Michael Masterson, Movie Producer
Archives: Daily Issues
Issue #2641
- WEALTHY: Looking east for the next profit opportunity (Steve McDonald)
- HEALTHY: The shocking truth about a common herbicide (Kelley Herring)
- WISE: Ingrid Bergman on the art of filmmaking
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
- Behind the scenes at a horror-film shoot (Michael Masterson)
- A simple test that could make your profits soar (Paul Lawrence)
- It’s Good to Know… about the “back-up” most comfortable seat on a plane
- Add “mnemonic” to your vocabulary
== Advetisement ==
Who Says You Can’t Have it ALL?
At one time or another, we’ve heard the naysayers and bad news bearers tell us to “Stop dreaming about working for yourself! Keep your feet on the ground and get your head out of the clouds! They say we must “…realize that the economy is tough, business is serious and you can’t have fun if you intend to make money!”
Well, don’t believe it – not for a minute!
Every day I talk to successful businessmen and women, making six figure incomes and having a GREAT time! They generate millions in monthly revenue for themselves and their families – AND they have great lives.
What does it take?
Get clear about what you’re committed to
• get the right coaching
• take the right steps and
• meet and talk to the right people – the kind of people who can help you make it happen.
Find out what it takes to make the right decisions and pursue the business you have always wanted. You CAN make those career dreams come true regardless of what anyone says about the so called “tough” economy. Thousands of Internet Entrepreneurs are doing it EVERY day.
Others are doing it and so can you!
Buy China Now
China will lead the world out of this economic slowdown, and the money to be made by investors is beyond your wildest dreams.
Three reasons China will explode: (1) They have no debt and a $3 trillion surplus. (2) They consider 6 percent growth to be a recession for their country. (3) Most important, China’s government puts China first.
One more thing: The Fed just bought up a huge amount of our debt to guarantee that the $3 trillion the Chinese hold will be worth enough to keep them from selling it.
With this move, the Chinese just graduated from emerging economy status to key world player. And that means it’s time for you to make some money.
First idea: China Life Insurance Company (symbol LFC). This is essentially a monopoly that is fully backed by the totalitarian regime in China, and protected from competition by the government. It has a 50 percent market share and has developed only about 10 percent of its potential.
Next idea: China Mobile Limited (symbol CHL). This company has more mobile-phone subscribers than we have people in the U.S. – 470 million. It grew its subscriber base by 6 million just last month. It has no debt, is swimming in cash, and is expected to add 7 million new subscribers per year.
The key to a successful China strategy is the inevitability of the play. Patience will be rewarded, but don’t get antsy if your investment doesn’t fly off the charts. Give it a three- to five-year horizon and you won’t be disappointed.
[Ed. Note: Get the scoop on more emerging investment opportunities from Steve McDonald in Investor's Daily Edge, ETR's sister publication. Sign up for free right here..
Interested in harnessing the power of China through Internet marketing? Check out ETR's China Wholesale Secrets program right here ]
“No art passes our conscience in the way film does, and goes directly to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls.”
Ingrid Bergman
Michael Masterson in Movie Land
After a movie has been half-shot, you can’t fire your principal actors. You must keep them because you can’t afford to re-shoot all the scenes they have been in.
Being irreplaceable (for a while, at least) can go to one’s head. One of our
actresses had been getting more difficult every day. She pouted and complained about every glitch. And with a low-budget movie, there are plenty.
One day, for example, I changed a few of her lines and she was sarcastic for the umpteenth time. I asked her, “Hasn’t this ever happened to you before in your professional career?”
She looked at me, astonished, disgusted. “Are you kidding? I’ve never been involved in anything remotely like this in any way.”
If she worked for one of my businesses, I’d have fired her on the spot. To my delight, she reformed the next day and has been great ever since. Still, bad attitudes are infectious. I can tolerate ignorance and even ineptitude in my employees, but never a bad attitude. You shouldn’t either.
You might be wondering why I am dealing with an actress in the first place.
I am in the middle of making a movie.
I’m one week into my third moviemaking venture, and I’m very happy I decided to do this. It’s much more fun than my first two productions were. And it looks like it will be more profitable too.
