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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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.

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Poli]

Two problems so far Anxiety:

1. You haven't hired Ardent Enthusiast yet.

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

Good luck!

[Abe Sargent]

Originally posted by ardent enthusiast
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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[StanGunner]

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

[Bee]

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.

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

“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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

“’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

[Poli]

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...

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

“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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

[Abe Sargent]

“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

[Abe Sargent]

Don’t Be Afraid, Suspense Thriller
Halle Berry, Christian Slater
Directed and Produced by Steven Soderbergh
Negative Cost: 69.803 mill
Total P&A: 65.75 mill
Total Cost: 135.553 mill
Domestic Gross: 109.122 mill
Foreign Gross: 153.654 mill
Total Net Revenue: 115.373 mill
Overall: *****
Steven, Director: ****
Steven Producer: *****
Halle Berry: ***
Christian Slater: ****
James Earl Jones: *****
Tea Leoni: ***
Ali Larter: ****



Don’t Be Afraid was the 9th best foreign grossing film of all time. And domestically it looked fine as well. Halley walked away with an extra 6 million off the gross. So she’s happy. And our third film was a success, so I’m happy.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

May 2004

Milestone and Tearoom are ready for release.

The Call of Cthulhu is back from the writer. I send it out for a polish.

Milestone is rated PG13 and screens at 92%. I slate its release for August.

Tearoom is rated G, which is funny. It may very well be one of the few G rated movies ever that not’s geared towards children. Funny. It screens at 84%, so I authorize an edit. Post edit, it continues to screen at 84%, but the percentage of people who liked the movie overall rose from 82 to 86 percent. I like that, so I decide to keep this edit. I slate the movie for a September release. 300 more theaters want to come on board, so we increase our distribution to 2300 theaters nationwide.

I decide to send out SEALs 2 to a rewrite specialist. It looks like a good script

I hit the market looking for fresh ideas and faces. I plop down 3.5 million for In The Night, a scifi about survivors of an airplane crash being helped by a mysterious being. It just needs a little work in dialogue and a lot of work in intelligence. I ship it to Stephen King for a rewrite, with him being my dialogue/intelligence man, after all.

I also send out The Second Face to a specialist.

I do not greenlight a movie this month.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“:Review of ‘One Last Chance’

Samuel Oblenstein
New York Post
Entertainment Section


With several movies under its belt, Dragon’s Den Studios is moving into a new genre. With two suspense thriller and a horror movie, you might expect Dragon’s Den to continue its love of action and adventure. However, ‘One Last Chance’ is a new direction.

This is a movie for the heart, not the penis. ‘One Last Chance’ is the story of a young college graduate, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. The graduate is dying of cancer, but he gets a chance to have the life he’s always dreamed of. He marries his long hidden crush on Isabelle, a former classmate of his in college, played by Natalie Portman.

The supporting cast is interesting, to say the least. With John Cleese and John Rhys-Davies playing professors, Jason Lee his best friend, and Neve Campbell his older and wiser sister, this becomes one film where you recognize all of the major actors.

The script for this ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’-esque throwback is wonderful. Namely because several unpredictable events occur along the way, making you forget all of the movies of a similar vein to have occurred through the ages. Practically every element of the script is strong, with only the arc and character development being average.

As for acting, Leo goes a good job with a part that could be too sappy or too campy. Natalie’s performance is adequate, although far from good. Neve Campbell is absolutely horrid, however, and you have to wonder if a Siberian husky wouldn’t have done a better job at acting like Leo’s sister. Cleese and Lee do great jobs, and Rhys-Davies even turns in a moderate but acceptable performance.

This is definitely a strong movie, with a good sense of itself. However, I can’t help but wonder if this is the sort of material that people care about. Three out of Four stars.”


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

One Last Chance, Drama
Leonardo DiCaprio, Natalie Portman
Director and Producer John Hughes
Negative Cost: 52.739 mill
Total P&A: 47.25 mill
Total Cost: 99.989 mill
Domestic Gross: 51.75 mill
Foreign Gross: 80.639 mill
Total Net Revenue: 89.32 mill
Overall: ****
John, Director: *****
John, Producer: ****
Leonardo DiCaprio: ****
Natalie Portman: ***
John Rhys-Davies: ***
John Cleese: ****
Jason Lee: ****
Neve Campbell: *


The movie made a killing in domestic video sales, cable TV, and pay-per-view. The domestic ancillaries alone garnered us 90.6 mill, almost enough to pay for the film. So, despite a poor showing in the theaters, in the movie was a success. This might be credited to the fact that the movie had no real star power, despite Leo’s presence, so there was little drive to get butts in the seats in theaters. Leo took home almost 10 million in his cut.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

June 2004

Short of Breath is ready for release. It is screening at 87%. I authorize an edit and now it screens at 89%. With a PG13 rating, I deicde to slate it for an October release.

I greenlight Challenges of the Heart.

We set aside the Main Street, USA backlot and will be using Sound Stage 11. Significant set construction will be used. I budget 31 mill in physical costs and 2 million in industry standard special effects.

The project has elicited a lot of interest with directors. Martin Scorsese is interested, and I contact him. For 4.4 million and 10% of gross, Martin will produce and direct.

I sign Susan Sarandon as my leading lady for only 600k. I immediately sign Joseph Gordon-Levitt to be the supporting actor as Susan’s child for 300k. Now I need a lead actor and supporting actress.

500k makes Julia Stiles our supporting actress. I’d like star power somewhere. I sign Brendan Fraser for 9.7 mill and 5% of gross. Established character actors are used for the 5 minor roles.

I budget 8 mill each for TV and print ads, plus 700k radio. Total negative and domestic advertising – 78 mill.


-Anxiety

[StanGunner]

Good read. Keep it going!

[Swaggs]

Excellent work Anx. When can I expect to see the Major Harris Story starring Cuba Gooding Jr.? :)

Just a tip from a HM veteran, on those big money productions (Action Adventure, Suspense Thriller, Sci Fi, and Horror), bump the advertising up to about $20M for TV, $10M for Print, and $3-5M for Radio.

[Marmel]

could a fella get a link to this game's website? Is it worth buying? Where can I get the 'talent files', I think that would be a deal breaker for me without them?

[Swaggs]

http://www.hollywood-mogul.com/

Definitely worth getting, even after all these years.

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘Hamburger’

Royce Jackson
E! Online


The next release from neophyte studio Dragon’s Den Studios is another move in a different direction. This horror comedy is Richard Kelly’s second directorship, after releasing Donnie Darko two years ago.

Maybe the only problem with the movie s that it won’t appeal to many movie fans by virtue of its premise. Basically, a local hamburger joint, run by Val Kilmer, is serving a mystery meat that a local junior college student, played by Christina Ricci, finds out is composed of her classmates. Seann William Scott, Rodney Rowland, Famke Janssen and Mena Suvari all support the duo through a light hearted horror movie intended to cause more laughs than screams.

The script is wonderful. There are no weaknesses, and most elements blend together to create a masterpiece on the screen. Especially noteworthy are the dialogue and genre/sub-genre elements. You might expect the dialogue on a movie like this to suffer, but not so. This is not another “Dude Where’s My Car?” but a smart and funny look at the horror genre as a whole.

However, the movie is ultimately inelegant for several reasons. Firstly, Val Kilmer is absolutely horrid as the lead. While Christina Ricci does a good job on screen, Val is just simply awful. Secondly, while Famke and Mena both turn in excellent performance, and Rodney is good as well, Seann William Scott is almost Val Kilmer bad. And lastly, Peter Marks’ production leaves a lot to be desired, although Kelly does a good job in his second directorial movie. The acting is uneven and it shows.

So, while it’s a smart movie, the very nature of the movie and the poor acting are not going to appeal to many. As such, the premise of the flick may be ultimately poor, as even a good script like this will lead a studio astray. C-”


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Hamburger, Horror Comedy
Val Kilmer, Christina Ricci
Richard Kelly
Negative Cost: 54.732 mill
Total P&A: 45.75 mill
Total Cost: 11.482 mill
Domestic Gross: 51.65 mill
Foreign Gross: 116.33 mill
Total Net Revenue: 125.569 mill
Overall: ****
Richard Kelly: ****
Peter Marks: **
Val Kilmer: *
Christina Ricci: ****
Seann William Scott: **
Rodney Rowland: ****
Famke Janssen: *****
Mena Suvari: *****

Hamburger domestic flops and international successes. After all, 116 million internationally is no slouch. However, we make a good amount of money in video sales and pay-per-view both at home and abroad. And sine no one got a cut of the gross, this movie helps us to be healthily in the black.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

July 2004

Downtown has completed post-production and is ready for release! Beast and The Wave have started shooting.

We have new scripts for The Empty Chair, The Call of Cthulhu, The Second Face, SEALs 2, In The Night and The Journal.

Mel Gibson approaches us with a project to discuss. Apparently news of our independent oriented mission has gotten out. I take a meeting with Mel. He pitches a movie entitled Love, Honor and Obey – about a married woman who questions her vows. Mel was 14.5 mill and 20% of gross and to be the star, director, producer, and screenwriter. While the script has excellent character development and intelligence, it is absolutely horrid in other areas Since Mel is also demanding a production budget of at least 60 million, I decide to pass him up.

Downtown is set for release in November. It is currently screening at 93% with a PG13 rating. I decide not to edit the movie and it it shipped out for release to theaters.

On the script front, I take a look at what has been returned to me. I am very excited. In The Night and The Call of Cthulhu need a little touchup and are sent back out. SEALs 2 needs more work as does The Journal, The Second Face and The Empty Chair.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I greenlight Eyes of Rage despite poor plot and horrid character development.

Eyes of Rage will use the suburban street backlot and sound stage 12 with significant set construction. I order 31 mill on physical costs, 700k on pyro, 500k on stunts, no robotics and 2 mill standard special effects.

I hire John Hughes for the film as director and producer for 600k. I land Mel Gobson for the lead for 13 mill and 5% of gross. My Supporting actors are Christopher Walken (1 mill), Guy Pearce (2.1 mill), and Katie Holmes (400k). I hire B List actors, up and comers, and a few fresh faces for the 11 additional minor roles.

With a project cost of 64.5 mill, we are able to find 2500 theaters interested in us. I order up 10 mill in TV ads, 8 mill in print, and 1 mill in radio.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘Gone Hollywood’

Sybil Hallond
E! Online

I have to admit that this movie shows why Dragon’s Den Studios is a welcome change from the normal fare that Hollywood gives us. Here is a new studio willing to poke a little fun at itself.

The movie is a comedy about a lame-brain, played by Seth Green, who inherits a movie studio. Of course, in real life, Abe Sargent set u Dragon’s Den without any movie knowledge. And so far, the studio is in the black, has had several money making projects, and has the top grossing movie of all time – so I’d say that they’ve done well.

Still, this little comedy, directed by Cadre director Kevin Smith, takes a little time out to give a funny review of all things silver screen. It’s a brilliant little gem of a movie, with a very endearing screenplay.

The script, in fact, shows no weaknesses, and is particularly strong in the character arc and development. Like most Dragon’s Den movies, the script is smart and the movie is founded as well as possible in an artistic screenplay.

The direction is brilliant, and you can tell that Kevin Smith has used his time in the independent world to hone his skills. Kirsten Dunst just glows on screen as all of the other actors and actresses are merely adequate. The movie, with little in the way of star power, might have trouble selling itself.

Ultimately, the script, as with many of the early releases from Dragon’s Den, is the redeeming factor of the movie. Definitely a recommended movie. B”


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Gone Hollywood, Comedy
Seth Green, Kirsten Dunst
Kevin Smith Director and Producer
Negative Cost: 45.884 mill
Total P&A: 42.25 mill
Total Cost: 88.134 mill
Domestic Gross: 37.749 mill
Foreign Gross: 59.796 mill
Total Net Revenue: 58.29 mill
Overall: ****
Kevin, Director: *****
Kevin, Producer: ****
Seth Green: ***
Kirsten Dunst: *****
Billy Zane: ***
Heather Graham: ***

Although a relative flop, the low cost of the movie combined with the solids showing in the TV sales market helped Gone Hollywood to make some money – namely 58 million worth. A good showing considering a poor commercial standpoint when looking at the film.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

August 2004

Beast needs to re-shoot some scences due to some footage being destroyed. I authorize the expenditure. It now moves into post-production. The Wave needs another million to compensate for shooting delays which I approve. It to has moved into post-production.

The following scripts are back: Say You Love Me, The Call of Cthulhu, and In The Night.

Say You Love Me needs a lot more work. In The Night is about as good as it is going to get. However, I send it out for one more dialogue touchup.

The Call of Cthulhu is now a four-star script. After seven incarnations, it is now ready for production! Dragon’s Den Studios will have its first original script begin.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I greenlight The Call of Cthulhu.

We film in Vancouver and do sound on location with elaborate set construction. I budget 60 million in physical costs, 600k pyro, 1.2 mill stunts, 2 mill robotics, and 15 mill groundbreaking effects.

It’s time to do Lovecraft right.

I hire Sam Raimi as the director for 500k. Walter Hill agrees to be my producer for 900k. I need an actor who can believably play the role of a brilliant academic, plummeting into darkness and madness as he learns more about the strange events that unfold about him. Brad Pitt is too muscular. Bruce Willis is too macho. I keep looking over people who are just not right for the part. Then I find someone who IS right. John Cusack. Skinny enough to be a nerd, a good actor, and willing to try new projects. For 5.178 mill and 5% of gross, John is my leading actor. Jason Lee (1 mill), James Earl Jones (600k) and Christina Ricci (1 mill) have agreed to be my supporting cast. All three minor roles are given to A List Character Actors.

The total project cost is 101.3 mill. I approve 20 mill in each of TV and print advertising and 2 mill radio


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios

Today, Dragon’s Den Studios announced two deals that will bring two separate projects to the big screen. The first will be the big movie production of the TV cult classic ‘The Prisoner.’ This 60’s BBC series has been hailed for decades as one of the most visually striking, allegorical, inventive and unusual series in television history.

The other project announced today is the purchase of the exclusive movie rights for the ‘Dragonlance’ trilogy. One of the classic pieces of fantasy literature, the ‘Dragonlance’ trilogy is written in such a way that a script from the books can be easily written – the pace is already there.

Morphing quality ideas into amazing movies has always been the mission of Dragon’s Den Studios. These two projects promise silver screen magic, and Dragon’s Den is proud to be producing movies such as these.”

PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I send out the two scripts.

The Prisoner – A secret agent retires but is captured by unknown forces and taken to an island village. I cast two lead actors, one for #6 and one for #2. I then cast two supporting roles. One for a female and another male antagonist. I include five minor roles. I also cast 15 extras. The movie will have no nudity, and only a little violence and language. The Action Adventure is ready, so it’s sent out to a writer.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight – A group of adventurers must find out what the meaning is behind a Blue Crystal Staff. This science fiction (for lack of a better category), will need Tanis Half-Elven and Raistlin Majere as its stars. So two males. In supporting roles, we’ll need Tasslehoff Burrfoot, Caramon Majere, Sturm Brightblade, and Flint. So four males. I’m making Goldmoon, Riverwind, and Laurana minor roles in this movie. Toss in Theros Ironfeld, Bupa, Verminaard, Gilthanas, Fizban, and I think we’ll want Kitiara in some flashback scenes so that the audience is comfortable in her character before she comes in during the second movie. A few extras like Tika, Otik, and so forth will rbing us up to the full 15 speaking roles in minor parts. We’ll also use 50 short-term extras and 5 long term. The movie will have some violence and a little foul language. No love scenese in this film, however.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘Milestone’

Susan Dobbs
Entertainment Weekly

Since Dragon’s Den Studios has gone from unknown fledgling studio to major player in Hollywood, maybe the title “Milestone” is more about the studio and less about this project.

This suspense thriller is about a one hundred year old woman tormented by her young nurse. Judi Dench stars as the old woman, and Carrie-Anne Moss as the young nurse. Christian Slater plays the grandson, who must figure out what is going on, and Thora Birch is the girlfriend of Slater. It’s a simple cast.

Christopher Nolan has tried to bring an adequate script to life. The script is good in so many areas, and is highly intelligent. But the dialogue can drag at times, and the genre elements that make movies like this one good are usually absent.

The basic problem with the movie is that, despite a good script, the lead acting is inconsistent ant the production is poor. Judi Dench is acceptable in her role, but Carrie Anne-Moss, as much as you may think she could be the creepy young nurse, just does not pull it off. Slater and Birch are good in their roles, and you really root for themn to kill Moss, if only to cease her bad acting.

While Nolan does a good job and has a good script to work with, the uneven acting of the stars and the horrid production by Jerry Hughes leaves a lot to be desired. Overall, B-“


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Milestone, Suspense Thriller
Judi Dench, Carrie Anne-Moss
Christopher Nolan
Negative Cost: 48.179 mill
Total P&A: 43.75 mill
Total Cost: 91.929 mill
Domestic Gross: 45.791 mill
Foreign Gross: 81.809 mill
Total Net Revenue: 90.393 mill
Overall: ****
Christopher Nolan: ****
Jerry Hughes: *
Judi Dench: ***
Carrie Anne-Moss: **
Thora Birch: ****
Christian Slater: ****

Judi took almost five million home for the movie. For a fairly low budget flick, it didn’t do that well. Still, we made 90 mill, so I can’t complain.


