The french say "f*ck you hellywood

[Ash28M]

Hey maybe these guys won't go the Aja sell out route.

THE FRENCH SAY "F*CK YOU HELLYWOOD

My boy Travis just pointed me to this very interesting article where some big French filmmakers have spoken out against Hollywood - and take a stab at the Elm Sreet reboot whle they're at it. Here's a tatse.

"I can only talk for myself, but Hollywood is not much of an attraction for me," Mr. Du Welz (the director Calvaire and Vinyan) says. "I know I wouldn't be happy on a film set having two line producers prodding me like on a commercial."

"Directors like myself, Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury, and Pascal Laugier have all been getting sent the same scripts, it's not like Hollywood is interested in us as individual talents," he adds.

Mr. Bustillo (co-director of Inside) is in total agreement: "We [Julien Maury and I] have an American agent who couldn't understand how we could turn down directing a remake of 'A Nightmare on Elm Street.' He felt we were going to earn a lot of money and make a big hit -- why refuse? But for us, the screenplay wasn't any good, and we weren't going to be able to rewrite it. We're not interested in cheating, we want to make films we can be proud of."

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/17080

Original article.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125019614070830153.html

[KR~!]

can't blame them, who the hell wants to do a remake?

[Grim]

Originally Posted by KR~!

can't blame them, who the hell wants to do a remake?

John Carpenter, David Cronenberg, Tom Savini. Just busting your chops.

I get what they're saying. I guess they have different priorities over there. Yeah you might get paid a shit ton to do a certain script, but in the end are you really proud of it?

[BoredSeal]

Hellraiser remake/reimagination (whatever Clive Barker calls it) under Weinstein brothers was silly idea from the start, idea of Buena Vista as producer would be little bit more silly . No wonder Bustillo/Maury felt sick. I guess they all talk about Hellraiser remake, because Laughier was second option

[msw7]

Good for them - the French are doing so much better than Hollywood these days when it comes to horror. Who needs more watered-down PG-13 remake bullshit? I would rather have more films like Inside, Martyrs, Vinyan, etc.

[x666x]

It disappoints me that Aja doesn't have the same mindset. But that's his business, I guess.

[Jeremy]

Spoken like men who don't have to worry about paying for health insurance.

[The Chaostar]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Spoken like men who don't have to worry about paying for health insurance.

There's a totally different health-care system in Europe man. Especially France and Greece. You'd be amazed.

[Jeremy]

I'm well aware that there's a totally different healthcare system in Europe, hence the basis of my quip. A lot of Americans, when faced with the prospect a well-paying job that they don't agree with or don't want to do (not necessarily directing ANOES remake, but you know what I mean) would do it anyways either for the insurance or because of the money because they have no safety net. I was just joking that as Frenchmen these guys don't have to worry about that in the same way.

[fattyjoe37]

Good for them! The majority of recent good horror movies have come from France, so I'm glad they aren't interested in selling out and going the American way of remakes upon remakes. Bring on the original French horror!

[The Chaostar]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

I'm well aware that there's a totally different healthcare system in Europe, hence the basis of my quip. A lot of Americans, when faced with the prospect a well-paying job that they don't agree with or don't want to do (not necessarily directing ANOES remake, but you know what I mean) would do it anyways either for the insurance or because of the money because they have no safety net. I was just joking that as Frenchmen these guys don't have to worry about that in the same way.

Didn't get that - sorry mate.

[Slackjaw83]

It's easy for us to say "Good for them! Fuck the system!". It's also easy for them to say "Yeah we turned down this and that". That said, who knows what they were actually asked to do and who knows how much money was being spoken about. Would more money or a little more control have changed their minds? Who knows?

In any case, movies, in general, are as much a business as an artform. Sure, one wants to "express oneself" and make movies that are great, but, on the other hand, people have to eat. I have as much respect for a guy like Jeff Burr for simply consistently working as a "working director", making modest budgeted fliks and getting paid as I do any of the indie "visionaries" out there.

As I've mentioned before, I'm not the keenest on the Elm Street remake, but if it was offered to me, I'd take it for a few reasons :

1. It's a solid payday (to quote one Ted Dibiase : "Everyone's got a price") and I have a family to feed
2. It's a pretty high profile gig and will get my name out there
3. If I'M the one doing it, i can do everything in my power to convince the producers and execs involved NOT to make a shitty waste of celluloid.

As much as we bitch and gripe about it, obviously we're the minority because these remake movies ARE making money and doing great business, hence why more get released every year. It's basic business, and they don't call it "The Film Business" for nothing.

[Mitbox]

Damn...that doesn't sound good for ANOES remake. Not that I was expecting something good out of it anyways.

[Ash28M]

Originally Posted by Slackjaw83

It's easy for us to say "Good for them! Fuck the system!". It's also easy for them to say "Yeah we turned down this and that". That said, who knows what they were actually asked to do and who knows how much money was being spoken about. Would more money or a little more control have changed their minds? Who knows?

In any case, movies, in general, are as much a business as an artform. Sure, one wants to "express oneself" and make movies that are great, but, on the other hand, people have to eat. I have as much respect for a guy like Jeff Burr for simply consistently working as a "working director", making modest budgeted fliks and getting paid as I do any of the indie "visionaries" out there.

As I've mentioned before, I'm not the keenest on the Elm Street remake, but if it was offered to me, I'd take it for a few reasons :

1. It's a solid payday (to quote one Ted Dibiase : "Everyone's got a price") and I have a family to feed
2. It's a pretty high profile gig and will get my name out there
3. If I'M the one doing it, i can do everything in my power to convince the producers and execs involved NOT to make a shitty waste of celluloid.

As much as we bitch and gripe about it, obviously we're the minority because these remake movies ARE making money and doing great business, hence why more get released every year. It's basic business, and they don't call it "The Film Business" for nothing.

Hey I applaud them. The way I look at it is they are talented directors and everyone knows it. They may not get supper rich without the big pay day but they will still be rich enough to feed their families any have all the luxuries they want in life. They are not saying they won't do Hollywood they just don't want to sell out for the sake of it. When it's all said and done and you look back at your career would you rather be a Michael Bay or a David Cronenberg? Cronenberg was offered Top Gun and Flashdance and he still doesn't regret turning them down.

Saying that if Hollywood throws enough money at them things may change quickly. For now though I like there attitude and it could only mean better films for us.

[msw7]

Originally Posted by Slackjaw83

3. If I'M the one doing it, i can do everything in my power to convince the producers and execs involved NOT to make a shitty waste of celluloid.

I think the problem with this is that you may have no power whatsoever to convince them otherwise. If a studio or producer has "final cut" on a film, the director may be out of luck. And then the risk is that your name is attached to the POS movie, and you deal with the backlash and negativity, not the nameless suit who messed it up. (One exception may be the Harvey Weinstein, who at least has his name out there, for better and worse cases).

I understand what you're trying to say, but whether or not that is possible or desirable may depend on some unknowns (to us, hopefully any director would know up front how much control they would have in the end).

Personally, if I were a director I would have a very difficult time with studio execs/producers making changes (I hope I'd be open to feedback/criticism). (this is based on having written a fair number of papers collaboratively - I have no idea if directing/creating a movie is the same as writing, but I'd be surprised if it were too different)