Re: [MISP] One Shape of Things to Come?

Thanks Eric for posting this. For the last year we have been talking about NM becoming known for being friendly to the independent movement. When we promoted the Senate Memorial that would kick start this movement the status quo did not support us. This hopefully is a wake up call.

On Dec 10, 2009, at 8:29 PM, Eric Renz-Whitmore wrote:

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It's frustrating for many local indie filmmakers when studio execs talk about 'low budget' and 'indie' films with budgets north of $1M.  But in addition to the mega-budget movies (that New Mexico does pretty well on) there may be growing opportunity on the other end of the spectrum (which New Mexico also does pretty well on) as well:

Paramount to produce more micro-budget films

Studio will spend $1 million annually to develop 10 to 20 films

By DAVE MCNARY

Seeking to replicate the stunning success of "Paranormal Activity," Paramount's launching an initiative aimed at spending $1 million annually to develop and produce micro-budget films.

The move, unveiled Thursday, is designed to place between 10 to 20 projects in development by the end of next year with no individual budget topping $100,000.

Paramount Film Group prexy Adam Goodman, promoted into the slot in June, cooked up the plan in the wake of "Paranormal" -- made for $15,000 -- grossing over $100 million domestically.

Goodman's indicated the funds, which will come out of the studio's overall production budget, will be targeted at both unknowns and established filmmakers with the goal of increasing the studio's ability to find new voices and ideas. Additionally, the initiative's also aimed at giving Paramount a more diverse portfolio of titles at a time when Hollywood's devoting most of its resources on mega-budget pics, such as Par's "Transformers" and "Star Trek" franchises.

The studio hasn't set a target as to how many projects would receive a theatrical release. The micro-budget projects could also conceivably be re-made with conventional budgets...

More at:  Paramount to produce more micro-budget films

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