Joe Brody
Well-known member
Does anyone know how the costs of production are being carved up for Indy IV? . . .the projected budget? . . and how much of the burden is being shouldered by Paramount?
I ask because Paramount's recent performance has been dismal and the studio is notorious for nickel-and-diming productions. I'm curious if Paramount's problems will impact Indy IV -- or if due to the heavyweights involved, Indy IV will be insulated from Paramount's problems. I believe principal studio work is being done in the U.S. for cost reasons and I wonder if this a warning sign of an Indy IV being made on the cheap.
Presumably prompted by 'Timeline' and other recent Paramount releases flaming out at the box office, the lead article in the Business Section of today's New York Time is about the financial troubles at Paramount ("Troubles at Paramount: Is it Just the Money?"). Here's some excerpts:
-- "Paramount, [several Hollywood executives and producers said], had become increasingly difficult place to work because its management was stingy with money and not inclined to share creative control."
-- "They don't want to make agressive, innovative movies." said one producer.
-- "Paramount has stumbled this year with only 2 of its top 10 movies taking in more than $100M" [the Italian Job and 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days'].
-- "[Paramount's current financial numbers] are dismal. Operating income at the [Viacom] entertainment unit, which is dominated by Paramount, fell 32 percent to $205.4 million,, in the first nine months of 2003, and revenue rose by a scant 2 percent, to $2.8 billion. Worse, the unit is not showing any growth. Analysts expect [Paramount's] operating profit to be lower than in 2000."
This last quote doesn't bode well for any film at Paramount -- like Indy IV -- that is currently in pre-production. The problems summarized by the article are consistent with what I've heard for years -- that it's not the finished product that matters but coming in on or under budget. Sure RotLA was done on the cheap, but I question whether Indy IV (with presumably at least one major salary) can be made cheaply enough for the bean counters without corners being cut somewhere (say in areas like special effects and set design that are very important to Indy fans).
I ask because Paramount's recent performance has been dismal and the studio is notorious for nickel-and-diming productions. I'm curious if Paramount's problems will impact Indy IV -- or if due to the heavyweights involved, Indy IV will be insulated from Paramount's problems. I believe principal studio work is being done in the U.S. for cost reasons and I wonder if this a warning sign of an Indy IV being made on the cheap.
Presumably prompted by 'Timeline' and other recent Paramount releases flaming out at the box office, the lead article in the Business Section of today's New York Time is about the financial troubles at Paramount ("Troubles at Paramount: Is it Just the Money?"). Here's some excerpts:
-- "Paramount, [several Hollywood executives and producers said], had become increasingly difficult place to work because its management was stingy with money and not inclined to share creative control."
-- "They don't want to make agressive, innovative movies." said one producer.
-- "Paramount has stumbled this year with only 2 of its top 10 movies taking in more than $100M" [the Italian Job and 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days'].
-- "[Paramount's current financial numbers] are dismal. Operating income at the [Viacom] entertainment unit, which is dominated by Paramount, fell 32 percent to $205.4 million,, in the first nine months of 2003, and revenue rose by a scant 2 percent, to $2.8 billion. Worse, the unit is not showing any growth. Analysts expect [Paramount's] operating profit to be lower than in 2000."
This last quote doesn't bode well for any film at Paramount -- like Indy IV -- that is currently in pre-production. The problems summarized by the article are consistent with what I've heard for years -- that it's not the finished product that matters but coming in on or under budget. Sure RotLA was done on the cheap, but I question whether Indy IV (with presumably at least one major salary) can be made cheaply enough for the bean counters without corners being cut somewhere (say in areas like special effects and set design that are very important to Indy fans).