We are making Grim Fairy Tale, a gory, sexy comedy written and directed by the legendary “Godfather of Gore,” Herschell Gordon Lewis. Many people on the set are working at reduced rates because they are fans of his early work – schlocky but very original movies (e.g., Blood Feast and Two Thousand Maniacs). Herschell has written, directed, and/or produced over 50 movies. But this will be the first one he has written and directed in 25 years.
We are shooting it in St. Petersburg, Florida. I came here for a week to kick off the “principal photography,” as they call it. Herschell has provided an entertaining script, and everybody has been working hard to get this done on time and under budget. The line producers, Andrew and Andy, have done a great job scouting locations, interviewing actors, and procuring support.
We have more than a hundred people involved in this so far, counting cast, crew, and extras. We have two huge cameras, elevated camera lifts, dollies, a director of photography and two assistants. We have two sound technicians, a crew of electricians with huge screens and lighting, trucks, cars, all kinds of gizmos. We have a special-effects crew, a catering crew, a costume crew, a makeup crew. It’s amazing.
Ninety percent of independently produced movies never make a nickel. (The same is true for books and records.) But this one has certain advantages I intend to make good use of:
• Herschell is an icon to horror-film fans.
• Several of the actors – Brooke McCarter and Lloyd Kaufman – are well known too.
• The budget was big enough to make a movie good enough for theatrical release, but not so big that it needs to be a hit to be profitable.
• I’m making a documentary on Herschell at the same, which I should be able to use to drum up interest in Grim Fairy Tale.
• Everybody likes movies.
In getting involved in this, I’ve broken both of my two top rules about entrepreneurship:
• Don’t get into a business you know nothing about.
• And don’t start a business unless you know how to sell the product.
Well, I did know a little about making movies because of my first two attempts. But most of that can be categorized as “what not to do again.”
One of the things I never learned was how to sell a movie. So that’s what I spend my spare time thinking about. How can I market this thing? How can I make the investors happy?
I have three strategies in mind:
1. I will run it in film festivals around the world and hope it gains some attention. I’m pretty confident I’ll be able to get it accepted because of Herschell’s reputation.
2. I will find a distributor to help me market it overseas, to the DVD market, to television, and to theaters. There are not many distributors for horror movies – but, as luck would have it, I met someone just today who, when hearing what it is about and the budget, told me he wants to buy the distribution rights. That’s a good omen.
3. I intend to market it directly to consumers using everything I know about Web-based marketing, including e-mail marketing, social media marketing, public relations, and pay-per-click advertising. In other words, I’m going to employ the strategies that MaryEllen Tribby and I covered in Changing the Channel: 12 Easy Ways to Make Millions for Your Business.
I’m most excited about my third idea, because I think that is where the big money is. Nobody I’ve met so far in the world of independent films knows anything about direct marketing via the Internet. There is great potential there. I’m convinced of it.
If you have ever thought about producing movies, here are a few tips – big and small – to speed you on your way:
• Time is always money, but it is especially true in businesses like this where you are working on a budget. Keeping on time means keeping within budget.
• When you are shooting in a building with half a dozen sets, you can always figure out where the scene is being shot by following the electric cables.
• The director of photography is probably the most important guy on the set. He is the person who makes the film work visually. (And film is primarily visual.) The director who doesn’t pay attention to his D.P. is probably a fool.
• Actors make a giant difference. A good actor can make a bad line work. A bad actor will make Shakespearean dialog sound like pulp fiction. (I first figured this out when I directed my own movie. Now I’m sure it’s true.)
• Even minor actors make a difference. I sat through eight takes of a two-line gag this afternoon. And it never worked because one of the actors – a friend of somebody’s friend – couldn’t high-five in a natural way.
• The actual shooting is 80 percent preparation (getting ready) and 20 percent filming (“firing”). Post-production is 100 percent polishing, refining, and perfecting (“aiming”). For “Ready, Fire, Aim” people like us, this can be exasperating.
• Because the process is so exasperating, it is essential to practice courtesy and good manners on the set. Rudeness creates resentment, which quickly results in wasted time.
• If you are not a genius, it pays to keep an open mind. We’ve gotten all sorts of good, specific directorial suggestions from several of the actors, but also from the electrical and sound crew, the makeup artists, and the grips.