-Anxiety

[sterlingice]

Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Ooh! You're making Dragonlance. And wouldn't it be considered fantasy and not sci-fi? If you need an actor, Sterling Silvers would like to sign up! He'd like to break out of the flesh-eating zombie role he is continuously typecast in. ;)

SI

[Abe Sargent]

September 2003

Challenges of the Heart begins filming.

The following scripts are back: The Empty Chair, The Second Face, The Journal, SEALs 2, and In The Night.

The Empty Chair is sent back out for a rewrite. The Second Face needs a touchup as does The Journal and In The Night.

I greenlight SEALs 2.

We film in Salt Lake City, Utah. We can use the Salt Lake for our water shots as it’s large enough. Plus, the natural buoyancy will help us perform some stunts with the actors. We do our sound on location with elaborate set construction.

With 60 mill in physical costs, 3 mill pyro, 1 mill stunts, 1 mill robotics and 12 mill state of the art effects – well, you can see that we are going all out.

There are a lot of actors and directors interested in the project, as well there should be. For 16 mill and 10% of gross, Tom Cruise will be my star. For 10 mill and 5% of gross, Vin Diesel will be my other star. Excellent! I land Peter Jackson as my director for 2.5 mill and 5% of gross. Brad Weaver will be my producer for 600k. I cast Famke Janssen (500k), Gillian Anderson (500k) and Michael Clarke Duncan (100k) as my supporting cast. For the 12 minor roles, I cast three A list, three B list, and 6 Up and Comers.

Total project cost – 115.319 mill.

I authorize 20 mill TV, 18 mill print and 2 mill radio advertising.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘Tearoom’

Samuel Oblenstein
New York Post
Entertainment Section

One of the things that you have to love about Dragon’s Den Studios is that they enjoy pushing the envelope and playing is all sorts of genres of scripts. Their latest, “Tearoom,” is a classic chick-flick extraordinaire.

Ladies meet in the tearoom to compare the notes on life. Nicole Kidman and Susan Sarandon star with Leelee Sobieski and Rob Lowe supporting. Kidman and Sarandon are old friends who have met regularly in the tearoom for years. They are joined by Leelee Sobieski, playing Sarandon’s daughter. Sarandon has recently been seen with young stud Rob Lowe, and the women start asking questions. As the movie unfolds, the conversations turn and twist upon themselves to create a “Breatfast Club” like atmosphere as further layers are peeled to reveal more beneath the surface.

This is a damn fine movie based off the play of the same name. The screenplay is acceptable everywhere but rarely sings. Mimi Leder has to try and coax a better acting job out of Nicole than M. Night Shyamalan did on ‘The Diary,’ where Nicole’s performance was the only bad thing about the movie.

Here, however, Nicole’s performance is extraordinaire, Mimi’s direction and production are superb, Saradon is good and Leelee is outstanding. Even Rob Lowe is adequate. Overall, this is a good movie with the chops necessary to make women happy everywhere. A”


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Tearoom, Drama
Nicole Kidman, Susan Sarandon
Mimi Leder
Negative Cost: 49.017 mill
Total P&A: 42.25 mill
Total Cost: 91.267 mill
Domestic Gross: 6.9 mill
Foreign Gross: 9.86 mill
Total Net Revenue: -70.159 mill
Overall :****
Mimi Leder, Director: *****
Mimi Leder, Producer: ****
Nicole Kidman: *****
Susan Sarandon: ****
Leelee Sobieski: *****
Rob Lowe: ***


Wow. Ugh. That’s’ pretty much all I have to say about that. Apparently there's no money in chick-flicks.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“’Tearoom’ Busts

Magdeline McCarthy
E! Online

Despite critical praises, great acting performances, and good direction, Tearoom broke down when audiences chose to go elsewhere. The drama about women talking apparently was enough to drive away prospective audiences worldwide.

Based on the play of the same name, ‘Tearoom’ is a drama about two old friends, their children, and love. It is a classic movie for women. Critics around the country have been extolling people to go, and yet, there were no butts in the seat.

This was a smart, classy chick-flick. You’d expect no less from Dragon’s Den Studios, who has made a killing producing smart movies. This one’s flop cannot be attributed to the director or the actors. The audience is just not there.

Maybe we have passed the quintessential chick-flick by. Maybe our society has moved on.

However, in the pantheon of chick-flicks, this is one of the best. Put it up there with ‘How to Make an American Quilt’ and ‘Little Women.’ Buy the DVD and show it to you daughters. It won’t be long before it’s out, considering a woeful ancillary market.

Maybe greatness is not enough.”


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

October 2004

Challenges of the Heart is finished filming as Eyes of Rage begins filming.

The following scripts have returned: Say You Love Me, In The Night.

In The Night has a nice script. Say You Love Me, however, does not. It ios sent back for a rewrite.

I greenlight In The Night.

We film in Vancouver and will shoot sound on location. With elaborate set construction.

I have budgeted 51 mill for physical costs, 1.5 mill pyro, 1 mill stunts, 1.5 mill robotics, and 10 mill state of the art effects. I sign Steven Spielberg as my director and producer for 8.3 mill and 10% of gross. George Clooney agrees to be my leading man for 10 mill and 10% of gross. Madeline Stowe is my leading lady for 2.2 mill. Julia Stiles (500k), John Lithgow (500k) and Jeremy Piven (900k) are my supporting cast. Minor roles go to A Lists, Up and Comers and Fresh New Faces. I put 18 mill in TV ads, 12 mill in print and 1.5 mill in radio.


-Anxiety

[Eilim]

Just wanted to say great job on the dynasty. The combination of yours and the other Mogul dynasty got me off my duff and purchasing the game. I have to admit my studio isn't as noble as your ventures though.

"Straight to Video" studios, specialing in low budget, adult entertainment movies. Dunno whats sadder, the fact I'm in essence playing a "Smut peddler" sim at this point, or that I'm currently raking in much more money than when I tried running a *normal* studio. :)

[Abe Sargent]

Originally posted by Eilim
Just wanted to say great job on the dynasty. The combination of yours and the other Mogul dynasty got me off my duff and purchasing the game. I have to admit my studio isn't as noble as your ventures though.

"Straight to Video" studios, specialing in low budget, adult entertainment movies. Dunno whats sadder, the fact I'm in essence playing a "Smut peddler" sim at this point, or that I'm currently raking in much more money than when I tried running a *normal* studio. :)

Thanks a bunch! GL with your escapade.

-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘Short of Breath’

Sybil Hallond
E! Online

Ok, let’s talk about this movie, because it is everything that you would expect from Hollywood and nothing that you would expect from Dragon’s Den Studios.

Well, I guess I should preface this discussion by pointing out that the script is akin to many DDS movies thus far. It is well written, has great pace and good sialogue, arc, and plot. But, it’s not really a very intelligent movie. Has poor character development too.

And that is where the differences begin. In this movie, a woman executive, played by Julia Roberts, finds her new job and new boss, played by Matt Damon, to be hazardous to her health. Guy Pearce plays the role of a suspect co-worker and Kate Hudson plays the part of Julia’s friend and confidante.

And right away you can see that DDS is relying more on star power than normal. Another difference is the director. Robert Redford is a good director, but he’s not really the DDS type. Firstly, he is not a member of their Cadre of Directors, but hey, neither was Spielberg but they just got him to direct a movie. At least Spielberg is a good director with excellent vision. Redford can tell a nice tale, but he won’t wow audiences with anything – not plot twists, not effects, not timing, nothing. He is a bland director. And not DDS material.

Redford’s direction is abysmal, but he does a good job producing the film. Nothing can make up for his sheer inability to get what the story is about however. In one scene he seems to cut away in the middle of a revealing dialogue, and we are left wondering what is going on for some time before he returns. It was probably meant to build suspense but instead, it just annoyed you.

Matt Damon, however, dominated the camera from day one. And Julia Roberts turned in a good performance as well. Guy Pearce was likewise good, and Kate was even ok.

So, while the movie ranges far from the mission of Dragon’s Den Studios, and the director just plain does not get the film, it still has many redeeming qualities. The script is good, and the acting is great. Overall, a solid C”


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Short of Breath, Drama
Julia Roberts, Matt Damon
Robert Redford
Negative Cost: 61.778 mill
Total P&A: 61.25 mill
Total Cost: 123.028 mill
Domestic Gross: 44.243 mill
Foreign Gross: 22.9 mill
Total Net Revenue: -63.643 mill
Overall: ****
Robert Redford, Director: *
Robert Redford, Producer: ****
Julia Roberts: ****
Matt Damon: *****
Guy Pearce: ****
Kate Hudson: ***


What movie ends up making half internationally what is made domestically? We have got to stop putting out these bombs because we really need a hit.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

November 2004

Eyes of Rage has moved into post-production. Beast and The Wave are ready for release.

The following scripts are back: The Empty Chair, The Second Face, and The Journal.

I am able to get The Wave to the final 500 theaters for a full 3500 distribution – every theater possible. Rated R, the movie is currently screening at 90%. The numbers look soft so I authorize an edit and it rises to 91% overall, but the number of people who like the movie goes up 4%. I slate it for release next month in December.

The movie has very graphic violence in LA as The Wave comes towards the city – looting, rioting and such. Hence the rating. Since it seems likely that violence among the citizens would be a likely occurance, I decide to keep it in. Unless there is a reason to be R, I usually prefer a PG13 rating.

Beast will be our first release in 2005, where it is slated for a January spot. Rated R for nudity, it’s screening at 81%. I authorize an edit and it increase to 82% with a 3% increase in audiences liking the film. It’s only opening it 2300 theaters.

I want to send out Deep Cut to have its first script written, but the writer I have in mind is currently engaged in another project.

I pull Dungeon out of the drawer for a rewrite. The Empty Chair is sent for a polish in genre elements and to remove the exploitative love scenes. I want to focus on action in the film. The Second Face and The Journal are also shipped off for a polish.

I purchase the script for Wishy-Washy. A woman just can’t decide between the two men who want to marry her. 3.8 mill and this romantic comedy is mine. I also purchase Crapshoot, a drama for 3.6 mill. Steamy story of love and fury set against the backdrop of a Las Vegas gambling resort. With a five star character development and intelligence, the movie appeals to me.

Wishy-Washy is sent out for a touchup and Crapshoot for a rewrite from a specialist.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘Downtown’

Jeffrey O’Neal
Entertainment Weekly

Dragon’s Den Studios is quickly becoming the favorite studio of EW simply because their movies – even the bad ones – are still better than what most offer. The newest film from the fertile minds of DDS is an exploration into the mystery genre with “Downtwon.”

Now, usually mystery is relegated to made-for-TV-movies. You don’t usually see too many major films lauding it – unlike yesteryear. So, for DDS to venture into the genre is a mild surprise, but, in retrospect, maybe it shouldn’t be, considering all that DDS has done this year.

But this isn’t a review of a studio, but a review of a film. A review of a good film. The premise behind “Downtown” is simple, as mysteries usually are. A PI, Played by Harrison Ford, is led into intrigue and murder by a vengeful woman, played by Angelina Jolie. It’s nice to see both actors move into a different genre, even though Jolie’s performance left a lot to be desired. Michelle Pfeiffer, Ed Harris, and Jeremy Piven play the supporting cast in a generally well acted flick.

The screenplay is great. It shines in almost every area, and no area is a disappointment. I especially like the pace, intelligence, and genre elements of the movie. It’s a good film, and I’m not surprised to hear that DDS increased its TV ads by four million at the last minute upon review of the film.

David Lynch tries to bring a marvelous script to life, but fails. Harrison Ford does a good job as a PI, and he often just seems to fit the character of this film. He just gets it. Jeremy Piven and Michelle Pfeiffer are likewise dominant. Ed Harris is alright and doesn’t take anything away.

Overall, Lynch does a poor job directing – almost like he is out of water with the film. And the production is no better. So, a great script and good acting try to salvage a bad directing job – B”


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Downtown, Mystery
Harrison Ford, Angelina Jolie
David Lynch
Negative Cost: 63.658 mill
Total P&A: 65.25 mill
Total Cost: 128.908 mill
Domestic Gross: 80.378 mill
Foreign Gross: 80.868
Total Net Revenue: 30.872 mill
Overall: ****
David Lynch: **
Paul Christenson: **
Harrison Ford: ****
Angelina Jolie: **
Michelle Pfieffer: ****
Ed Harris: ***
Jeremy Piven: ****

Finally a box office hit. Took a few months and some bad films to get it, though. Harrison took home an extra 3.6 mill and Angelina a 1.8 mill. We didn’t make a mammoth amount of money – buts it’s good to get back into the black with our movies.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

December 2004


The Call of Cthulhu has begun shooting.

The following screenplays have returned: The Empty Chair, Say You Love Me, The Second Face, The Journal, The Prisoner, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Wishy-Washy

The Empty Chair and The Second Face are as good as I can make them. The Empty Chair is not bad, though. Say You Love Me is doing horribly. I send it back out for a professional rewrite with one of the best writers in the biz – Marina Rosovodskovik. If she can’t do anything with it, then I’ll permanently destroy the script with a lighter. The Journal also didn’t improve. I send it out again for a touchup, however.

The Prisoner has returned and I take a look at the first draft. My writer gave it 5 star intelligence and four star pace. If there is one thing that The Prisoner TV series was, it was intelligent. Makes sense that is the strength of the movie version. It needs serious wrok in some areas, however. I send it out for a rewrite of the arc and genre elements.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is back, and let me say, I am quite disappointed with the result. Everything is poor or abysmal except for the average genre elements. I order a Page One rewrite of the script by Lora Wadsworth for 4 mill.

I purchase another screenplay – a mystery called Indictment. A run-away Grand Jury seeks vengeance on an innocent man. It costs me 3.6 mill. There are a couple of amazing novels available for purchase. But one is animated and the other is a horror, so I don’t buy either.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I greenlight Wishy-Washy

We will film on the Main Street, USA backlot and use sound stage 11 with significant set construction. I budget 31 mill in physical costs and no special effects, pyro, stunts, or robotics.

I receive word through her agent that Gwyneth Paltrow is interested in the lead. I think she would be an ideal fickle female, so I send over the script. I also send the script to Julia Roberts. She is interested as well. So I have to choose between Paltrow and Roberts. Comedy is the strength of both. Roberts costs 3 mill more, both demand 10% of gross. I decide to rely on Roberts, who has been doing these sorts of films longer than Gwyneth. I sign Julia for 9.5 mill and 10% gross.

There are several directors interested in the project. But, I decide to send the project to Cadre director Spike Jonze. For 500k, he’s my new director. Susan Anne Therese agrees to be my producer for 900k.

Now I need two men that can play across from Julia. Two men with two styles that each have something different to offer. 8.45 mill and 10% of gross brings Jim Carrey, my first choice, into the fold as the other lead actor.

Christian Slater has agreed to be the other love interest for Julia for 2 mill. I sign Ali Larter (600k) and Chevy Chase (500k) as the other supporting cast. All minor roles go to Up and Comers.

I approve the spending of 12 mill TV, 8 mill print and 1 mill radio for the film in advertising.


-Anxiety

[Lokugh]

Originally posted by sterlingice
Ooh! You're making Dragonlance. And wouldn't it be considered fantasy and not sci-fi? If you need an actor, Sterling Silvers would like to sign up! He'd like to break out of the flesh-eating zombie role he is continuously typecast in. ;)

SI

Sterling,

I run into the same problem when I play this game. There is no "fantasy" genre, so all my Conanesque movies are listed either Sci-Fi or Adventure (or both).

Lokugh

[Abe Sargent]

Originally posted by sterlingice
Ooh! You're making Dragonlance. And wouldn't it be considered fantasy and not sci-fi? If you need an actor, Sterling Silvers would like to sign up! He'd like to break out of the flesh-eating zombie role he is continuously typecast in. ;)

SI

As mentioned above - there's no fantasy genre - although if the game were made today then there probably would be....



Announcement during a press conference:


"To all of the fans out there, let me say again that we have not begun casting for the parts in "Dragon's of Autumn Twilight." We've recieved a lot of mail on the subject from fans of the books. It's so great to see such a positive response for us making the film! But the script is still being worked on and is far from ready. As such, no casting has begun. There will be an open casting call for the extras, but not for the minor roles, supporting roles, or stars. Again, we at Dragon's Den Studios appreciate your interest in our projects."

-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘The Wave’

Ann Drysden
San Francisco Chronicle, Arts Section

So I sat myself into the theater to watch the last Dragon’s Den Studio movie of the year. “The Wave,” starring Keanu Reeves and Halle Berry is a disaster flick set in Los Angelos where a 600-foot wave is bound for shore.

Now, here is the formula for a disaster flick. It’s proven and true. And stale. Take a hot young stud (like a Keanu Reeves) and mix in some female antagonist who is likewise hot (like, for example, Halle Berry). Then, through events tremendous and stupefying, our hot young stud and studess are thrown together in the most unlikely of scenarios – to save the city (state, country, world, galaxy, whatever) from total destruction using some plan that only a stoned scientist hermit can think of. The movie must be macho and laden with so much testosterone that is literally drips off the screen.

And pretty much every disaster flick has followed that premise, except for “Deep Impact.” Until Now.

Because you know that you are not going to be getting the usual fare with DDS. This is not some simple destruction piece. It is also a smart comment on our society.

It could have been better. The script’s characters are all one-dimensional people and the plot is fairly predictable – but for all of that – let me say – “Wow!”The pace, intelligence, genre elements, dialogue and arc are all fantastic or better. For its holes, it is this movie’s strength that guides it.

