing to accept that, I greenlight the film.


-Anxiety

May 2003

12 scripts were returned today. I also go out and purchase some screenplays for later:

The Bobby-Soxers – 3.8 mill, Dark Comedy - Two catholic school girls go out on a murder spree.

Beast – 3.3 mill, Horror – An unholy force is unleashed on New York City.

I also like this novel:

The Empty Chair – 4.65 mill, Action Adventure – The President of the United States has a heart attack on the eve of a nuclear war.

And this stageplay:

Say You Love Me – 6 mill, Romantic Comedy – A woman struggles to get her boyfriend to say those magic words.


None will be worked on for a while.


Now, for those scripts that have returned:

Shocker, scifi, still needs work. I send it to get its plot polished.

Milestone, suspense thriller, sent out for more work on dialogue and genre elements.

Heavenly, comedy, not progressing quickly. I send ot for char dev polish to see what happens. Has to get better or could be benched.

Eyes of Rage is back. It has not improved since I picked it up. I decide to let it stew for a while and look at other projects.

Gone Hollywood is getting better. Dialogue is really the only hole left. It’s sent to another writer.

Hamburger is getting better. With Arc and Pace its remaining flaws, I order a rewrite of those elements.

Downtown is not getting any better. I send it for a rewrite of char dev.

I also get back some original adaptations:

She Was An Empty Place has a poor script with good pace and intelligence. I send it to a specialist to get arc and char dev worked on.

Tearoom is better. Marina did a good job with the first script. I send it for a cheap rewrite of dialogue and genre elements.

Be Gone, B’Gosh also has a good first draft. Sent out for a rewrite in Plot and genre elements.

-Anxiety

Terror Train’s char dev has not improved. Since we are talking about a horror movie here, I decide to skip it and go to production.

With the splash that The Diary should make, I now want a movie that might make money. Hopefully. I authorize the following:

Shot externally in a lake set, internally in studio room 11. Elaborate set construction. Physical Costs – 41 Million. Pyrotechnic effects – 1 million, stunts 1 million, robotics 1.5 million. State of the art special effects, 9 million.

Print costs, 2500 theaters, 5 mill
TV Ads, 8.5 mill, Print Ads, 8 mill, radio 500k.

I hire Sam Raimi to direct and produce the film. I spend 524k on him. I begin looking for talent to play in the lead. I sign Christopher Walken quickly as the supporting actor for 1.1 mill. Kate Beckinsale agrees to be the supporting actress for 850k. But who to be my major talent?

Helena Bonham Carter wants to try horror, and she is creepy enough to make it work . I send her the script. I sign her as my leading actress for 1 mill. Now I need an actor. There are a lot of actors interested in doing horror. Vin Diesel, my first choice, doesn’t like the script. I narrow down my options to Jude Law, Joaquin Phoenix and Morgan Freeman. Ultimately, I see Joaquin and Jude as ensemble actors, and I offer the part to Freeman. For 5.15 mill and 5% of gross points, Freeman signs as our lead.

There are an amazing 15 minor roles. I cast B-List character actors in the first four, up and comers for five more, and fresh faces for the remaining six parts.

All told, 90 mill is budgeted for this movie. Note that these budgets do not include overseas advertising. I give the greenlight for the film.

-Anxiety

June 2003

Terror Train needs 8.2 million for additional sets. I agree to the spending.

I buy the exclusive movie rights for the novel Cleopatra’s Ghost for 6.15 mill. A discovery along the Nile unleashes a long dead curse. I’ll probably continue to sit on it, but it’s a nice story for a flick.

Five screenplays are back from the cleaners.

Shocker has continued to disappoint. I may budget it at some point in time, but it will probably never be big.

One Last Chance is doing very well. I send it off for a last char dev polish. If I can get char dev to three stars, I’ll begin the filming.

Challenges of the Heart now has better char dev. I need to work on intel and dialogue still. Since that’s my favorite Stephen King, I send him another project.

I decide to send Short of Breath to a char dev specialist and see what she can do.


-Anxiety

Don’t Be Afraid is looking very nice indeed. It is ready for a budget. This suspense thriller where a woman is stalked by a man she meets at a seminar might be a nice medium budget film.

External set – Big City Street, Internal Studio 12, Complex Set Construction. Physical costs, 40 million, pyro 500k, stunts 1 mill, no robotic effects. Industry Standard special effects – 4 million.

Print Cost – 2500 theaters – 5 mill.
TV Ads and Print Ads both 8 mill. Radio – 300k.

I now go to hire a director. I decide to hire Steven Soderbergh to direct and produce the film. I get him for 522k.

For an actress, I need a really good dramatic actress. Preferably a big name draw. Meg Ryan is interested, and that would be a balsy choice. Halle Berry is also interested, and that is just a much better choice. 4.5 million and 5 percent of gross later and Halle Berry is my starlet.

Who can be a creepy actor as the stalker? Has to have good screen presence. Keanu Reeves is creepy, but also kind of funny without trying to be. I think too people would see him from Bill and Ted and laugh. Christian Slater, however. He’s creepy. He likes the screenplay so I start a conversation. 828k later I have my stalker.

I still am looking for a supporting actor and two actresses. I cast James Earl Jones as the supporting actor (520k), Tea Leoni (828k) and Ali Larter (528k) as my supporting cast. 6 minor roles are all filled by up and comers. Total cost is currently 81 million.

I greenlight our suspense thriller.

