Question for Aaron Vanek re Hellraiser.
Avid Fan
You clearly have a an intimate understanding of the way films are made.
The Hellbound heart by Clive Barker was a great short story (much better
story than the movie.)
The Hellraiser film was directed by Clive Barker( with as far as I can
tell - no experience) sequels must have made him millions and millions
of dollars.
My question to you - Is just an amazing fluke or can a good writer get
backing for good story and get a film up?
ram...@ramsey-campbell.com
Clive had in fact already directed - both short films and theatrical
productions from his own scripts - and a script of his had already
been filmed, so badly that he managed to talk up HELLRAISER as a
script to be directed by him personally. I should think all these were
factors.
ram...@ramsey-campbell.com
> Clive had in fact already directed - both short films and theatrical
> productions from his own scripts - and a script of his had already
> been filmed, so badly that he managed to talk up HELLRAISER as a
> script to be directed by him personally. I should think all these were
> factors.
I see there's a detailed account in CLIVE BARKER'S SHADOWS IN EDEN of
the process by which HELLRAISER was made - too long to summarise here,
but Clive had already interested a producer (Chris Figg) in helping to
look for finance in Hollywood.
Aaron Vanek
On Nov 19, 4:09 am, Avid Fan <avid_...@notvalidexample.net> wrote:
> You clearly have a an intimate understanding of the way films are made.
If you say so. Thanks.
> The Hellraiser film was directed by Clive Barker( with as far as I can
> tell - no experience) sequels must have made him millions and millions
> of dollars.
Probably, but looking at the box office for "Hellraiser" (http://
www.imdb.com/title/tt0093177/business), it had a domestic
gross of $13M with an estimated $1M budget. I am guessing here, but
theaters probably took about half of that, and the production company
and executive producers took the lion's share.
(Clive was not a producer of the first movie, though he did the
sequels)
He probably personally made about $2-3M for the first movie, and
depending on his taxes, kept maybe 2/3 of that ($2M). (More money came
in if you figure foreign and video sales)
So yes, he's a multi-millionaire, but not Bill Gates.
> My question to you - Is just an amazing fluke or can a good writer get
> backing for good story and get a film up?
No, good writers can get a film up. If you're a bestselling novelist,
your book will be fought over by companies eager to turn it into a
movie.
And if it's not turned into a movie, you still get money off the option
(s) and sale.
If that same writer has some directing experience or is enough a pain
in the ass, they might be able to helm (direct) it. But that's based
on their personality and filmmaking chops.
Do you think Frank Miller will get another chance to direct after "The
Spirit"? (Solo direct, not in league with Robert Rodriguez)
It's not a fluke at all, that's how it normally happens: good stories
are bought and turned into movies.
Does the writer direct their own movie? That's a bit rarer: Stephen
King directed "Maximum Overdrive", and that flopped, so he won't get
another chance, nor, I assume, does he want another chance. Being able
to write the story doesn't mean the person can direct it. Some can,
some can't.
But what Ramsey said is correct, as expected. I'd ask him about his
stories becoming movies: "Los Sin Nombre" (aka "The Nameless," which I
loved) and "El Segundo Nombre," which I haven't seen.
Hope this answers your question.
Aaron
ram...@ramsey-campbell.com
> But what Ramsey said is correct, as expected. I'd ask him about his
> stories becoming movies: "Los Sin Nombre" (aka "The Nameless," which I
> loved) and "El Segundo Nombre," which I haven't seen.
I'll answer, Aaron! I just sold the film rights to Filmax (who had
approached my agents) and then I had no further input. Same with the
adaptation of "The Seductress" on the television series THE HUNGER.
Al Smith
Good luck with the film rights deal. I hope you get a movie out of
one of it. From what I've read, most such deals never come to fruition.
There was some popular writer -- and I forget who it was now, a SF
or horror writer -- who used to sell his stuff repeatedly to film
producers on option. When someone finally decided to make a movie
from one of his books, he was put out, because it cut off his film
option monies. I thought that was amusing, so I share my amusement
with you.
