$35 Million Budget for Serenity by mojoeca

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

$35 Million Budget for Serenity

POSTED BY: MOJOECA
UPDATED: Monday, March 8, 2004 09:52
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Saturday, March 6, 2004 7:53 AM

Tim Minear talked to zap2it.com about Wonderfalls. "Serenity" came up, with the site reporting the budget was $35 mill. That sounds reasonable considering "Underworld" was made for less than that. The movie was a crapfest, but the fx were boffo.

Quote:
Last fall, he was executive producer, with creator Joss Whedon, of the highly anticipated FOX outer-space Western "Firefly," which premiered on Friday night at 8 p.m. ET in the fall of 2002. It didn't last long.

"We like to think of it as the night that we promote 13-episode DVD sets," Minear quips about the quickly axed series, which will return as a [bold]just-greenlit $35 million feature film[/bold] from Universal called "Serenity," with Whedon writing and directing.

"I won't be working on 'Serenity,'" Minear says, "but I'll be first in line to see it. But Joss better pay for my ticket. Just sayin'."

http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|86782|1|,00.html

--- Joe

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Saturday, March 6, 2004 8:32 AM

MAKEROFPATHS

Hmmmm. $35 million eh? Let's see, the tv pilot was $10 million and that turned out real good. 35 mill for another tv pilot? Yup, that ought'a go well.

Yeah, Underworld was made for $20 mill, I believe. But they did shoot it (mostly) in the Czech Republic and (partly) France, I think.

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Saturday, March 6, 2004 9:46 AM

GATOZHIAN

Ya know, thats almost as much as was spent on the ENTIRE "season" of Firefly. Makes ya think don't it...

Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take Wash and Book from me...

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Saturday, March 6, 2004 10:08 AM

CANTTAKESKY

Entertainment Weekly (March 12th issue, pg 24) has a small blurb on Firefly. It also mentioned the $35 million budget. (Woohoo!)

The article also says, "{Whedon} promises new thrills for fans--200,000 of whom bought the series on DVD." I assume that means they sold 200K copies of the DVD, which is the first time I have heard a figure on how well the DVD sales are doing.

Can't Take My Gorram Sky

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Saturday, March 6, 2004 11:12 AM

ECMORGAN69

I hope they stick to the budget. As a movie first-timer, I'd hate to see JW pull a Kevin Costner and go millions over budget, thereby creating all kinds of negative buzz and creaming the HSX FRFLY stock price

They can have my "Firefly" DVDs when they pry them from my cold, dead fingers....

Oh yeah,

you, FOX TV!!

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Saturday, March 6, 2004 8:23 PM

PARADIGMSHIFT

Oh, I am salivating to think of all they could do with that type of money. Special effects . . . Inara's costumes . . . mmm . . . I'm back.

Much coolness could go on, and, since Joss is used to working on a television type udget, I'm not thinking that over-spending will be an issue. Seems like the type who knows how to stretch a dollar until you could bounce on it.

In other words: rock me, this news just keeps getting better and better.

"Once, just once, I'd like to be able to land someplace and say, 'Behold, I am the Archangel Gabriel.'"
"I fail to see the humor in that situation, Doctor."
"Naturally. You could hardly claim to be an angel with tose pointed ears, Mister Spock. But say you landed someplace with a pitchfork . . ."
-McCoy and Spock

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Saturday, March 6, 2004 9:20 PM

OUTLANDER

The rule of thumb is that a film has to make three times its budget world wide to be considered a success. Case in point Starship Troopers cost $90 million to make and it made less than $200 million world wide so it was not considered a success and that is the reason why it has taken so long for them to make a sequel and why the sequel is being released straight to video.

To be considered a success Serenity will have to make $105 million world wide. Though if it gets close to that figure as illustrated by Starship Troopers it will possibly return in some other format, like maybe a TV series. Also something interesting to note is that after they released the Starship Troopers movie they made a short lived computer animated Starship Troopers series called Roughnecks.

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Saturday, March 6, 2004 9:58 PM

SUCCATASH

Quote:
Originally posted by outlander:
The rule of thumb is that a film has to make three times its budget world wide to be considered a success. Case in point Starship Troopers cost $90 million to make and it made less than $200 million world wide so it was not considered a success...

I think the world is changing fast and so is the rule of thumb. What about movie rentals and DVD sales? That could have been what brought it back. Seems to be the trend in the industry, lately.

Starship Troopers continues to make money every day. It's safe to assume the total gross revenue is MUCH higher than the original $200 million it earned in the theaters.

