Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Register Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Apple Readies $1 Billion War Chest for Hollywood Programing

I'll have to use my words carefully with any criticism in this particular case, but I have thoughts to share.....

The key to this (and for anybody stepping up to the plate in this way) is going to be content.

Style, execution, and story.

For me what's interesting is thus far they seemingly have focused on "fun" social media and popularity driven content with Planet of the Apps and Carpool Karaoke. Neither of which is compelling content to truly make people watch, though the talent and names are of course there. On paper "it makes sense" because of the name driven content, but the content itself lacks the reason many tune into anything. It's also about as "safe" as you could possibly make anything. No drama, just hilarity and perhaps "some feels".

Thus far they are missing the heart of a deliberate storyteller. And there are filmmakers and content creators out there who can make things work on this front.

It will be a risk and game of trust, but the payoff could be an audience flocking to watch whatever series, and I personally hope one day one off films, over at Apple's service.
 
Apple has some choices....

Plow ahead with the same crappy digital hipster-centric garbage they have made thus far.....

Reach out to some big names and snag exclusive content......

Buy up or finance some untested filmmakers for new content from their own "studio"......

Buy into co-financing future productions in exchange for exclusive streaming and digital download sales......

Do the Netflix thing and just buy up whatever they can get their hands on and call it "Original Content!"....


Overall, I think Apple is going to fail big unless they can show they have some sort of far reaching vision or idea for what they want to put out in the world. Netflix is going willy-nilly between licensing stuff and making their own content and I suppose it works for them. Amazon seems to be doing that too. Can it work for Apple if they aren't willing to take risks to differentiate themselves with more "original" unique content than their competitors? If they don't want to focus on in-house stuff and prefer to just buy up whatever they can get their hands on, will it be stuff that is in line with the company and Apple culture or will it be a buffet of wide and varied offerings that might go outside of the Apple comfort zone? If they decide to go the route of making their own "studio", what guidelines will they function under and how will they create that necessary foundation while keeping the Apple uniqueness?

Just a few questions kicking around in people's minds lately.....
 
L. Langer said:
Apple has some choices....

Plow ahead with the same crappy digital hipster-centric garbage they have made thus far.....

Reach out to some big names and snag exclusive content......

Buy up or finance some untested filmmakers for new content from their own "studio"......

Buy into co-financing future productions in exchange for exclusive streaming and digital download sales......

Do the Netflix thing and just buy up whatever they can get their hands on and call it "Original Content!"....


Overall, I think Apple is going to fail big unless they can show they have some sort of far reaching vision or idea for what they want to put out in the world. Netflix is going willy-nilly between licensing stuff and making their own content and I suppose it works for them. Amazon seems to be doing that too. Can it work for Apple if they aren't willing to take risks to differentiate themselves with more "original" unique content than their competitors? If they don't want to focus on in-house stuff and prefer to just buy up whatever they can get their hands on, will it be stuff that is in line with the company and Apple culture or will it be a buffet of wide and varied offerings that might go outside of the Apple comfort zone? If they decide to go the route of making their own "studio", what guidelines will they function under and how will they create that necessary foundation while keeping the Apple uniqueness?

Just a few questions kicking around in people's minds lately.....
Click to expand...

" crappy digital hipster-centric garbage they have made thus far." is what Apple has been, is and will be. Make no mistake about it. That's exactly why they have so much cash- appealing to the broadest audience with their products ;-)
 
Disintermediation

Disintermediation

Perhaps Apple bashing should have it's own pro league...

IAC, new energy and capital promoting original content production is certainly welcome. The networks aren't even hiding their recycling of established genre programming anymore - see "Roseanne", "One Day at a Time", etc. Not saying I'm optimistic about what Apple might promote/fund, but there will be plenty of time to throw them under the bus if it sucks - any chance we could reserve judgement until actual programming is released? Heck, some RedUsers might even be involved in creating content for Apple that's awesome.

