Subj : Re: "Highly profitable" Bay S
To : Arelor
From : poindexter FORTRAN
Date : Thu Jul 21 2022 07:30 am
-=> Arelor wrote to Ogg <=-
Ar> Unless a film has a lot of staying power, it won't make a significant
Ar> dime past its expiration date.
On the podcast "How did this get made", a podcast about odd movies and
flops, the host interviewed Mel Brooks about "Solar Babies".
Yes, that YA post-apocalyptic cheezy flick from the '80s.
He and Anne Bancroft started Brooks Films, because Mel wanted to get
involved in dramas, and he was so typecast as a funny guy. They did some
interesting films, like Mask, The Elephant Man and The Fly.
He liked the idea of Solarbabies and liked the pitch - they could film in
spain, buy all of the vehicles and support gear there, then sell it for a
profit. They wanted $5 million. He thought he could finance that with a
couple of friends.
The film is set in a drought-ridden world. It immediately began raining
torrents, meaning delays.
He then had to go back to his friends for another $5 million, and was
starting to get worried. Everything that usually goes wrong did go wrong.
More delays, more issues, and he had to go get a second mortgage to get
another $5 million.
The movie came out and the reception was lukewarm. But, VHS came around and
it got another life in video rentals.
Mel Brooks said it had finally broke even - in 2014!
The podcast had me in stiches. Mel Brooks' assistant had told the host that
he could have 15 minutes with him, but sometimes he goes over. They spoke
for an hour and a half.
... Not building a wall but making a brick
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