And that is important because the movie will move throught the stages of human emotion as the tsunami rolls towards the shore. There is rioting, people killing each other, wild orgy-level sex mentioned, massive traffic jams, people killing each other to get on public transportation, and so forth. In otherwords, when faced with the worst, out comes our worst.

And yet, during this time, we see the emergence of the best of humanity. Father Leon Johnson, played by Vil Kilmer, is setting up wave releif centers throughout California. Our hero, Navy Captain Bill O’Connor (Reeves) is ultimately sent out on a mission to track the Wave as it approaches with co-worker Lieutenant Susan Jacobs (Berry). The movie really focuses on the two in a helicopter, and what they experience. Many of the disaster shots are from their helicopter looking down.

Ang Lee directs a very international cast in a beautiful movie. The direction is great, the production is solid, the acting is great, and the script is a dream. This is one of the major movies being pushed by studios in the holiday season, and you should most definitely check it out for a new spin on an old story. 4 out of 5 stars”


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The Wave, Genre
Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry
Ang Lee
Negative Cost: 91.674 mill
Total P&A: 108.75 mill
Total Cost: 200.424 mill
Domestic Gross: 80.541 mill
Foreign Gross: 83.217 mill
Total Net Revenue: -24.09 mill
Overall: *****
Ang Lee: ****
Ross Grayson Bell: ****
Keanu Reeves: ****
Halle Berry: ***
Val Kilmer: ***
Jonathan Ke Quan: ****
Famke Janssen: *****
Lanei Chapman: *****

Well, as can be seen, one of our better movies recently, but still a disappointment considering how much was poured into the film. We even lost some money, but it was definitely a solid film.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Dragon’s Den Studios released the following movies in 2004:

The Diary (Feb)
Terror Train
Don’t Be Afraid
One Last Chance
Hamburger
Gone Hollywood
Short of Breath
Milestone
Tearoom
Short of Breath
Downtown
The Wave (Dec


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

We would like the Academy to consider the following for Best Picture:

The Diary, The Wave, Don’t Be Afraid, Downtown, Hamburger, Gone Hollywood, Short of Breath, , Terror Train, Tearoom, Milestone, and One Last Chance (i.e. every movie, but major emphasis on The Diary, The Wave and Don’t Be Afraid – our Five Star Movies).


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Best Director:

M. Night Shyamalan for The Diary
John Hughes for One Last Chance
Mimi Leder for Tearoom
Kevin Smith for Gone Hollywood

Christopher Nolan for Milestone
Steven Soderbergh for Don’t Be Afraid
Richard Kelly for Hamburger
Ang Lee for The Wave

With major emphasis on the first four, our Five Star directorial performances


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Best Leading Actor:

Brad Pitt for The Diary
Matt Damon for Short of Breath

Harrison Ford for Downtown
Keanu Reeves for The Wave
Leonardo DiCaprio for One Last Chance
Christian Slater for Don’t Be Afraid


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Best Leading Actress:

Nicole Kidman for Tearoom
Kirsten Dunst for Gone Hollywood

Helena Bonham Carter for Terror Train
Julia Roberts for Short of Breath
Christina Ricci for Hamburger

Emphasis on the two Five Star performances


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Best Supporting Actor:

James Earl Jones for Don’t Be Afraid


Jeremy Piven for The Diary
Christian Slater for Milestone
Christopher Walken for Terror Train
Guy Pearce for Short of Breath

James was our only Five Star performance.


Best Supporting Actress:

Leelee Sobieski for Tearoom


Thora Birch for The Diary
Thora Birch for Milestone
Kate Beckinsale for Terror Train
Michelle Pfeiffer for Downtown

Again, just the one Five Star show.


Best Screenplay:

William Cast for Don’t Be Afraid
Barbara Worthington for Short of Breath
Melody Brook for Hamburger

Thomas Dunningham for Downtown


Best Adapted Screenplay:

Thomas Dunningham for Tearoom


-Anxiety

[Breeze]

Anxiety,

You taking submitted screen plays? I'd love to see my story of the "4th Reich" made into a movie. I recently had to buy the rights back from Archer studios, so it is available again. If you need an overview, let me know.

Breeze

[Abe Sargent]

PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios

Dragon’s Den Studios appreciates people’s desires to see good movies made. As such, our company has received a lot of letters, e-mail, video tapes, scripts, telegrams, and so forth.

As such, we just wanted to remind everyone that there is a process to getting a movie made. If there is source material, then a script can be written in house. Dragon’s Den, for example, is writing scripts for a sequel to “The Diary” and adapted scripts from a TV series and novel. There are a lot of places that source material can use – another movie, books, magazines, TV series, radio serials, plays, even computer games.

Now, if you have an original idea for a movie, then feel free to circulate it around the city. However, if you have no movie experience, don’t expect anybody in the movie business to listen without a screenplay. You must have a written screenplay in order to circulate a movie around.

And to make sure you are getting what you and your script deserve, you will need an agent. Hire a professional in the business to represent you. That is how you sell a script and makes the millions you deserve. So, to outline the process for selling a script again:

1). Have an original idea
2). Write a screenplay
3). Hire an agent
4). Have your agent polish up the script
5). Your agent goes around, talks up the script, and ultimately sells it


No matter how good a movie idea may be, you need a script to back it up. So, to all of our prospective writers out there, get to work! Dragon’s Den Studios appreciates your commitment to excellence.

PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios


-Anxiety

[Breeze]

OK. Got the idea. What do I need to do to make it a screen play, and how do I hire an agent?

Breeze

[Abe Sargent]

Originally posted by Breeze
OK. Got the idea. What do I need to do to make it a screen play, and how do I hire an agent?

Breeze


That was just my in character way of saying that I am not taking submissions. Sorry.

-Abe

[Abe Sargent]

January 2005

I spend 3.5 mill on promotional expenses for the Academy.

Challenges of the Heart has completed production and is ready for release. Rated R and testing at 91%, I authorize an edit that hurts the movie and knocks it to 89%. I set the release date for next month, and authorize another edit which should make it ready in time for the release.

The Call of Cthulhu has finished filming. SEALs 2 has begun filming.

The following scripts are back: Dungeon, The Journal, and Crapshoot.

Dunegon is sent back out for an entire dialogue rewrite. It’s currently abysmal. The Journal is as good as I can make it. It’s not great, but it has no major weaknesses. Crapshhot was completely unable to be improved. I send it back out for a polish to see if that helps.

I purchase the script to State of Emergency, an Action Adventure where the President of the US declares war. It’s a three star screenplay for 3.4 mill. I send it out for a rewrite.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I greenlight The Journal.

We will film in DC on location with elaborate set construction. The physical budget is 51 million, 1.5 mill pyro effects, 1.5 mill stunts, no robotics and 10 mill state of the art effects.

M. Night Shyamalan has agreed to do the sequel. I set him up as the producer and he is mine for 1.35 mill. I send the script to Brad Pitt but he is now demanding 25 mill and 11% of gross. I decide to go for it and cast him as the leading man. The additional costs for Pitt are 2 mill, so for a total of 11% of gross and 25 mill, he is my leading man.

Now I need an actor to star across from Pitt. Every male actor in Hollywood appears to be interested in The Journal. After some searching for a good actor, I decide on Mel Gibson for 13.5 mill and 10% of gross.

For the supporting cast I sign Tea Leoni (1 mill), James Earl Jones (600k), and Helen Hunt (2.2 mill).

A List character actors are used for the entire minor cast. The movie cost – just negatives, is 125.4 mill, and I greenlight the movie. I go ahead and authorize 20 mill TV, 15 mill print and 2.5 mill radio ads.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I also greenlight The Empty Chair.

We film in Washington DC with elaborate set construction. The physical costs for the project are 51 mill, 2.5 mill pyro, 1 mill stunts, no robotics, and 12 mill groundbreaking effects.

I hire Mimi Leder to be the director. Let’s see how she fares with a more traditionally male movie. For 800k, she’s my director. I need a producer for her – her budget skills could use some work. I hire Guy Scott to be my producer for 400k.

Branden Fraser and Samuel Jackson have both mentioned that they are interested in the project. I am waffling on my lead, so I decide to check the supporting cast.

I sign John Rhys-Davies to be a supporting actor for 1 mill. Kristen Cloke has agreed to be my supporting actress for 500k. The supporting cast was easy to cast. I also hire B List character actors for the four minor roles.

I hire Angelina Jolie to be my leading lady for 5 million and 5% of gross. Now I need that leading man. Most of the top flight male and female talent are average actors at best. The male talent is better, however. I ultimately decide to cast Samuel Jackson for 5.2 mill and 5% of gross.

The negative cost for this project is 90 mill and I authorize it. I budget 20 mill in TV, 12 million print, and 2.5 mill in radio for the project.



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘Beast’

Samuel Oblenstein
New York Post
Entertainment Section

I am not exactly a fan of the horror genre. I think the whole genre is stale. And this is a very un-Dragon’s Den Studios project. As such, it reminds me of some many other horror flicks out there.

Maybe Dragon’s Den has run out of ideas for freshness in just one year. Directed by Frank Darabont and starring Christian Slater and Heather Graham, this is not a movie meant to change the genre or make you think.

The screenplay benefits from great pacing, good arc character development, and an amazing understanding of what it takes to make a horror movie tick. Having said that, the plot is predictable, the dialogue average and the intelligence is non-existent. This is not a smart movie.

The basic premise of the movie, like all horror movies, is that something outlandish happens and people start dying. In this movie, an unholy force is unleashed on New York City and it has to be stopped. Go team….

Christian Slater plays a local cop who first discovers the horror and tries to stop the fore. It’s about time someone gave Christian another starting role, but this was not it, as his acting is average at best.

Heather Graham gives a much better performance as Christian’s love interest. Rodney Rowland is averae and Jennifer Love Hewitt is just awful.

Frank Darabont did a good job directing and producing the movie, but overall, this is one horrible film, and wholly forgettable. Pass it by. One and a half stars out of four.”


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Beast, Horror
Christian Slater, Heather Graham
Frank Darabont
Negative Cost: 47.351 mill
Total P&A: 50.75 mill
Total Cost: 98.101 mill
Domestic Gross: 5.069 mill
Foreign Gross: 3.158 mill
Total Net Revenue: -86.14 mill
Overall: ****
Frank, Director: ****
Frank, Producer: ****
Christian Slater: ***
Heather Graham: ****
Rodney Rowland: ***
Jennifer Love Hewitt: *



Oh my God…..


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The Academy has nominated the following Dragon’s Den Studio films for awards:


Best Picture: The Diary and Don’t Be Afraid
Best Director: M. Night Shyamalan (The Diary) and John Hughes (One Last Chance)
Best Actor: Brad Pitt (The Diary) and Matt Damon (Short of Breath)
Best Actress: Nicole Kidman (Tearoom) and Kirsten Dunst (Gone Hollywood)
Best Supporting Actor: James Earl Jones (Don’t Be Afraid)
Best Supporting Actress: Leelee Sobieski (Tearoom)
Best Original Screenplay: William Cast (Don’t Be Afraid) and Barbara Worthington (Short of Breath)



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

February 2005


I order 5 million spent on promotional expenses for my nominated films.

Challenges of the Heart has finished editing. Eyes of Rage is ready for release.

SEALs 2 is behind on its budget. I authorize an additional 5 mill. It is now ready for post-production.

In The Night needs an additional 10 mill for sets. I authorize the money. Spielberg is now ready to start filming the movie.

The following scripts have returned: Say You Love Me, The Prisoner, Crapshoot

We are now officially back in the red and cannot purchase anymore projects.

Our edit of Challenges of the Heart has made it a little better than the original but not by much. I decide to not edit the film anymore.

I look at Eyes of Rage. Rated PG13 after major overhauls of the script, it is testing at 89%. I authorize a quick edit. Which barely changes the screening, although a lot more people like the ending now. I slate the film for a March release.

Say You Love Me had its character arc improved. This is still a really bad script. I send it out for more modifications, but to a minor writer, just to see if one can stumble onto the right formula.

The Prisoner, after just one rewrite, is starting to come together as a script. I send it out for a polish and a shine.

Crapshoot looks a little better than previously, so I send it back out for another rewrite – this time of its genre elements.

I send the following scripts out: Deep Cut to Steve LeMaux for a first draft; She Was an Empty Place for a genre polish; Star Gazer for a rewrite; and Indictment for a rewrite of arc and pace.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I greenlight The Second Face.

We shoot in the Big City Street backlot and will do sound on sound stage 12 with significant set construction. I authorize 31 mill physical costs, 1 mill pyro effects, and 1 mill stunts.

I sign David Lynch as my director for 900k. Oscar Highland, for 400k, is my producer. He appears to be very talented. Both do their best work in mystery films.

I sign Matt Damon quickly for 5 mill and 5% of gross. He’s my leading man. Nicole Kidman quickly agrees to be my leading lady for 11 mill and 10% of gross. Elijah Wood (3 mill) and Kate Winslet (1 mill) are my supporting cast. I hire a cross section of up and comers, A List, B List, and fresh faces for the 15 minor roles.

With a total negative cost of 68 mill, I give a go signal. I authorize 12 mill TV, 6 mill print, and 1 mill radio advertising. That brings domestic P&A and the negative cost to 87 mill total.




-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘Challenges of the Heart’

Jeffrey O’Neal
Entertainment Weekly

In the up and down world of Dragon’s Den Studios, I wonder if the title “Challenges of the Heart” deals with the founder and CEO Abe Sargent? After all, he has had two major busts, and some major scores as well, including last year’s hit “The Diary.” DDS, in just it’s first year, has a nominee in every category for the Oscars except for Adapted Screenplay. So, maybe this is just the normal growing pains of a new studio. Find out what works and what doesn’t.

And so I sit comfortably down in a chair to watch the tear jerking drama “Challenges of the Heart,” with much anticipation. What am I going to get? I could have a great movie on my hands. Or I could have something, well, less stellar.

What I do know, while waiting for the opening credits to finish, is that this is a Marten Scorsese film, so that may bring some credentials to the film. In this movie, a woman, played by Susan Sarandon, must face the fears of her childhood to save her own child’s life.

Her child is played by Joseph Gordon Levitt, of “Third Rock From the Sun” fame. Brendan Fraser stars as the cruel father of Susan as a child in countless flashback scenes. And Julia Stiles plays the part of a younger Sarandon. There are a variety of new roles for people here, especially for Fraser.

The script is a good one, with fantastic arc, an amazing plot, good pacing and a excellent command of tears through the genre elements. The dialogue and character development do not get in the way, but this is a very emotional film, not an intellectual one at all.

So, does it work? Is this a good film, or one of those pieces of trash that many studios put out, and, we have come to find, Dragon’s Den Studios is not immune to? Well, there are a lot of things to like about this movie. Martin does a great job, as always, with the film. Susan does a good, though not overpowering job as an actress. Actually, Julia Stiles out-acts her. Brendan is adequate, as is Joseph. So, I guess the question is whether you are in the mood to have your emotions pulled. A lot. If so, check this thing out. B"


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Challenges of the Heart, Drama
Susan Sarandon, Brendan Fraser
Martin Scorsese
Negative Cost: 56.472 mill
Total P&A: 54.25 mill
Total Cost: 110.722 mill
Domestic Gross: 19.937 mill
Foreign Gross: 39.388 mill
Total Net Revenue: -25.294 mill
Overall: ****
Martin, Director: *****
Martin, Producer: ****
Susan Sarandon: ****
Brendan Fraser: ***
Joseph Gordon-Levitt: ****
Julia Stiles: *****


While the movie had amazing ancillary markets, considering its initial theatrical failures, still, the movie has to be considered a disappointment. Might get nominated for some awards next year, however.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The 2004 Academy Award Ceremony has arrived and with it Dragon’s Den Studios step into a new era.

We begin with best Screenplay Adaptation. And the winner is…..

Tom Richardson for Seascape from Hails Studios.


Next up is Best Original Screenplay. Up for nomination are two Dragon’s Den Studios screenplays. And the winner is…..

Syd Cashton for Red Glow from Reckert Pictures.



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

And now the supporting cast awards. The first is Best Supporting Actress. And the winner is…..

Leelee Sobieski for Tearoom from Dragon’s Den Studios!!!!

Best Supporting Actor is next. The Oscar goes to….

James Earl Jones for Don’t Be Afraid from Dragon’s Den Studios!!!!!

So we swept the supporting awards with only one nomination in each category.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Now the lead awards begin. Best Actress goes to…..


Nicole Kidman for Tearoom from Dragon’s Den Studios!!!!!!


The Best Actor award presenters are at the podium. They’ve read the nominees names including Brad Pitt and Matt Damon from DDS films. They are opening the envelope…

Matt Damon for Short of Breath from Dragon’s Den Studios!!!!!!!


And now we’ve swept the acting awards. Wow.



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The last two awards are Best Picture and Best Director. We start with Best Director. The award goes to….

Michael Xa for Striving for Perfection from Roehrig Studios.


The last award of the evening is for Best Picture. The award goes to:

Abe Sargent for The Diary from Dragon’s Den Studios!!!

Best picture and all four acting awards! Nice.




-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

My acceptance speech for the 2004 Academy Award for The Diary:

“First of all, let me just say, wow! The love and support that you have shown all of us at Dragon’s Den Studios has just blown me away. You have show nothing but kindness towards our fledgling enterprise the whole year. For the first movie produced from a small studio to be recognized as the Best Picture last year is just overwhelming. I would like to thank the Director’s Cadre for believing in our vision, and to M Night for taking a risk on our first venture from an unproven company. Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman – you agreed to star, not just in a movie, but to headline the opening stanza from a studio that, I am not ashamed to say, will play many more tunes before our time is done. Once again thank you!”