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Saturday, March 6, 2004 10:04 PM

SUCCATASH

Quote:
Originally posted by ParadigmShift:
Oh, I am salivating to think of all they could do with that type of money. Special effects . . . Inara's costumes . . . mmm . . .

Maybe Alan (Wash) and Ron (Book) are thinking, "How about paying us the same wage as everyone else!"

And that's why they haven't signed yet?

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Sunday, March 7, 2004 12:18 AM

OUTLANDER

SUCCATASH, I think you are probably right. I also think that Serenity sould have little trouble reaching $100 million world wide.

It would be interesting to know how much money it will have to make at the cinema and on DVD for the powers that be to greenlight a new series or a follow up movie.

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Sunday, March 7, 2004 2:12 AM

TRASK43

I think the deal works out pretty well for eveyone really 35 million is not to much for universal to risk as Id be pretty suprised if the film didnt make at least 100m but we also know that it should be more than enough money to produce a good two hour Firefly movie. If the film is a success and makes over 100m I think we'd all hope that the series comes back but it should be pretty interesting if the film's really sucessful and makes over 200m as that may lead to movie sequels rather than the series (or maybe both but I think thats wishful thinking for the moment).

www.summer-glau.com

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Sunday, March 7, 2004 5:28 AM

JUSTDAVID

Edit
Oops, I started to say something brilliant, but it turned out to be moronic. Sorry, still getting over a headcold.

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Sunday, March 7, 2004 7:16 AM

MINTZ

why wouldn't they get the same amount of money as everyone else?

whoops, i don't have a signature...

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Sunday, March 7, 2004 10:14 AM

TJ63

The IMDB has been updated. It's now showing the title "Serenity", and says that filming commences on 4th June.

Shiny!

TJ

"Best not be taking it as a suggestion"

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Sunday, March 7, 2004 10:51 AM

YARAZIN

Hi,
Just a quick question/thought. I was checking out Box Office Mojo and it seems to me that most of the new movies are upwards of 100 million + production budget. Will the creators of Serenity be able to do what they need to with 35 mill?
Thanks,
Yarazin

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Sunday, March 7, 2004 11:11 AM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Most SF films these days have high budgets due to the inflated salaries of big name stars and/or directors, plus a mistaken notion that glorified FX is what the fans want and the film needs. Firefly has always been about the characters and the stories, and there won't need to be that many elaborate effects (fairly simple sets and models, no alien makeup, etc).

If Joss could make the "Serenity" pilot for $10mil, then I think $35mil is sufficient for him to make an excellent theatrical feature.

Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me.

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Sunday, March 7, 2004 11:30 AM

ROBOLA

It shouldn't cost an excessive amount to shoot. All the original sets should still be around and that should save a boat load of money. Plus. none of the actors should draw elite salaries. I can't wait.

Sweetie, we're crooks, if everything were right we'd be in jail.
-Wash

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Sunday, March 7, 2004 11:42 AM

MISGUIDED BY VOICES

Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:
If Joss could make the "Serenity" pilot for $10mil, then I think $35mil is sufficient for him to make an excellent theatrical feature.

Should be, and hopefully there will be at least a few good action sequences (on the basis that Firefly was never Solaris), and hopefully the money is there for those - should be, as they must have budgeted the script.

Of course, the $10 million for the pilot included standing sets, costumes and the fact that it was a two parter.

"I threw up on your bed"

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Sunday, March 7, 2004 12:12 PM

BOUNTYBOY56

We also gotta remember that since the figures drawn on are world wide, that includes the Firefly-lovin' UK. If I'm not mistaken, Firefly did excellent over there. I agree, the movie will have no problem gettin' a measley 100 million.

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Sunday, March 7, 2004 1:05 PM

LISSA

Quote:
Originally posted by TJ63:
The IMDB has been updated. It's now showing the title "Serenity", and says that filming commences on 4th June.

speaking of moronic, when i read this, for a moment i thought to myself "funky, they're starting filming on independance day?"

~lissa, spwhore

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Sunday, March 7, 2004 1:41 PM

OUTLANDER

I believe that because the series was filmed in High Definition that it would not cost a great deal more to make the film if they use the same high definition cameras to film it.

The only things they may need to do is redress the existing sets, create new sets and spend a bit more time and money on the special effects to make it all cinema quality, which the series was very close to anyway.

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Monday, March 8, 2004 6:51 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

$35 million will be enough to make a great movie. The actors are already in place, none of which are the overpaid types, and if the pilot was done for around $10 million, then the movie will be great. I am sure Joss is very aware of how important it is to come in on or under budget, and produce a quality product. Universal is watching and Joss wants Firefly to fly again, to do that he will have to make a great movie.