-Anxiety

PRESS RELEASE - Dragon’s Den Studios

Dragon’s Den Studios, a new Hollywood studio recently formed, announced today that they will no longer be purchasing the exclusive movie rights or screenplays of Horror movies.

“We felt it was time to move in a different direction,” said Abe Sargent, Executive Producer and founder of Dragon’s Den Studios.

The studio has 6 horror scripts already purchased. “Terror Train” is one of three films already in development, and is a horror film. These six scripts will continue to be worked on and may be produced.

However, today, Dragon’s Den Studios has negotiated a deal with the Lovecraft Estate. As part of this deal, Dragon’s Den Studios will be purchased the exclusive movie rights to H.P. Lovecraft’s stories on an individual basis. Additionally, Dragon’s Den will have the right of first negotiation on every Lovecraft story.

H.P. Lovecraft was a horror writer from the 1920’s and 30’s and is generally regarded today as the best horror writer of the last century. Many experts place H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe at the top of the horror genre. Many Lovecraft stories or elements have been brought to the screen, however they have proved very poor in both script and production.

“The intellectual and innovative works of H.P. Lovecraft make an excellent pairing with Dragon Den’s view of moves,” Sargent said. “I have no doubt that Hollywood, and the world, will enjoy us making these movies. Almost as much as I’ll enjoy making them.”

To cap off their new relationship, Dragon’s Den Studios and the Lovecraft Estate have agreed to produce “The Call of Cthulhu” as their first production. “The Call was the first story Lovecraft wrote in his acclaimed Cthulhu Mythos. It is only fitting that it be the first movie we do to honor his works.”

PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios


-Anxiety

Does Dragon’s Den Know What They Are Doing?

Madeleine Heines
E! Online

Oh my God! An upstart movie studio comes in a and signs Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman to their first movie ever. Okay, you can toss enough money at stuff and get big names on your things, that’s an established Hollywood fact. Sure, it sent some rumbles across the community, but hey, it’s not outside the realm of possibility. But spending close to 200 million on your first film? 100 million on the second? 80 million on the third? The studio knows that every one of these flicks is going to bust, right?

I mean, how long can an ex-football coach run a studio before we all agree to point out that the Emperor has no clothes. Dragon’s Den is that emperor who paraded about in his skivvies.

For the love of all that is holy we have to start pointing out the flaws in their theories. The mass viewing public does not want high brow comedy, esoteric dialogue or intellectual anything. They want pure sensation.

Sure, a small segment of the population likes the high brow films. But it will never sell well. And all of the talent, money, and Brad Pitts in the world cannot change that tiny, simple fact.

Dragon’s Den will fall.


-Anxiety

Because I have a lot of scripts right now (29), I thought I’d catalogue them by genre:

Science Fiction:

Shocker, currently in a drawer.
Star Gazer, currently in a drawer


Horror:

Terror Train, currently in pre-production
Be Gone, B’Gosh, currently being rewritten
Dead or Deader, has not received first draft
Beast, currently in a drawer
Cleopatra’s Ghost, has not received first draft
The Call of Cthulhu, currently has not received first draft


Horror Comedy:

Hamburger, currently being rewritten


Suspense Thriller:

The Diary, currently in pre-production
Milestone, currently being rewritten
Don’t Be Afraid, currently in pre-production


Action Adventure:

The Empty Chair, has not received first draft


Comedy:

Heavenly, currently in a drawer
Gone Hollywood, currently being rewritten


Comedy Dark:

The Bobby-Soxers, currently in a drawer


Romantic Comedy:

Say You Love Me, has not received first draft


Love Story:

Marvelous, currently in a drawer


Drama:

One Last Chance, sent for rewrite
Challenges of the Heart, sent for rewrite
She Was an Empty Place, currently being rewritten
Tearoom, currently being rewritten
Eyes of Rage, currently in a drawer
Short of Breath, sent for rewrite
A Choice of Words, has not received first draft
Lovers, has not received first draft


Mystery:

Downtown, currently being rewritten


Musical:

Stand Up and Dance, has not received first draft


Historical Epic:

Deep Cut, currently in a drawer


-Anxiety

July 2003

I purchase screenplay #30: The Wave. This action adventure has an off shore storm sending a 600 foot wave towards LA. It cost 3.3 mill with 5 star arc, pasce and intelligence and four star dialogue.

8 scripts are returned today.

Milestone needs even more dialogue work. It is sent to a specialist.

She Was An Empty Place is having some difficulties with the script. I send it to a specialist as well to get the plot and arc worked out.

Tearoom is almost there. I order some polish for char dev.

Be Gone B’Gosh is also getting there. I send it to a rewriting specialist for genre and char dev.

Gone Hollywood is back but I immediately sent it back out. The dialogue is awful.

Downtown just needs a little polish before being done as well. I send it back to get the dialogue touched up.


-Anxiety

Two scripts are ready to go this month. The first is Hamburger is also back and ready for production. This Horror Comedy is being filmed on a Main Street USA external set and sound stage #13 internally. It has Complex Set Construction.

The physical costs are 31 million, 1 mill for pyro effects and 500k for stunts. There are no robotic effects. 3 mill for standard effects.

Print costs is 4.6 mill for 2300 theaters. TV ads 7 mill Print ads 6 mill, radio 200k.