-Al-
Aaron Vanek
Cool; Stuart did "Dagon" through Filmax, I believe. Are they a Spanish
production company?
Were you happy with the results?
Aaron
Avid Fan
"Los Sin Nombre" IMO was a great film. Sadly I have read a lot of
your short stories (which I have enjoyed immensely but have not read a
single Ramsey Campbell novel. Something I hope to rectify in January.
Isn't Darkness http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0273517/ the English sequel
to Los sin Nobre? Ramsey did you nything from that film?
Avid Fan
> On Nov 19, 12:09?pm, Avid Fan <avid_...@notvalidexample.net> wrote:
>> Hi Aaron,
>>
>> You clearly have a an intimate understanding of the way films are made.
>>
>> The Hellbound heart by Clive Barker was a great short story (much better
>> story than the movie.)
>>
>> The Hellraiser film was directed by Clive Barker( with as far as I can
>> tell - no experience) sequels must have made him millions and millions
>> of dollars.
>>
>> My question to you - Is just an amazing fluke or can a good writer get
>
> Clive had in fact already directed - both short films and theatrical
> productions from his own scripts - and a script of his had already
> been filmed, so badly that he managed to talk up HELLRAISER as a
> script to be directed by him personally. I should think all these were
> factors.
I was not aware of that. I think he did a pretty good job all in all.
I know nothing about the film making business but I would imagine
directing is not easy.
Thanks Ramsey,
Avid Fan
> ram...@ramsey-campbell.com wrote:
>> On Nov 19, 8:21?pm, Aaron Vanek <goo...@somecompanyfilms.com> wrote:
>>
>>> But what Ramsey said is correct, as expected. I'd ask him about his
>>> stories becoming movies: "Los Sin Nombre" (aka "The Nameless," which I
>>> loved) and "El Segundo Nombre," which I haven't seen.
>>
>> I'll answer, Aaron! I just sold the film rights to Filmax (who had
>> approached my agents) and then I had no further input. Same with the
>> adaptation of "The Seductress" on the television series THE HUNGER.
>>
> "Los Sin Nombre" IMO was a great film. Sadly I have read a lot of
> your short stories (which I have enjoyed immensely but have not read a
> single Ramsey Campbell novel. Something I hope to rectify in January.
>
> Isn't Darkness http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0273517/ the English sequel
> to Los sin Nobre? Ramsey did you nything from that film?
>
I forgot to ask what did you think Los sin Nombre I enjoyed the film but
after reading the Nameless I suspect my opinion will change.
Avid Fan
> Hello
>
> On Nov 19, 4:09 am, Avid Fan <avid_...@notvalidexample.net> wrote:
>> You clearly have a an intimate understanding of the way films are made.
>
> If you say so. Thanks.
You made a film. From what I hear it was good. On my to order list
from Amazon
>
>> The Hellraiser film was directed by Clive Barker( with as far as I can
>> tell - no experience) sequels must have made him millions and millions
>> of dollars.
> Probably, but looking at the box office for "Hellraiser" (http://
> www.imdb.com/title/tt0093177/business), it had a domestic
> gross of $13M with an estimated $1M budget. I am guessing here, but
> theaters probably took about half of that, and the production company
> and executive producers took the lion's share.
> (Clive was not a producer of the first movie, though he did the
> sequels)
> He probably personally made about $2-3M for the first movie, and
> depending on his taxes, kept maybe 2/3 of that ($2M). (More money came
> in if you figure foreign and video sales)
>
> So yes, he's a multi-millionaire, but not Bill Gates.
>
Surely with more sequels than Rocky he must have done more than OK?
Hellraiser Inferno is very good sequel.
I kear there is a remake of Hellraiser I in production
>> My question to you - Is just an amazing fluke or can a good writer get
>> backing for good story and get a film up?