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“My List of Awards

Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun

This is my list of awards. This is not a prediction, but just who I think should win:

Best Picture: “The Diary” Not only was it actually the best movie last year, but it was also a tremendous effort from a small studio.

Best Director: M. Night Shymalan for “The Diary” for pretty much the reasons above. Everybody knew the guy had talent and he proved it in a major way with this film.

Best Actor: Brad Pitt for “The Diary.” This is the last award I give to “The Diary” for the year, but Brad Pitt was absolutely amazing in his role. There was no way any actor could have pulled off the role like he did, and he has solidified his case as Hollywood’s premier actor.

Best Actress: Julia Roberts for “Red Glow.” An amazingly complex character was pulled off to perfection by Ms. Roberts and she deserves the win for her ability to pull off a half crazy, half genius, all brains character.

Best Supporting Actor: George Clooney for “A New Appetite.” James Earl Jones will probably win as a sort of career award, and he did an acting job worthy of a nomination. But there was no individual acting performance worth this award more than Clooney.

Best Supporting Actress: Leelee Sobieski for “Tearoom.” This was such a good movie to have bombed at the box office, that I am disappointed. Maybe Nicole Kidman and Leelee’s nominations for awards will give it some credibility. And, in fact, I honestly believe that Leelee pulled in the best performance of any female for any part this year. She hit all of the notes of this tune to an exact pitch.

Best Adapted Screenplay: “Tearoom” It was not nominated because, quite frankly, it was a dud commercially. But the play was transformed into an amazing film.

Best Original Screenplay: Syd Cashton for Red Glow. This was just one of the best screenplays in the business for a while, and it definitely deserves tremendous recognition.

So, those are the awards that I would hand out. What would you award from this year? E-mail me at [email protected] and let me know.”



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

March 2005

88 million dollars have been added from the awards as a result of increased interest in our movies. Especially Tearoom, which did poorly at the box office but won two acting awards.

The Call of Cthulhu needs an additional 11.25 mill for special effects. I approve the amount. The Journal needs an additional 10.2 mill for sets, which I also approve. In The Night needs another 3 mill to stay on schedule. Again, I certify the amounts. In The Night has finished filming.

Wishy-Washy has begun filming.

The following scripts have returned: She Was an Empty Place, Dungeon, The Prisoner, State of Emergency

I take a look at some scripts:

We were unable to improve She Was an Empty Place. Quite unfortunate. The same is true of Dungeon, which has horrendous dialogue. The Prisoner has had it pace polished, but still needs work in some other areas. I send it to Stephen King for a polish. Lastly, State of Emergency, just back from King, is already a four star script and ready for release. Excellent!

I send out The Eye of the Storm for a rewrite of arc, pace, and plot.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios

Dragon’s Den Studios today has announced that they have partnered with the very successful Half-Life computer game from Sierra to create a movie based on the game.

“The plot of the game was very original, very fresh. We thought it would make an amazing movie,” said Abe Sargent, founder and CEO of Dragon’s Den Studios. The movie idea will be sent out for a first draft later this week. It has the following logline:

A research doctor finds himself behind enemy lines when an explosion opens a portal to another world.

“We have high hopes for this film,” Sargent continued. “I expect that it could change the way action movies are made.” With such high hopes for the film, the studio is very pleased to have secured the exclusive movie rights for the game.

Dragon’s Den Studios is dedicated to bringing quality movies to the big screen. Half-life will be another in a line of thought provoking and intelligent movies.

PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I put the following restrictions on Half-Life. Is it Sci-Fi or Action Adventure? I choose Action Adventure as the genre. It will be less of a hindrance when it comes to casting people. I need one actor to star, 2 actors and an actress in support, and 5 minor characters. I cast 50 extras for 5 days on the set. We’ll have graphic violence and foul language. I send it off for a first draft.

I greenlight State of Emergency.

We go to DC to film, shooting sound on location, with elaborate set construction.

I authorize 51 mill physical costs, 2 mill pyro, 1.5 mill stunts, and 10 mill state of the art effects.

Since Tom Cruise has finished filming for SEALs 2, I see if he’s interested in another project. He is. For 16 mill and 10% of gross, Tom is my star. With Tom under wraps, I start looking for a director who wants a high budget vehicle with Tom Cruise as the star.

Since he did a good job with the last script, I bring Frank Darabont on board as the director for 330k. Ross Grayson Bell will be my producer for 700k.

Now I need an actress to play across from Cruise. I bring on Halle Berry for 7.1 mill and 5% of gross. I sign William Fichtner (2 mill), Michael Clarke Duncan (500k), and Kate Capshaw (250k) as my supporting cast. The twelve minor roles are evenly split between B List, Up and Comers, and Fresh New Faces.

The total anticipated negative cost is 95.7 mill. I go ahead and authorize 20 mill TV, 12 mill print, and 2.5 mil radio advertising.



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘Eyes of Rage’

Ann Drysden
San Francisco Chronicle, Arts Section

This John Hughes film stars Mel Gibson as a man who goes after the two men who raped and murdered his wife. The film is rated PG13 but it is not for the weak of heart, even then.

How do you accurately portray the grief, anger, depression, and righteousness of a man whose wife has been raped and murdered? Furthermore, how do you take that portrayal and move it into action?

That is Mel Gibson’s task. He hunts down the men, played by Christopher Walken and Guy Pearce, who took out his wife. His journey is one fraught with danger and confusion. Let me tell you, this is one story without the classic Hollywood ending.

And while we are on the subject of the script, the script is marvelous in son many places. It has amazing dialogue, pace, intelligence and genre elements, plus good arc. Having said that, the plot can be predictable (except for the end) and the character development, despite Mel’s acting, is simply poor.

Of course, this is a movie based on action and drama, not on character, but still, it would have been nice to see Mel have more to play with. As such, Mel’s acting job is acceptable, but nothing amazing. Walken, on the other hand, is amazing. And Guy is really convincing as well. Katie Holmes, as the daughter, is significantly less so. However, she doesn’t detract from the film. And John Hughes has turned in another spectacularly directed movie. Could this be another nomination for him as director?

The film is good, you don’t want to miss it. However, despite its PG13 rating, don’t take the kids. B+”


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Eyes of Rage, Drama
Mel Gibson
John Hughes
Negative Cost: 59.852 mill
Total P&A: 60 mill
Total Cost: 119.852 mill
Domestic Gross: 41.326 mill
Foreign Gross: 65.698 mill
Total Net Revenue: 38.638 mill
Overall: ****
John, Director: *****
John, Producer: ****
Mel Gibson: ***
Christopher Walken: *****
Guy Pearce: ****
Katie Holmes: ***

Mel Gibson took home a little over two million. Definitely a good movie, and our first movie in a while to actually make money. The domestic video sales and pay-per-view was through the roof. 51 million total in revenue from those two sources – 72.4 million total from domestic ancillary markets. That was the bread and butter of the flick.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

April 2005
The Call of Cthulhu is ready for release. Rated PG13 and screening at 97%, I slate its release for next month – May.

Wishy-Washy needs an additional million which I easily authorize. It has now finished filming.

The following scripts have returned: Star Gazer, Say You Love Me, Dungeon, The Prisoner, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Crapshoot, Indictment

I take a gander at some scripts:

Star Gazer: Still light years away from being a good script. I send it to Stephen King for a rewrite in all three areas of King’s specialty.

Say You Love Me: After five attempts, this script is still poor. I’ve spent a total of 13.8 mill on the script and I can’t get it any better. I toss it in a drawer, most likely for good.

Dungeon: Sent out for a quick touchup, We finally got the dialogue to be a little better. I send it back out for another touchup. Hopefully we can work the script in little bite size pieces as opposed to the chunks we were trying before.

The Prisoner: The script is lacking power. I send it out for a polish with character development. The script, simply, needs a lot of polishing but is coming along.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight: The new first draft is better than the old version. It has five star plot and four star intelligence. Now to get the other things up. I send it out for a rewrite.

Crapshoot: Almost ready but sent for a professional polish in pace and genre elements.

Indictment: The original version and rewrite are identical in their elements. Marina was unable to better the script. I send it back out, but this time just for a touchup of its pace. To see what happens.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

May 2005

The Journal, The Second Face and The Empty Chair have started filming.

SEALs 2 is ready for release. Rated PG13 and screening at 99% across the board, I have extremely high hopes for the film. I slate it for release in June.

The following scripts are back: Dungeon, The Eye of the Storm, The Prisoner, Crapshoot, Indictment

Dungeon was not improved, leading me to suspect that last month’s improvement was merely a lucky one. I may or may not greenlight Dungeon, I’ll have to think about it.

The Eye of the Storm is looking nice and the polish really worked. But the movie still needs a touchup here and there, so I dispatch it for another script polish.

The Prisoner is stuck in a rut with no improvement recently. To combat that, I’ve sent it out to a professional rewriter to polish the arc and character development.

Indictment did not improve at all from the previous version. I use the same strategy as before – send it to a professional, but this time, for a solid rewrite not just a polish.

I send out the novel A Choice of Words for a first screenplay.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I greenlight Crapshoot.

Filming in Las Vegas and shooting on location will require complex set construction in this story of love and fury. I budget 41 mill in physical costs and 500k pyro effects.

Several people have called expressing interest in this project. I send this to Christopher Nolan of the Director’s Cadre. He agrees to be my director for a little over 200k. I hire Walter Preston as the producer for the film (500k).

I get the supporting cast done quickly. Natalie Portman (1 mill) and John Cleese (700k). George Clooney is interested so I offer him the part and her agrees to be my star for 12 million and 10% of gross. Now I need a leading lady for the film. I find the pairing of Meg Ryan and George Clooney to be attractive, so I offer her the position. For 5.8 mill and 5% of gross, she is my leading actress.

I greenlight the movie with a negative cost of 75.285 mill. I slate 16 mill TV, 10 mill print, and 2 mill radio for ads. That brings the total projected project cost for domestic advertising and negative costs to 103.285 mill.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘The Call of Cthulhu’

Susan Dobbs
Entertainment Weekly

Sometimes you come out of a theater and you just have to wonder about the movie. Was it good? Was it bad? You have absolutely no idea, but you feel the need to find out, so you turn around and plop down another $8.25 and get in line to see it again.

“The Call of Cthulhu” is that movie.

There are a few properties in our collective consciousness that are so well known that they have defined us. Vampires and Dracula, for example. King Arthur and Camelot is another. While the Cthulhu Mythos is a lesser known property, you have to wonder at why it has taken so long for a Lovecraft story to see print.

Oh, I know about “Reanimator,” which deviated tremendously from Lovecraft’s script. Yet, until now, “Reanimator” was the closest thing we had to a good Lovecraft adaptation. Maybe his works are just to ethereal, to intellectual, to exotic for the screen.

However, when today’s horror movies include films that are so mind-numbing, maybe we need a little more Lovecraft. Obviously Dragon’s Den Studios thinks so, having taken a huge chance on “The Call of Cthulhu.” No highly intellectual horror property has ever had this much support from a theater. They believe in this project just as surely as Peter Jackson and New Line believed in “The Lord of the Rings.” You have to ask yourself, though, will it carry out even one tenth as well.

Sam Raimi brings us this tale of a New England academic, played by John Cusack, who stumbles across clues of a great evil. Slowly we track the man’s descent into madness as his obsession with this evil grows. He starts to reveal greater and greater madness, not in himself, but in the world around him, until we follow him on a trip across the ocean to the sunken city of R’Yleh and the slumbering evil that lies beneath the lapping waves.

This is not your typical horror movie with slashers garbed in Halloween masks attacking young beautiful women who are protected by some young buck. Instead, this is a psychological thriller that chills you to the very core of your being. It is a very true adaptation of Lovecraft’s story, and carries with it an entire sense of hopelessness.

Jason Lee, James Earl Jones, and Christina Ricci provide a rich background as the supporting cast for the film.

And the film has a great script. The character development and descent into madness sis breathtakingly realistic. Both the arc and development are amazing. The plot, dialogue, pace and intelligence are all excellent, although the genre elements are a bit average. The script simply hums with care.

John Cusack is simply amazing in this role. He has a great script to work with, but if you were thinking that the studios miscast him, you are simply and completely wrong. This is an oscar-worthy performance. James Earl Jones turns in a similarily scintillating performance, and again, you have to wonder if he had just completely revitalized his career. Jason is good, although Christina Ricci is a bit below average.

The real disappointment is Sam Raimi and Walter Hill who do not really convey the project well. Maybe Sam has done too many normal horror movies and I think DDS needs a new director to continue the series, which they have said that they have every intention of continuing to do.

Having the opening credits in Greek and Arabic, instead of English, is a nice touch. This is a great script, good story, amazing acting from John, and it even has some breathtaking and groundbreaking special effects. Just wait until you see Cthulhu on screen. You’ll be absolutely amazed. This is definitely one of the year’s best movies so far. A”


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The Call of Cthulhu, Horror
John Cusack
Sam Raimi
Negative Cost: 105.593 mill
Total P&A: 115 mill
Total Cost: 220.593 mill
Domestic Gross: 225.549 mill
Foreign Gross: 498.575 mill
Total Net Revenue: 462.717 mill
Overall: *****
Sam Raimi: ***
Walter Hill: **
John Cusack: *****
Jason Lee: ****
James Earl Jones: *****
Christina Ricci: **

The number two domestic grossing movie of all time and the top grossing movie internationally of all time!!! Wow. John took home a cool 24.35 mill but we still came out massively ahead. This is definitely a nice shot in the arm for a studio that had several major clunkers.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Cthulhu Buries Hobbits

Samuel Oblenstein
New York Post
Entertainment Section

If you think that people went crazy over cute little Hobbits, then you have seen nothing. Move over tiny little weaklings because a new power is in town. A slimy, nasty godlike creature who has the power to crush us with its mile-long tentacles. Cute is no longer in. Cthulhu is.

Cthulhu ultimately came in second to last year’s smash hit “The Diary” in all time national gross at the theaters. However, worldwide, people dig the slimy agent of the macabre so much that “The Diary” was knocked off it perch.

So, a small short story that has lain about neglected by the movie industry for 80 years has finally been made into a movie and the rest is history.

What is it about “The Call of Cthulhu” that has brought people into theaters en masse? I think it is the overwhelming sense of cosmic indifference that pervades the film from beginning to end. Beginning with the a mutual dream that many share, John Cusack investigates deeper and deeper finding a carves piece of wood, a story about a pirate, an island, and ultimately, a power go dark in its intent that to be calling it evil or satanic would be insulting its intelligence and malevolence. Freddy and Jason are not horror. They are bad mimes in Central Park.

Cthulhu is horror.

And the movie made millions. A simple story.”


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

June 2005

We are back in the black with 93.831 million dollars.

The Second Face, The Empty Chair and The Journal have finished shooting. State of Emergency has begun shooting.

In The Night is ready for release. Rated PG13 and screening at 97%, I slate the Spielberg flick for July. I bump the radio ads by a million and the TV ads by two million.

Crapshoot needs 8.2 mill for additional sets which I authorize.

The following scripts have returned: Star Gazer, Deep Cut, The Eye of the Storm, The Prisoner, Dragons of Autumn Twilight

Tom Cruise wants to take a meeting with me, and I agree. He pitches me a movie he calls, “Shut Up”, I Tell You. It’s a romantic comedy about a couple struggling through marriage counseling. Tome is a great actor but a lousy screenwriter. I would consider Tom, but not with this script, not without being able to send it off for rewrites a-go-go. So, I tell him no thanks.

I go shopping since this is the first time we’ve been financially solvent for a while. But there is nothing out there that tweaks my interest.

I authorize a sequel for The Call of Cthulhu, which we had planned all along. Lovecraft’s stories do not follow a set timeline or even set characters. Therefore I am looking for another story. We are debating here on “The Shadow Over Innsmouth,” “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward,” “The Dunwich Horror,” and “Dreams in the With-House.” We decide, after much deliberation, to go with “The Shadow Over Innsmouth.”

The logline for the new film is:

“A visiting grad student trapped in Innsmouth begins to unravel secrets untold for generations.”

It is a horror flick with one lead actor, 2 supporting actors and two supporting actresses, two minor characters and 30 extras for 4 days on the set. This movie comes with violence and a few love scenes. I send it off to be written.

Other scripts: Star Gazer, although improved slightly, still is a poor script, and I throw it back into a drawer. The first draft of Deep Cut is rather good. I send it back out for a rewrite, but it looks nice. The Eye of the Storm looks good, but could be improved slightly. The Prisoner is stuck and I decide to sit on it for a while and see what happens. Lastly, Dragons is looking better than it first did, but of course, it still needs major work. I fire it off to a writer.

I decide, after looking at my scripts, to film The Prisoner, which is stuck and send off The Eye of the Storm for one last polish.



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

For the Prisoner I decide to film in Hawaii and shoot sound on location with elaborate set construction. I budget 51 million in physical costs, 2 mill pyro, 2.5 mill stunts, 2 mill robotics and 12 mill state of the art effects.

Several people have mentioned interest in the project. I hire Chris Columbus as my director for 400k and Erica Barret as my producer.

27 million and 11% of gross lands me Brad Pitt again. He’ll play the part of Number Six, the leading man. Now I need a Number Two, the main antagonist. The most popular Number Two in the series was Leo Kern, a large jovial fellow. I decide to follow that lead and cast a fairly likeable but also deadly Pierce Brosnan, not as Number Six, the retiring secret agent, but as his antagonist. I think that’s an interesting play on things. Brosnan is mine for 3 mill and 5% of gross.

