Open Water film shot on...?

Michael Wisniewski · June 28th, 2004, 08:20 PM

Movie Maker article: Open Water (click here)

Heath McKnight · June 28th, 2004, 09:34 PM

Like who wrote the article??? ;-)

It's my first professional magazine article!

heath

Michael Wisniewski · June 28th, 2004, 09:44 PM

Well shoot :-) good job Heath!

Robert Knecht Schmidt · June 29th, 2004, 03:08 AM

Great job, Heath.

One nitpick. IMDb lists the first Kentis-Lau film as Grind (no definite article).

Christopher C. Murphy · June 29th, 2004, 06:43 AM

Heath! Great job on the article...I've written a few things for magazine's too. It feels good to branch out creatively doesn't it? It makes me feel like an overall "artist". Are you going to continue writing print stuff??

You've inspired me to get another writing gig somewhere!

Murph

Wayne Orr · June 29th, 2004, 10:07 AM

I saw the trailers for "Open Water" in a theatre this weekend. Had no idea it was from a dvcam. They should make a ton of money. ("they" being the distributors, unfortunately._It would be a surprise if the actual filmmakers shared in the profits.)

See what surprises await you when you go to see "Fahrenheit 9/11?"

Wayne Orr

Heath McKnight · June 29th, 2004, 10:14 AM

Wayne,

Let's stay on topic here. We're talking about Open Water; besides, the filmmakers are now millionaires just from the sale of the movie. And that has NOTHING to do with our current discussion.

Thanks,

heath

Christopher C. Murphy · June 29th, 2004, 10:56 AM

I've actually seen the trailer at the movie theater a few times in the past year. It's been out for quite a while. I can't find any information on the opening day? Anyone know that?

Murph

Heath McKnight · June 29th, 2004, 11:06 AM

I think it's in the article I wrote. Scroll up and click on the link. I believe it goes wide the second or third Friday of August.

hwm

Josh Bass · June 30th, 2004, 03:04 PM

So, this husband/wife team, is this their first effort? First effort that went anywhere? Just curious. Someone said something about "Grind," as well. . .you mean that bigger budget skateboard movie?

I like the idea that relative unknowns can bring a movie with no major stars to major theaters. Gives us all hope.

Heath McKnight · June 30th, 2004, 10:43 PM

No, the first Grind, with amanda peet.

heath

Josh Bass · July 1st, 2004, 01:20 AM

Hmm. I shall have to look it up. I don't believe I know it.

Luis Caffesse · July 5th, 2004, 07:32 AM

"the filmmakers are now millionaires just from the sale of the movie

Are you sure about that?
I know someone mentioned that they sold the film for 2.5 million, but generally when dealing with a distributor, the producers are expected to take on the marketing costs.
(i.e. 'we'll pay you 5 million for the film, and you spend 4.9 million marketing it).

Like in the case of Darren Aranofsky's 'PI'
Everyone was fond of mentioning that he made the film on viturally no money, and sold it to Artisan for millions, which was true. But, at the end of the day, Aranofsky only saw $10,000 of that money.

And, although I have to agree that I found the trailer to Open Water to be kind of lame (dramatically), it looked great for DV. I actually walked out of there thinking it looked like crappy 35.
:)
Shows what I know!

-Luis

Heath McKnight · July 5th, 2004, 01:12 PM

Luis,

Studios always cover marketing, my friend. It's the prints they usually don't, that's why you have a good lawyer broker the deal. They certainly did, and I don't believe they had to do much else.

As for Darren, I'm not so sure about that money. I think he walked away with more than that. I used his "ask everyone for $100" to make my film (didn't get the $60,000 he raised) to some success. And hey, the guy's directed Requiem For a Dream and is now going back to The Fountain and will do DC Comics' Watchmen.

heath

Michael Wisniewski · July 5th, 2004, 01:33 PM

Does anyone know how much they spent to make Open Water ... before the movie deal.

June 28th, 2004, 09:34 PM	#32
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Like who wrote the article??? ;-) It's my first professional magazine article! heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

June 29th, 2004, 03:08 AM	#34
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	Great job, Heath. One nitpick. IMDb lists the first Kentis-Lau film as Grind (no definite article). __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

June 29th, 2004, 06:43 AM	#35
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	Heath! Great job on the article...I've written a few things for magazine's too. It feels good to branch out creatively doesn't it? It makes me feel like an overall "artist". Are you going to continue writing print stuff?? You've inspired me to get another writing gig somewhere! Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

June 29th, 2004, 10:14 AM	#37
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Wayne, Let's stay on topic here. We're talking about Open Water; besides, the filmmakers are now millionaires just from the sale of the movie. And that has NOTHING to do with our current discussion. Thanks, heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

June 29th, 2004, 10:56 AM	#38
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	I've actually seen the trailer at the movie theater a few times in the past year. It's been out for quite a while. I can't find any information on the opening day? Anyone know that? Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

June 28th, 2004, 08:20 PM	#31
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Movie Maker article: Open Water (click here)

June 28th, 2004, 09:44 PM	#33
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Well shoot :-) good job Heath!

June 29th, 2004, 10:07 AM	#36
Wayne Orr Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Northridge Ca Posts: 734	I saw the trailers for "Open Water" in a theatre this weekend. Had no idea it was from a dvcam. They should make a ton of money. ("they" being the distributors, unfortunately._It would be a surprise if the actual filmmakers shared in the profits.) See what surprises await you when you go to see "Fahrenheit 9/11?" Wayne Orr

June 29th, 2004, 11:06 AM	#39
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	I think it's in the article I wrote. Scroll up and click on the link. I believe it goes wide the second or third Friday of August. hwm __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

June 30th, 2004, 03:04 PM	#40
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	So, this husband/wife team, is this their first effort? First effort that went anywhere? Just curious. Someone said something about "Grind," as well. . .you mean that bigger budget skateboard movie? I like the idea that relative unknowns can bring a movie with no major stars to major theaters. Gives us all hope. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

June 30th, 2004, 10:43 PM	#41
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	No, the first Grind, with amanda peet. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

July 1st, 2004, 01:20 AM	#42
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Hmm. I shall have to look it up. I don't believe I know it. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

July 5th, 2004, 07:32 AM	#43
Luis Caffesse Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 704	"the filmmakers are now millionaires just from the sale of the movie Are you sure about that? I know someone mentioned that they sold the film for 2.5 million, but generally when dealing with a distributor, the producers are expected to take on the marketing costs. (i.e. 'we'll pay you 5 million for the film, and you spend 4.9 million marketing it). Like in the case of Darren Aranofsky's 'PI' Everyone was fond of mentioning that he made the film on viturally no money, and sold it to Artisan for millions, which was true. But, at the end of the day, Aranofsky only saw $10,000 of that money. And, although I have to agree that I found the trailer to Open Water to be kind of lame (dramatically), it looked great for DV. I actually walked out of there thinking it looked like crappy 35. :) Shows what I know! -Luis

July 5th, 2004, 01:12 PM	#44
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Luis, Studios always cover marketing, my friend. It's the prints they usually don't, that's why you have a good lawyer broker the deal. They certainly did, and I don't believe they had to do much else. As for Darren, I'm not so sure about that money. I think he walked away with more than that. I used his "ask everyone for $100" to make my film (didn't get the $60,000 he raised) to some success. And hey, the guy's directed Requiem For a Dream and is now going back to The Fountain and will do DC Comics' Watchmen. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

July 5th, 2004, 01:33 PM	#45
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Does anyone know how much they spent to make Open Water ... before the movie deal.