BTW, I'm really hopeful that the splintering of entertainment content distribution models might open the door to a direct relationship between producer and consumer. What I'm pitching for is eliminating the parasitic entities that take a ridiculous percentage of the entertainment consumer's outlay. If you create a program I wish to see, then I pay you to watch it. (Presumably your broadband provider, or an agency like BMI/ASCAP for music, would manage monthly billing and remittance to the program producers.)

There would still be a place for studios/networks to finance/market content creation and take a cut, but that would be between the producer and anyone they choose to work with. The way things are now, most consumers pay for lots of content they don't ever watch and, moreover, much of that revenue is absorbed by the networks/distributors and other intermediaries in the media and entertainment food chain. Just sayin'

Cheers - #19
 
Buying RED including the studios would get them pretty far into Hollywood.
Then they just need talent as several have noted.
 
Wow, that is almost 4 Neymar's or 2 Neymar's for 5 years.
 
Mike Finegan said:
Buying RED including the studios would get them pretty far into Hollywood.
Then they just need talent as several have noted.
Click to expand...
If Apple were to buy RED the Camera Company, I'd be O.K. with that.

If Hydrogen and RED Channel was included in the deal, I would be bummed.

I trust Jim to stay the course of cutting edge achievement. I don't trust Apple to give the proper attention to Hydrogen that I'm beginning to think it deserves.
 
Certainly the overall 'entertainment' model is in some kind a major flux, and personally I don't think it matters whether it's Apple, Google, Dog Pile, PayPal or Pussy Galore that jumps in the ring. The technologies and whatever else is needed to get content out there to every possible niche audience are there, and in constant, dynamic change and improvement. The issue is the content itself.

For me, the whole arena of storytelling is exhausted and anemic. Screenwriting itself hasn't had any major change since 1969, with the new business model of 'Write first, sell later'. While today tends to embrace a more literary approach to screenwriting - which I have been arguing for for years - the skill tools to teach/learn screenwriting just aren't there. Schools are churning out so-called graduates that can regurgitate the same 'ol material being derived from the all the same 'ol books, but they cannot write for shit. Their scripts have no pulse. No originality. And no guts. I read enough of them to know.

Add to that the false confidence screenwriting software has given to oodles of writers, and you have the perfect storm for a dying art. Wait, one ingredient is missing, and I believe it was mentioned. Safe.

Safe topics, safe words, safe characters. All washed clean of any chance to offend, or engage, or foment critical thought - or pluck just a few good, guiltless heartfelt laughs and tears. Now you have the perfect storm, and film after film after screenplay just sucking up space. You might also be surprised how many in the industry still see screenplays as a disposable document. Like DIY furniture. Once the chest of drawers is built, you throw away the instructions (script). With that lame, jerk-off perspective, they are far more likely than not to get disposable entertainment as well. As so much of it is. Trust me, I was soundly thumped by many a peer when I suggested that screenwriting is a literary art. I was also soundly thumped for suggesting a crack whore might have something to add or suggest in any given story. Let him or her read it, pay them for their time, and take notes!

Sure, Alex. I'm sorry, what screenwriting school did you say you attended? NONE!

Outdated learning materials, fad technologies (screenplay software) that have had zero effect on improving storytelling quality, and an overall human cowardice to tell or even find stories outside an ever-narrowing parameter, are all contributing to this industry anemia. I'll even call it life support. Apple could spend 5 billion and it won't fix the core issue, which is that screenwriting is so fricken far behind the rest of filmmaking, that filmmakers are probably better off having AI write their screenplays (already happening). Course, the next Asimov question is, who writes the AI program filters?

Content is in dire need of an enema. Until that happens, all the bells and whistles in the world won't save Humpty Dumpty. One-minute Iphone films and two-hour blockbuster orgasm are all suffering the same doldrums: bad writing. Shit writing. Shit material being used in shit schools to teach future shitheads how to write shit stories.

And there you have it. Spend away, Apple.

PS: I think one of the reasons 'House of Cards' found some success is because it did deal - though somewhat cautiously - with difficult material, but also changed in and out different directors and writers. This kept it feeling fresh. Jus' saying they found a way to make it work.
 