>
> No, good writers can get a film up. If you're a bestselling novelist,
> your book will be fought over by companies eager to turn it into a
> movie.
The Hellbound heart was a short story in an anthology. Not exactly Dan
Brown.
> And if it's not turned into a movie, you still get money off the option
> (s) and sale.
> If that same writer has some directing experience or is enough a pain
> in the ass, they might be able to helm (direct) it. But that's based
> on their personality and filmmaking chops.
> Do you think Frank Miller will get another chance to direct after "The
> Spirit"? (Solo direct, not in league with Robert Rodriguez)
>
> It's not a fluke at all, that's how it normally happens: good stories
> are bought and turned into movies.
> Does the writer direct their own movie? That's a bit rarer: Stephen
> King directed "Maximum Overdrive",
I saw that movie I am owed 90 minutes of my life back - I intend to
collect.
> and that flopped, so he won't get
> another chance, nor, I assume, does he want another chance. Being able
> to write the story doesn't mean the person can direct it. Some can,
> some can't.
>
> But what Ramsey said is correct, as expected. I'd ask him about his
> stories becoming movies: "Los Sin Nombre" (aka "The Nameless," which I
> loved) and "El Segundo Nombre," which I haven't seen.
>
> Hope this answers your question.
>
> Aaron
Thank you for your answer.
Aaron Vanek
> You made a film. From what I hear it was good. On my to order list
> from Amazon
Cool, thanks!
> Surely with more sequels than Rocky he must have done more than OK?
"OK" is a relative term. I think having 1-10 million in the bank is
certainly doing more than OK.
I just meant that there's "doing more then OK" and then there's
investment banker more than OK.
> > No, good writers can get a film up. If you're a bestselling novelist,
> > your book will be fought over by companies eager to turn it into a
> > movie.
>
> The Hellbound heart was a short story in an anthology. Not exactly Dan
> Brown.
Well, a novella. ;-)
(published in "Night Visions 3" with a bunch of Ramsey Campbell
stories)
But short stories are also looked at and fought over. I should have
said "hit author".
Aaron
Evans
> Avid Fan wrote:
> > ram...@ramsey-campbell.com wrote:
> >> On Nov 19, 8:21?pm, Aaron Vanek <goo...@somecompanyfilms.com> wrote:
>
> >>> But what Ramsey said is correct, as expected. I'd ask him about his
> >>> stories becoming movies: "Los Sin Nombre" (aka "The Nameless," which I
> >>> loved) and "El Segundo Nombre," which I haven't seen.
>
> >> I'll answer, Aaron! I just sold the film rights to Filmax (who had
> >> approached my agents) and then I had no further input. Same with the
> >> adaptation of "The Seductress" on the television series THE HUNGER.
>
> > d =
> > "Los Sin Nombre" IMO was a great film. Sadly I have read a lot of
> > your short stories (which I have enjoyed immensely but have not read a
> > single Ramsey Campbell novel. Something I hope to rectify in January.
>
> > to Los sin Nobre? Ramsey did you nything from that film?
>
> I forgot to ask what did you think Los sin Nombre I enjoyed the film but
> after reading the Nameless I suspect my opinion will change.
For what its worth I loved The Nameless but I don't much care for Los
sin Nombre. The supernatural aspect was too down played in my
opinion. All the murders the cult commited were unpleasant but from
the book you get the notion they were just a means to an end -
forfilling somekind of pattern so something could come through. A very
real supernatural threat.
Though I like the idea of Kasper Kanz having been a member of the
Thule Gesellschaft.
Avid Fan
Thank you for that. I lookforward to reading it.
ram...@ramsey-campbell.com
> Well, a novella. ;-)
> (published in "Night Visions 3" with a bunch of Ramsey Campbell
> stories)
And stories by the excellent Lisa Tuttle!
ram...@ramsey-campbell.com
> > ram...@ramsey-campbell.com wrote:
> >> On Nov 19, 8:21?pm, Aaron Vanek <goo...@somecompanyfilms.com> wrote:
>
> >>> But what Ramsey said is correct, as expected. I'd ask him about his
> >>> stories becoming movies: "Los Sin Nombre" (aka "The Nameless," which I
> >>> loved) and "El Segundo Nombre," which I haven't seen.