I cast Famke Janssen as the likeable Number 42 who Number Six is attracted to and is ultimately the tool of Number Two. Lastly, John Rhys-Davies will play another Number Two after Pierce’s Number Two is sent away near the end of the movie. Davies is secured for a million and Famke for 600k. A List actors for the 5 minor roles.

With major actors and a large budget, I budget for 20 mill TV ads, 12 mill print ads and 2.5 mill radio ads. The total project cost is, well, staggering.


I notice, by the way, that John Cusack is now demanding a lot more money for his films.

-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘SEALs 2’

Ann Drysden
San Francisco Chronicle, Arts Section

Can a studio have two major blockbuster movies in back-to-back months? The top grossing movie of all time is last month’s “The Call of Cthulhu” which raked in 1.4 billion dollars gross. Number three all time, by the way, is “SEALs.”

And now the sequel, aptly named “SEALs 2” has arrived. Can in meet the standards of its papa? Dragon’s Den Studios thinks so. The film, directed by Peter Jackson, features Tom Cruise and Vin Diesel as its stars. Michael Clarke Duncan, Famke Janssen and Gillian Anderson round out the supporting cast.

The premise is, again, simple. America’s elite SEALs team fights off terrorism. The studio certainly hopes it can strike gold twice within weeks. A lot of money was spent to do so.

The Script is pretty good. Excellent intelligence and genre elements and really strong character development, plot and pace highlight a screenplay with no weaknesses.

So, what is the movie like? Very, very good. No better than that.

How many sequels out there are better than the original? Terminator 2? Godfather 2?

Peter Jackson is good, Tom Cruise is good, Michael Clarke Duncan and Famke Janssen are good. Vin Diesel, however, is not good. Nevertheless, the movie’s elements come together to make an extraordinary adventure movie. This is definitely one you want to go see. A-“


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

SEALs 2, Action Adventure
Tom Cruise, Vin Diesel
Peter Jackson
Negative Cost: 120.319 mill
Total P&A: 112.5 mill
Total Cost: 232.819 mill
Domestic Gross: 335.827 mill
Foreign Gross: 339.297 mill
Total Net Revenue: 361.436 mill
Overall: *****
Peter Jackson: ****
Brad Weaver: ****
Tom Cruise: ****
Vin Diesel: **
Michael Clarke Duncan: ****
Famke Jannsen: ****
Gillian Anderson: ***

Number Two grossing movie domestically, knocking The Call of Cthulhu down a spot. And Number Two internationally as well, where Cthulhu is still number one. Tom Cruise made a cool 45 mill from gross while Vin and Peter each took home 22.6 mill. A nice pair of movies like that can really shoot the studio in the arm financially.


-Anxiety

[sterlingice]

“Cthulhu Buries Hobbits"

That awesome: just try visualizing it. I don't have a very good visual imagination (in fact, it's downright awful and saves me more often than not from some of the people around me and their twisted thoughts)- so I just use the image of Cthulhu from the cartoon Freakazoid with a shovel. Anyways, enough ramblings.

SI

[StanGunner]

Keep it going. Very good writeups.

[Abe Sargent]

For reference, here is Lovecraft's description of Cthulhu from "The Call of Cthulhu," first published in 1926 and freely available on the web:

"Everyone listened, and everyone was listening still when It lumbered slobberingly into sight and gropingly squeezed Its gelatinous green immensity through the black doorway into the tainted outside air of that poison city of madness.

Poor Johansen's handwriting almost gave out when he wrote of this. Of the six men who never reached the ship, he thinks two perished of pure fright in that accursed instant. The Thing cannot be described - there is no language for such abysms of shrieking and immemorial lunacy, such eldritch contradictions of all matter, force, and cosmic order. A mountain walked or stumbled. God! What wonder that across the earth a great architect went mad, and poor Wilcox raved with fever in that telepathic instant? The Thing of the idols, the green, sticky spawn of the stars, had awaked to claim his own. The stars were right again, and what an age-old cult had failed to do by design, a band of innocent sailors had done by accident. After vigintillions of years great Cthulhu was loose again, and ravening for delight."


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

July 2005

The Empty Chair needs an additional 9 mill for special effects, which I certify. State of Emergency has finished filming.

Wishy-Washy is ready for release. Rated PG13 and screening at 92%, I slate the romantic comedy for a release in August.

The following scripts have returned: The Eye of the Storm, Indictment, Half-Life

There are no projects available for purchase that I wish to buy. We are looking to be in the black for a while now, with 481.67 mill available.

The Eye of the Storm did not improve, but it is good enough to be greenlighted this month. Indictment is looking hella better. I send it out for a touchup.

Half-Life’s rough draft is back and it is quirt rough. However, my writer, Andrea Towlan, gave it five star plot and dialogue. That’s good. Now we need to seriously work on other elements and I send it out for a rewrite in three areas.

I send out the novel Cleopatra’s Ghost for a first draft. It is pulled out of a drawer for Andrea Towlan to work on, since she did a decent job with Half-Life.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios

Dragon’s Den Studios announced today a new project, having purchased the exclusive movie rights for the novel, “The Mote in God’s Eye” originally written by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.

Originally published in the 70’s, “The Mote” is one of the premier science fiction novels. Dealing with a classic science fiction conundrum, Niven and Pournelle portray society more accurately than a sociologist. The novel is both stirring and evocative. Dragon’s Den Studios is proud to be bringing this classic book to the screen.

The logline for the new movie is:

“A young ship captain must spearhead a voyage into a nebula to initiate first contact.”

The script will be sent out later this week. As always, Dragon’s Den Studios continues to look forward to making only the best and most thought provoking movies possible. This new project fits in perfectly with our mission.

PRESS RELEASE – Dragon’s Den Studios


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The Mote in God’s Eye is slated as a science fiction film. Two actors will star with two females and two males supporting. 13 speaking minor roles are written in, and 50 extras will be needed for 3 days.

There will be a little violence and a few love scenes. I send it off to Michael Crichton to see what he can do with the script.

-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I greenlight The Eye of the Storm.

We film in Hawaii and shoot sound on location with elaborate set construction.

I budget 51 million physical costs, 1 million robotics, and 5 million state of the art special effects for the film.

John Hughes has asked to do the film. I decide to let him have it as producer and director for 600k.

I would like a fine dramatic actor and actress for my leads. After the success of SEALs 2, Cruise now demands 22 mill and eleven percent of gross while Diesel wants 16 mill. Since Diesel stunk up the place, I don’t think that I’ll be hiring him anytime soon.

I send the script to Cusack, but he doesn’t like the character arc. Neither does Mel Gibson. Leonardo likes it, though. As does Tom Hanks.

I’d rather work with Tom than Leonardo, because he demands 5% less gross. So I offer the spot to Tom Hanks. For 7.15 mill and 5% of gross, Tom Hanks is my leading actor.

The problem with finding a leading actress in Hollywood to highlight a film is that most of the top talent is not oriented towards drama. Of the top 10 actresses in Hollywood by star power, only three can claim to lean towards drama, and two of thgose are numbers 9 and 10 on the list. I try to send out the script to some good candidates. I start with Jodie Foster, but she doesn’t like the arc. The best I can do is Elizabeth Shue, if I want somebody whose best work is drama. And I do. So, for 2.2 mill, she is my leading lady.

And now I need some support. 1 million for Ed Harris and 500k for Julia Stiles sets me up for a well acted film. I cast four A List actors, four B List, and five Up and Comers for the film.

With a total negative cost of 82.758 million, I authorize the film. 15 mill has been set aside for TV ads, 10 mill for print and 1.5 mill for radio.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘In The Night’

Sybil Hallond
E! Online

This is a movie that some people have been awaiting for some time now. Ever since Steven Spielberg and Dragon’s Den Studios announced that they were doing a project together, you had to wonder how it would turn out. Would two strong wills collide? Or would we get one of the best films in a while?

“In The Night” is a science fiction feature about an airplane crash, where the survivors played by George Clooney, Madeleine Stowe, Julia Stiles, John Lithgow and Jeremy Piven, are aided by a mysterious being.

Trash or treasure? Well, the foundation of the movie is great, with a strong screenplay. Character development, plot and pace are all top notch. And there are no holes in the script. Everything you would expect from a DDS film.

Now, a foundation is hardly everything. Which is fine, because Steven Spielberg turns in a marvelous job as the producer and director of the film. The movie is just so beautiful and touching with all of the humanity that Steven pours into his projects.

George Clooney, on the other hand, is average. None of the other actors are, however. Madeleine and Julia are really good, and John and Jeremy are just perfect in their roles.

So overall, the movie is solid, and its good for the entire family, rated PG13 for the intensity of the airplane crash scene, which was done realistically. Otherwise, kids will love it, and it’s definitely stimulating enough for adults as well. Good film, and a good pairing. A”


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

In The Night, Science Fiction
George Clooney, Madeleine Stowe
Steven Spielberg
Negative Cost: 108.839 mill
Total P&A: 103.75 mill
Total Cost: 212.589 mill
Domestic Gross: 227.903 mill
Foreign Gross: 506.249 mill
Total Net Revenue: 370.732 mill
Overall: *****
Steven, Director: *****
Steven, Producer: *****
George Clooney: ***
Madeleine Stowe: ****
Julia Stiles: ****
John Lithgow: *****
Jeremy Piven: *****


Number four all time domestically and the top international movie of all time!!!! That’s three mega-hits in a row for DDS. Spielberg took home 74 mill and Clooney 49.4 mill. We are just raking in money!


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Rewriting History

Jeffrey O’Neal
Entertainment Weekly

Take a look at the movie landscape for the past few months and see the swath of destruction left in Hollywood after the wake of three consecutive releases by Dragon’s Den Studios broke massive records. Here are the records as they stand currently:


Most Grossing Domestic Movies of All Time:

The Diary – 396.664 mill
SEALs 2 – 335.827 mill
Tolzar Lives - 250 mill
In The Night - 227.903 mill
The Call of Cthulhu - 225.549 mill


Most Grossing Movies in Foreign Markets of All Time:

In The Night – 506.249 mill
The Call of Cthulhu – 498.575 mill
The Diary – 397.109 mill
SEALs 2 – 339.297 mill
Tolzar Lives – 200 mill


Total Revenue

The Call of Cthulhu – 1.406234 bill
SEALs 2 – 1.399519 bill
In The Night – 1.381119 bill
The Diary – 1.083894 bill
SEALs – 890.201 mill


So, of the Top Five movies in each category, what do you see? Four Dragon’s Den Studio films. But that’s not all. When you see that The Call of Cthulhu, SEALs 2 and In The Night were all released this summer – well, you see that a massive change has brewed. Dragon’s Den Studios has a film being released in August. I wonder what it will be like?”



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

August 2005

Crapshoot has started shooting. Heh.

The following scripts have returned: Deep Cut, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Indictment

Deep Cut’s screenplay is coming along nicely. I send it out for another rewrite, hoping that this is the last. Dragons of Autumn Twilight is also improving nicely. I send it out for a polish and a shine.

I purchase the screenplay for “Martyr Highway” a drama about a lonely stretch of road challenging a man’s belief in his fellow man. It’s mine for 3.5 mill. I send it off for a rewrite.

There are some quality novels available, but they are all mystery, and I am just not in a mystery mood this month. I do purchase “Once Is a Lonely Game,” a four star novel, for 5.85 mill, for when I feel like mystery later.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I greenlight Indictment.

Damn mysteries. We film in LA and shoot sound on location with complex set construction. 41 mill in physical costs and 1.2 stunts are allocated to the film.

I spend some time looking for a director before I decide on Kevin Smith. It will be a new direction for him, and I’m eager to see how he performs. He’s my director for 400k. Justin Ratcher, for 500k, is my producer.

John Cusack is interested in being my star, and I’m interested in giving him another role. For 15 mill and 5% of gross, John is my leading man. 11 mill and 10% of gross nets me Hollywood’s premier leading lady with Nicole Kidman. Nicole Kidman and John Cusack. Intriguing.

For supporting cast, I have Christian Slater (2 mill), Thora Birch (1.2 mill), Helena Bonham Carter (1 mill) and Leelee Sobieski (700k). A nice selection I’d say. All minor roles are given to B List character actors.

16 mill TV, 10 mill print and 2 mill radio is authorized for advertising. Total project cost with domestic P&A and negative costs is 188.574 mill.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘Wishy-Washy’

Samuel Oblenstein
New York Post
Entertainment Section

“Wishy-Washy” is a cute romantic comedy starring Jim Carrey and Julia Roberts. It doesn’t really sound like a Dragon’s Den Studios film, which has given us heady and weighty fare recently. And now, we get to see more of the side of the studio that put out flicks like “Hamburger,” “Gone Hollywood,” and “Tearoom” from last year.

Spike Jonze was a found member of the Director’s Cadre of Dragon’s Den Studios, but this was his first project in that cadre. He may get overlooked as members like Sam Raimi, M Night Shyamalan, Kevin Smith and John Hughes get the major project and the glory. Now we get a chance to see how he does.

The basic plot of the movie is simple. You have a woman (Julia Roberts) who has two suitors that have proposed to her (Jim Carrey and Christian Slater). She has a friend (Ali Larter) whoi has never been proposed to, and now is so jealous that she tries and sabotages her relationship between the two guys. Only she doesn’t know which is the one Julia will choose. Chevy Chase also is cast as the lovable father who can’t give any advice, but who enjoys listening to everyone’s problems. Everybody trusts the father, evens the boyfriends, so they all come to him and confide in him in a very Catholic manner.

So, it sounds like typical fare, and for the most part, it is. With a solid script, Spike Jonze directs an incredible movie. Julia and Jim both bounce off each other so well, you’d swear they were connected at birth. Chevy Chase turns in an expected great performance, and only Christian and Ali, who are okay, mar an otherwise perfect acting and producing job. The talent for the film is just great.

So, this is a good movie. Watch it for its acting, directing, and producing. The quality of the work is outstanding. Not original, but a lot of fun. B+”


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Wishy-Washy, Romantic Comedy
Julia Roberts, Jim Carrey
Spike Jonze
Negative Cost: 59.677 mill
Total P&A: 65 mill
Total Cost: 124.677 mill
Domestic Gross: 74.636
Foreign Gross: 37.737
Total Net Revenue: -29.022 mill
Overall: *****
Spike Jonze: *****
Susan Anne Therese: *****
Julia Roberts: *****
Jim Carrey: *****
Ali Larter: ***
Christian Slater: ***
Chevy Chase: *****

A very disappointing international showing is disappointing considering its decent domestic attendance. As such, we lost money because the foreign market could not hold its end of the bargain. Even the foreign ancillaries were awful. Only 7.647 mill for foreign TV Sales and Video Sales combined! Now, the domestic was decent, more than enough to turn a profit for us if the international people hadn’t tanked. Ah well, after three blockbuster films, one small loss is hardly disappointing from a big picture standpoint.



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

September 2005

The Second Face, The Journal, and The Empty Chair are all ready for release!

Crapshoot needs a mill due to shooting delays. I approve it. It now moves into post production.

The following scripts have returned: A Choice of Words, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Half-Life

Rated PG13, The Second Face is test screening at 92%. I slate it for release next month in October.

The Empty Chair is another political action adventure that I have high hopes for. This movie is also rated PG13 and is screening at 94%. I schedule it for a November release.

Slated for a December release is my major vechicle – The Journal. The sequel to our first blockbuster, my hopes are riding on the back of this movie. Also rated PG13, the film is screening at 97%. Excellent.

A Choice of Words did not come back as the best rough draft ever, although it does have five star genre elements. I send it back out for a rewrite.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is progressing well and may be approved soon. However, before that happens, it needs some seriously massive work on its genre elements. I send it off for one last rewrite.

Lastly, Half-Life is back. The script looks much better than it did before. I send it out for another rewrite, and maybe the last one it will need.

I pull The Bobby-Soxers out of a drawer and brush it off. I decide to send it back out and see what time has done.



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

October 2005

State of Emergency is ready for release. Like most of my films, rated PG13, State of Emergency is screening at an amazing 99% across the board! I set it for release in January and I authorize an increase of 2 mill for radio ads.

The Prisoner has begun shooting.

The following scripts have returned: Deep Cut, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, Martyr Highway

Julianne Moore wants to meet with me to discuss a project. I agree to take a meeting with her. She pitches a movie entitled “Potty Trained” about a gardener whose life is thrown into chaos when he inherits a toddler. The script is woefully bad, and I tell thanks but no thanks. I need to get back to work, so Julianne is dismissed by my secretary.

Deep Cut is beginning to look like a real script. I fire it off for a polish, but it’s about done. Martyr Highway is likewise almost done, just needing a tuneup. I ship it off for a rewrite of arc and genre elements in my attempt to get a perfect script.

Steve LeMaux did an outstanding job with the first draft of The Shadow Over Innsmouth. It actually looks like it’s been through four or five permutations. It has five star plot, dialogue and intelligence with four star pace and three star character development. I have never seen a first draft this complete before. I fire it off for a rewrite – probably the only one the screenplay will get.

I purchase the screenplay to “Twice on Sunday” – a drama where a football widow realizes the new season offers many new possibilities. For 3.9 mill this four star script is mine. I send it off for a polish.


