MovieChat Forums > What Love Is (2007) Discussion > I feel sorry for any investor, WLI dropp...

I feel sorry for any investor, WLI dropped out in 2nd week

posted 17 years ago by bigboy37
29 replies | jump to latest

the 1st week of release it made 11,000, 67th out of all movies out, right behind Galapagos, which has been out for 7-8 years i think,
this week I look on the box office gross, I dont even see WLI in the top 97 movies,
MEANING!!! this move probably only made about 12-13,000 theater release!!! and will now be dumped from the theaters and go to DVD
what a shame , you put all those "name" actors together, raise money from investors and put up the hype,
and it comes out in 42, 42!!! theaters and makes 12-13,
why even make a movie if you arent going to promote it, distribute it, and then let it crash,
my guess..... after BIG LIE comes out with their spring break movie,,,
I give them 5 years before they go out of business, no way people will invest in them again
WTF?? anybody care to expand on this.....

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] privateinvestogator 16 years ago

Yes you should !! I have never seen a dime from my investment. Yet they keep calling for me to invest in SB '83. Thats bold but these guys have no shame. There is a sucker born every day but I will not be screwed twice.

[–] storyteller1957 16 years ago

Ditto on that. Not one dime. They've promised money for six months (well, no they actually have promised release and money for well over a year) always followed with a sales pitch. Then it turns out that one of the "top people in the business" that they have hired for this promotion or that deal somehow has a misunderstanding or mistake that represents a delay. Of course the limited written updates do not sync with what they pitch on the phone.

The movie may or may not be a masterpiece but it is different and stimulating, has a great cast, and a subset of people are going to love it if they get the chance.

In my neck of the woods no one would get the chance to know that since it never came to a theatre and has not been released on DVD. (The tales of DVD release dates and why that has not happened yet are a whole 'nother story.)

A horribly, horribly mis-managed project that only lends credence to the claim that they are in the business of raising money not distributing movies.

[–] privateinvestogator 13 years ago

No K-1! No communication! Crooks!

[–] storyteller1957 13 years ago

I at least got my K-1s this year. No income. No explanation of why I hear of it playing here and there but none of that money is coming to the bottom line.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] gotmyorangecrush 16 years ago

I hate to rain on everyone's What Is Love Doomsday predictions but the bottom line is that the Home Theater market has become a monster that takes in literally 3 times as much as theaters do these days. The Home Theater market took in 27 Billion in 2007. Those are just HUGE numbers so the bottom line is you simply cannot say a movie failed until after it has been released on the home market. In all likeliness a film with this kind of budget will gon on to become very profitable on the home market even it it only made a single penny at the theaters.

Even bashing this film in its performance in the theatres is a joke because it was only released in 42 theaters according to Box Office Mojo. Dont get me wrong if you guys want to bash this film the go ahead and do it but to bash this film in regards to its investors or in regards to how successful this film is ultimately going to be in that regard is nothing short of ridiculous. The home theatre is considered the 2nd box office and judging a films success before it hits the home market is simply not a very smart thing to do.

Given the star power this film has this film should easily make its budget plus at least 5- 10 million on the home market and if you guys really consider that to be the overwheming failure that your making it out to be then I would hate to see what you guys would say about the films that actually fail to make money.

10 years ago you could have made a post like this and there would have been nothing wrong with it but you simply cannot do that today. The SD DVD market is a money powerhouse that has the power to turn even the most utter box office failures into bags of money. The ironic thing is that its films like these that have such low budgets that ultimately make the most in terms of percentage of profit. The big powerhouse blockbusters that have 200 million budgets are the films that Need to have huge theatrical performances on top of huge home theater performances to make any serious money in return. Films like these that have small budgets can go on to make loads of cash on the home market thus judging a films ultimate performance in regards to profits before it hits the home market is again a foolish thing to do.

[–] storyteller1957 16 years ago

I completely agree on the financial potential. Poorly positioned in the theatres does not speak to how people (not necessarily critics who had mixed reviews) will feel about it. I think it will have a good audience in the DVD world.

It does not change that by the terms of the investors' agreement we should have seen some check, albeit a small one, last year and I am still waiting for first distributions. As an investor I don't really have anything good to say about the production company at this point. But I will be happy to see the movie released on DVD and have some fresh input on a movie that most people have not yet had even the option to see.

Don't let abusive people shut you up. Use the ignore feature and enjoy your time here.

[–] ross62 16 years ago

Hey Story...

I'm happy say I received my first check last week. My PE tells me there is more coming. Apparently it's part of the Sony advance on the distribution agreement.

Ross

[–] storyteller1957 16 years ago

That will be nice to see. I have not been home for three weeks so I'll be digging through the pile of mail looking when I return.

Don't let abusive people shut you up. Use the ignore feature and enjoy your time here.

[–] smatthew-5 16 years ago

Hello Storyteller,

I am considering investing in Spring Break 83 and wish to know how much of a return you have received on What Love Is to date. As of your last post, it appeared that you planned to check the mail for a check. Did this or any other checks come in? I need to know if there are any red flags with this investment still, or if the money just took longer than expected. Any input you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[–] storyteller1957 16 years ago

It has now been five full quarters since WLI went in to the theatres. We never received a check for the small amount of theatre revenue. I was told (while I was being solicited for SB83) that they had sold foreign rights and that money was imminent. Over a year ago and never happened. Our first check was the one referenced above. It amounted to 3 pennies back on each dollar sent (dollars were NOT returned). The second quarter has come and gone since without a peep.