Richard Kelly is best in comedy and wants to do horror. He is ideally suited to direct his second movie. He is very visionary and good at everything else. Kelly is a Dragon’s Den type of movie. Donnie Darko, his directorial debut, is among my top 10 favortie movies of all time. He also costs 100k to direct.

I hire Peter Marks for 500k to be the producer. He has the skills necessary for the job. I see if any good actors want a horror role. There aren’t that many good actors. I open up the search.

I find a good supporting actor quickly in Seann William Scott (1 mill) of Dude, Where’s My Car? fame. After some discussion, I land Val Kilmer (1 mill) as our leading actor. Christina Ricci (1 mill) agrees to be our leading actress. I cast Rodney Roland (500k, very hot on screen), Famke Janssen (500k) and Mena Suvari (700k) in the remaining supporting roles. Up and Comers are cast in the two minor roles.

With a total budget of 66.4 million in salaries, production costs, and domestic advertising, I greenlight Hamburger for production.


-Anxiety

The other movie ready to go is One Last Chance. This thinking drama is reminiscent of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I intend to spin it, however.

We will film on the suburban street backlot and sound stage #14 with significant set construction. With physical costs of 31 mill, 500k for stunts and 2 mill for standard special effects, the production of One Last Chance will be our cheapest yet.

I decide to go with 7 mill in each of TV and print ads and 300k radio. With print costs of 4.6 mill (2300 screens) we are set to hire.

Spike Jonze, John Hughes and somebody else are interested in directing the piece. I look over Spike and John. Both are good. I decide to go with John Hughes who has less vision but a better command of the actors. I sign him as the director and producer for 500k. Several females have contacted me about their interest in the flick. Jodie Foster, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Courtney Cox. None of which thrill me, by the way.

I hire John Rhys-Davies (1 mill) as a professor quickly. I still need an actor who can effectively play the of a young student. I send the script to Leonardo DiCaprio. He is interested so I begin discussions with his agent. 7.2 million and 10 percent of gross later, I have signed Leonardo as my lead.

I now need our leading actress and love interest. I send the screenplay to Liv Tyler and she likes it. She’ll be my backup for now. Natalie Portman and Kirsten Dunst are also available. Of the three, I think Natalie will play the best off Leonardo. 1.1 mill to make her my leading lady.

I sign Neve Campbell (500k), Jason Lee (1 mill) as Leonardo’s best friend, and John Cleese (700k) as another professor. All four minor roles are played by Up and Comers.

I greenlight One Last Chance with a budget of 70 million.


-Anxiety

August 2003

Terror Train and The Diary have entered production. Don’t Be Afraid needs 8 million in set costs. I approve them. Hamburger needs 6.2 mill in sets as well. Another approval.

I check the market. I purchase screenplay #31 for 3.3 mill: Dungeon, suspense thriller, a psychopath kidnaps women and holds them prisoner in his basement. Five star pace and genre elements with four star plot and three star char dev and int. Only needs work on arc and dialogue.

I find the stageplay Nuclear Holocaust: The Musicial to be quite innovative but a bit too campy for my tastes. A novel, Ravaged Heart of Stone has some nice touches, but I decide to pass on that as well. Moonshine, a novel about love in rural Kentucky, has great elements, but probably a limited appeal.

Several scripts are back:

Challenges of the Heart is back from King, but he didn’t improve it. I send it off for a dialogue polish and see what happens.

Tearoom is back. The char dev hasn’t improved much. I decide to send it off for one last try. Otherwise, I’ll probably go ahead and approve it. It should prove to be a cheap movie to make.

Short of Breath is also returned. However, attempts to improve the script have failed. I send it off for another try.

Downtown is up to a four star script, but it use a little polish in its plot. I send it off for that touchup.

I send The Call of Cthulhu to Stephen King for an original script. There is no man in Hollywood I trust with the script more than him. King has written short stories in Lovecraft’s world and has a great respect for him.

I also send out the Dungeon. It’s so close to being a finished product. I’d like to see it ready soon.


-Anxiety

September 2003

The Diary needs 2 mill to complete production. I authorize the expenditure. Terror Train needs 6 million to reshoot some scenes. I give them their monies as well. They have entered post-production after that money was sent. Don’t Be Afraid has entered production.

Director Cameron Crowe wants to have a meeting with me. I agree to sit down with him. He pitches me a title called Thunder of Zeus, which at first sounds really fun. Then I realize that it’s about a billionaire recluse who tries to overthrow the US Government. It’s a poor script, and Crowe demands a budget of 40 mill and 30 percent of gross! He’s a good director, and I’d be willing to hire him for a project. But not this particular project.

I buy the screenplay for The Second Face. 3.4 Mill, Mystery. Police try to solve the murder of a college graduate student.


Milestone is back and almost ready to go. It’s sent back for a polish.

Challenges of the Heart came back and it’s intelligence has not been made better. This script is as good as I can make it, and it’s still a three star script with a hole in intelligence. Everything else is good or better. With a great plot and arc, and decent dialogue, char dev and genre elements, and good pace, maybe I shouldn’t worry so much about the intelligence. I’ll hold onto it for a month or two to see how other scripts are developing before making a decision here.

She Was An Empty Place has come back. A professional rewrite specialist was unable to clean up the arc. I try for the dialogue on the cheap (50k).

Tearoom is back and ready to go. The script has no weaknesses, although its strengths are less than stellar. I could try and touchup the pace, intelligence or char dev, but each are at three stars. I decide to send it out for a pace touchup. We’ll see if we can’t get that up to four stars.

