Ghostkeeper and more...

Had some nice email over the wk-end about Ghostkeeper, seems that it's doing very well for Code Red so far.

One of the reasons Bill at Code Red decided to sell direct rather than through a distributor is basically because distributors can really rip you off. My initial experience was with a company called International Cinema Marketing, out of NYC.

That's when I learned one single thing; they will take your money. In fact you don't look for a company that will be be dishonest, you look for one that will be the least dishonest.

But a distributor will always say "we're selling your movie".

And they're right. But what they don't say is how they decided on the "expenses" necessary to sell the movie. That might mean taking a buyer for an expensive dinner, or flying their partner/wife/husband or friend to Cannes along with them.

And you pay for it.

So why do you allow it?

You have no choice. Their expenses are so complicated on paper that it's almost impossible to find the real cost. This is why you often see bigtime producers and directors sue the major studios for money owed to them.

And it becomes a matter as to who can stretch it out longer in the courts.

Having said that, while Code Red gave me a good deal, it remains to be seen how much that deal will cost me. To their credit, they did find the 35mm prints and they were very helpful in helping to put the commentary together.

But distribution is changing and for the better, what with streaming video ready to take over from DVDs just as quickly as DVDs took over from VHS. It's getting harder for studios and sales agents to hide their expenses. The greater problem is the rampant copying of movies that is killing the studios.

I know I have written about how surprised I was with Ghostkeeper's sudden revival but it continues to amaze me. It was the last thing I ever expected.

And I have written a sequel of sorts as most of you know, but getting it financed is a tough one. John Holbrook, the DP from the original GKPR came up with a crew budget that's pretty good, and for under $1 million.

The original GKPR was filmed for around $650,000, which is the equivalent of $1.4 million today. But with new DV cameras it can be made quite well for a lower budget.

Got some nice comments in the previous blog, which always makes the day a little brighter.

And what else today?

A company is interested in Deadhead, a story about 8 people flying on a jetliner destined for the bone yard when strange, ghostly things begin to happen.

This from a guy who writes Hallmark movies?

But there's nothing like a good ghost story at 32,000  feet.