Confessions of an Executive Producer - Latest Comments

Re: NOT TO EXCEED

numediaweb — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 10:44:48 -0000

Thanks for explaining the difference between these bids and the launching the alarm on the Cost-Plus Not To Exceed poisoned-apple!

Re: THEY CALL IN A COMEBACK

JMH — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 08:18:37 -0000

This is such great news. Would be nice to add a comment functionality to the new blog as well. Already enjoying the new posts -

Re: NEW CHALLENGES, AGING ROCK STARS & RE-DEFINING THE WORD FINAL

Steven Shore — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 14:57:00 -0000

Is it couture/commodity or is it couture/mass market? I'd argue it's the latter and as any designer will tell you, the money is in the mass market...

Re: earn it

T Faust — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 11:02:26 -0000

Earned Media can have a positive side, but also a negative side. And apparently it can be faked. Brook Barnes' video story about the incredible push behind Hunger Games seems to suggest earned media can be cleverly manufactured. http://www.nytimes.com/2012...

Re: content on the cheap

GraceDLR — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 08:23:01 -0000

Herein also lies a problem for talent as well. The same amount of work is being put into these web projects or "promos" as with commercials, but for a considerably smaller paycheck. Add to that the buyouts of in perpetuity, and residuals are non-existent. Perhaps it's time for the entertainment industry to redefine the old categories of Film/TV/Video, Industrials, Commercials and Print.

Re: contract clause of the week

indirimli alışveriş siteleri — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:06:27 -0000

Türkiyenin seçkin markalarının, kaliteli ürünleri, sizlere özel fiyatlar ile bu adreste. İndirimli Alışveriş Siteleri, birçok kaliteli marka ve ürün ile hizmetinizde
www.avmalisveris.com
www.indirimlialisverissitel...

Re: breaking free

indirimli alışveriş siteleri — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:03:25 -0000

thank you
www.avmalisveris.com

Re: the scorpion and the frog, redux

Dorkdiddles — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 17:33:05 -0000

The frog has his nature too, the guilt is shared.

Re: NEW CHALLENGES, AGING ROCK STARS & RE-DEFINING THE WORD FINAL

DotBoom? — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 16:58:02 -0000

Oh, I see. That really helps me understand and differentiate the two workflows and models. Really appreciate your time!

Re: NEW CHALLENGES, AGING ROCK STARS & RE-DEFINING THE WORD FINAL

jsepoch — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 10:07:21 -0000

That's a great question and I can answer it in one word. Overages. Yes, we tend to back into numbers but a smart EP also creates parameters around the scope of that work so if the creative execution or time of delivery is altered by either agency or client we can ask for additional money with inclusion of production fees.

In the case of R'n H and others, they tend to make deals based on a price per shot not taking into account the complexities, diversity or time frame of the shots themselves. A quick example. If a studio wants to go down for 2- 3 months and then pick back up, what do you do about the artists? You need to make sure they remain available. The studios aren't budgeted for their down time but expect they will be available when they are ready to resume work. The VFX houses, or at least the poorly managed ones, often eat that cost versus bill it back. The reason. Fixed cost on variable terms.

Commercial prod has a lot of problems but this usually isn't one of them.

Re: NEW CHALLENGES, AGING ROCK STARS & RE-DEFINING THE WORD FINAL

DotBoom? — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:17:20 -0000

Quote: "It seems in VFX the studios have been operating a fixed cost pricing but insisting upon variables on delivery. They've been getting it for years and it's finally broke the bank. "

Wait a minute...weren't you saying that commercial production companies are essentially backing into a number and being forced to stick to that? Isn't that essentially the same as a flat bid with variations in the process? Someone, educate me please. Thanks.

Re: NEW CHALLENGES, AGING ROCK STARS & RE-DEFINING THE WORD FINAL

Bruce R — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:16:46 -0000

Thanks for your expertise and insights. I'm sure Hollywood has always had this ironic, bittersweet side. I guess we could always look back at the Mcarthy era and find ourselves slightly comforted. LOL

I would love to see better deals on those big brand content jobs with high deliverables. Rather than exploitation I see now with underfunded projects out there. I'm seeing companies financing the spots essentially to make it airable. Or dangled carrots via crowdsourcing, etc.

Hopefully there will be brave people who will manage the clients expectations properly within that set. Business is business. And business should be fair even on those smaller deliverables.

Luckily blogs like this and a few others are educating the next generations desperate to compete, to be wiser about dealmaking. And I feel like it's already working as the awareness is spreading and more transparent via internet.

I think what's also interesting is some of the vfx strikers want artistic or "director-esque" credit rather than being silenced off to the side as technicians that digitally sweep and add fireballs.

Seems like an awful powerplay to gain/retain artistic power from both sides. Perhaps some of the frustrated VFX artist greats in commercials are feeling the same ambition to be recognized as artistic/directorial in nature. I wouldn't blame them for wanting artistic recognition.

To make matters more competitive, Directors must rely on vfx, but do not want to share directorial credit with the vfx folks. And I don't blame either sides ambitions. They are both indispensable. Good directing, cinematography, producing and good vfx creative input in concert can do great things.

Can't make everyone happy. Collaboration isn't that easy.

From statements Ang made prior, about the "know it alls"(quoted) in LA he wanted to avoid...therein lies a morale to the story. It's a constant power struggle under the surface between departments and interests these days as VFX/CGI animation hides in live action to the average viewer.