• You don’t have to rehearse the lines as much as you think. If you give actors permission to change some of the words, they will often improve the dialog.
• Everybody on the set is distrustful of the producer. He’s the money guy, they know, so that automatically makes them think he’s insensitive to what they’re trying to do. “Actors and movie crews have artistic temperaments,” Herschell told me. “This means they are like children and need to be stroked and complimented a lot.”
That’s the first adventure of Michael Masterson in Movie Land. If you’d like to know more, leave your questions here and I’ll keep you posted.
[Ed. Note: Get dozens of Michael's surefire strategies for getting ahead in business and in life in True Path to Profits: A Master Entrepreneur's Guide to Business Success. Find out more - including how you can get a bonus subscription to Michael's VIP newsletter, Ready Fire Aim - right here.]
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Cash from the Ash
Is it possible to make YOUR fortune from the recession with virtually no cash, no risk AND ethically?
Well, if you call the $3.2 MILLION I made by helping others in distress, then I guess the answer is a resounding ‘YES’!
A ‘robot’ can help make this sort of wealth a reality for you NOW. The worse the economy gets, the more money you make.
Please, I’m not here to tell you the same ol’ same ol’ “buy things cheap in recession”! Sure, that works IF you have the cash. My method involves NO buying at all…
In a few minutes, you’ll understand.
Please read the report below without delay- you deserve to at least be informed about this amazing, low-risk cash-on-demand system VERY few people know about:
Get the Cash-On-Demand System Report
A Picture Can Be Worth Thousands
Back when my wife Blanca began her first business – a housecleaning service – she was skeptical about including a photo of herself in her ads. So I told her I’d prove it would make her money.
I took a photo of her holding a broom. Then I created two advertisements. One had the picture and the other didn’t. Both versions worked, but the one with the picture outperformed the other by far. It had a 3 percent response rate compared to 1.5 percent for the one without the picture.
Think of it this way. Let’s say you’re selling a $100 product and you make 50 sales with your regular ad every time you run it. If you add your picture to the ad, you could end up doubling your sales – and putting an extra $5,000 in your pocket!
For small businesses, including a photo of the owner (or someone else connected to the company) almost always increases response. If you’re not doing it, I strongly suggest you run a test. It could greatly increase your profits.
[Ed. Note: Paul Lawrence is a successful entrepreneur and business author who has started over a dozen profitable enterprises for under $100. For more information on his Cheapskate Marketing Program, click right here.]
Is Your Salad Killing Your Cells?
Are you eating genetically modified foods? If so, you’re being exposed to a common herbicide produced by Monsanto called Roundup.
For the very first time, Roundup was tested on human cells. And the outcome was shocking and disturbing – even to the researchers.
The tests were done on three different cell types in concentrations below agricultural recommendations – what would be considered low levels of Roundup residue in food or animal feed. The results, published in Chemical Research in Toxicology, showed that the herbicide caused cell death in all three types of cells.
The scientists say their research “… points to undesirable effects which are currently masked or hidden from scientific study.” Indeed.
If you haven’t yet made the switch to organic foods – free of chemical contaminants and genetic modification – or animal foods that are pasture-raised (not grain fed), this is one more reason to do so.
[Ed. Note: One of the best ways to stay healthy and live longer is to eat good foods. Nutrition expert Kelley Herring has collected dozens of her healthiest and most delicious recipes in her e-book, Guilt-Free Desserts. Pick up your copy today.
For more advice about which foods you should - and shouldn't - be eating to stay in top health, sign up for ETR's free natural health e-letter]
It’s Good to Know: The “Back-Up” Most Comfortable Seat on a Plane
Seats in an airplane’s emergency-exit rows, with their ample legroom, are often the go-to spots for travelers in economy class looking for comfort. But what if savvy flyers have already snagged all those seats?
Try the row behind the exit row. You won’t get the legroom – but since exit-row seats don’t recline on many planes, you won’t get somebody tilting their seat back into your space.
(Source: Conde Nast Traveler)
== Highly Recommended ==
Stuck With the Short End of the Stick in Life?