I do not think $100 million is an unattainable # for the movie. I think worldwide it should be able to generate that kind of money before we add in the DVD sales and rentals.

I wonder how accurate that 200,000 figure is for DVD sales, and what the original projected # was for sales.

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

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Monday, March 8, 2004 9:05 AM

SHAMBLEAU

The number of movies that reach a hundred mil in sales is actually not that high. We're talking fifteen million movie-goers, at least. Outside of England, most countries haven't seen it. The DVDs have sold about two hundred thousand copies. No more than six million people saw the series when it was on and it steadily lost viewership, due to Fox's idiotic handling. Some of those viewers who decided the show was not that compelling based on how the show was shown may not go to see it.

I am a pessimist by nature and Joss has constantly shown me the limitations of that take on life. Still, I think some caution is in order. The odds that the movie will be successful are not bad. But, enough for another series, assuming that the cast is even available? Pretty damn long. Maybe not Early-getting-saved-long, but long. I'm just happy for what we're gonna get and anything beyond that will be gravy. But, I'm not holding my breath.

If this sounds too defeatist, I'll just add that, despite what I've just said. I plan to go multiple times, dragging everybody along that I'm even slightly acquainted with, in the hopes that I'll be proved totally full of it.

Here's hopin'!

shambleau

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Monday, March 8, 2004 9:26 AM

CUDA

Quote:
Originally posted by shambleau:
The number of movies that reach a hundred mil in sales is actually not that high. We're talking fifteen million movie-goers, at least. Outside of England, most countries haven't seen it. The DVDs have sold about two hundred thousand copies. No more than six million people saw the series when it was on and it steadily lost viewership, due to Fox's idiotic handling. Some of those viewers who decided the show was not that compelling based on how the show was shown may not go to see it.

I am a pessimist by nature and Joss has constantly shown me the limitations of that take on life. Still, I think some caution is in order. The odds that the movie will be successful are not bad. But, enough for another series, assuming that the cast is even available? Pretty damn long. Maybe not Early-getting-saved-long, but long. I'm just happy for what we're gonna get and anything beyond that will be gravy. But, I'm not holding my breath.

If this sounds too defeatist, I'll just add that, despite what I've just said. I plan to go multiple times, dragging everybody along that I'm even slightly acquainted with, in the hopes that I'll be proved totally full of it.

Here's hopin'!

shambleau

Yeah, I think we need to balance being optimistic, and realistic.

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Monday, March 8, 2004 9:51 AM

HIGHIRON02

Quote:
Originally posted by lissa:
Quote:
Originally posted by TJ63:
The IMDB has been updated. It's now showing the title "Serenity", and says that filming commences on 4th June.

speaking of moronic, when i read this, for a moment i thought to myself "funky, they're starting filming on independance day?"

~lissa, spwhore

Not sure where you are from, but here in the good 'ol US of A, we celebrate Independance Day on the 4th of JULY.

We got you partially surrounded.

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Monday, March 8, 2004 9:52 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

Shambleau wrote:

Quote:
The number of movies that reach a hundred mil in sales is actually not that high. We're talking fifteen million movie-goers, at least. Outside of England, most countries haven't seen it.

Depends. Does the $100 million figure (which was posted by someone here and is in no way a confirmed expectation) include the rental and sale of DVDs and tapes? Does it include merchandise? What is the actual expectation of Joss & Universal? We are only speculating at this point.

Quote:
The DVDs have sold about two hundred thousand copies.

Is that a confirmed figure? When was that figure calculated? Does it include sets sold since the announcement of the movie? Since the announcement, the DVD set is climbing again on Amazon.

Quote:
No more than six million people saw the series when it was on and it steadily lost viewership, due to Fox's idiotic handling. Some of those viewers who decided the show was not that compelling based on how the show was shown may not go to see it.

Again, I have to question this number. Where did this # come from? How accurate can it be if the only system to monitor viewers is the Nielson box? I don't know a single family that owns one.

Yes Fox mishandled the show, and their inept management of the show is more responsible for killing the show than all other factors combined.

I ask how many fans are there out there now? Not only those of us that post on these boards, but all of them. Those we have converted? Those that have picked up the DVD set? I would go so far as to say the fanbase has doubled if all the new posters here and at the official board can be any indication.

What I think we need to do is just as you said; see the movie. We need to market the heck out of this film. Talk it up to friends and family. Take people w/ us to see it and make it a mobile viewing party. See it multiple times. Post up fliers about the movie anywhere you can think of that they might do some good.

This is our show too. Joss has busted his hump to get a movie deal, and the cast were as good as their word that they would answer Joss's call to do the movie. We owe it to them to pitch the movie to everyone and get them to go too.

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

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