Remember the roles | Report this post to moderator
By: falcon (Odo's file, contact) @ 05:30:09 on Oct 25, 2006

Before everybody jumps on the JJ Bandwagon, let's remember a couple of definitions:

From Dictionary.com:

"Producer: a person responsible for the financial and administrative aspects of a stage, film, television, or radio production; the person who exercises general supervision of a production and is responsible chiefly for raising money, hiring technicians and artists, etc., required to stage a play, make a motion picture, or the like."

Now, realizing that producers lately also exercise great power over the general theme or direction of a film or TV series, let's also remember that the success or failure of any film rests on three things: (1) the script, (2) the director, and (3) the cast. While a producer supervises all aspects of the film, it's up to the other involved talent to pull it off. Of course, if they do, the producer looks like a hero. If they don't, usually it's the director who looks like the goat.

And let's remember, too, that even though JJ will be responsible for spending the money, Paramount Pictures will be responsible for giving it to him...and only they can say how much they're willing to spend. If JJ really wants to produce a blockbuster, don't be surprised if he begins bringing in other investors or production companies to help foot the bill. If the credits at the beginning read "A Paramount Picture - A J. J. Abrams Production", then you can bet Paramount's purse strings have him around the throat. If, however, the credits read "A J. J. Abrams - XYZ Films - Norway Company Production" (I threw the Norway name in there as a nod to the Great Bird) then there's money being spent from other sources and JJ is more free to pursue his own creative vision.

So, basically, everybody don't hold your breath until the film comes out, and ignore any rumors or unsubstantiated news items you may see -- let's just let this one percolate and see what comes out of the pot, m'kay?

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A generation which ignores history has no past and no future. -- Robert Heinlein

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falcon

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• RE: Remember the roles | Report this post to moderator
  By: EStillwell (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:49:47 on Oct 25, 2006

  Quote:
  From Dictionary.com:
  
  "Producer: a person responsible for the financial and administrative aspects of a stage, film, television, or radio production; the person who exercises general supervision of a production and is responsible chiefly for raising money, hiring technicians and artists, etc., required to stage a play, make a motion picture, or the like."
  
  I'm afraid that Dictionary definition of a Producer has been out of date for decades. Hollywood producers are not responsible for raising money or dealing with the financial aspects of making movies, except to make sure a film stays on budget, or go begging to the Studio for more money if they don't. Producers are held accountable for how the Studio's money is spent, but their jobs are very much creative roles. In fact, in motion pictures, it's the "executive producer" who is responsible to the Studio for the budget and financial issues, while the producer is the one who approves scripts, hires the director, etc. That's why directors win "best director" Oscars, but producers win "best picture" oscars.
  
  As a producer under contract with Paramount Studios, J.J. Abrams is not going to be bringing in outside investors or other production companies to help finance a Paramount film. Paramount owns the rights to Star Trek. Only Studio executives would make decisions about finance partnerships, as was the case with "Titanic" when Paramount went into a partnership with 20th Century Fox to produce that movie, for example. To my knowledge, Paramount has never done that with a Star Trek film. And J.J. Abrams would have no role in that decision-making process if it were to occur.

  
  

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  • RE: Remember the roles | Report this post to moderator
    By: falcon (Odo's file, contact) @ 16:03:16 on Oct 26, 2006

    I acknowledge the difference between the way the movie/TV industry works and the way the corporate video industry works, especially in that regard - I do corporate video, while you've done television (a job I wish I had, and at the same time wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole).
    
    However, you must admit that, while JJ may have more freedom to guide the spirit and vision of the movie, he's still beholden to the suits at Paramount, because it's their money he's spending...and they'll be watching closely because they don't want another "Nemesis" on their hands.
    
    My experience as a producer is closer to the dictionary definition, so it probably limits my frame of reference.
    
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    A generation which ignores history has no past and no future. -- Robert Heinlein
    
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    falcon

    
    

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Ron Moore is GOD. | Report this post to moderator
By: MotherFraker (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 12:02:49 on Oct 24, 2006

Am I an admitted BATTLESTAR and Moore fanboy? Yes. So save your flames.

Is could he be more right on this point? No. His analysis of WRATH OF KHAN is so dead on. It's a reflection of what we've all been saying since VOYAGER drifed into irrelevance. (By the way, when was the last time your reflected on any VOYAGER episode? Exactly). New eyes, non-TREK eyes aren't only helpful sometimes, they're essential.

Did that work for Logan and NEMESIS? No, but he was beholden to Berman and Spiner.On reflection, Abrams is looking more and more like the best TREK news since... TNG's announcement?

So say we all, baby.



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'Risk IS our business' - Kirk.

This show will make your eyes bleed. And you'll be glad to be blind. Prepare to be offended.
SNOWMEN HUNTERS at Zanzibar19.

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• RE: Ron Moore is GOD. | Report this post to moderator
  By: Sxottlan (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:21:29 on Oct 24, 2006

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  By the way, when was the last time your reflected on any VOYAGER episode?
  
  Today actually. Although I am currently playing Elite Force on the PS2, so maybe that's cheating.
  
  But I do love the series too, so :-P
  
  

  
  

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