-Anxiety

[Lokugh]

Originally posted by Anxiety
October 2005

State of Emergency is ready for release. Like most of my films, rated PG13, State of Emergency is screening at an amazing 99% across the board! I set it for release in January and I authorize an increase of 2 mill for radio ads.


I once had a pictured I'd poured $180 million into (including ads and the cost of prints) that got 99% ratings. The total gross was $28 million. I quit playing for a month after that :-)

Lokugh

[Abe Sargent]

Originally posted by Lokugh
I once had a pictured I'd poured $180 million into (including ads and the cost of prints) that got 99% ratings. The total gross was $28 million. I quit playing for a month after that :-)

Lokugh

Well, we'll just have to see how this one does, eh?

-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

“Review of ‘The Second Face’

Jeffrey O’Neal
Entertainment Weekly

This is our last movie from Dragon’s Den Studios before three consecutive political thrillers are released. As such, we get a chance to see a mystery with calm and entertaining overtones, before guns, explosions and death awaits in the next three months.

“The Second Face” is a mystery about police trying to salve the murder of a college grad student. The movie stars Matt Damon and Nicole Kidman as a tagteam of detectives and partners working to solve the crime. Suspects/witnesses include Elijah Wood and Kate Winslet, who both play grad students as well.

The movie’s script is decently done. For example, despite a bit of sexual tension between our two detectives, there is never any kissing, groping, or intimation that they are a couple. It’s a nice play, and I like a film where the guy and girl don’t blatently hook up due to stressful situations. Nevertheless, the plot is still fairly predictable.

Not predictable is the arc, pace, dialogue, development and genre elements – which keep you entertained and watching.

This is another attempt by David Lynch to direct a mystery for Dragon’s Den Studios. Unfortunately, his direction is uneven – sometimes good, sometimes poor. Ultimately he gives us an average picture.

Matt and Nicole are both pretty good in their roles, as is Elijah. Kate is amazingly good. So the acting for the movie is definitely above par. Still, I was ultimately left with a sense of nothing as the movie ended. I wasn’t really happy or sad. The movie seemed like a large amount of “Blah.” Ultimate Grade: B-“


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The Second Face, Mystery
Matt Damon, Nicole Kidman
David Lynch
Negative Cost: 63.828 mill
Total P&A: 60 mill
Total Cost: 123.828 mill
Domestic Gross: 25.333 mill
Foreign Gross: 46.58 mill
Total Net Revenue: 18.886 mill
Overall: ****
David Lynch: ***
Oscar Highland: ***
Matt Damon: ****
Nicole Kidman: ****
Elijah Wood: ****
Kate Winslet: *****

Not exactly a winning gross or anything. The international market is so inconsistent. However, we had scintillating domestic ancillaries. As such, our revenue loss was minor.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

November 2005

Indictment and The Eye of the Storm have started shooting, while The Prisoner has finished shooting.

The following scripts were returned: Deep Cut, A Choice of Words, The Bobby-Soxors, Cleopatra’s Ghost, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Half-Life, The Mote in God’s Eye, Twice on Sunday

I purchase the screenplay for Historical Epic “San Francisco” a four star script about the settling of San Francisco. It is literally ready to be greenlighted right now, but I decide to send out the 4.1 mill purchase to a writer for a polish.

Deep Cut – The historical epic about the Panama Canal is now a four star script ready for release.

A Choice of Words – This dramatization of the novel is about a writer changing the life of a woman with his pen. It’s poorly written right now, and I send it off for a major rewrite.

The Bobby-Soxors – This dark comedy about two catholic school girls on a murder rampage is now a four star script. It is publishable, but also still polishable.

Cleopatra’s Ghost – A horror flick based on the novel, the first draft of the script has five star character development and four star arc and pace. I send it out for a rewrite, but it’s one of the best first drafts I’ve seen.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight – Currently on the 6th draft, the script is still only three stars and it has a way to go. Still, I have faith in the project and send it back out for a quick polish. It’ll come back and still need work on genre elements.

Half-Life – With a script that is coming along much more quickly than Dragons, Half-Life could easily see production first if this next rewrite is a good one.

The Mote in God’s Eye – Michael Crichton’s first draft is pretty good, with five star dialogue, pace and genre elements. I now send it off for a rewrite of several elements.

Twice on Sunday – The script needs polish, but no major revisions. I send it back out for another polish.


-Anxiety

[mrskippy]

What the heck happened? I was enjoying this and all the sudden ... bam ... it ends. :(

I was just getting some inspiration for my own dynasty.

[Abe Sargent]

Heh. I bounce around at times. This dynasty is not dead, just dormant.


-Anxiety

[sterlingice]

*pokes dynasty with a sharp, pointy stick*

SI

[StanGunner]

Maybe Kodos can give mouth to mouth.

[sterlingice]

Originally posted by StanGunner
Maybe Kodos can give mouth to mouth.

Or tentacle to... um.. there's no way this can go where it wouldn't be a bad place.

SI

[tucker342]

probably don't want to go there....

[Abe Sargent]

I head inti script land to see what I can find. I look through novels, stage plays and original screenplays but I come up empty. Alas.

I decide to open up another of the scripts that I am sitting on. I like Deep Cut's current script enough to take a look at talent and a budget.

As a reminder, Deep Cut is a historical epic about the building of the Panama Canal. I set up the shooting in Panama City. We'll do sound on location. I decide on complex set construction.

I set the physical costs at 40 million, pyro at 2 million and stunts at 500k.

We'll have a few robotic effects, and I set a budget of 1.5 million for that. I plug in 12 million for state of the art effects. Our total initial budget is 56 million.

I hand the production to Polk Atter, a solid producer who's best work is historical epics. It costs me 400k. For my director, I hand the film to Steven Soderbergh for 2 million base plus 500k ancillary stuff. Now, my stars.

I decide to go with my leading man - Brad Pitt. He likes the script. He'll cost 27 mill plus 11%. But I sign him.

I like Jeremy Piven for the other starring role. 1.5 million and he is mine.

I want a bit of latino flair for the film, so I sign Penelope Cruz for one of our supporting roles. 900k all expenses and she is assigned to the project. Piven can also be latino so that gives me a couple of latino characters.

I have two more supporting actor roles. I go for Michael Clarke Duncan and I decide to give Seann William Scott a role in a serious film. Let's see what he can do with it.

We have 14 minor roles. I assign some to A List, some B List, and a few Fresh New Faces. 1.26 for our 14 minor roles.

With actors and production costs of 104,242,000, I greenlight the film.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

"Review of 'The Empty Chair'

Jeffrey O’Neal
Entertainment Weekly

The first of three consecutive political thrillers from Dragon's Den Studios. The Empty Chair stars Angelina Jolie and Samuel Jackson.

The movie starts out in a similar style to Deep Impact, which shouldn't be much of a surprise. Deep Impact was directed by Mimi Leder as is The Empty Chair. Deep Impact starred Morgan Freeman as the President, a black man, while The Empty Chair has Samuel Jackson as the vice president who takes over command of the nation on the eve of a nuclear attack.

The President suffers a heart attack just before midnight. Samuel Jackson, who was selected as the VP because he was black, and that would bring in voters, has to assume command. The following day, America is under attack and nuclear drama begins.

Angelina Jolie stars as Captain Jessica Reid, the foremost nuclear intelligence officer in the Air Force, and therefore the new President's main advisor. Also appearing as supporting roles are John Rhys-Davies as the Secretary of State and Kristen Cloke as the Press Secretary.

Mimi Leder directs the movie similarly to Deep Impact, as is mentioned earlier. This leads to a lot of political wrangling and, to be frank, there is a lot of discussion and talk in this movie, very little action. However, Mimi spreads out enough action scenes and disaster sequences to keep you on the edge of your chair.

Samuel Jackson is pedestrian as the VP-turned-President. To be honest, Angelina Jolie acted the pants off Jackson, and that is something that I'd never have thought I'd say. But Jolie is solid in the role. John turns in an uneven performance, sometimes good, sometimes lacking panache. Kristen Cloke, however, is just outstanding. Possibly an academy award nominee for Best Supporting Actress is in the works for this one. Her character is often the soul of the ensemble.

To be frank, the script is acceptable, the acting is fine. What makes this movie good is the obvious flair in direction from Mimi Leder. She makes this movie what it is. As such, B+"


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The Empty Chair,
Samuel L Jackson, Angelina Jolie
Mimi Leder
Negative Cost: 99.15 mill
Total P&A: 103.8 mill
Total Cost: 202.907 mill
Domestic Gross: 249.405 mill
Foreign Gross: 251.73 mill
Total Net Revenue: 325.359 mill
Overall: ****
Mimi Leder: *****
Guy Scott, Producer: ****
Samuel Jackson: ***
Angelina Jolie: ****
John Rhys-Davies: ***
Kristen Cloke: *****



325 million in the bank!?!?! Wow.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

"'The Empty Chair' has Crowded Seats

Steve Burgess
New York Times
Life Section


In yet another victory for Dragon's Den Studios, their 20th released film had an interesting spin. Just like their blockbuster first movie, "The Diary" their 20th film is also a political thriller. And just like The Diary, people drove in flocks to see The Empty Chair.

Domestically, The Empty Chair is the fourth highest grossing movie of all time. Pretty good. Foreign gross was also pretty snazzy picking up number five all time.

All told, The Empty Chair is the fourth highest grossing movie of all time - 1.137 billion dollars. Behind In the Night, The Call of Cthulhu and SEALs 2.

In case you were wondering, despite The Diary being a bigger hit in theaters, in terms of total revenue, The Empty Chair edged out The Diary - 1.137 billion for The Empty Chair, 1.038 for The Diary.

In fact, Dragon's Den Studios, with its 20th movie, continues a run of impressive releases. Of the Top 10 movies domestically, Dragon's Den has five. Fully half. Of the Top 10 movies internationally, DDs has Six. Of all time revenue makers, DDS has six, including all of the top five.

Dragon's Den Studios is apparently turning political thrillers into its bread and butter film genre, with two more major releases in the next two months, including the highly anticipated sequal to The Diary, "The Journal."

They'll need to hope that audiences aren't dried out of money for political thrillers."


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

December 2005:

The following scripts have returned: The Bobby-Soxors, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, Martyr Highway, Twice on Sunday and San Francisco.

Indictment and The Eye of the Storm are heading into post-production.

Crapshoot has completed production. It is rated PG13 and screening at 90+%. I do not edit it, and instead set a release date of February.

I take a gander at our returned scripts. San Francisco is very impressive with just two writes, it appears ready to go. Every element is at least 4 stars.

Twice on Sunday has finished a third writing and there are still too many three star problems with it for my tastes, but all 1 and 2 star issuers have been cleared up. I send it out again for a polish to Barbara Worthington, one of the better polishers in the business.

Martyr Highway is already a four star script, but I want to clean up a few dangling issues.

The Shadow Over Innsmouth has some serious lingering issues with its arc and genre elements. I dispatch it for a rewrite of these two elements to one of the best in the biz.

Dragons of Autumn Twilight has had seven revisions. I decide to try once more. I decide to try baby steps. The genre elements are awful, so I send it out for a quick genre polish, and let's see what happens.

The Bobby-Soxors is up to a four star script and may finally see the light of day.


I head to the market and find a nice original screenplay - Scandal Street "A reporter covers the topless bar scene to catch a Senator looking for erotic kicks." I purchase the screenplay for 3.4 million. I send it out for a quick rewrite. Hopefully, that will be all that we need to do.


-Anxiety

[Lokugh]

Cool. Glad to see you picing this back up.

Lokugh

[Abe Sargent]

Originally posted by Lokugh
Cool. Glad to see you picing this back up.

Lokugh

I definitely miss this and the EMU dynasty. I'd expect to see slightly more updates for them in the near future.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I decide to move ahead with The Bobby-Soxors. We'll film in LA with Sound Stage 13 doing internal sets but with significant set construction.

I head to the budget and set aside 15 million for physical costs, 1 mill pyro and 500k stunts. No robotics. 7 million in industry standard special effects to round out our total.

This is a perfect Director's Cadre movie. I send the movie to Spike Jonze and he likes it. I also bring him on as the producer.

I need two starring ladies and four supporting ladies. I think Reese Witherspoon would be perfect for this role and I cast her for 1 million and 5%. I sign Kirsten Dunst as the other star.

Four supporting ladies. All young, by the way. I pick up Tara Reid, Katie Holmes, Leelee Sobieski and Mena Suvari.

I select have of my minor roles to be up and comers and half to be fresh new faces.

I greenlight the movie. I budget 10 million for TV, 10 mill for print and 2 mill for radio ads.

The total expenditures for actors, director, advertising, print cost, sets, effects, and the like is 62.892 million, one of our lowest budget films in recent memory.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

"Review of 'The Journal'

Samuel Oblenstein
New York Post
Entertainment Section

First of all, this was an expensive movie. Dragon's Den Studios made this movie banking a lot of dough that they could strike with lightning twice. Ever since the studio's debut film, "The Diary," broke a lot of records, the studio has anticipated this day.

In case you live ina broom closet under the stairs, you have heard of The Diary. As such, you've also probably heard of The Journal, the sequal. In this installment, a Pentagon journal is uncovered by a tabloid, and again, the President's man has to intervene.

Brad Pitt reprises his role as the Presidents "troubleshooter." New to the film story are Pentagon man Mel Gibson and reporter Helen Hunt. Jeremy Piven was so good in the role of the reporter in the first installment, but they chose to go in a different direction with a new character.

As mentione dbefore, this was an expensive movie to make. The negative alone cost 135.7 million dollars! Add in the costs of advertising and print costs, and DDS could be looking at 250 million before all is said and done. That's a lot of money to put down on a sequal.

So, the big question is - Will The Journal be half as good as The Diary? Will it be a financial flop?

When M Night Shyamalan debuted as a Hollywood director with The Sixth Sense, a lot of critics said that he would be a great one someday. He busted all expectations with his direction of The Diary.

And in this installment, he is just as good. The script is a bit more poor, to be perfectly honest. But M Night is amazing as both the director and producer.

Brad Pitt remains scintilating, as always. Mel Gibson is really good, very convincing, in what may be remembered as one of his better acting roles. Heleh Hunt is similarly good. James Earl Jones continues to restablish his acting career and its good that Brad Pitt is in this film, because otherwise James would have blown the pants off of any other actor on screen. Tea Leoni was acceptable, though nothing to write home about.

With superb acting throughout the film, with great direction, and with amazing special effects, you don't worry as much about the script. To be honest, it's not a great script, but it is certainly good enough.

Go watch this movie, it's one of the best films of the year. In a year when Dragon's Den Studios has had a lot of major hits, this one seems just as good. If not better. Four out of four stars"


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The Journal, Suspense Thriller
Brad Pitt, Mel Gibson
M Night Shyamalan
Negative Cost: 135.69 mill
Total P&A: 111.8 mill
Total Cost: 202.907 mill
Domestic Gross: 407.391 mill
Foreign Gross: 203.89 mill
Total Net Revenue: 150.438 mill
Overall: *****
M Night Shyamalan, Director: ****
M Night Shyamalan, Producer: *****
Brad Pitt: *****
Mel Gibson: ****
Helen Hunt: ****
Tea Leoni: ***
James Earl Jones: *****

Highest grossing domestic movie, #6 internationally, #7 total revenue. Brad Pitt made another 20 million and Mel took home some dough as well.


-Anxiety

[sterlingice]

Time to start reading this again :)

SI

[Abe Sargent]

To the Academy:

We would like to ask for your consideration for the following awards:


Best Picture:

The Call of Cthulhu
In the Night
The Journal
SEALs 2
Wishy-Washy

Challenges of the Heart
Eyes of Rage
Beast
The Empty Chair
The Second Face


Best Director:

Martin Scorsese, Challenges of the Heart
John Hughes, Eyes of Rage
Mimi Leder, The Empty Chair
Steven Spielberg, In The Night
Spike Jonze, Wishy-Washy

Frank Darabont, Beast
M Night Shyamalan, The Journal
Peter Jackson, SEALs 2


Best Actor:

John Cusack, The Call of Cthulhu
Brad Pitt, The Journal
Jim Carrey, Wishy-Washy

Matt Damon, The Second Face
Tom Cruise, SEALs 2


Best Actress:

Julis Roberts, Wishy-Washy

Susan Saradon, Challenges of the Heart
Heather Graham, Beast
Angelina Jolie, The Empty Chair
Nicole Kidman, The Second Face
Madeleine Stowe, In The Night


Best Supporting Actor:

Christopher Walken, Eyes of Rage
John Lithgow, In The Night

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Challenges of the Heart
Jason Lee, The Call of Cthulhu
Elijah Wood, The Second Face
Michael Clarke Duncan, SEALs 2


Best Supporting Actress:

Julia Stiles, Challenges of the Heart
Kate Winslet, The Second Face

Kristen Cloke, The Empty Chair
Helen Hunt, The Journal
Famke Janssen, SEALs 2
Julia Stiles, In The Night


Best Screenplay:

Ginny Eckert, The Call of Cthulhu

Barbara Worthington, Wishy-Washy


Best Adaptation:

Randy Peller, The Journal



Movies of ours that have a lot of nominations that we are really leaning on come Oscar time. Challenges of the Heart, The Call of Cthulhu, The Journal, SEALs 2, In The Night, and Wishy-Washy. Of those, I feel that our best Oscar vehicles are Wishy-Washy, The Call of Cthulhu and possibly In The Night.

