How to know an Indian/Telugu Film is a Hit/Flop?

Originally Posted by Vinay Pemmasani

How to know an Indian/Telugu Film is a Hit/Flop....?

Let me tell you that Its a pretty difficult q/n to answer in the 1st place! However, I give it a try!

Well, if you wanna know about a Hollywood flick, its very straight forward, as they mention the very genre of the film by its name in IMDB(Internet Movie Data Base). They reveal the complete story of the film in their 120 seconds trailer. If you like the stars, genre and if you like the subject, you go for it. And the rating given in IMDB is by people who watched it, not by a corrupt reviewer (As in the case of top Indian Website Reviewers).

However, in Tollowood, today, most of the films are genre-less films. Because, every movie uses Comedy, Action, Drama, Romance, Fiction, Suspense, but in different proportions. We also have a name for this mixed-genre, "MASALA". So, how do we differentiate films? People differentiate them by commercial and non-commercial! Practically speaking, there is no meaning to this terminology either in Telugu. Because, Every 99% of them are commercial. Rather, I would call them BIG-STAR Films & Medium-Small STAR Films......!

Going into the topic, How to know a movie is a hit/flop....? These are the main possible resources to know about a movie:

Magic Numbers?

Reviews?

Face Book/Twitter?

Media?

Mouth-talk?

BIG-STAR Films & Medium-Small STAR Films are very different from each other in all the above aspects!

Medium-Small STAR Films:

MAGIC NUMBERS: No Producer will announce the MAGIC NUMBERS ; 1st-Day, 1st-Weekend, 1st-Week collections(As they would B very low).

REVIEWS: I guess, No one really care about them these days. Very reliable source to confuse you with technical terminology, who give rating (stars ) based on the hotel (3 star or 5 star) where they get their pre-release party from producer! :P

FACE BOOK/TWITTER: We give a damn to promote or demote a small film, which is not the case in our BIG Favourite star film!

MEDIA: Producer should spend to promote their success on media; So, you will hardly see promotional programs on media about these films.

MOUTH-TALK: YESSSS! The only source to know about a successful Small-Star Films.

Therefore, bottom line is, it is very easy for us to estimate the success of these films, not much confusion.

BIG-STAR Films:

This is interesting! Let me give you an interesting formula:

Common Audience > Anti-Fans > Fans

This is because, we have three major fan bases in the state, MEGA, NANDAMURI, GHATTAMANENI. And these are more or less equal. And each fan-base has anti-fan-base from the remaining two. Therefore, every hero has more Anti's than the actual fans, and obviously there are more number of common audience than the Anti's.

RELEASE: It all starts way before release, by showing the number of prints/screens/shows. Ex: 1500/1800/2000 etc. Also, Logo Launch function, First look poster function, Audio Release function, Platinum Disk Function, Film Release Date function etc. Do not panic looking at these numbers. This doesn't even give a clue about the hit/flop factor of a film.

MAGIC NUMBERS: Every Producer will announce the MAGIC NUMBERS ; 1st-Day, 1st-Weekend, 1st-Week collections. And, sometimes they hype (Increase the collections) it to prove that their film is a hit/blockbuster. NOOOOOO. This does not give us a clue either. Because, these are BIG-STAR Films. Therefore, the 1st 3 days (Fri,Sat,Sun) collections reflect the Box-Office Stamina of the STAR (Hero), not the film. To be specific, 1st Weekend, they will get a share of around 12-13 Crores for NTR, MB, PSPK. You need to understand this first.

However, the collections on/from MONDAY reveal the actual stuff/Fate of the film. If the film does well on/from Monday, this is a commercially successful film. Again, what is a commercially successful film? A film liked by A,B,C centre audience, which would obviously have got a lot of "MASALA" factor. How do you know how much it s got on Monday? Producer Magic Number??? Noooooo....... Rather, Reliable Resources, where you get complete breakdowns:

Ex: www.andhraboxoffice.com

REVIEWS: I guess, No one really care about them these days. Very reliable source to confuse you with technical terminology, who give stars based on the hotel (3 star or 5 star) where they get their pre-release party from producer! :P So, you do not decide based on Reviews!

FACEBOOK/TWITTER: If a BIG film is releasing, its FANS/ANTI-FANS usually PROMOTE/DEMOTE the film on FB/Twitter. This is very unreliable resource to make a decision on the success of a film, because the responses would be extremely mixed. This is even more, if the film is about Avg. Even for a flop film, FANS would try to pick something interesting (for them) in the film to PROMOTE it. Even for a Hit film, ANTI-FANS would search for reasons to DEMOTE it.

EX: PSPK Fans for PULI: High grosser of disasters; Johnny: Different/Brave attempt

NTR Fans for RAKHI: Super Emotional Film/ Super NTR Action

MB Fans for KHALEJA: MB's Comic Timing is Super/ Super Entertainment.

ANTI-MB Fans: Saying Genuine Blockbuster DOOKUDU is a hit because of Brahmi/MS not coz of MB etc!

Therefore, you do not decide based on FB/Twitter Status!

MEDIA: Websites/Channels will be packed with TV Shows, Interviews, Success Meets during and after release, which are common for both hit/flop shamelessly.