Be Gone, B’Gosh is also back. I professional specialist was unable to make the char dev, pace, and genre elements better. I make one last chance at the plot. I send it out for a rewrite.

Two scripts are ready. Downtown and Gone Hollywood. I decide to hold onto Downtown this month, and begin production of Gone Hollywood.

-Anxiety

Two problems so far Anxiety:

1. You haven't hired Ardent Enthusiast yet.

2. You don't have a sport movie yet!

Good luck!

No sports movies are in the works immedaitely, nor are any projects on our radar for the future. Sports movies are often highly formulaic, and the ones that are not are usually failures. A comedy with a sports premise might not be out of the realm of possibility, however.

-Anxiety

Gone Hollywood is the Comedy about a lame-brain who inherits a movie studio. We cast in on location here and in LA and we also do the sound here as well. We have significant set construction.

I budget 34 mill for physical costs, and 1 mill for stunts. There are no other effects. I decide to wait on casting until setting advertising expenditures.

I send the script off to my first choice – Kevin Smith. He is interested and we begin discussions. I sign Kevin Smith as my director and producer for 420k. He has a talent for comedy, and I think he’ll be great in this movie.

I search for actors that excel in this type of flick. A lot of best comedic actors are tired – Dan Aykroyd, Michael J Fox, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, David Spade, and such. I don’t want to cast old men from the SNL club that don’t generate the kind of heat that I want.

So I send the script to Seth Green. He does seem like the sort of lead that this movie demands. He is interested. Two million makes him my leading actor. Billy Zane agrees to be my supporting actor for 500k.

Now I need to cast the females. I have a top candidate in mind, and she likes the script. 1.136 million makes Kirsten Dunst my lead actress. Heather Graham aggress to be my supporting actress.

I think that Seth Green, Kirsten Dunst, Billy Zane and Heather Graham make an excellent Kevin Smith cast.

I decide to budget 6 mill for each of TV and Radio ads and 300k for radio. That gives us a total budget for domestic advertising and negative costs of 64 million.


-Anxiety

PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios

Dragon’s Den Studios, a new studio with high ambitions, announced today that it has created a “Cadre of Directors.”

With almost 35 projects in various stages of completion, Dragon’s Den Studios needs a set of directors whose talent is high and whose visions line up with those of Dragon’s Den. This studio was formed with a desire to bring more depth to studio moviemaking, and these directors epitomize that ideal.

Dragon’s Den Studios can and will occasionally use directors outside of the Cadre, and directors in the Cadre are welcome to pursue projects with other studios, but the creation of this Cadre represents a shared vision and dedication to purpose.

The directors who have agreed to become members of the Cadre represent a list of up and comers, experienced hands, and talented outsiders. They are:

John Hughes – Director of many classic 80’s movies that challenged society and Hollywood such as Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Pretty in Pink and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. For the past 15 years, he has been ostracized by Hollywood and forced into children’s movies. Even then, he has had hits like Home Alone, 101 Dalmations, and Beethoven. His directing qualifications are without questions, and both John and Dragon’s Den look forward to returning him to his artistic roots.

Richard Kelly – A new director on the screen, 27 year old Kelly has had one major release to mixed reviews – Donnie Darko. Already working on his second directorial picture with Dragon’s Den, Richard Kelly has put pen to paper and agreed to become a member of the Cadre.

Darren Aronofsky – Another new director, Darren’s work with Pi and Requiem for a Dream have been highly acclaimed and groundbreaking. Darren has been without a major studio project, despite displaying tremendous directing talents.

Christopher Nolan – Nominated for an Oscar in Best Screenplay for Memento, Christopher Nolan has only directed two films. Memento was a movie that played with time and the audience in ways that no movie has ever done, and his vision is welcome in Dragon’s Den Studios.

Kevin Smith – The director of many of the greatest independent films of the later 90s, including Chasing Amy, Kevin Smith has already signed to direct a project for Dragon’s Den Studios and has also agreed to become a member of the Cadre.

Steven Soderbergh – Recently becoming an acclaimed studio diurector, Steven’s work include Traffic, Ocean’s Eleven, Erin Brockovich, and Out of Sight. Already a director for a Dragon’s Den Studios movie, he has decided to make the jump to Dragon’s Den for creative reasons.

Spike Jonze – Known more for videos than movies, Spike Jonze has nevertheless made a name for himself with the off-kilter movie Being John Malkovich. Wanting a more serious role in pictures, Spike has agreed to be a founding member of the Cadre.

Sam Raimi – With a mega hit under his belt I Spider-Man, several horror and comedy movies notching that belt, and a highly touted movie in A Simple Plan, Sam Raimi has left the warmth of the studios for a greater control over his movies and more creative freedom.

M. Night Shyamalan – The last founding member of the Cadre, M. Night Shyamalan is currently working on the flagship Dragon’s Den movie. He has cornered the Hollywood market on creating fear in an audience without using a lot of gore or special effects. Among his more well known pieces are The Sixth Sense, Signs, and Unbreakable.


PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios


-Anxiety

October 2003

The Diary and Don’t Be Afraid have entered Post Production. One Last Chance and Hamburger have entered production. An additional 2 mill is needed to compensate for Halle Berry’s ego casuing some shooting delays. I certify the allocation.

I purchase another screenplay – The Eye of the Storm, a drama, for 3.7 mill. A hurricane all but demolishes a small Caribbean island. With needs only in arc, pace and plot, I hope that a specialist can clean up the script.