Life is unfair, but it’s not for those “in the know.” Quit getting shafted at every turn and instead start enjoying every advantage in most situations. See for yourself by clicking here…
Word to the Wise: Mnemonic
The word “mnemonic” (nih-MAHN-ik) – from the Greek for “mindful” – refers to memory.
Example (as used by Jim Holt in The New York Times Book Review): “Are there cognitive benefits [to memorizing poetry]? I sometimes feel that my mnemonic horsepower is increasing, but that’s probably an illusion.”
[Ed. Note: Become a more persuasive writer and speaker ... build your self-confidence and intellect ... increase your attractiveness to others ... just by spending 10 VERY enjoyable minutes a day with ETR's new Words to the Wise CD Library.]
Copyright ETR, LLC, 2009
Michael,
Great to see you getting your hands dirty again with the movie business. Nothing quite like diving right in and experiencing it all up close and personal. Having your business insight and perspective about this industry is extremely interesting and I hope to see more articles relating
to your creative adventures.
I have a recent article relating to the current state of the film industry from Bob Fraser which you will find informative and timely. Let me know if you are interested in reading it and I will be happy to forward it to you.
Thanks and good luck,
Greg Paul
To be honest, I’d love to see it, just because it was produced by Michael Masterson and that gives me some confidence that he’s paid attention to a good plot and good writing. Some movies these days are all about special effects and the plot is horrible (on non-existent)
Unfortunately I’m a total whimp when it comes to horror movies – I love adventure, but I’m not at all into excessive gore. Too bad that this is the genre Michael picked!
What will the rating be on this movie?
After reading all that dialog on movie making you didn’t mention a huge part of the crew – the entire art department. Starting from the production designer down – art directors, set designers, set decorators, the leadman, prop master, prop assistants, set dressers, etc. We are creating your environment(something I’m familiar with having done this for the last 20 years).
Anyway, thank you and ETR to give us film industry people a glimmer of hope with something else to do with our lives. I’m sure you’ve heard us below the line people complain about runaway production. The last eight years have been devastating to our business(especially us crew members in Los Angeles).
I am trying Vicki Smith’s method first to see if I can put something together successfully.
Sincerely-
Chet Maxwell
Motion Picture and TV commercial Art Director
Micheal I read your volumn every day but this is of particular interest. I produce a local TV show and have done over a hundred show. So I am thinking I should be able to do one movie. I’ve got so many question You don’t have to answer but it sure would help me
What is the budget for your movie?
How much are you spending per day?
How many days of principal photography do you have planned
What was the hardest thing about hetting to this stage
If you want to answer you can email me at workingkirk@yahoo.com
Thank you
I believe they are looking at making Atlas Shrugged into a movie. In your opinion which actor would be best suited to play Galt?
Thanks
Thank you, Michael. You are a gift from the universe. Your article is what I needed right now. I’m attempting to produce/direct a film and I can use all the help I can get.Please keep me inform on yur progress. By the way, I once tried to get a job with Herscell Gordon Lewis at his offices in Chicago some 45 years ago. I still remember his secretary turning me away with: “If Mr. Lewis wants you, he’ll be in touch.” He never did.
Hi Michael, I am doing my 4th feature. The first following my LIONS GATE release of A CHRISTMAS TOO MANY.