So, do not decide based on Media!

MOUTH-TALK: Noooo. Because, it is more Complicated. Because, you have more Anti-Fans than Fans. However, you can rely on common audience talk, but which is a bit difficult to find during release, because, families, common audience do not rush to theatres in first week of release itself.

Therefore, MONDAY Mornings for Big-Star Films....Mouth-Talk for Small-Star Films.....!

Marriage of Movie & Money : Death of Innovation & Creativity!

Originally Posted by Vinay Pemmasani

We are approaching a world where the most known form of art, film, is being redefined. It is no more a place where “you can tell a story”! It is no more a place where innovative and creative people can amaze audience with their original stories, resulted from their incredible passion & imagination. The only reason for this devastating situation is “MONEY”, the destroyer of beauty of mankind; & Film is not an exception.

A story is a result of a thought process, where the “ideas, opinions & thoughts” blossom in the mind of the creator resulted from his interests, passions & imagination. Such is the nature of an original story, which will form a beautiful garden full of flowers, whose fragrance will be fresh and can be felt by audience. However, the M-factor is making the film makers go behind the stories resulted from “Unoriginal Ideas, Audience Opinion & Copied Thoughts”, which makes the audience feel “Yet Again, another commercial movie, uffff”! Because, these three has also got a collective name, “COMMERCIALITY”!

  

This is exactly the case with the most renowned film industries in the world, Hollywood & Bollywood. Having done an extensive research in the trade & creative aspects of HW, I would say, Hollywood should add a caption to their Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, which says “We don’t tell stories anymore”. Hollywood top studios WB, Paramount, 20^th Century Fox, Walt Disney, and Universal are just playing nothing but a safe game. They are not ready to invest on any new original films, if they are neither sequels nor adaptations.

Here is the proof! None of the top grossers of 2011 are ORIGINAL. Shame on Studios and the film makers who could not dare make a big original film in the entire year full of 700-800 films. However, the logic is simple! If a studio invests on an already popular adaptation such as The Twilight Saga or Harry Potter, irrespective of how the film comes out, they make HUGE ROI (Returns On Investment), as they have got a huge fan base established already. The other way of making money is franchisees making a sequel such as Pirates of C, Transformers, X-man, Batman, HP etc. These also make huge ROI, because of established fan base. This has been proved several times in the HW history. In addition to this devastating situation, the new trend HW studios are following is making the 3D versions of blockbusters in the past. Walt Disney invested 10 million on The Lion King for 3D conversion, which grossed 100 million. Studios cannot ask for any better. Today, Star Wars in 3D is in theatres making good money. This summer, HW has 5 notable 3D converted releases which include Titanic. These figures obviously do not let the HW studios risk investing in new original films.

And Bollywood is also following exactly the same path to hell. They are no different. Here is the proof. None of the Top 5 grossers of 2011 are Original stories. They are either remakes or sequels.

Bodyguard   - 140.95 C (Remake from Malyalam)

Ready         - 121.26 C (Remake from Telugu)

Ra.One        - 114.78 C (Copied thought, Yet not successful)

Don 2         - 109.50 C (Sequel of a 6 times remade movie in Telugu, Tamil & Hindi)

Singham      - 102.10 C (Remake from Tamil)

This surely is not an era for Original film makers. Definitely not. Here’s a simple example. We all know renowned Christopher Nolan, who happened to direct the third highest grosser of HW, Batman Series. He had this incredibly original and outstanding idea of Inception. However, no studio was ready to invest in Inception, just because it lacked the commercial content they were looking for. & Finally, Warner Bros. did a favour to Nolan investing for Inception, just because the studio needs him to make Batman 3. Now, think about new young film makers. Such is the respect some incredible Original ideas and their makers are getting at the door steps of HW. And this is just because of the only factor, “MONEY”. Being an aspiring film maker and original film lover, that’s why I call it “Marriage of Money & Movie: Death of Innovation & Creativity”.

Journey is what matters than destination!

Originally Posted by Vinay Pemmasani

Journey is what matters than destination! 

It’s not just about getting what you desire, but about HOW you get it. Unstoppable...! Until now, I have just used this word for exaggerating something. But today, I have learnt the actual meaning of “Unstoppable”, only by watching someone of such kind.

You watch football players scoring some stunning goals, always an eye feast to experience. However, watching Lionel Messi scoring goals is just irresistible. He scores with ease; he scores with skill... out of all, he scores with passion, which is always inspirational. However, what’s so special about it? We see Beckham, Zidane, Ronaldo, Rooney scoring goals...They all are exceptional...But, What’s the difference?

A legend like Zidane lost his temper at the most critical time, when it’s much needed for his country & for his own career itself. 2006 World Cup Final, Italy Vs France! It was not just a game, but a war, a battle of prestige...! Have a look at this! 

Zidane's Temper!

Situations pull your shirt from behind.

The most dangerous evils pull your feet to disturb your dream run.

At times, enmity in your dear friends stop you from stepping ahead, holding your hand tight.

Society would whisper in your ears about your weaknesses, which would lock you up from all corners, not allowing you to pursue what you want.