More scripts have returned:

Milestone – An unsuccessful polish disturbs me. It’s ready to go, I guess, but I choose not to authorize it this month.

Tearoom is ready for production. I want to look at the other projects that are ready or nearly so, before deciding what to produce this month.

Short of Breath features a four star script. Looks good.

Dungeon is also back. It needs some serius work.

So, I have several projects ready to go, or as close to it as they’ll ever be. Tearoom, Short of Breath, Milestone, and Downtown. Of those, I like Tearoom. It should be cheap to film and appeal to a new type of audience. Let’s work on it and see if there is room for another movie this month.


-Anxiety

Tearoom is an adaptation of a play about ladies meeting to compare notes on life. The physics of the movie should be relatively small. I set in the backlot on Main Street, USA. We’ll use sound stage 15 and have an average set construction. I authorize 21 million in physical costs, with not pyrotechnic, stunts or robotic effects. No special effects either.

I decide to send this project outside the Cadre to a female director. I really think that Mimi Leder is an excellent choice for director and producer. I send over the script and she likes it. I sign her for 800k. Maybe Mimi will join the Cadre sooner or later. She directed Deep Impact, which was everything Armageddon wasn’t. Deep Impact was human, touching, and more exciting than the big effects Armageddon.

My signings for the stars are quick. With The Diary done and entering post-production, Nicole Kidman is just freed up. She is interested in the script and we sign her for almost 8 million and 10 percent of the gross. However, she will be our big draw. Susan Sarandon has agreed to the other starring role for 600k.

Leelee Sobieski has agreed to be the supporting actress for 700k. She is a great actress and will add that touch of youth. I need a hunky man to play opposite the ladies and as Nicole’s love interest. For a million, Rob Lowe has agreed to be the supporting actor.

The three minor roles are all handed to A List Character actors.

The Prints costs for the movie, for 2000 screens, is 3.6 mill. I order 6 mill each in TV and print ads and 300k in radio. With 60 million in total domestic advertising and negative costs, I greenlight the movie.


-Anxiety

I decide to go ahead and set up Milestone this month. This suspense thriller is about a one hundred year old woman who is tormented by her beautiful young nurse. We use sound stage 16 and a Big City Street in the backlot for the filming with significant sets.

I budget 31 million for physical costs, 500k for pyrotechnics, 500k for stunts, and 2 mill standard special effects.

I offer the project to Christopher Nolan. It seems like his kind of thing. He agrees to direct the film for a little over 100k. I hire Jerry Huges to produce the film for 600k.

I need a older lady to play the 100 year old woman. Judi Dench is my ideal candidate, and she is interested. But I can’t get her to get rid of her demands for 5% of the gross. I orrfer to double her asking price (from 800k to 1.6 mill) but no dice. However, there is nobody else out there I trust with ths kind of role, so I relent. For 800k and 5% of gross, Judi Dench will star.

I want a young, hot trollop of an actress to smoke the film up beside Dench. A contrast of young and old would make for a nice film. I send the screenplay to Carrie-Anne Moss. She is my first choice, with an ideal attitude, good acting chops, good sex appeal, and young enough to fool the audience into thinking that she is younger. I sign her for 1.8 million.

Thora Birch is done filming, so I cast her as a supporting actress for 550k. Christian Slater has agreed to be the loving grandson of the leading lady for 800k. The movie only has one minor role, and I cast a B List Character Actor.

I agree to 6 mill TV, 6.5 mill print, and 400k radio in domestic advertising. Combined with 2300 theaters with a print cost of 4.6 mill, the total for this project is 65.7 mill.

I green light the movie.


-Anxiety

I like this. I am waiting for the next entry. Keep it up.

Makes it more interesting using actual stars. I couldn't get into the game because of the fictional names, but I might try it again with the talent file.

The holdup on this dynasty has been the saved games. They've been corrupted, and I am working with the HM guy to take care of the situation.

-Anxiety

Hopefully the save game issue is resolved and out regularly scheduled dynasty now returns, already in progress.....

-Anxiety

November 2003

One Last Chance needs a million to fix some damaged reels. I agree to the costs. It now enters Post-Production.

Hamburger falls a month behind schedule.

We are almost into the red. With all of this projects and no revenue yet, we have 17 million left – a far cry from the 1 billion I started with. With four movies in post-production, however, I expect to see that downward slide halted somewhat.

However, we will not be back in the black for some time. This is my last chance to purchase novels, plays, or screenplays. Unfortunately, the scripts still circulating are unoriginal or bad. Either way, I choose not to purchase anything this month.

Here is a recap of our movies:

Post Production: The Diary, One Last Chance, Terror Train, Don’t Be Afraid

Production: Hamburger

Pre Production: Milestone, Tearoom, Gone Hollywood

Awaiting Greenlight: Challenges of the Heart, Shocker, She Was An Empty Place, Be Gone B’Gosh, Eyes of Rage, Short of Breath, Downtown

Sent Away for Rewrite: The Bobby-Soxors, Beast

Currently Being Written: The Call of Cthulhu

In a Drawer with a Screenplay: Heavenly, Star Gazer, Marvelous, The Wave, Dungeon, The Second Face, The Eye of the Storm

Rights Purchased, but no Screenplay: Deep Cut, Dead or Deader, A Choice of Words, Lovers, Stand Up and Dance, The Empty Chair, Say You Love Me, Cleopatra’s Ghost


-Anxiety

I decide to Greenlight Short of Breath:

Big Street Backlot, Sound Stage 14, Complex Set Construction

31 mill physical costs, 500k Pyro effects, 300k stunts, and 500k standard special effects.