I can not stress strongly enough, this was a huge rip off. Not just bad luck but either horrible performance or outright lies. Or both.

You would be a gullible fool to give them any money. And I know- I have walked that walk. I know it sounds good but just say 'No'. It's mildly fun to think you are part of something. I know it sounds good. Porky's, Nerds and all the others, how could they not make money.

Look at the cast list for WLI and tell me how you would think you would lose 97% of your money on a movie with those players.

Really, write to me privately if you like. Unlike some people here I do not trash WLI, the movie, but those are the financial facts.

I now have three pennies to show for every dollar that I sent to these guys in 2005.

[–] Typhoon-ista 16 years ago

Got My Orange Crush,

Nice try but what you are completely missing in that overly optimistic post were the outrageous claims made to investors through sales pitches and disclosure documents.

It is all well and good to now say "Oh yeah, it was never going to do well in the theatre but the target market was DVD revenue" but this is simply not what was delivered in the sales process to investors. With all due respect I have to question your motives in making the above post and whether you have an association with BS.

The facts are movie investments are high risk with the possibility of high returns. Potentially Mars and the guys did a very good job like with Pool Hall Junkies and Zigs. The HUGE problem is with the sales pitch and disclosure docuemtns. They were high pressure sales and were disgraceful which simply did not reflect the risks associated with the investment. Sorry to hear that those investors have lost money but try not to get caught twice.

[–] moviedude1-1 16 years ago

No the HUGE problem is all the pathetic lies Big SKy told the investors! I personally know people who lost thousands to these scam artists! Someone need to put these thieves out of business!

[–] StarryKat 16 years ago

you're so late to the party on this board, go hang out on the springbreak board and help the extras and crew who are suing the company

http://www.rumblefishonline.com
http://www.matthewlillardonline.com

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] StarryKat 16 years ago

Well it'd teach you to do more research first wouldn't it?

http://www.rumblefishonline.com
http://www.matthewlillardonline.com

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] StarryKat 16 years ago

Nope, I'm a Matthew Lillard fan who was interested in seeing him in this film

http://www.rumblefishonline.com
http://www.matthewlillardonline.com

[–] moviedude1-1 16 years ago

So lets see as you can read in the above posts Big Sky productions LIED to the investors about What love is and the way it was going to be distributed, Then they LIED to the Extras on SB83 and told them "The check is in the mail" Does it ever end? Why anyone would do business with this company after reading all the horror stories is beyond me, Big Sky are scam artists nothing more.

[–] ross62 16 years ago

Just to update you, moveiedude and everyone else, What Love Is is being distributed through Sony. I've seen & rented it at Blockbuster & bought it through Amazon.com. They DID make the initial payment to the investors as promised (I have the bank statement to prove it).

As far as SB83, all extras were paid. No one has been shorted. The movie is in the can with the exception of the filmed bit parts from the eventual winner of Casting Call.

Having personally talked to several Big Sky executives, I've found them not to be scam artists, liars, thieves, or anything else that has been so eloquently written on this and other threads. They have delivered what they have promised! A movie...If it becomes a hit or flops is the reward or risk I take.

Cheers,
Ross

Ross Yingling
Conway, AR
http://www.twitter.com/Ross_Yingling
http://RossYingling.com

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] ross62 16 years ago

Ahh now Movie, no need to be rude...I took the risk & it's my bank account that's growing.

Ross Yingling
Conway, AR

http://www.twitter.com/Ross_Yingling
http://RossYingling.com

[–] smatthew-5 16 years ago

I am considering investing in Big Sky Productions Spring Break 83, but saw your posts. I also saw some that said they did get paid. I am posting this several months after the last post on this, so am wondering if your friends who lost money have received any checks since then and to what extent. Obviously, your posts are concerning, but just wondering what the current status is.

Please let me know.

Thanks.

[–] TheQuietStorm 16 years ago

I heard about this whole situation. It's a sad thing, especially for honest and talented producers, writers and directors out there looking for investors on great projects.

Million Dollar Baby Academy Award® Winner for Best Picture of 2004

[–] ross62 16 years ago

QTS,

Contrary to popular trends on this message board, BSMP/DGP good people, IMHO. And I promise you from my own personal experience & my pocketbook (what else matters), BSMP/DGP takes care of their investors. Reading this board is just a hobby of mine, I don't use it for any decisions.

I'd challenge anyone who continues to trash these companies (sometimes in unceremoniously colorful terms) to give cold hard facts instead of primarily emotion & faceless accusations.

Also are anyone of those folks besides myself investors and do they feel like they were cheated in any way shape or form?

Have some people been let go from BSMP & DGP? I know that for a fact.
Will 100% of them believe they got a raw deal? Absolutely.

I believe I got a raw deal last year from my employer of 9 yrs that I'd practically shed blood for let me go.

For me it's simple, WLI was made - as promised - and they have started repaying the investors - as promised. I mean one of the Blockbusters in little (53,000) Conway, Arkansas told me today it has rented 17 times at their store...it is working & will continue to work.

By the way, just b/c a move bombs at the box office doesn't make it a total flop. Lots of box office crashes have gone on to be very nice very investments.

Cheers,
Ross Yingling
Conway, AR

http://www.twitter.com/Ross_Yingling
http://RossYingling.com

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] rogrerunanddwayne 16 years ago

you should take a look at the Spring Break '83 board......bash city!!

[–] 16 years ago

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