Posted by: fesodes Posted on: Aug 26th, 2003, 4:02pm
Makoto, you have any idea how much such a production would cost? Btw, anyone know how much OAV 1 cost to produce?
If this one is directed to me, then I guess I'll try to answer it, assuming that it wasn't a rhetorical question.
Question: How much would a movie production cost?
Answer: As much as the financial backers are willing to spend.
Yep, the great burden that directors have to bear is that they have to often work around the limits of what they have, be it talent, resources, or funds.
Anything under the 5 million budget mark is usually considered to be a "Low Budget Movie." (Yeah, "Low"... I know I would kill for that kind of budget right now.)
However, low-budget doesn't necessarily mean "bad." I've seen several movies that were produced for under 100,000 and they were terrific. However, those movies were not dependent on high profile effects or expensive equipment. Those movies were good because of quality scriptwriting and acting.
A lot of famous directors started off by doing these "low-budget" films and even though the movies looked "cheap" they provided these people a chance to show what they could do when they don't HAVE the budget of their big studio brethren. Because they can produce good movies without the high funds, studios were willing to give them shots on high profile projects with large budgets. Kevin Smith, Sam Raimi, Peter Jackson, etc...
However, back to the topic: The budget for an El-Hazard film. It's difficult to guess. First of all, if you were trying to sell this license to a studio, you would have to convince people that THIS would be a movie that people will go out to see and therefore, any money invested will be made back and then, there will be a profit.
In all honesty, if you wanted to produce a GOOD version of El-Hazard on film, you would need a HUGE Budget. Imagine the task you have staring you in the face: Creating another world, creating armies of robotic-like bugs, creating a giant satelite in the sky. For all these, you would have to build both sets and create special FX.
This type of project is something comparible to Lord of the Rings, which means you are looking at a likely 100 Million dollar budget requirement.
Now, if you can convince financial backers that an El-Hazard Movie would make that much to cover costs and then actually make a profit, then you are a silver tongued devil.
That's not to say that you couldn't do an El-Hazard movie on a smaller budget. Corners can always be cut. Just remember this Hollywood adage:
"You get what you pay for."
Sorry to be a buzzkill, but Hollywood is a cruel bitch-goddess.