Julia Roberts, Hollywood’s leading lady, is interested in the role. 9.5 mill and 10% of gross yields me the #1 leading lady in Hollywood. Robert Redford has also called me up wanting to direct. I tell him that he’ll have to produce as well, and he agrees. 1.2 million and Redford is on board.

I need a starring male role across from Roberts. I need someone with the sheer charisma and sex appeal to star across from Julia. I send the script to my first choice – Matt Damon. He is interested and for 5 million and 5% of gross, Matt is my star. Guy Pearce (2 mill) and Kate Hudson (600k) agree to supporting roles.

I cast two A List Character Actors, two B List, and two Up and Comers for the minor roles.

We go to 2500 theaters, so 5 mill printing costs. I budget 10 million TV, 9 mill print, and 500k radio.

85.27 mill total.


-Anxiety

December 2003

Terror Train has finished post production, has been rated, and is ready for release!

Hamburger has gone into post production. Gone Hollywood has entered production.

The first screenplay for The Call of Cthulhu has arrived from King. King gave it Five Star Arc and Character Development. Everything else, however, is very poor. I send it away to a rewrite specialist to work on the plot and intelligence.

Terror Train has some nice ancillaries, including merchandise, posters and apparel. The film is currently rated PG-13 and is screening around 91% of audiences enjoying the movie. I do not authorize an edit.

I set the movie for release in March, 2004. Due to its star capacity, merchandising and good screenings, I pump up the theaters to 3000. The total project cost is 105 mill.

I send The Wave out for a rewrite of its genre and character elements.


-Anxiety

I Greenlight Downtown:

We will film in New York City and shoot sound on location with Complex Set Construction.

I authorize 32 million in physical costs, 1 mill pyro, 1.5 mill stunts, and 3 mill industry standard effects.

I sign Harrison Ford as my detective. 10 mill and 10% of gross for the man. I need a female villain. And someone who can share the screen with Harrison Ford. I send the screenplay to Angelina Jolie, and she is interested. 4.9 mill and 5 percent of gross yields me my leading lady.

Who can control these people? I hire David Lynch to be my director for 1 million. I am also looking for a separate producer for this project. I sign Paul Christenson for 600k. He is great at budget and work ethic, so he should help us out there.

My supporting roles will be Michelle Pfeiffer (1 mill), Ed Harris (1 mill), and Jeremy Piven (450k).

There are 13 minor roles. I hire 6 B Lists, 4 up and comers and 3 fresh faces.

I ok 8.5 mill TV ads, 8.5 mill print, and 500k radio. 2800 theaters for 5.6 mill printing costs. Total cost, 86.7 mill.


-Anxiety

January 2004

Deep in debt (173 million in the hole), we try to look out and see light. The Diary has completed post production and is ready for release! It will be our first feature. Don’t Be Afraid has also finished post-production.

Tearoom and Milestone have started shooting. Gone Hollywood has entered post production.

The Bobby-Soxors and Beast are back from the writers.

Producer Aaron Spelling has died.

The Diary is rated PG 13 and screens at 99% across the board!!!!! I set the release date for February, 2004. Ancillaries for the movie look good in general merchandise, with decent apparel and posters as well. Great.

Don’t Be Afraid also comes with a PG13 rating. It screens at a very respectable 96% I slate it for release in April. More theaters are interested in the film, so I bump it up to 3000. I also increase the TV and print ads by 2 million each.

I send out both Beast and The Bobby-Soxors to get their scripts reworked.


I do not greenlight any projects this month.


-Anxiety

February 2003

One Last Chance is ready for release.

Milestone has entered post production. Short of Breath has begun filming.

Tearoom needs another million to complete production. I authorize it. Then Nicole Kidman hurts the movie with her tantrums, I authorize another million for Tearoom. Finally, shooting delays due to all of this mess take another 3 million to clean up. After all of this, it now enters post production.

Beast, The Wave and The Call of Cthulhu are all back. Beast is as good as I can get it, but it suffers in several areas. The Wave is already a good looking script. I send it back for a polish, but I can see us filming it soon.

Lastly, The Call of Cthulhu is back. The screenplay is coming along nicely. I send it back out for a polish.

One Last Chance is screening at 95% and is rated R. I cut it to PG13. We set the release date for May.


-Anxiety

“Review of ‘The Diary’

Susan Dobbs
Entertainment Weekly


Let’s face it, we all have been wondering about the new studio in town. Dragon’s Den Studios was set up by a unknown who believes that smart movies and smart talent will make magic on the screen. And we have all been doubtful.

So I sit down at the screening for press one week before the movie is released. I have some butter free popcorn and a diet soda. And I have my own trepidations. What happens when this fails? The studio has spent over 1.2 billion dollars so far, and is already in debt. Surely the movie can’t be any good. And they spent 219 million on advertising and the negatives. For their first ever movie.

Now, we all realized that they were intending to make a name for themselves. Even a big bust would have splayed the name of Dragon’s Den on every newspaper and magazine across America. Any news is good news is this business of ours.

But the real fear is success. What is Dragon’s Den proves Hollywood wrong? What would happen?

