MovieChat Forums > Saint John of Las Vegas (2009) Discussion > BOMBED what will IndieVest.com do now?

BOMBED what will IndieVest.com do now?

posted 14 years ago by bigsleepla
15 replies | jump to latest

According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, SJOLV made $100K theatrically in the US. With a budget and a P & A spend of $5 million, that's a ROI of -98%. And that's not including the fact that the theaters take about half the ticket amount, and that IndieVest.com probably had distribution fees built in with a profit sharing agreement. If I was an investor, I would be really pissed. More evidence that the indie world is in deep trouble. Why? Arrogant filmmakers and their producers who make "edgy" fare but ignore the audience, steep production and P & A costs, and business models that try to upend tried-and-true distribution realities. However, this film reveals one truism in Hollywood: there's a sucker born every minute.

[–] IronBallsM 14 years ago

Thank God it bombed. Sarah Silverman is such an idiot that I hope she goes away forever and never works again.

[–] debniak 14 years ago

Bombed or not, I gotta see it. I'm a big Steve Buscemi fan so, as far as I'm concerned, with him in it, it can't be all that bad. Besides, I'm almost always disappointed with the big-budget, high-grossing films. Indie films will always have an audience.

[–] f-ascaso 14 years ago

Steve Buscemi doesn't disappoint, it just makes you wonder what he was thinking by taking this role after having read the script. Even Buscemi and Romany Malco's excellent performances couldn't pull this one off.

"if it was any good they'd have made an American version by now." Hank Hill

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Ulf_ 14 years ago

"ignore the audience" ..
most audience is won by big ad campaigns, not by good filmmaking.

.

[–] diggler302 14 years ago

Too true Ulf. There are many great films that are either independent or foreign that are never seen by most people due to a lack of advertising.

Also Box Office take equals zilch in the digital age. They will likely sell tens of thousands of copies to video stores around the world, which will likely increase profits beyond the original cost of production.

[–] corky-27 14 years ago

^What he said. It should be easy to eventually make a profit on a $5 million dollar budget, once that cast hits the DVD sale and rental market...

Right. Well, I have to-- I have to go now, Duane, because I, I'm due back on the planet Earth.

[–] cinesimonj 14 years ago

Gee - with all those ignorant cliches, you show you REALLY know all about film making!

[–] zarathustra2k1 14 years ago

Sounds like a producer. Hey - bottom line, people!

I enjoyed this Buscemi outing. ;)

Looks like I picked the wrong day to quit shooting smack...

[–] badmofo6662004 14 years ago

I liked this film a lot. I don't think it was meant to be "edgy," or that it "ignored the audience."

Indie films are awesome. They bring a much larger variety of directors, writers, and actors to films.

Also, "tried-and-true" distribution realities are having trouble adapting to a rapidly changing and more connected world.

Regardless if it makes money or not (it will probably eventually break-even from video sales and rentals at least), I think the film is good enough to give the new writer/director enough credibility to finance more films.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] cmmayo-1 14 years ago

I enjoyed it. It was influenced by a lot of movies I like, but isn't necessarily as good as any of them. Still, if you like any of the actors involved, you will enjoy this movie.
It was certainly better than, say, Date Night.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=3467721

[–] htwhyppe 14 years ago

Date Night was truly funny.

[–] guyatvideoshop 14 years ago

Date Night was the most unfunny thing that cast has ever been involved with. I didnt laugh once, maybe when im 40 married, and depressed il watch it again. I liked St John Of Las Vegas, tho im biased being a Buscemi fan. The soundtrack was also excellent. Tho to call the plot 'thin' would be a gross understatement.

[–] unclearchie 13 years ago

I loved this film. Buscemi was great and it was a larger role for once. I also enjoyed seeing Living in Oblivion's Peter Dinklage!