I have thus far put together an incredible cast, willing to sign on just due to the fact that I am producing and due to the nature and quality of the script. CAA is even behind the script, having sent it over to LORD RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH as a potential director. We also have it with KENNY ORTEGA (HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL films). The cast consists of triple platinum recording artist JESSE McCARTNEY, Hairspray star NIKKI BLONSKI, Skateboarding champion RYAN SHECKLER, Bill Engvall Show star and winner of the Young Star Awards in both, Best Actor in a Comedy Series and Overall Best Young Actor, GRAHAM PATRICK MARTIN, and Hollywood Records recording artist/now Timberland Recording artist and teen idol STEVIE BROCK. So the film will certainly be a guaranteed hit with the teens. For grownups we have KEVIN BACON, ANN-MARGRET and interest has come from many, the like of ANTHONY HOPKINS, CHRISTOPHER WALKEN, BURT REYNOLDS, DENNIS HOPPER, MARTIN SHEEN, ROBERT DUVALL, BILLY BOB THORNTON and many more for the adult lead which we formerly had cast with PAUL NEWMAN. So the project has always had great appeal. I have promised backing from the NEW MEXICO FILM COMMISSION as well as backing in the form of transferable tax relief from the LOUISIANA FILM COMMISSION. What I am looking for now is an EXECUTIVE PRODUCER willing to back what those people won’t. Although we will have a big cast, this will only cost what a higher priced indie film would normally cost. In the vicinity of 5-7 million dollars. Please hit me up at xxxxxx if you are at all interested. We will also be speaking with Sir Richard Branson and Baron Hilton as the film involves the sport of soaring, which they both have a fondness for. Perhaps we could put something together which would appeal to all and make money due to the tax structure. As I am Irish and my company is registered there, there are transferable tax advantages there, as well…..KEVAN MICHAELS
For distribution, take a look at the info Stacey Parks has on http://www.filmspecific.com/. I never got any of my projects far enough to think about distribution, but she is a name that came up quite often in my research.
Best wishes!
Carlin
http://twitter.com/carlincomm
Hello sorry I do not have my site up right now. I decided to have it updated so didnt renew the address. Anyway I am an experienced hair and makeup artist including special effects and body painting. I am very talented at what I do and loved hearing about your entry to the film industry. I can send you pics of my work if your interested as I am also an instructor and teach effects and all kinds of film and television makeup along with a cosmetology course at one of the leading companys in the US. Empire beauty schools. Anyway enough about myself just wanted to introduce myself and hopes of networking that will possibly bring us to work together one day. Best of blessings on your projects. Christina Stockberger 908-241-7825
I’m double-shocked…. 1st that my favorite DM writer has a whole history I wasn’t familiar with and 2nd) that Mr. Masterton is involved in the film industry…. Good Luck!
Keith
I enjoyed the article. I’m into a bit of film production myself so I understand fully every item you discussed.
A while back I was addressing a group of young and desirous actors and I stressed on a lot of these issues. It was like you took the words out of my mouth when I read, “Tme is always money”. I stressed that in my speech and the room went silent (like they thought priorly that it glamour through and through).
Anyhow, keep me posted on progress made on your project.
Oksy.
Michael,
Here is an article telling how to distribute movies on the internet; with lots of helpful links at the bottom. http://www.studiodaily.com/main/work/10321.html
Good luck with your project.
I am a screen actor; check out my online portfolio http://www.normanstone.tv
Please give me an opportunity to audition for your next production. If you email me the sides for a scene, I will video record my audition and mail you a DVD.
Thank you
Norman Stone
Wow! I’m surprised at all the response. I’ll answer these questions and comments in an upcoming ETR message.
Michael-
I’ve been asked to write a sort of fund raising letter to attract financing for a low budget hollywood sci-fi movie.
Can you offer any insider advice?
As always- Thanks…
Mike Samonek (the space ad guy)
Michael,
I just signed up for your Charter Club. did I make a mistake?
With all the good work you have done in so many ways, for so many years, why make a horror film???
There are so many inspirational gifts you have and have access to why not focuse on Colaberation themes not horror. If you want horror just watch the news daily.
Forgive my boldness and know you a capable of much better.
Jack
Michael,
Love Herschell’s quote at the end of your report.
How old is Herschell? You said this will be the first one he has written and directed in 25 years. Has he been doing one or the other predominantly?
Very interesting report…please keep them coming.
Bart
Wow, thank you for the candid insight into the film making venture. I have a dream of making a movie or two one day. Your story has helped me see it as a real possibility by bringing it out of the dream world and into a physical reality. How about a daily update on your progress and experiences through the process? Twitter? (I am brand new to twitter, so it may or may not be right for it, I would follow you and it would give me a reason to learn a little more about Twitter.
I live in Sarasota and my daughter is at USF Tampa, any chance of visiting the set?
A loyal subscriber, I’ve saved hundreds of ETR newsletters.
Thank you
Terry
I loved this newsletter. Thank you so much for the great info. I am going to be in my first movie “REVENANT” A Vampire Killing Texas Style, that starts filming around April 24 in Houston.