So, I sit down to look at this movie and I was Just. Blown. Away. This movie is good. Better than that, really good. This is M. Night Shyamalan’s first blockbuster film with a major budget, and it was about time. His characteristic camera work and studied scenes evoke an aura of mystery and suspense from the opening scene.

The Diary stars Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman in a story about the White House and scandal when a diary of the President’s lover (Kidman) escapes and makes it to the tabloids. The President’s troubleshooter (Pitt) has to run interference, track down the leak, find Kidman, try to convince her to recant the diary, all while the President has to avoid the press and questions about the rumored book. Jeremy Piven plays the reporter on the case and Thora Birch is ably cast as the President’s daughter.

The script is well done, and if this is what Dragon’s Den means by smart movies, I say keep them coming. The President is only one of the smallest parts. Instead, we see how this diary affects the lives of those around him – his daughter, employees, reporters, and mistress. It is a great movie, and possibly an oscar winner.

Nicole’s performance is hit and miss, possibly because Brad Pitt dominates the screen from the very outset. He is so overpowering as this secret agent of the President, that you feel for him, even when the agent bends the rules. Luckily, Birch and Piven are able to hold their own.

With great story telling, good acting, and excellent direction, this is easily one of the best movies for a while, and my very well be an instant classic. A”


-Anxiety

This movie performed phenomenally. Here is the data.


The Diary
Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Negative Cost: 109 mill
Total P&A, domestic and foreign: 110 mill
Total cost: 219 mill
Domestic Gross: 396.664 mill
Foreign Gross: 397.109 mill
Total Revenue: 372.8 mill
Overall: *****
Producer George Fuller: *****
Director M. Night Shyamalan: *****
Brad Pitt: *****
Nicole Kidman: ***
Jeremy Piven: ****
Thora Birch: ****

Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman each took home an extra 46.6 million. This was the Top grossing movie of all time in both the domestic and foreign markets. Nicole’s performance was less than expected, but the movie did so well, who cares?

Our studio is back into the black.


-Anxiety

“’The Diary’ Hits #1 Worldwide Gross.

Stanley Winthrope
AP

The surprising story of Dragon’s Den Studios and their inaugural project, ‘The Diary’ continues as the movie has moved into first place alltime. It is first in domestic gross with $396,664,000. Tolzar Lives moves back to #2. Foreign Gross has seen ‘The Diary’ get $397,109,000, again ahead of Tolzar Lives. However, previously SEALs held the record for most revenue due to ancillary markets, while Tolzar Lives was a distant second. Today, however, ‘The Diary’ moves ahead of SEALs and has cracked the 1 billion plateau with $,083,894,000 total gross revenue.

Of course, the studio sees much less than that, but it shows just how groundbreaking ‘The Diary’ actually is. This sort of success from a new studio defies logic at every turn. Maybe Dragon’s Den Studios transcends logic and exemplifies fate.

What will they do for an encore?”

-Anxiety

Played the game today! We received the pc today and I thought about hollywood mogul...d/led it...which took a while!

Anyway, fascinating game. I don't have the talent file...I'm not really concerned about getting it...if it falls in my lap...that's a different story. I played it for about an hour. Produced some movies...

A lot of fun, but aggravating as well. I hate having to manuever across the screen all the time. I'd rather be able to hit enter sometimes.

Tried producing my Archer Studios "Fourth String" and kept running into problems. Never got it done.

The worst part is that I played on the easiest level...I produced a heck of a movie...obviously on the easy level that's not hard...that just wowed everyone.

It took a while to figure out...thru trial and error what meant I was selecting...white or blue. That sucked.

Fun game, wish I could play it more while at sea...but I won't be able to. Maybe in November...

It's an interesting game. Definately needs some work. I think it could easily be worked on and released by a team and have quite a nice product.

-Anxiety

March 2004

Short of Breath needs another million for production, which I authorize. It now heads into post production. Hamburger is ready for release. And Downtown has started filming.

Several scripts are back.

The town is a buzz with The Diary. They can’t wait to see what’s next!!!

Hamburger is rated PG13 and screens at about 94%. I do not authorize an edit, and slate it for release in June. A couple hundred more theaters are interested in the film and I bump it up to 2500 theaters nationwide.

I order a sequel for The Diary. I title it The Journal. I give it the following premise: “A lost Pentagon journal detailing war plans falls into the hands of a tabloid reporter.” It has enough of a difference to tweak audiences, but the basic premise of an important governmental document falling into the hands of a tabloid is still there. Who lost it, what it contains, and who is looking for it are all different, however. I order it written for two lead actors, and three supporting roles – two female, one male. I send it off to Marina Rosovodskovik for a first draft.

The Wave is back, and is as good as I can make it. It’s a good script, but it still needs character development and plot. It’s an action adventure, so maybe that’s not as much of a big deal as I make it out to be. The Bobby-Soxors is as good as I can get it. It still looks rather average. I decide to sit on it.

The scripts out there are abysmal. I decide not to pick up anything this month.

I send The Empty Chair out for its first screenplay.

The Call of Cthulhu is back. I send it back out for some more work.



-Anxiety

I greenlight The Wave:

We go to LA to film, doing sound on location and with elaborate set construction.

I authorize 51 mill physical costs, 400k pyro, 1 mill stunts, 400k robotics, and 10 mill groundbreaking effects.