Last edited:
a whitmer said:
Certainly the overall 'entertainment' model is in some kind a major flux, and personally I don't think it matters whether it's Apple, Google, Dog Pile or PayPal that jumps in the ring. The technologies and whatever else is needed to get content out there to every possible niche audience are there, and in constant, dynamic change and improvement. The issue is the content itself.

For me, the whole arena of storytelling is exhausted and anemic. Screenwriting itself hasn't had any major change since 1969, with the new business model of 'Write first, sell later'. While today tends to embrace a more literary approach to screenwriting - which I have been arguing for for years - the skill tools to teach/learn screenwriting just aren't there. Schools are churning out so-called graduates that can regurgitate the same 'ol material being derived from the all the same 'ol books, but they cannot write for shit. Their scripts have no pulse. No originality. And no guts.

Add to that the false confidence screenwriting software has given to oodles of writers, and you have the perfect storm for a dying art. Wait, one ingredient is missing, and I believe it was mentioned. Safe.

Safe topics, safe words, safe characters. All washed clean of any chance to offend, or engage, or foment critical thought - or pluck just a few good, guiltless heartfelt laughs and tears. Now you have the perfect storm, and film after film after screenplay just sucking up space. You might also be surprised how many in the industry still see screenplays as a disposable document. Like DIY furniture. Once the chest of drawers is built, you throw away the instructions (script). With that lame, jerk-off perspective, they are far more likely than not to get disposable entertainment as well. As so much of it is. Trust me, I was soundly thumped by many a peer when I suggested that screenwriting is a literary art. I was also soundly thumped for suggesting a crack whore might have something to add or suggest in any given story. Let him or her read it, pay them for their time, and take notes!

Outdated learning materials, fad technologies (screenplay software) that have had zero effect on improving storytelling quality, and an overall human cowardice to tell or even find stories outside an ever-narrowing parameter, are all contributing to this industry anemia. I'll even call it life support. Apple could spend 5 billion and it won't fix the core issue, which is that screenwriting is so fricken far behind the rest of filmmaking, that filmmakers are probably better off having AI write their screenplays (already happening). Course, the next Asimov question is, who writes the AI program filters?

Content is in dire need of an enema. Until that happens, all the bells and whistles in the world won't save Humpty Dumpty. One-minute Iphone films and two-hour blockbuster orgasm are all suffering the same doldrums: bad writing. Shit writing. Shit material being used in shit schools to teach future shitheads how to write shit stories.

And there you have it. Spend away, Apple.
Click to expand...

We live in evolutionary times. Audiences have evolved and scriptwriters have evolved to reach the new audience.

That doesn't mean a throwback script can't find an audience, but just if it has what a broad audience will pay to see.

Personally, some of the writing for TV leaves me awestruck... (Bull, Person of Interest, The Blacklist (OBTW, Red is Liz's mother '-) Elementary.)

And I've been staying up late on weekends to watch two old TV series... Combat and Twelve O'clock High. I am amazed at the quality of writing and acting of those two old black-and-white series. Granted, they would not be written the same today because I think the recent generations would need more action and less dialog if they were seeing the shows for the first time.

For me, I do not think the two shows could be made any better, but then, they were made during my generational period so here audience/content have a long history.
 
Last edited:
L. Langer said:
Reach out to some big names and snag exclusive content......

Buy up or finance some untested filmmakers for new content from their own "studio"......

Buy into co-financing future productions in exchange for exclusive streaming and digital download sales......

Do the Netflix thing and just buy up whatever they can get their hands on and call it "Original Content!"....


will it be stuff that is in line with the company and Apple culture or will it be a buffet of wide and varied offerings that might go outside of the Apple comfort zone? If they decide to go the route of making their own "studio", what guidelines will they function under and how will they create that necessary foundation while keeping the Apple uniqueness?

Just a few questions kicking around in people's minds lately.....
Click to expand...

You bring up some good points with this.
While Apple is incredibly advanced with building a unique and solid software/hardware platform for their products I'm a bit skeptical in content creation being a fit for them. As daring as their tech can be they seem to be pretty culturally and perhaps artistically conservative when it comes to creating content.

