smoothaise

Is anyone else watching the current season airing on Bravo?

UnsilentMajorty

When is it on?

I am curious to see if the show has gotten any better since HBO dropped it... And for good reason.

This show isn't about making movies... Well, good movies... It's about creating Reality TV. Even though there are problems that occur when making a movie, half of the stuff the past series have addressed were purely scripted to make better reality TV than an actual movie.

Also, the controversy of the scripts they pick is also subject in there is no credibility among aspiring wannabe screenwriters as everyone has the distinct impression they pick the worst-of-the-worst because they know they can't turn a profit on the movie that is actually made by the end of the series and again, it creates more drama for the Reality TV part of the equation instead of help somoene's fledgling career.

smoothaise

Basically they are making a horror movie with Wes Craven aiding. They had taken the most workable script "Feast" and the director with the most craft. Right now there issue is the budget and casting. The director they chose is so invested in casting his family members instead of bankable stars for the roles. And there budget started out with 5 million, dropped to 2 million, and now it's 3 million, and they're trying to find outside partners to help aid with the budget.

The point of PG is to make a movie that profits, unlike the last two ... so, it is a bit different. I guess this time there more direct about it.

UnsilentMajorty

Okay. I am caught up with it today with some afternoon reruns.

The point of PGL is and always will be making reality TV that sells more than a profitable movie.

How do I know?

Look what's going on now with the director and him wanting to cast his entire family. That would NEVER... And I mean NEVER... Happen on a real movie with a real budget... And even on lower budget productions as well. I know. I've worked on some.

This is just setting up more "Reality TV" drama for the sake of drama because Chris Moore -- If he was really concerned about making a movie that is profitable -- Would have fired the director in the last episode and they'd be hunting for a new one. The fact he did not is because of what I said before: The more drama, the better the reality TV show aspect; a profitable movie be damned.

Also, a five million (or in this case, three) dollar flick will NEVER turn a profit. Who is Dimension and Miramax kidding? Seriously.

This is a typical direct-to-DVD budget that will make absolutely zero money... But that they can sell to cable TV, or foreign markets with Wes Craven's name on it.

I don't mean to be "angry" at you, Mr.Brightside. Really.

It's just that I seriously thought that this show was going to be better the third time around (third time is a charm, right?) and this is exactly why HBO dropped the show -- They actually funded the last two movies with Miramax as distributor (and they were AWFUL in my opinion) and they garnered zero profit for either party... Yet it's the same highly exaggerated drama that is going to NOT produce a good movie in the end.

smoothaise

You make some excellent points, UM. I definetly agree with you on the "added drama" aspect.

It's dissapointing. And your right, the other 2 PG movies SUCKED!

UnsilentMajorty

The one other thing that PGL does that I hate is that it creates "heroes and villians" like all reality TV does... But it does it in such a blatantly obvious way.

That director... John whatever-his-name-is... Might actually be a nice guy and really smart in real life, but they are painting him as a selfish bafoon for wanting to put his family in key roles... And are painting the producers and Chris Moore as "saviours" -- And they do this every season.

It's almost as if PGL is the last remnants of what reality TV used to be when it started out as in the 1990s since a lot of reality shows have moved past these blatantly obvious tactics (or at least, they hide them better).

BTW... If anyone else wants to discuss this show, don't let my ramblings imtimdate you

I just have strong feelings since I've worked in this biz and everyone else who has also feels the same way about this show... But it IS interesting nonetheless. Kind of like watching that trainwreck you see coming, but can't turn away regardless

smoothaise

That about sums it up.

Yeah ... there definetly showing the villain (director) and the saviors (producers) ...

nessa24

what is this show about?

UnsilentMajorty

PGL is a contest-based reality show where they first pick a screenplay from thousands of entries and then a director to go shoot that script. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck created and produce the show. Chris Moore also exec produces the show and works for Miramax Pictures (Harvey Weinstien).

This is the third year and the first two movies they made were awful in every sense of the word. They made no money and are hardly worth watching even if you do catch them on DVD, or late night like on HBO.

This year they are doing a horror movie and have Wes Craven (Scream) exec producing in an attempt to garner more interest in the show and the finished movie.

However, there is still no credibility with the show as far as what its supposed intentions are in that Miramax keeps saying they want to make movies from this show that make money... Aside from just the reality show aspect... But then they give them mediocre budgets and pick the worst-of-the-worst as far as scripts and directors go (mainly to increase the drama that the show needs to keep that part going).

The only interesting thing from the last episode was how they had to go get the gap financing from outside sources, the brothers who own the San Diego Kings and a casino in Las Vegas. This happens a lot more than you think and I was glad they showed this realistic aspect of the biz and it was handled in a mature manner compared to the other dramas going on.

girl in a cardigan

I absolutely love Chris Moore He's my hero!

This season isn't as good so far as last season because I don't think that Gulager is as passive-agressive as Kyle & Ephram were. It's nice watch this season as a civilian though rather than when I was in the biz

I'm catching up on tonight's episode, so I'll be back with my thoughts.