I hire Ang Lee to direct the movie for only 322k. Ross Grayson Bell comes on board as producer for 700k. I sign Keanu Reeves as the leading actor for a little over 4 million. For 4.6 mill and 5% of gross, Halle Berry joins us as the leading lady. Our supporting roles are Famke Jannsen (500k), Lanei Chapman (100k), Val Kilmer (1 mill) and Jonathan Ke Quan (275k). All nine minor roles are cast as up and comers.

In 3000 theaters, I give the movie 18 mill in each of TV and print advertising and 1.5 mill radio. Total negative and domestic advertising cost – 123.9 mill.

The movie has a very international feel with Ang Lee directing and Ke Quan as a supporting actor lending an asian feel. Halle Berry and Lanei Chapman are both black actresses. Famke Jannsen is from Europe and Keanu was born in Lebanon. I hope to help its foreign gross. Let’s see what happens.


-Anxiety

“Review of ‘Terror Train’

Sybil Hallond
E! Online

I’ve seen better scripts – namely the Dragon’s Den Studios first movie, ‘The Diary’ released last month. Unleashed is more like it. And now the fledgling little dragon has released it’s next film upon us – a horror movie names ‘Terror Train.’

It just sounds campy. The challenge will be to avoid campiness in the film. As I said, I’ve seen better scripts. I’ve also seen much worse.

The movie has an outstanding plot. A ghostly passenger, played by Christopher Walken, begins to ride a train bound from one coast to the other. Along the way, a clairvoyant, played by Helena Bonham Carter, senses the ghost and an ex-cop, played by Morgan Freeman, try to track down the ghost as murder arises. Kate Beckinsale is cast as another passenger who keeps dropping cryptic messages and assisting the duo. You begin to suspect that something more is going on.

Which, of course, it is. Kate’s character ends up being the murderer of her husband, Walken. And he is back for revenge. As the director, Sam Raimi, takes us through the movie, you can tell that tha pace is just great. He really knows when to throw out scary, and when to just hint at it. Despite the film’s deficiencies, you will still be frightened. The character arc is also good, but the development is next to nothing. The dialogue is reasonable and doesn’t get in the way. It ends up being a moderately intelligent and modest horror film. C”


-Anxiety

Terror Train
Morgan Freeman, Helena Bonham Carter
Directed and Produced by Sam Raimi
Negative Cost: 82.48 mill
Total P&A: 57.5 mill
Total Cost: 139.98 mill
Domestic Gross: 29.552 mill
Foreign Gross: 38.095 mill
Total Net Revenue: -53.97 mill
Overall: ****
Sam, Director: **
Sam, Producer: ****
Morgan Freeman: ***
Helena Bonham Carter: ****
Christopher Walken: ****
Kate Beckinsale: ****

Ugh. Looks like we need more work after this bust. Sam disappointed as Director, the satrs didn’t produce, and the script was never that good. The combination of which made the flick a bust – simple as that.


-Anxiety

April 2004

Gone Hollywood is ready for release. Downtown has finished filming and has entered post production. The Wave needs 10.2 million for sets. I approve these expenditures.

I buy – SEALs 2. The original was a big hit, and the original screenwriter has begun circulating the script. For 3.4 mill, it’s worth keeping this out of someone else’s hands.

Gone Hollywood is currently rated Rand screens at 95%. I decide to cut it down to PG13 and slate the release for July.

I tone down Eyes of Rage and send it off for one last rewrite to see if we can’t improve the script.

I ship off Say You Love Me for a first screenplay.


-Anxiety

I greenlight Beast.

We set the flick in NYC with sound filming on location. Complex Set Construction is used. 21 mill physical costs, 1 mill pyro, 500k stunts, 1 mill robotics and 8 mill state of the art special effects.

Frank Darabont, a good worker and director, is brought on to direct and produce for 300k.

I get my stars in Christian Slater and Heather Graham, both for 800k each. Jennifer Love Hewitt for 700k and Rodney Rowland for 500k are my supporting crew. Up and Comers split the 10 minor roles with fresh faces.

I allocate 76.5 million for each of TV and print ads, plus another 700k radio. Total project cost and domestic advertising – 61.6 mill.


-Anxiety

“Review of ‘Don’t Be Afraid’

Sybil Hallond
E! Online

With one bust and one homerun under their belts, Dragon’s Den Studios relerases their third project with Halle Berry and Christian Slater starring in Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Don’t Be Afraid.’

The premise of this movie is simple. A young widow (Berry) goes to a self help seminar taught by Alfred Slater. Alfred is ably played by elder statesman James Earl Jones. While there, she quickly meets another gentleman, played by Christian Slater. Slater’s character begins to stalk the widow. She turns to her best friend (played by Tea Leoni) and another person in the group who has become the widow’s friend (Ali Larter), but to no avail. Ultimately, the widow must take on her stalker and confront him in order to find out the truth.

The screenplay for this movie is more on par with ‘The Diary’ than ‘Terror Train.’ There are no real deficiencies in the script, and it shines in many area, especially the snappy dialogue. Despite the heavy overtones, this is only rated PG13, so older kids can even watch it.

Halle Berry’s performance is uninspired. Slater does a very believable job as the stalker, and he would be the best actor on the set, except for a guy names James Earl Jones. Even as a supporting actor, Jones just dominates every scene that he is in. Someone needs to get Jones another starting gig.

The movie is interesting, and with such a good script, and good direction by Soderbergh, it could do very well. It’s definitely worth watching, but not for the leading lady. B+”


-Anxiety