Apple may be better off providing the platform and support for filmmakers (distribution and perhaps financing) similar to what was accomplished with the App Store as a content strategy instead of this current derivative approach. There are many content creators who would love to leave an increasingly hostile (randomly demonetizing ads, shutting down channels) platform like YouTube and
flock to another platform supported by the likes of Apple. Granted that Apple will still have to manage certain programming standards to make sure things stay in line with their brand but it may give voice to a lot of unique programming not available anywhere else.
Amazon is already doing this with opening up Amazon prime to indies and anyone with content.

The app market grew exponentially once Apple created the App Store particularly for smaller software houses and it definitely added to Apple's profit. Why not something similar for filmmakers and other content creators?

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA
 
Alex, you're right. Most movies are disposable, and have been so for a very long time. Many people want to play 'film director', and thanks to accessible technology, they can. So we are saturated with entertainment. So cinema has to go back to being a social event, and to repeat my predictions:

1. IMAX format

2. Shorter, double features; or one story in two acts

3. News and animated cartoons in between

RED is perfectly positioned to deliver exactly the right cameras for that possible scenario.

The publishers of video games don't even care about movies, as the film based on the game will be more trouble than it's worth, and probably not make as much money, if any.

Cinema is the only medium I know of where shit writing is rewarded. I am on the committee of a theatre company, and one of the reasons I love theatre is because shit writing never gets anywhere. It's almost impossible for a shit script to be popular.

I love a good story. If you can tell a good, engaging story, you can get away with being a bad writer. Dan Brown is not Tom Wolfe, and he isn't even Michael Crichton, but he tells great stories. I didn't even notice his bad writing until it was pointed out - that's how good he is. I cannot wait for his next novel.

Here's a test for a writer: can you take a historical event, where the ending is known to the audience, and make a compelling story out of it? I nominate Apollo 13 as a good example.

BTW the reason why nobody is buying Netflix is because it has a huge debt. It's way more than $1B, the last time I checked. I wonder if people really want to continue spending money on being couch potatoes. Things can't go that way forever. At least with video games you have to be active. Streaming services are not the future - they're just the present.
 
Brian Timmons said:
The app market grew exponentially once Apple created the App Store particularly for smaller software houses and it definitely added to Apple's profit. Why not something similar for filmmakers and other content creators?
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good idea to me. It would have to be properly curated, though. You can't have sub-par movies which are just glorified home videos shot on DSLRs.
 
Karim D. Ghantous said:
Sounds like a good idea to me. It would have to be properly curated, though. You can't have sub-par movies which are just glorified home videos shot on DSLRs.
Click to expand...

Red tried to make this with the launch of Red Ray and the .R3D codec...
 
Karim D. Ghantous said:
I wonder if people really want to continue spending money on being couch potatoes.
Click to expand...

If the growing obesity numbers, both in the US and around the world, are any indicator, then to answer your question plainly…the answer for many of the people you speak of is a resounding YES.
 
And here's a link to essentially the same story without a paywall:

https://www.recode.net/2017/8/16/16...ars-tv-shows-hbo-netflix-original-programming

Karim D. Ghantous said:
Sounds like a good idea to me. It would have to be properly curated, though. You can't have sub-par movies which are just glorified home videos shot on DSLRs.
Click to expand...

I'm not seeing any home movies on Netflix or Amazon or Hulu or DirecTV's Audience. I believe they're going out for the same hardcore "network TV series" kind of content made to compete with traditional commercial networks. Facebook made a similar announcement a few weeks ago.
 
It is really fascinating how social network platforms and technology have slowly co-opted the media and content aspect of the business. The most cynical ploy award has to go to Facebook with its new announcement of a content platform where they won't provide any funding up front but will give a share of ad revenue. Familiar? All of these platforms seem to ultimately move towards a similar end which is that the burden of filling the theater screen falls on the artist who must fund and risk it all for the pleasure of entering the digital colosseum to see if it is a thumbs up or thumbs down.

I will always be amazed at how the tempting syrup of a little vanity or validation will make people jump through hoops and happily labor in the data mines.

Does a tree fall in a forest if there is not iPhone (or Hydrogen) to capture it?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top