It is a very low budget film but the script has blockbuster qualities to it that I really was not expecting. It is not the producers’ first film.
I am excited because I will be an extra and have a small roll as well and have other duties such as production assistant.
I know it is also going to be marketed toward film festivals and I was wondering if you could contact me with the name of the overseas marketing guy you met. Maybe he could help market this film as well.
I would love to have a small part in your next film as well. I can do whatever needs doing and work for as long as it takes to get it done.
Thanks so much, good luck and please keep these updates coming to chart your progress.
Sincerely,
stevenbjammin
Hi Michael,
When you talked about using social networking sites to promote your movie, I thought you might be interested in knowing about an article I read yesterday. An article in BYU Magazine featured the president of a company called Blendtec (part of K-Tec) that makes the Blendtec blenders you may have seen in Costco or on the youtube “will it blend?” videos.
The “will it blend?” videos were an instant success and have increased blender sales by (get this) 700%! I was especially interested in the story because I have owned another K-Tec product (A combination blender/mixer) for over 10 years, and I have always thought the product is way under-marketed. They used to run informercials for the product in the 90’s, but since then they have done more with the blenders. Marketing done through social networking particularly speaks the language of the younger generation, and is very powerful as I think this story illustrates.
Here’s the link to the article if anyone is interested.
http://magazine.byu.edu/?act=view&a=2391
Good luck with your movie.
hi
the most important way to market, in my opinion, is to have good trailers that are edited well, and tell a narrative story folks are interested in, but leaves them craving for more. I have been to many feature length films that do not even seem like the film I saw in the preview. There are even multiple trailers released that do not even seem like the same film. It is totally crazy given the expense for production and distribution.
Hollywood could go back to the basics and make more money, and also market to women more. The loud trailers with hi tech special effects and pumped up volume are so cliched now. Keep us posted on your project.
First off, there is no director of photography, but a director of cinematography, sort of like calling San Francisco “Frisco”, or used to be anyways. Secondly, yes I applaud you for admitting this is not your forte, and that you are braking your own rules to do this. I have some experience with this, I can tell you it is a fickle business, to say the least. But if you really are open minded(and open-wallet-ed)you should be able to live through it. Whether you actually make money with it or not, remains to be seen, but I too, like your 3rd option. How about giving us, your fans, a chance at it too?!
Sorry, Harry. There is actually a Director of Photography, sometimes called a Cinematographer, though there is some contention around the 2nd term (that it only applies to a D.P. who also works the camera, for example). Director of Photography is the common term. Most upper echelon DPs belong to the American Society of Cinematographers, but still call themselves Directors of Photography, never Directors of Cinematography.
I, too, lament the omission of any mention of the art department.
Hello Michael,
I’ll be more than just interested to see how things work out for you. I’ve been working since 1996, trying to chew too much perhaps: writing (first as fiction/treatment, then as screenplay), producing, and directing. Doesn’t work. I need help. Nevertheless, I’ve done a couple of movies one of which is at http://www.myspace.com/leesmithstoryteller , and am finally getting my material in shape. My idea from the beginning was to put the films out on the internet as stand-alone 15-20 minute films, telling the story over 10 or 20 or 200 films that you can watch in any order. Right now I am also doing the AWAI “Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting” course. I have four blogs, the aim of which will be to develop my writing skills and gather an audience (2 followers so far) and provide a place to give away some writing and sell subscriptions to the unfolding movie sagas (there are more than one).
So I’m very glad to see what you are doing, and, yes, I would love to be kept up on how it goes, how the marketing works (is my subscription idea workable?), what kind of audience is out there, and how you get to them. My audience will probably be “unique,” like what I’m trying to do.
Best wishes for your success.
Lee Smith
Have a son, who is an independent movie producer in Hollywood, produced his first full length movie called Jake’s Closet, and it is now out on Netflix and rental stores.
My question is this, he has about 9 years in Hollywood, worked on about 50 movies and television shows, paid his dues, etc. Would you know where he could get Angel/Venture capital for a new blockbuster movie script he wants to produce. Estimating approx. 2 million in start up capital is needed to complete the film.
Appreciate any leads or advice.
RayLanfear
702 202 1693