Racist pricks would try to disgrace you about your colour, place, language & culture.

You even fall down many times…

But it’s about giving birth to fire in you and bringing all your strengths together to get up again and finding your way back.

Look at him, the real UNSTOPPABLE, who expects the unexpected, and still be pleased at unpleasant kicks/pulls/pushes/dashes:

UNSTOPPABLE Messi!

Isn’t he UNSTOPPABLE???

That’s his attitude. He is more about targeting what he wants in his mind, all the time. It’s about priorities. It’s about control. It’s about being intelligent. It’s about holding his nerves for something he loves. That’s the thin line that separates being exceptional and unstoppable.

Come on now! “UNSTOPPABLE you” should face & demolish all STOPPABLES in your own path, and your passion is what drives it. Bring out the fire in you. Enjoy facing the challenges and hurdles, which forms an enjoyable journey.

In cricket, 2 hours of nail biting thriller >>>> 2 min of winning feel!
In life, 2 or 20 years of inevitable struggling, yet enjoyable journey >>>> 2 min feel of fulfilled desire!

Enjoy every part of it....! If not, life would be just like watching a replay match knowing that you have already won or lost the match! 

That’s why, I feel,

“Journey is what matters than destination!”

Find Your Passion & Film it!

Originally Posted by Vinay Pemmasani

My Previous piece of writing, “Marriage of Movie & Money: Death of Innovation Creativity”, might have left you with a feeling “What the hell is going to happen? What Now?” Well, that’s a million dollar question. I have no clue about what young film makers would try to do to survive such demolishing situation. However, in this writing; I am going to tell, what I think they should do.

Today, streets of Los Angeles, London, Mumbai and even Hyderabad are full of Short Film screenings. Times have changed. This is no more an era of aspiring film makers, dreaming about working as assistants, hoping to would become a director SOME day. Today, the trend allows them to buy a camera, play around with it, find an enthusiastic team, make a short film, amaze people with their thoughts and prove their talent. Being in such an opportunistic world, would eventually tempt young film makers to cook up a story and film it in rush. Well, this is the problem.

James Cameron, being a profound lover of science fiction and sea life, spent 3000 hours in the deep Atlantic Ocean & was a member of NASA advisory board, before making Titanic, Terminator & Avatar. He spent millions of dollars & years of hard work in creating performance capture technology, to film Avatar. He originally loves all those creatures we see on the planet Pandora, some of which actually exist in deep oceans. Such immense passion reflect in his science fiction movies, which make the whole world spell bound, without even having any stars.

A 13 year Orthodox Jewish child made an award winning war film called “Escape to No Where”, he turned out to be Steven Spielberg. After facing difficulties in school being a Jewish & going through his father’s the World War-II experiences, he was interested in showing that extremely emotional & sensitive content during war, on silver screen. This resulted in making him the king of genre “WAR”. He has also received two Oscars for his War films, Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan.

His passion about human psychology, special effects & film making techniques can be seen in his every film ever made. He is the best user of Visual Effects. Name of this University College London guy is Christopher Nolan. His passion in special effects reflects in his very first 3 minute short film, Doodlebug, and he was unstoppable in his latest Bible for Visual Effects, Inception. 

I find SS Rajamouli, an ace director, as a person with outstanding sensibilities had an urge of telling stories from his childhood. Filming action sequences backed up with highly emotional content is his weapon to amaze audiences. He introduced visual effects to TW on a big canvas (MD), made a movie (MR) without a star hero and grossed 30C, and now again filming a movie called EEGA with huge CG work involved without a big star. Passion & confidence.

Shankar is a director with great human values and the only Indian director with fantastic taste in fantasy & special effects, which can be seen in his every movie. He made the most expensive Indian film in 1998, where he used brilliant visual effects at that time, which was India’s pick for Best Foreign Language film for Oscar. His recent epic, Indian “I, Robot”, is still the highest grosser of Indian Cinema. Such is the nature of having passion, which builds confidence and reflects on silver screen.

However, this is exactly the problem is with young film makers. If a film maker love a specific subject matter, be it a simple drama or action or sci-fi or adventure or comedy or romance or even patriotic, he can be the best at telling it. He can convey the feelings and sensibilities of that story at his best, only when he has passion for that subject. Only then, he can actually tell a fresh original story, that the audience wouldn’t have seen anything like that before. However, when he has no passion, imagination and idea about any specific subject, the story, and eventually the film, turns out to be routine and unoriginal.

This is why I believe young Film/Short Film makers should stop writing Stories and making Films/Short Films in rush. Yes, they should just stop trying to be something having nothing to convey. Out of 100 short films (Indian) I see every day, 90 of them revolve around a guy, girl and their tragic or comic love stories, without minimum standards in Camera, Sound etc. Only 10 films are actually touching other genres with decent standards. This surely is because of lack of depth in knowledge and passion in other genres, which is really worrying in the internet world. “Know what you’re passionate about, find your interests, and film them. They would eventually turn out to be very original, exceptional and makes you stand out.  You should be the captain of the ship. All the stars and productions houses will be behind them sooner or later, as it’s been proved several times in case of above film makers.”