UnsilentMajorty

What is interesting about this show is that "spoliers" can easily be found if you go the Internet Movie Database and look up the movie "Feast" that they are chronicling the making-of. You can pretty much figure out who (if anybody) was fired and who was eventually cast. I think this takes some "suspense" out of the show in that aspect... But again, the show itself is nothing but pure editing in that a lot of the past participants are coming forward and saying the show is pretty much a "work of fiction" in that they take a mundane incident and blow it completely out of proportion to create drama.

For instance, last night, the two screenwriters posted on their website that they think the portrayl of John Guluger is pretty brutal and unfair -- their actual words -- Since they were there working with him on the script and said he is much more creative than the show depicts. They also said they blew the phone call with Andrew Vagna (Dimension Pres) out of proportion because I guess the real phone conversation(s) -- what was said -- Happened over a month's time and they edited together various phone calls to make it look like one conversation. This is why this show has no credibility since it is on the tail-end of reality TV losing its popularity and people getting tired of obvious editing tricks to create these "characters".

Also, Andrew Vagna (or whatever his name is) is a wannabe actor -- most studio execs are -- And the scene where he hangs up in a huff (from the previous episodes) is so staged that you can tell half the stuff is being blown out of proportion that it really makes it hard to figure out what is real and what is scripted -- Scrpited in the sense of editing and possibly goading by the TV producers to evoke a reaction from the cast and crew.

girl in a cardigan

I couldn't believe how underhanded the casting director was! I tried to defend her last week (because she's the only woman we've seen so far), but she was just over the top this week. And to top it off, she's bitching about the fact that everyone's mad at her because she went behind their back's to push her agenda! That's just too much!

I loved watching Gulager on the set and then on Wes Craven's set, checking out the craft service - too funny!

Oh and the monster penis scene was cracking me up! All these "grown men" acting like teenagers in a locker room - too funny!

I was a bit disappointed in the confrontation between Chris Moore and Gulager. There's no way, in my mind, that, in any other situation, Chris doesn't fire Gulager on the spot and hire a new director. But because of the show, they have a schmoopy talk in the office. Whatever.

Okay, that's all I remember from my discussion with my ex on Friday afternoon.

UnsilentMajorty

The casting director was the stereotypical "coniving female" that Hollywood is supposedly trying to get away from to encourage MORE females to join what is essentially an all-boys club. This portrayl -- true or not -- Damages real life efforts like this and throws equlity right out the window

And, like you said, she then has the gaul to call everyone "childish" considering what she did was act like a spoiled brat until she got what she wanted. In the real world she would be fired along with John and her street cred as a casting director would be shot the minute she packed up her things and walked out of the building because Hollywood IS that vindictive in a lot of circles.

I don't like John Gulager.

I think this is the point... But I mean, he is both physically and psychologically unattractive -- which I am sure is what the TV producers want -- And I haven't really seen anything other than his submission short that says he is some "genius" that Chris, Matt and Ben seem to think he is going to bring to this film. I would have hired the other two, probably, James Ryan simply because he had a vision, expressed it clearly and had actually directed films with budgets for commercials which says a lot more than someone who has only shot wedding videos and home movies like the submission short.

On, the other hand, he does appeal to the "inner-Nerd" that everyone supposedly has inside of them... But he is just creepy anyway you slice it my opinion. I know this is very shallow, but then again, this is the business we are talking about and I have no compunction saying these things about him because I don't personally know him AND because again, it is based more off of we HAVEN'T seen this supposed genius everyone else sees in him yet and will just have to wait and see.

Also...

Something I wanted to comment on from the second episode when they were chosing the script and directors:

Do you think that Matt Damon really was upset with the direction PGL is going in (alligning with big studios)... Or was it just part of the whole package to sell the drama of the show in "Successful actor rebels against Hollwyood big wigs" type of melodrama?

Part of me thinks it is a little bit of both.

Mostly, if Matt and Ben really wanted to make PGL what Matt says.. Independent films... They could EASILY finance something with the money both of them have earned over the years. 10 million -- between the two of them; five million each -- Could easily produce a GOOD, quality movie that they could both market as Exec Producers and that would actually turn a profit in theaters and on DVD.

However, it's funny that both Matt and Ben grand-stand on how much they believe in independent film... Yet when the fate of PGL was undetermined last year, I didn't hear EITHER of them saying they would just fund it themselves and then find a distributor and or station to broadcast PGL. Quite "ironic", don't you think?

One last thing:

Do you think the producers (of the show) staged the bomb threat to purposefuly derail their efforts and put more stress on the production just for the sake of drama? Hmm...

smoothaise

Me either. And I agree with your reasonings for why. He is just not appealing to me. And the whole idea of stating him as a "genius" ... I would have went with Ryan. I'm surprised he was picked after how he promoted the movie. Then again, Wes Craven was gunning for JG, right?

I think MD is definetly "over-acting" ... did he forget what the point of PG3 was?

Yes! I felt like that entire thing was staged ... and I'm glad someone else picked up on that as well.

girl in a cardigan

I hope John and the DP get things sorted out quickly because otherwise this movie is going nowhere fast. I can totally understand the DP's frustration.

And the actors - having to sit there for nine hours in prosthetic makeup without shooting? That's ridiculous!

I did love Honey Pie grabbing Chris Moore and then Gulager after the blood spatter scene - especially when they are doing their camera interviews with fake blood still on them