Part of being a filmmaker is also being a film fan. Going back and watching films past the window of being commercially successful is part of the legacy just as much as watching it in theaters on opening weekend.
I caught this fantastic reflection from acclaimed actor, David Oyelowo, about the controversy surrounding the film Selma (2014), only to be comforted by Brad Pitt. Using Fight Club (1999) as a reference, he reminded David - sometimes good films need time for them to make their mark in cinematic history:
https://deadline.com/2024/01/brad-pitt-fight-club-david-oyelowo-selma-12...
What film have you gone back and seen within 10 years of its release and thought, "WOW! This is a great film! Why didn't I know about this before?" What films will you be watching for the first time for Black History Month, like Selma (2014)? SHARE BELOW!
BONUS QUESTION: What films have you produced or consulted on where the possibility of longevity was part of the distribution plan? How do you account for viability beyond the first 2 years of distribution?
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Not just because I love Brad Pitt but that is a great comment Karen "Kay" Ross. Let me refer to my Pinterest binge list to figure out what I may have seen after the fact. :)
The Turn of the Screw (2009)
Soylent Green (1973)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Kill Bill (2003)
Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001, 2002, 2003)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
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I started my producing career on the Ultra-Low Budget level and while I wouldn't promote using prospective longevity as a major pitch point to potential investors, it's definitely something that can be talked about as a "plus" under the right conditions.
If the concept and cast can be considered "timeless" based on past examples or comps, it's always possible. My first production was a horror parody in 2015, which made 10X its budget in the first year until our distributor folded, then was only available overseas until literally this year, when we got an offer from another distributor to re-release it on digital/streaming. Obviously I have no clue how it will do, but with AVOD now a pretty consistent form of late-window distro, our sales agents have given us some encouraging comp numbers! It's mostly due to the concept, but our biggest name has a good cult following in the horror space so that definitely helps.
So I'd say if you're pitching a possible financier and they ask something like "Could this keep making money?" then you can respond positively (but never promise) and it's a little icing on the cake. But always remember the value of concept and cast throughout the development/financing stage, as those are the biggest moneymakers. Every entertainment viewer loves certain genres and stars so they'll watch "recommended" titles based on their interests, and if your little indie pops up next to a studio movie based on a shared cast member, etc. then you can get more longevity if it performs well.
Hey, Tim Ogletree! Long time, no see! How have you been?
I love that idea - acknowledge it as a bonus, but not a leg to stand on. NOTED! Actually, I'm reminded of how Bradley Cooper made a proof of concept short before they made MAESTRO and I think they could show that "timeless" component there.
Congrats on your first horror being so successful! That's really encouraging to hear!