I will be spending 7 million in promoptional expenses of behalf of Dragon's Den Studios movies.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Originally posted by sterlingice
Time to start reading this again :)

SI

I'd say so ;)

-Anxiety

[sterlingice]

Originally posted by Anxiety
I'd say so ;)

-Anxiety

Well, you did take a little time off :)

SI

[Abe Sargent]

Originally posted by sterlingice
Well, you did take a little time off :)

SI


What's nine months between old friends?


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

January 2006

The following scripts have returned: A Choice of Words, Cleopatra's Ghost, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Half-Life, The Mote in God's Eye, Martyr Highway and Twice on Sunday


Actor Paul Newman has died this month.

Actress Helen Hunt would like to discuss a project with me. I agree to a meeting. The name of her movie is Touchdown. The logline is "Man's first landing on Mars turns out to be a threat to Earth." Helen wants 5 million, a production budget of 40 million, and a source cost of 2.8 million. The problem is that she wants to use the original script, which sucks. Bad arc, bad character development, horrendous dialgoue and everything is merely average. I suggest that she have a better script, and then I'll consider it.


I take a look at the scripts that have come in:

Twice on Sunday is ready for production.

Martyr Highway is very close, but we could release it as is if necessary.

The Mote in God's Eye needs some reworking. I ship it back out.

Like Martyr Highway, Half-Life is just about ready, needing only a bit of polish, but we could release it now if neccesary.

Dragons did not have its genre elements improved. I decide to stick it in a drawer for now.

Cleo's Ghost needs more work. I send out the script again.

A Choice of Words still needs serious work. I stick it in a drawer.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I decide to go with Twice on Sunday. We're going to go to Vancouver to film it and we'll shoot sound on location with significant set contruction.

I budget 20 million in physical costs, no pyro or robotics efects, 2 million in stunt work and 2 million industry standard special effects.

This is a decent cadre movie, so I take a look and see who is available. I give it to Christopher Nolan since he's interested. I sign Walter Preston as the producer.

I need a wifey actress. I decide to send the script to Michelle Pfeiffer. Seems like her sort of role. 1 million makes her mine.

I need a believable husband sports player. Ideally, I'd try to get Michael Clarke Duncan, thus creating an interesting inter-racial dynamic. Unfortunately, he's currently working on Deep Cut, which is just about to enter filiming in a month or so. I don't want to hold up this project for MCD. My next best option is Joaquin Phoenix, and that's just no good.

So I go to cast the supporting actors and actresses, that should be easy enough. I cast James Earl Jones as the supporting actor/coach. We've put him back on the acting map and he is demanding 1.6 million these days, but I like him as a football coach a lot.

I have a star in mind for another supporting role (I added him to the talent file and shame on them for not including him). I send a script over to Cuba Gooding, Jr for the role of a best friend wide receiver. He accepts.

That leaves me a leading actor and supporting actress. I quickly sign Hillary Swank as a reporter on the team and friend of Michelle's.

A-List Character Actors are cast for the six minor roles.

And then I put the project on hold until Michael Clarke Duncan is through with The Deep Cut. It may take a few months, but after viewing the dearth of talent at the level that I demand, that MCD is the way to go.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

After a very heated meeting, I decide to greenlight Dragons of Autumn Twilight:


I decide to film it in Charleston, West Virginia. We'll need a lot of rural sets with woods and hills, so the Applachian Mountains are a perfect area to set up. We will shoot sound on location and use elaborate set construction.

I budget 50 million in physical costs, 3 million pyro, 3 million stunts and 3 million robotics.

I want groundbreaking special effects, so 20 million is budgeted here.

With 20 million in TV Ads, 20 mill print ads, 3 million radio ads and 7 million in the print cost of the film, I expect that the costs to make this movie will exceed 140 million prior to hiring people.

Every project begins with a top notch director. Ideally, we'd sign Spielberg. He's great with sci-fi movies, has strong credentials, and costs less than a lot of hollywood talent. However, is this truly a Spielberg flick?

So, how about Peter Jackson? I send the script to him and he wants to see a screenplay rewrite. Wow. I send the script to Spielberg and he does as well. I try M Night, my main man, and he want s arewrite as well. Picky picky.

I send the script out for work one last time.

I swear.

-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I need to start working on a movie this month, so I move to Martyr Highway.

We'll film in a studio backlot using sound stage 14 and average set construction. Jus 15 million in physical costs, no pyro, stunts, robotics or special effects. Just plain movie making,

I sign Sam Mendes as my director and Miles Quill as my producer.

I need a lead actor, a supporting actor and actress and 6 minor roles. I cast B List actors for the minor roles.

There are only 7 actors in Hollywood who have the acting chops to play this part, according to my search of the talent. I go straight for Johnny Depp. 3 million and 5% make him my leading man.

Guy Pearce and Famke Janssen agree to be my supporting cast.

I green light the film with a total expected negative cost of around 31 million.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I authorize another sequal of The Call of Cthulhu. The Dunwich Horror will be sent out to create an original script based on the H.P. Lovecraft story of the same title. The Shadow Over Innsmouth, one current sequal where the script is beng worked on appears to be close to ready, so I would like to begin the next installment now.

I use 1 actor to star, 2 actors and one actress to support. 9 speaking roles of various townsfolk and 50 extras needed for only 3 days shooting town scenes and the like.

I select no nudity, violence, a little foul language, and no love scenes. I ship the script off to Melody Brook to see what she can do with it.



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

"Review of 'State of Emergency'

Royce Jackson
E! Online


With two political thrillers under their belts in as many months, Dragon's Den Studios hopes to have bottled lightning again with their newest flim, 'State of Emergency.' It's interesting to me that while some studios specialize in action films, or chick flicks, and so forth, political thrillers are quickly becoming the bread and butter of Dragon's Den Studios.

So we enter into the third movie a little dry. The first two both shattered a lot of hopes and records, but this film seems a bit lighter. From Tom Cruise to Steven King's script, this movie has a much lighter tone. It's essential, when you think about it. The previous two movies were much more dark.

This is a great movie and a fun joyride. Tom Cruise is perfectly acceptbable, although Michael Clarke Duncan continues to steal the show from others. Frank Darabont's direction is simply kingly, and this is a great ride to start the year with.

King's script is marvelous and the movie treats you to a blast from beginning. I wish that I could give in five stars, but for all of its greatness, it does have a few blemishes. Halle Berry, for one, is adequate. Ross Grayson Bell's production is spotty.

But, for its few faults, this is still the best of the three Dragon's Den Studios political thrillers. Less suspense and more action. Lots of action. A+"


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

State of Emergency, Action Adventure
Tom Cruise, Halle Berry
Stephen King
Negative Cost: 95.72 mill
Total P&A: 106.25 mill
Total Cost: 200.424 mill
Domestic Gross: 864.231 mill
Foreign Gross: 1,514.355 mill (or, 1.514 BILLION)
Total Net Revenue: 1,217.952 mill (or, 1.217 BILLION)
Overall: *****
Frank Darabont: *****
Ross Grayson Bell: ***
Tom Cruise: ****
Halle Berry: ***
William Fichtner: ****
Michael Clarke Duncan: *****
Kate Capshaw: ****


HOLY CRIPES!!!!!! Talent took home over 200k, and it still was great.

-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

"'State' Causes 'Emergency' at Boxoffice


'State of Emergency' simply obliterated all previous records this month.

Domestic Gross, #1 of all time, $864,231,000.

Foreign Gross? No problem, #1 of all time, $1,514,355,000

Total Revenue? Simple. #1 all time - $3,739,685,000

Those numbers are simply incredible. The previous best for total revenue was The Call of Cthulhu from last summer, with 1.4 billion. And this had over 3.7 billion?

Foreign Gross was previously led by In The Night at 506 million. State of Emergency nearly tripled that. Nearly tripled.

The previous best domestic gross was The Journal, and State almost doubled it.

This simply doesn't happen. Not just in Hollywood, but in anything. Over 52% of domestic tickets and over 56% of international tickets were purchased by people who went to see State of Emergency.

That simply doesn't happen.

How does a mere mortal studio compete with such numbers? Compete with such complete ownership? For once, this reporter is literally speechless."


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The Oscar Nominees have been announced! Here areour nominees:

Best Picture:

The Journal
Wishy-Washy


Best Director:

Martin Scorsese, Challenges of the Heart
John Hughes, Eyes of Rage
Mimi Leder, The Empty Chair
Steven Spielberg, In The Night


Best Actor:

John Cusack, The Call of Cthulhu
Brad Pitt, The Journal


Best Actress:

Julia Roberts, Wishy-Washy


Best Supporting Actor:

Christopher Walken, Eyes of Rage
John Lithgow, In The Night


Best Supporting Actress:

Julia Stiles, Challenges of the Heart
Kate Winslet, The Second Face


Best Original Screenplay:

Ginny Eckert, The Call of Cthulhu


Best Screenplay Adaptation:

No nominees



We have a lot of nominees including four of the five directorial nominees. Good luck to all Dragon's Den Studios Nominees!!!!!



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

February 2006:

I spend 7 million on the academy awards publicity.

Deep Cut has begun filming.

The Prisoner has finished post-production and is ready for release.

I receive drafts of: The Shadow Over Innsmouth, Scandal Sheet


Director Robert Altman died this month.


The Prisoner is screening at about 88%. I do not authorize an edit and slate its relese for March, 2006.

I send out Scandal Sheet for a rewrite.


-Anxiety

[tucker342]

YAY! It's back!:D

[Abe Sargent]

YAY! It's back!:D


Your enthusiasm brightens my day.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I head to the script market and find the rights for a nice stage play available for sale. The play is entitled "Rembrandt" and it is a biography on the artist. I am unsure exactly how much commercial appeal is wrapped inside this sort of movie, but the script is just so good that I absolutely have to buy it.

I send the script to Lora Wadsworth and hope for the best.

For order's sake, I decide to sort all of our current properties by genre, so that I can take an account of where we are currently at:

Drama -

Crapshoot, Las Vegas Love Story, set to open this month
She Was an Empty Place, 3 star script, lovestory, in a drawer
A Choice of Words, 2 star script, writer changes life of woman through writings, in a drawer
Lovers, screenplay property, two lovers seeking self-truth, waiting 1st draft
The Eye of the Storm, Hurricane story, in post-production
Martyr Highway, Stretch of Road challenges man's faith, in pre-production
Twice on Sunday, Football wife seeks possibilities, awaiting greenlight
Rembrandt, biography of artist, sent out for first draft


Action Adventure:

The Prisoner, Retiring Secret Agent Captured, slated for release next month
Half-Life, Scientist Forced into Battle, waiting for budget


Science Fiction:

Shocker, 3 star script, LA Earthquake, in a drawer
Star Gazer, 2 star script, Mysterious Stranger, in a drawer
Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragonlance Trilogy, 3 star script, script rewrite
The Mote in God's Eye, Story of First Contact, 3 star script, script rewrite


Comedy:

Heavenly, 2 star script, Man meets dream Girl in Heaven, in a drawer


Romantic Comedy:

Say You Love Me, Woman Needs Boy to Say Love, 2 star script, in a drawer


Historical Epic:

Deep Cut, Panama Canal Story, in production
San Francisco, Founding of City, waiting for a budget


Comedy Dark:

The Bobby-Soxors, Catholic School Girls Kill, in pre-production


Horror:

Be Gone, B'Gosh, 3 star script, Dead Wakened by Aliens, in a drawer
Dead or Deader, Vampire in New York, awaiting first draft
Cleopatra's Ghost, 3 star script, Discovery and Curse on Nile, script rewrite
The Shadow Over Innsmouth, New England Town in Trouble, waiting for budget
The Dunwich Horror, New England Witchcraft, getting first draft


Musical:

Stand Up and Dance, Recovering Alcoholic finds Dance, needs first draft


Love Story:

Marvelous, 1 star script, Oil Tycoon finds Love, in a drawer


Suspense Thriller:

Dungeon, 3 star script, Psychopath Kidnaps Women, in a drawer
Scandal Sheet, 4 star script, Senator at Strip Club, script rewrite


Mystery:

Indictment, Grand Jury Takes Out Man, in post production
Once is a Lonely Game, Classic Mystery Tale, needs first draft


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I decide to move on Half-Life.

I I set the filming to take place here in LA with sound done on Sound Stage #12. We'll need elaborate set construction, however, to portray the alien world super-imposing itself onto our own.

I budget 50 million in physical costs, 5 mill pyro, 5 mill stunts and 5 mill robotics. I further plug in 20 million in ground breaking special effects.

Several directors and actors want to get in on this project. Oddly enough, Sylvester Stallone wants to be our star. No thanks Sly, you are past these sorts of movies.

For my director, Cameron Crowe, Roman Polanski, Luc Besson and Robert Rodriguez want the opportunity to direct this film. Interesting...

I have no desire to have Luc or Robert even touch the script, let alone direct it. I take a look at our current and regular crop of directors:

Mimi Leder is available, and I like working with her. Frank Darabont is also available and he is very talented as well. I decide to go with Mimi.

I head over to look for a producer. I choose my first guy, Ross Grayson Bell.

And now I need a lead actor. Someone believable as both an action star and a scientist. Hmmm. George Clooney? He's expensive, but we need top-flight talent. I offer to pay the 24 million and 11% of profit that he demands.

Now it's a matter of casting a few supporting roles that were written into the script. I cast Rob Lowe, Martin Short, and Carrie Fisher. I cast Fresh New Faces for the 5 minor roles.

I greenlight a movie slated to cost 123.757 million for the negative.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I had a huge post about casting and the like for The Shadow Over Innsmouth but the new board screwed it up and did not accept it. I spent 25 minutes writing up comparisions for the different ways that I could go with my lead actor. The short version is that I have M Night Shyamalan directing Elijah Wood. My long list of reasonings, who was available, and the like are all gone. All Gone.

-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

"Review of 'Crapshoot'

Jeffrey O’Neal
Entertainment Weekly

We leave behind the sordid Washington affairs that have dominated box offices all over the country for the past three months. This month's fare from Dragon's Den Studios is a lighter flick set against the landscape of Vegas. Here people make love and war and the stakes couldn't be higher.

Christopher Nolan directs Meg Ryan and George Clooney in this movie that features Natalie Portman and John Cleese in supporting roles. That's an interesting group of actors. You can certainly see George and Meg in a romantic comedy, George and Natalie in some hip, Tarantino-wannabe film, or George and John in a bouncy comedy. But to see all of them together? That's unusual.

So, how do these various actors do in their roles? Unevenly. George Clooney is average as is Meg Ryan. John Cleese is, at best, poor. Natalie Portman is the saving grace of the picture and is scintilating as always.

At the top, Christopher Nolan and Walter Preston do a great job with th e film. Pacing, cimenatography, it's a great film. But the acting is simply uneven and spotty. That creates problems.

You have a great script, a great director, and a great producer. Slide Natalie Portman to Meg's role and find a new star. Then you'd have a good movie. This movie wastes potential by its casting. B-"


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Crapshoot, Drama
George Clooney, Meg Ryan
Christopher Nolan
Negative Cost: 78.485 mill
Total P&A: 85 mill
Total Cost: 163.485 mill
Domestic Gross: 106.513 mill
Foreign Gross: 76.647 mill
Total Net Revenue: -11.109 mill
Overall: *****
Christopher Nolan: *****
Walter Preston: *****
George Clooney: ***
Meg Ryan: ***
John Cleese: **
Natalie Portman: *****

We lost a bit on the film, but nothing major. The international market, both in theaters and the ancillary market, left a lot to be desired or else we would have at least broken even.

-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The Academy Awards have begun:

Best Screenplay Adaptation. The envelope please.....

Chris Allen for Talent and Tenacity, Roehrig Studios!!!!!!!!


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The nominees for Best Screenplay are:

Susan Eglisio for Fight from Hails Studios

Sally Sanders for All Due Respect from Roehrig Studios

Ginny Eckert for The Call of Cthulhu from Dragon's Den Studios

Winter April for Deadly Sky from Reckert Pictures

and

Shorty Winters for The Transaction of Love from Reckert Pictures.

And the winner is....


....


Sally Sanders for All Due Respect



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The next award is for the Best Supporting Actress. The Nominees are:


Roxie Darlington, The View From the Park of Reckert Pictures.

Julia Stiles for Challenges of the Heart, from Dragon's Den Studios

Kate Winslet for The Second Face, also from Dragon's Den

Cassandra Black for Riding, also from Reckert

and

Evelyn Horror for Way Down Deep, from Wheeler Studios


Can I have the envelope please? It's a bit stuck. Ah, the winner is...

......


.....


Roxie Darlington from The View From The Park


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The next award of the evening is the category of Best Supporting Actor.

The nominees for this year's award are:

Christopher Walken, for Eyes of Rage from Dragon's Den Studios

Chuck Edwards from The Lonely Laugh from Reckert Pictures

Will Rhinelander for Troubled Waters, from Roehrig Studios

John Lithgow for In The Night, from Dragon's Den Studios

and

Tolzar Dennis from Hardened Spirit, also by Reckert Pictures.


And the winner is.....




......




......




.....



John Lithgow, from In The Night!!!!!


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The next award goes to the best female actors of the year. The five nominees are:


Julia Roberts for Wishy-Washy, from Dragon's Den Studios

Anna Preston of Fearful Nights, from Wheeler Studios

Elizabeth Friday for The Long Lie from Cinema Veronica

Angela London for Fearful Hearts, also from Cinema Veronica

and

Darcy Bressel of One Last Chance, again, from Cinema Veronica


The winner is......




.....




.....




.....




.....




