It's been a while since I got back on here, and for good reason: we've been moving forward rapidly in a variety of directions, and promoting the promo on YouTube, and basically just keeping the plates spinning.
The average movie takes 4.5 years from 'script to screen'. Four and a half years! That's average. So when you consider that studio flicks get on a faster track than most (usually), the average independent film is pushed out into the 5 to 6 year range. We've been working hard on OF KINGS & COWBOYS for a little over a year now. And started in the worst economic crisis in a generation. So, all in all, we're doing pretty damn good! In fact, if we don't shoot the movie for another two years, we will be performing at an average rate for an indie film. But I think we'll get it underway much sooner than that.
So don't even think of betting against us in this race. This film will get made. Sooner or later. If it needs to be later, then so be it. I will go make one or two much less expensive films like RIDING HOME or RUSSIAN WARMBLOOD. Then capitalize on them to come back to my baby: OF KINGS & COWBOYS.
That said, we may....and I mean MAY....have made a huge step forward in the financing of the film this week. A group is looking to facilitate the financing, and we've been talking a bunch. Who knows. Maybe. Just maybe.
In prep for these 'possibles', I got our budget reworked/edited. The one we had was done a year ago, by someone from the TV side of things (mainly). It wasn't right for our purposes. So, many hours later, I have a new one in hand. The first one called for a budget of $35M. This one has it down to right around $24M. Primary changes? Greatly reduced my salary, streamlined shooting weeks, went digital (not film), and cut elsewhere where possible. This will be an enormous film for such a small budget, but I am extremely confident we will have the best people on board, while keeping our spending at bare rates....without sacrificing the film or the story at all. Ride on.