Hearing recent statements that Soderberg has a formal plan to quit directing after next movie...is remeniscent of statements made by legends such as Tarrantino, Lucas, Shadyac et al. Directors in features are fed up as well as VFX. They are tired of being treated like smaller dogs by the studios according to Soderberg.

I'm sure Hollywood has always had this ironic, bittersweet side. I guess we could always look back at the Mcarthy era and find ourselves slightly comforted. LOL

Re: NEW CHALLENGES, AGING ROCK STARS & RE-DEFINING THE WORD FINAL

jsepoch — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 01:21:59 -0000

hi bruce. I've shut down the blog in terms of my responses but this was too good not to comment.

A couple things. The vfx implosion consists of two major American houses, Digital Domain and Rhythm 'n Hues. This wasn't due to their lack of commercial work or a sharp decrease in commercial margins. From all reports it appears to have been primarily caused by mismanagement of the feature divisions not advertising. Not that ad business doesn't have it's fair share of issues but not to this extreme. It seems in VFX the studios have been operating a fixed cost pricing but insisting upon variables on delivery. They've been getting it for years and it's finally broke the bank. But enough about them.

To answer your question about commercial production, here's a guess.

I believe commercial production will remain steady but you will see the vendor evolve into two types of companies - giant behemoths with 20 plus directors and very small companies 4 and under with one or two name directors. Commercials aren't going away as as long as there are sports, news and event programming. Also they remain the only place where you will ever be able to reach mass. However, the fragmentation of media will result in commercial work being reserved for the best in class directors. Brands will pay for the talent when making the investment in the media buy of mass market. The result. Less work, smaller number of directors, bigger projects. Note I'm talking commercials not other areas of brand related content. That's where the good news lies...kinda.

There is a huge demand for brand supported content. It will be high deliverable, low budget with a desire to be good quality. Brands need to fill there digital portals but can't spend too much in one place. The result being less talent dependent and more model reliant. It isn't here yet but I believe it's coming. There will be a divide between commercial work and content work. One is couture and the other commodity.

The silver lining is that the corporations are highly profitable and have cash to spend. They aren't going to spend it unwisely but they are going to throw money at marketing to try to unlock the code of how to reach consumers effectively and consistently through their preferred forms of media. The negative is creative opportunities and their accompanied budgets will be reserved for the elites.

And of course there is the high possibility I could be completely wrong.

Re: NEW CHALLENGES, AGING ROCK STARS & RE-DEFINING THE WORD FINAL

bruce rammer — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 04:03:02 -0000

How about that vfx strike? is the commercial business in general imploding? I'm not saying it's armageddon yet. But. Clearly there is a reset of "sorts" happening. The stress can't be sustained. Takes commercial directors like 10 bids for every job. You might as well take up a career in rock and roll. Count me out. Someone on the ground, please explain how sustainable commercial production will be in next few years? A rebound?

Re: NEW CHALLENGES, AGING ROCK STARS & RE-DEFINING THE WORD FINAL

Leandro Ezequiel Ekman — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:45:00 -0000

All the best, but please do not stop writing!
Your blog (and words), are great source of inspiration and information!
All the best.

Re: ALL THINGS MUST PASS, THE FINAL CONFESSION

Marie — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:54:48 -0000

Holy cow. Congrats, good luck and you will be missed. Hopefully we'll be hearing from you again sometime soon

Re: ALL THINGS MUST PASS, THE FINAL CONFESSION

Jamie Vesay — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:58:36 -0000

Jerry,
On behalf of the production community that never met you or worked with you, or sat beside you on the plane - but still wanted the next blog post, thank you.
For me, I personally enjoyed the filterless delivery.
Good luck to you.
Best wishes on your "new challenge whatever that may be."

Re: ALL THINGS MUST PASS, THE FINAL CONFESSION

Brian Latt — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:55:04 -0000

You've had such tremendous success with Epoch. You are a true leader in the industry ... and a mensch. I look forward to following the next chapter in your career.

Re: ALL THINGS MUST PASS, THE FINAL CONFESSION

Warren Kuo — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:44:33 -0000

Please tell you if you start a new company or a new blog. Thanks!

Re: ALL THINGS MUST PASS, THE FINAL CONFESSION

Kloc — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:00:27 -0000

Time to start a new blog? Mazel tov & hope to see you around the 'hood more often.

Re: ALL THINGS MUST PASS, THE FINAL CONFESSION

Anton Rollino — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 03:51:55 -0000

Jerry, a pleasure knowing you in your time at Epoch, wishing you everything of the best in whatever you choose to do.

Re: the scorpion and the frog, redux

tiffany — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:04:17 -0000

i love the wood artwork! are those for sale??

Re: ALL THINGS MUST PASS, THE FINAL CONFESSION

Steven Shore — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:18:43 -0000

Wow! Guess I've been a lapsed FBer! What a shocker! Having taken a timeout myself I get it and wish you thee best of luck. Now maybe there'll be time for that lunch we keep promising each other...

Re: ALL THINGS MUST PASS, THE FINAL CONFESSION

Bruce Rammer — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 19:11:57 -0000

Wow, I just discovered the blog in the last few months. Just when I was learning something. This is bittersweet. Glad that you are pursuing happiness, but sad I can't bug the living ish out of you to sign me. Darn. LOL

Re: ALL THINGS MUST PASS, THE FINAL CONFESSION

Jason Harper — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 18:09:17 -0000

I loved this blog. It was my "film school". Learned volumes about the trade, the lingo, and how to have foresight in the industry. Do keep writing. Followed for three years and still inspired. Thanks, Jerry.