Elizabeth Friday for The Long Lie


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The men who stole are hearts this year have been whittle ddown to five nominees for Best Actor. The nominees are:

Brent Fall for Wild Heart, from Wheeler Studios

John Cusack for The Call of Cthulhu, from Dragon's Den Studios

Brad Pitt for The Journal, from Dragon's Den as well

Richard Blue for Green Walls from Reckert Pictures

and

Brett Drake for Broken Life from Wheeler Studios.


The envelope is opened and this years Best Actor is.....




.....




.....




.....




.....




.....




John Cusack from The Call of Cthulhu!!!!!!!!!!



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Who made the best films in 2005? We have the five top nominees for the year with:


Martin Scorsese for Challenges of the Heart, from Dragon's Den Studios

John Hughes for Eyes of Rage, from Dragon's Den

Mimi Leder for The Empty Chair, also from Dragon's Den

Sherman Pillman for Endeavor's Forture, from Wheeler Studios

and

Steven Spielberg for In The Night, another Dragon's Den Studios Nominee


I have the envelope here with the name and its.....




.....




.....




.....




.....




.....




.....




John Hughes for Eyes of Rage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

This year saw a lot of major movies getting made. Many movies broke into the all time record lists. Choosing just five nominees was rough, but they are:

The Journal, from Dragon's Den Studios

Dusty, from Burbage Pictures

Wishy-Washy, from Dragon's Den Studios

Growing Up, from Hails Studio

and

Forgotten Glory, from Cinema Veronica


Who is the best of the best? Well the envelope syas that the winner is.....




.....




.....




.....




.....




.....




.....




.....




.....




Dusty, from Burbage Pictures.



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

Well, we won Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor - three of the eight categories against five major competetors, so I can't complain to much. Still, I feel like this year we hit our artistic stride, yet we won less awards.

Hmpf.

We brought in an additional 36 million in revenue from movies that created an Academy buzz getting additional rentals, purchases, and movie tickets.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

March 2006:

Shooting Delays in Deep Cut will require an additional 2 million in money to complete production. I authorize the expenditure.


Indictment and The Eye of the Storm are ready for release and have been rated.

Deep Cut moved to post-production following that.

The Bobby-Soxors has completed its preliminary work and moved into shooting the film.

The following scripts are back: Cleo's Ghost, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, The Mote in God's Eye, and Scandal Sheet.

The Eye of the Storm is rated PG13 and screening at about 95%. I don't authorize an edit, instead slating the movie to release next month.

Indictment, however, is rated R. And screening at 99% across the board. I take a look at the script, because I hadn't expected the R rating.

The script called for nudity, and I had forgotten that. Keep the R rating or cut it to PG13 and try to bring in a wider audience? I decide to keep it at R this time, and we'll see how it goes. I do not edit it at all.

I set a May release for the film.

I greenlight Twice on Sunday this month because Deep Cut finished filming and Michael Clarke Duncan can begin work.

Looking at the screenplay market I find anohter four star stage play - Babbling Brooke, a Musical Comedy where "She loves to talk and talk and talk. But he doesn't like to listen and listen and listen." I purchase the property for 6.6 million. I hire Steve LeMaux to work on the first script.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

"Review of 'The Prisoner'

Royce Jackson
E! Online

I sincerely doubt that I am the only one awaiting this movie with bated breath. 'The Prisoner' was originally a BBC series from the mid 60s. It was known for its highyl intelligent and allegorical plot. Other BBC series from the time have seen the big screen - Doctor Who, The Saint, The Avengers. Now The Prisoner arrives.

This is one of the first Dragon's Den Studios Movies with their own plot. The Call of Cthulhu was their first film, The Journal was a sequal developed in house, and that is it. Others are on their way, but The Prisoner will help determine whether these sorts of projects are good for their studio.

Dragon's Den relies heavily on Brad Pitt to make their movies work. He'll definitely put people in the seats and he was just nominated for Best Actor, so it's not a bad call, at least it hasn't been so far.

Can The Prisoner be a good movie? Its script is acceptable enough, a bit better than average but nothing special. Maybe Dragon's Den was rushing to get it out. Chris Columbus does an excellent job directing the film, and you can tell.

And, again, Brad Pitt is simply striking as the lost Number 6, a secret agent who is one the best field agents of his agency. He retires suddenly, and has been subsequently captured and taken to an island named The Village, where he is interrogated. Whoever holds him wants to know who he is, why he resigned, and so forth.

Number 6's governmental ties are never revealed, and neither is The Village's. Through a variety of deceptions and interrogatin methods, Number 2 (Pierce Brosnan), tries to gather the needed information, and when he fails, another Number 2 takes his place (John Rhys-Davies). Pierce is simply painful as Number 2, and you want John Rhys-Davies to have more screentime. Famke Janssen does avery good job playign another Villager who is an agent for Number 2 and tries to get Number 6 to talk.

You never learn Number 6's name, where he is from, or even why he resigned. So, maybe this movie is a bit obtuse for some people who do not get the sheer allegory. Much like Animal Farm, the plot here is poor, but the story is ripe with meaning. The ending is simply beautiful, and it goes down as one of the best endings in cinema, and unfortuantely, I cannot reveal it because to do so would ruin it, much like all great cinematic surprises.

I wholheartedly recommend this movie, despite Brosnan's occasional wooden performance. Every other note on this film sings with high clarity. A+"


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The Prisoner, Action Adventure
Brad Pitt, Pierce Brosnan
Chris Columbus
Negative Cost: 111.285 mill
Total P&A: 103.75 mill
Total Cost: 215.035 mill
Domestic Gross: 150.328 mill
Foreign Gross: 90.547 mill
Total Net Revenue: 3.284 mill
Overall: *****
Chris Columbus: *****
Erica Barret: ***
Brad Pitt: *****
Pierce Brosnan: **
Famke Janssen: ****
John Rhys-Davies: *****


We essentially broke even. Despite another woeful foreign market, we had scintilating domestic ancillaries that really brought up our revenue. I guess that The Prisoner was one of those films to really connect with people but not make them go to the Box Office. Many reviewers went into the studio expecting to see a typical secret agent flick, and instead saw a highly intelligent allegorical film that didn't answer a lot of questions, which was precisely the point that some reviewers missed. I guess not everybody can enjoy a truly intelligent film.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

April 2006:

The Bobby-Soxors has finished filming and is entering post-production.

The following drafts have arrived: Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Martyr Highway, and Scandal Sheet.

Director Spike Lee died this month.

-Anxiety

[StanGunner]

Another reader chipping in with a thanks to Anxiety for resurrecting this thread.

[Abe Sargent]

Another reader chipping in with a thanks to Anxiety for resurrecting this thread.


Sure thing, thanks a bunch!

-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I am adding a few actors to the talent list. Sometimes I need an actor with a certain skill, nationality, race or accent, and I can't get it in the currrent actor database. Additionally, somtimes I want a certain actor for his look, and I can't get it. You will be astonished when you see what actors were not in the talent file. I have already added Cuba Gooding Jr and Michael Clarke Duncan to get a few more black options. Here are some of my additions:




Taye Diggs
Christian Bale
Richard Grant
Antonio Banderas
Oliver Platt
Ian McKellen
Richard Gere
Denzel Washington
Alan Rickman
Russell Crowe
Kevin Spacey
John Travolta
Anthony Hopkins
Edward Norton



-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

PRESS RELEASE - Dragon's Den Studios

Dragon's Den Studios announced today that they had purchased the rights to movies for the Doctor Who franchise from small studio Anchor Bay Entertainment. Anchor Bay initially purchased the silver screen rights from the BBC for their hot new serial.

Two Doctor Who movies were released in the mid 60's by Anchor Bay, both trying to capture the family adventure market. The first was a major success in Britain, on the back of Dalekmania sweeping the Isle. It was the 9th best grossing move in the U.K. in 1965. The follow up movie, despite having a better budget, flopped and the series ended there.

On television, however, Doctor Who would become the longest running science fiction series of all time from 1963 to 1989. But there would never be another Doctor Who movie made for the silver screen.

Until now. Dragon's Den Studios is committed to the mission of providing new and intelligent movies to audiences. The Doctor Who franchise fits perfectly into that vision. All Doctor Who movies made will fit firmly within the established Doctor Who mythos and have their story lines approved by the BBC and will therefore be canonical.

PRESS RELEASE - Dragon's Den Studios


Incidentally, you can go to BBCi (online) and find an hour and a half long cartoon available to be watched - another Doctor Who episode! It came out a month ago. If you like Doctor Who, check it out because it features the official, authentic NINTH doctor. I won't announce who it is yet, but it's not some random actor out of nowhere like the previous incarnations often were.

Additionally, the BBC has announced that they will be bringing Doctor Who back to TV in 2005! The longest running sci fi will continue. No plans have been made as of right now concerning who the new Doctor will be, but the recently cast Ninth Doctor has publicly stated that he would like to be the Doctor for as long as he can....


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The new movie is tentatively entitled "Doctor Who and the Sands of Time" It has the following logline:

"The Doctor must stop a mysterious time traveller from destroying the very fabric of time itself."

Genre: Sci-Fi
Starring Roles: 2 Males
Supporting Roles: 1 Female, 1 Male
Minor Speaking Characters: 6
Extras: None

No nudity
A little violence
No foul language
No love scenes


I send the script out to Andrea Towlin.

-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

With all of the budget stuff done for Dragons of Autumn Twilight, all that is left is to cast the actors, director, and such. A few months ago, I couldn't get the top flight directorial talent to agree to the movie. Now, with a tweaked script, it's a differnet story.

Right away, Peter Jackson likes the film. I also really like Ang Lee as the possible director for the film. M Nnight and Steven Soderbergh, my normal choices for big budget films are currently attached to other projects.

Peter Jackson it is then. He'll take 5% of profit.

I offer the producer-ship to Andrew Trainor, a highly talented producer who is best at sci-fi flicks.

The casting of the main character, Tanis Half-Elven, will be an interesting task. Ideally, we'd get Brad Pitt to do it, but he attached to another project. He would be a perfect Tanis Half-Elven.

As for Raistlin, however, I already have an actor in mind. I send a script to John Cusack. 15 million and 5% of profit make him Raistlin.

Whoever ends up as Tanis will have to have charisma, talent and sex appeal a go go. And a beard. Tanis is a very attractive man. George Clooney is already attached to a project as well.

Leonardo DiCaprio is too young. Harrison Ford too old. It's difficult to find the right man.

In the meantime, I cast the supporting characters - Caramon Majere, Sturm Brightblade, Flint and Tasslehoff Burrfoot.

For Sturm, we need a solid, strong man in his 30s or 40s to carry off the part. Ben Affleck? Nah, too hip. Joaquin Phoenix? He was my Raistlin backup in case John didn't want the part. Too prissy.

Vin Diesel? No, I prefer someone who can act. Brendan Fraser? A bit chubby, but interesting. We'd have to clean him up a bit. Can he play the role of the straight man? Nicolas Cage? Nicolas Cage..... Now that IS interesting. He could really pull off the aura of doom that Sturm carries with him. And he's a good headliner, considering that the second movie would need Sturm as a leading character, not as a supporting one (Raistlin's story takes a backseat during the second novel to Sturm's). Hmmm...

However, Nicolas may also be just good enough to be my Tanis. Good looking, the right age, has a bit of elvish blood in him with the blue eyes, can carry a beard, would not look bad in red hair, has screen presence. So, although I initially consider him for my Sturm, he may be my Tanis. In which case, I'd need another Sturm. Gotta keep looking.

Johnny Depp is another actor who could really pull off the sense of doom, be a straight man, and have all of the characteristics that I am looking for. To bad he is attached to another project. Keanu Reeves? Nah. Guy Pearce would be nice, again the whole already attached to a project thing.

If I jump forward a few years and don't mind casting a slightly older gentleman as Sturm, I could go with Dennis Quaid or Pierce Brosnan or William Fichtner. Yet still, not good enough.

Should I wait a month or two to try and bring in more talent? I suppose so. I'll finish casting the non-Sturm and non-Tanis parts for now, however.

Caramon Majere should be easy enough. He'll be a supporting character throughout the trilogy, so I need someone good enough to continue - no sense casting someone who does a poor job. Caramon is a huge man, so I need a big actor. SInce he is Raistlin's fraternal twin, I'll need him to at least resemble John Cusack. The only big white man is Vin Diesel and he is too expensive and limited in talent. I end up casting Jeremy Piven, I think that I can add some bulk to him through training, make up, and special effects.

A lot of character's are going to be heavily make-up'ed and special effected. John, as Raistlin, will need gold skin and hourglass eye balls with white hair. Not exactly something you see everyday. Likewise, our Tasslehoff Burrfoot will need a bot of help becoming a Kender.

So, let's cast Tas. This is our comedic relief character, one of the funniest in fantasy literature. We'll need a highly talent and plastic actor. The perfect ast for this pasrt is Jim Carrey, but that 10% of profit for a supporting character really turns me off.

What about Billy Crystal? Too common of a voice, everybody knows his voice. Robin Williams? He has the frenetic energy, the talent and the screen presence. And he demands no money. But, he's not the look that I am going for. Maybe a backup plan.

We could try to go unconventional and cast an actor like Seth Green is the role. Talented, played a werewolf once, so he's used to the make up, shorter, so it'd be easier for him to play a Kender. Perfect!

Now I need a Flint. Much like Gimli in LotR, I need a character actor who will don a wig and look chubby. I make a conscious decision not to cast John as Flint, despite doing a fine enough job as Gimli. I decide to send the script to Jason Lee. Not a well known voice, already wears a beard, nice actor.

And, with needs still at the lead and supporting spots, I bow out and put the project on hiatus for a month or two.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

I decide that San Francisco is ready.

We'll film near San Francisco, do sound on location and use complex sets.

I budget 50 million in physical costs, no pyro or robotic effects, 4 million in stunts, 5 million in standard special effects.

My first choice director, John Hughes, agrees to do the film. Wilton Barnes will be my producer.

I decide to take Vin Diesel for a spin and see what he can do. I cast him as our leading actor. I cast Helen Hunt across from him.

For supporting roles, I like Antonio Banderas, Christian Slater, Marisa Tomei and Kate Winslet.

Minor roles go to A List Character Actors. I greenlight the movie.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

"Review of 'The Eye of the Storm'

Magdeline McCarthy
E! Online

The story of a Hurricane that sweeps through and almost destroys a Carribean Island is released widely this week. The 25th movie from Dragon's Den Studios, this "disaster" flick tries to show a bit more humanity than many others of its ilk.

Tom Hanks is the star power behind this film. Elisabeth Shue, Ed Harris and Julia Stiles don't carry much star power. So you know that the Director, John Hughes, is relying on story telling and Hanks alone.

Not that great of a film, to be honest. Tom is great and eveybody else is really solid, no bones there.

And John is a brillant producer and strong director, nothing wrong there. And the script is solid, nothing wrong there. But do you know that feeling of leaving a movie, knowing that you should like it, but feeling somehow vacant? That's how I felt about this movie.

Techincally sound from acting, producing, script, directing. But yet, it's missing something very important. So, while the movie shoudl get an A, it gets a B for subjectivity."


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

The Eye of the Storm, Drama
Tom Hanks, Elisabeth Shue
John Hughes
Negative Cost: 77.158 mill
Total P&A: 80.25 mill
Total Cost: 157.408 mill
Domestic Gross: 71.351 mill
Foreign Gross: 129.713 mill
Total Net Revenue: 116.781 mill
Overall: *****
John Hughes, Director: ****
John Hughes, Producer: *****
Tom Hanks: *****
Elisabeth Shue: ****
Ed Harris: ****
Julis Stiles: ****


I made a great movie, but it just didn't do well in theaters. Yet, we still made over 100 million in the film, why? Domestic ancillaries of 124 million. Rentals, pay-per-view and TV sales were through the roof. Hmmm.


-Anxiety

[Abe Sargent]

May, 2006:

Deep Cut needs an additional 6 million in special effects. I approve the expenditures.

Both The Shadow Over Innsmouth and Half-Life have begun shooting.

Martyr Highway's director, Sam Mendes, is having trouble containing the egos on the set, and as such, production of the film has fallen behind a month.

The following scripts have returned: Dungeon, Scandal Sheet, The Dunwich Horror.

The first draft of The Dunwich Horror is, itself, a horror. I send it out for a rewrite within minutes of reviewing it.

I send out Scandal Sheet and Dungeon for a polish.

I take a look at the market and browse the available projects. I buy a four star book property, Shall Graves, a mystery with the logline:

An investigator follows the trail of a murderer. I send it out for a first draft to Michael Crichton.

I also send out, for a polish, Shocker and She Was an Empty Place.

I send out Say You Love Me for a rewrite. We need to help several elements of the script.


-Anxiety

[Junior 19]

Great Thread! Just to chirp in my 2 cents. I don't know how often you go to the HM boards. I myself haven't been there in awhile, waiting for HM 2 to come out :( Anyways, I remember reading that the type of movie and month combination has something to do with how well a movie will do. Maybe that is why some of the movies have bombed, but then again.. movies bomb all the time. The other thing was that I also remember reading that the Awards are completely random. No rhyme or reason to who wins. Pretty dumb IMO.

Keep up the work!

[Abe Sargent]

Just to let you guys know, a couple of months ago one of my computers crashed. The one with FOF, TCY, HM, EU2, etc. Most of my dynasties were on the 'puter and thus they are likely dead.

-Anxiety

[sterlingice]

Oh well. I guess that's that. :(

SI