>
> >> I'll answer, Aaron! I just sold the film rights to Filmax (who had
> >> approached my agents) and then I had no further input. Same with the
> >> adaptation of "The Seductress" on the television series THE HUNGER.
>
> > d =
> > "Los Sin Nombre" �IMO was a great film. � Sadly I have read a lot of
> > your short stories (which I have enjoyed immensely but have not read a
> > single Ramsey Campbell novel. �Something I hope to rectify in January.
>
> > �to Los sin Nobre? �Ramsey did you nything from that film?
>
> I forgot to ask what did you think Los sin Nombre I enjoyed the film but
>
> - Show quoted text -
I do like the film - I especially appreciated the sense of dread Jaume
obtained from using real derelict locations.
ram...@ramsey-campbell.com
> � to Los sin Nobre? �Ramsey did you nything from that film?
No, it's a separate item! And I wasn't involved.
Avid Fan
> On Nov 21, 2:28�pm, Avid Fan <avid_...@notvalidexample.net> wrote:
>> ram...@ramsey-campbell.com wrote:
>>> On Nov 19, 8:21?pm, Aaron Vanek <goo...@somecompanyfilms.com> wrote:
>>>> But what Ramsey said is correct, as expected. I'd ask him about his
>>>> stories becoming movies: "Los Sin Nombre" (aka "The Nameless," which I
>>>> loved) and "El Segundo Nombre," which I haven't seen.
>>> I'll answer, Aaron! I just sold the film rights to Filmax (who had
>>> adaptation of "The Seductress" on the television series THE HUNGER.
>> "Los Sin Nombre" �IMO was a great film. � Sadly I have read a lot of
>> your short stories (which I have enjoyed immensely but have not read a
>> single Ramsey Campbell novel. �Something I hope to rectify in January.
>>
>> Isn't Darkness �http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0273517/the English sequel
>> � to Los sin Nobre? �Ramsey did you nything from that film?
>
> No, it's a separate item! And I wasn't involved.
Darkness was definitely based on your story.
It had its moments but on the whole not very well made.
ram...@ramsey-campbell.com
> ram...@ramsey-campbell.com wrote:
> > On Nov 21, 2:28 pm, Avid Fan <avid_...@notvalidexample.net> wrote:
> >> ram...@ramsey-campbell.com wrote:
> >>> On Nov 19, 8:21?pm, Aaron Vanek <goo...@somecompanyfilms.com> wrote:
> >>>> But what Ramsey said is correct, as expected. I'd ask him about his
> >>>> stories becoming movies: "Los Sin Nombre" (aka "The Nameless," which I
> >>>> loved) and "El Segundo Nombre," which I haven't seen.
> >>> I'll answer, Aaron! I just sold the film rights to Filmax (who had
> >>> approached my gents) and then I had no further input. Same with the
> >>> adaptation of "The Seductress" on the television series THE HUNGER.
> >> "Los Sin Nombre" IMO was a great film. Sadly I have read a lot of
> >> your short stories (which I have enjoyed immensely but have not read a
> >> single Ramsey Campbell novel. Something I hope to rectify in January.
>
> >> to Los sin Nobre? Ramsey did you nything from that film?
>
> > No, it's a separate item! And I wasn't involved.
>
> Darkness was definitely based on your story.
>
> - Show quoted text -
Well, I think Jaume may have included a few elements from my novel
that he didn't use in LOS SIN NOMBRE, but I never felt it was actually
based thereon. I do like the figures that stand still in the darkness
- that's very much a Balaguero image. I should say that the full
version of DARKNESS is definitely preferable to the cut released
theatrically in Britain and, I understand, in America.